Associate Director, Program Operations At Habitat for Humanity

Position Summary.

Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) established in 1976 and registered on 18 March 1977 in Americus, Georgia, United States of America (USA), is a non-profit corporation, with Headquarters in Atlanta, USA. HFHI operates as a non-governmental, ecumenical, Christian housing ministry whose vision is “a world where everyone has a decent place to live”. HFHI works globally in over 70 countries through its branches, national organizations and local partners and has directly helped over 34 million people improve their housing conditions worldwide while serving millions more through advocacy and market development strategies. In Africa HFHI operates both through a branch office (HFH East Africa) and affiliate entities. Habitat for Humanity South Africa (HFH SA). HFH SA’s affiliation to HFHI is guided by a National Affiliation Agreement (NAA) and a Memorandum of understanding (MOU).

HFHI in collaboration with HFH SA seeks to recruit an Associate Director Program Operations. Reporting to Director of Program Operations at (HFHI), the Associate Director will possess a unique blend of leadership qualities, strategic acumen, operational expertise, project management and a strong commitment to advancing the organization’s mission of providing adequate housing and shelter for those in need. The purpose of this position will be to facilities and support programmatic, business and governance for HFH SA ensuring sustainable operations.

Roles and Responsibilities.

Collaborate with National Director (ND) of HFH SA and HFHI on Strategic Leadership:

• Facilitate seamless collaboration between HFHI and HFH SA, working closely with HFHI’s Program Operations Director and the HFH SA National Director.
• Root Cause Analysis: Conduct a thorough assessment to identify the root causes of the challenges faced by HFH South Africa. This may involve reviewing financial records, conducting staff interviews, and analyzing past project performance.
• Support the National Director in the development of the country’s strategic plan to enhance organizational stability, resilience, and long-term sustainability.
• Collaborate closely with the National Director and the Director of Program Operations at Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) to align operational strategies, goals, and initiatives with broader organizational objectives.
• Prioritize identification and remediation of broken systems in financial management and other operational areas before leading broader strategic initiatives.
• Foster close collaboration and coordination with departmental leads in regional and global offices to leverage resources, share best practices, and promote synergy across organizational functions and geographies.

Operational Excellence:

• Work closely with the Governance, Risk, and Compliance team to ensure that HFHSA has updated policies and procedures aligned with HFHI’s Policies and Procedures.
• Oversee all aspects of organizational operations, with a particular focus on identifying and addressing deficiencies in financial management, administration, human resources, program management, and compliance.
• Develop and implement operational best practices, standard operating procedures, and performance metrics to drive continuous improvement and operational excellence across the organization.

Financial Management and Sustainability:

• Lead efforts to assess, diagnose, and address broken systems and deficiencies in financial management to ensure sound financial stewardship, transparency, and accountability in collaboration with the HFHI Regional Finance Manager and the HFH SA Finance and Corporate services manager.
• In collaboration with HFHI Finance team and fundraising teams develop and implement strategies to enhance financial sustainability, optimize resource allocation, and diversify revenue streams once foundational financial systems are stabilized.

Talent Management and Leadership Development:

• In collaboration with the National Director and HFHI HRBP team coordinate the development and implementation of talent management strategies, recruitment, retention, and professional development programs, focusing on building a skilled and motivated team capable of driving operational transformation and achieving organizational goals.
• Coordinate with the ND and HFHI HRLOD team, to support HFH South Africa establish an enabling environment while emphasizing on accountability through developing a sustainable culture of managing performance throughout the year; communicate clear expectations, set SMART objectives, constructive performance feedback and documentation ensuring a people centered approach to performance management and in alignment with the HFH South Africa strategic goals.

Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement:

• In collaboration with the National director, develop a database for all the strategic partnerships with donors, government agencies, NGOs, community-based organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Coordinate with the National Director, HFH SA Partnership teams to strengthen strategic partnerships with donors, government agencies, NGOs, community-based organizations, and other stakeholders to enhance collaboration, resource mobilization, and program impact.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to identify opportunities for partnership and collaboration, leveraging their expertise and resources to address operational challenges and achieve organizational objectives.

Risk Management and Compliance:

• Identify, assess, and mitigate operational risks and compliance challenges to ensure organizational resilience and adherence to legal, regulatory, and contractual requirements.
• Establish robust systems and processes for monitoring and reporting on organizational performance, risks, and compliance, ensuring transparency and accountability in all operations.

Minimum Requirements:

• Education: Master’s degree in international development, social sciences, public/business administration, or equivalent work experience at appropriate level
• Years of Related Experience: Minimum of 7 years management experience in international development contexts or at a similar level. Minimum 10 years overall related experience
• Experience in program development and good knowledge of donors, including multilateral, institutional and corporates.
• Knowledge and experience in project design and management
• Strong skills and experience in planning and budgeting
• Board development skills and capacity building
• Qualitative and quantitative analytic skills
• Resource mobilization, training and capacity building, coaching/mentoring skills
• Human resources management skill and knowledge
• Profound understanding of and working experience in Africa region as well as its cultural/social/political environment

Preferred Requirements (in addition to minimum):

• Demonstrated success in leading and managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects or programs within the international development sector.
• Proven ability to cultivate and maintain relationships with diverse donors, including multilateral organizations, institutional donors, and corporate partners.
• Experience in implementing innovative strategies for program design, monitoring, and evaluation, with a focus on achieving impact and sustainability.