Head of Operations Ethiopia

We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide.

We work directly with individuals to help them gain the skills, confidence and connections to transform their lives and shape a better world in partnership with the UK. We support them to build networks and explore creative ideas, to learn English, to get a high-quality education and to gain internationally recognised qualifications.

Working with people in over 200 countries and territories, we are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2021–22 we reached 650 million people.

Head of Operations – Ethiopia

Role Purpose

To ensure the efficient management of our Operations (Facilities & Estates), IT services, Administration, and Protocol for Ethiopia Country Office in Addis Ababa. The post holder will be required to operate across a broad spectrum – taking a holistic approach to planning and delivery of estates and facilities, understanding current and future business needs, and ensuring quality standards and value for money. The post holder will lead on Health & Safety, Business Continuity & Crisis preparation, and be our Green Champion – actively embedding our approach to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) across these responsibilities. The post holder will be responsible for the provision of efficient and effective administrative support across the British Council Ethiopia office catering to the needs of UK Appointed and Country Appointed staff. The post holder will also work closely with his or her counterpart at the British Embassy on facilities and security issues.

Main accountabilities but not limited to the following:

Strategy Development and Implementation

• Develop, plan, deliver, and evaluate Ethiopia Estates strategy and plan, working with the Regional SSA and Ethiopia Leadership Team and Global Estates and Risk teams corporately. The Estates strategy and plan will include agreed targets reflecting the strategic focus of Ethiopia and SSA.
• As an ‘internal consultant’ and ‘intelligent client’ to the business areas, engage regularly and consistently with business leads and their teams to form a sound understanding of business direction and needs and a fit-for-purpose estates/facilities response in line with strategic direction, operational requirements, corporate standards, and budgets.
• With CLT, develop both the medium-term strategy and annual business plans for Ethiopia, together ensuring we aim for the strongest possible cultural relations impact in a financially sustainable way

To manage property, investments, and disposals under the Property Asset Management Programme

• Effective project management of all premises projects across the estate ensuring projects were delivered on time, on budget, and to quality standards. Sound project management supported by effective project governance, planning, timely reporting, monitoring and evaluation, risk management, stakeholder engagement, supplier management, and internal communications.
• Manage project teams comprising in-house BC staff and external consultants to ensure effective delivery of property investment projects in Ethiopia.

Management and Delivery of the Facilities & Estates function, IT, Office Admin and Protocol

• Accountable for the BC Ethiopia & SSA Regional Office Platform & Running Costs budgets.
• Ensure sound budget management and reporting in line with corporate requirements.
• Provide expertise relevant to the service development and delivery of the estates and facilities management function.
• Management of the delivery and maintenance of a fit-for-purpose estate in Ethiopia including office and residential premises to meet corporate compliance standards and internal customers’ needs. Manages our relationships with landlords.

Information and knowledge management priorities

• Have responsibility for enforcing standards, guidelines, and procedures aligned with good national and international practice and legislation to support efficiency and compliance within the business
• Establish a robust governance structure for managing information risks and increase awareness about the risks we face, through briefings, training and guidance
• Increase leverage of the British Council’s information assets for business use.
• Continue the work needed to achieve the required Information Assurance Maturity Model (IAMM) framework maturity levels in Ethiopia and ensure that measures developed under the Addressing Information Risk (AIR) Programme are embedded in the business

Records Management

• Ensure records retention and disposal policy are applied consistently with corporate policy
• Ensure security classifications are applied consistently with corporate policy
• Maintain and control the development of a records classification plan
• Develop and implement a business recovery plan

Information Governance

• Ensure that security measures to protect personal data (for access, transfer, storage, and disposal) are in place Ensure that appropriate mechanisms are in place to control access to information
• Ensure that processes are in place to enable timely responses to requests from others for access to information

Knowledge Management

• Provide consultancy support to the British Council Ethiopia in embedding global knowledge-sharing practices
• Maintain and update the Information Governance SharePoint site for the region
• Keep updated professionally in IKM specialist and related areas

Key stakeholder engagement

• Liaise with the British High Commission to support the import and timely clearance of goods sourced outside of Ethiopia. Work with BHC on joint tenders for services where this makes sense (e.g. cleaning, garden maintenance, security, catering)
• Proactively manage the relationship with key suppliers and specifically the quality of service/value for money from suppliers identifying opportunities for efficiencies

Championing Risk Management, Standards and Compliance

• To lead as British Council Ethiopia’s Health & Safety and Fire Safety Champion and custodian of standards in line with corporate standards across all areas of facilities and estates (including external venues)
• Ensure the British Council Ethiopia meets all relevant internal and external compliance requirements, so that the organization and its entities operate legally, with integrity, and in a way that manages risk effectively.
• To effectively manage risk across the estate and function at operational and enterprise levels

Role-specific knowledge and experience:

Essential requirements:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent with a professional qualification in a property-related discipline supported by the full membership of and accreditation with a relevant professional property institute (such as RICS, RIBA, BIFM or CIBSE in the UK or relevant regional equivalent.)
• A minimum of 5 years of proven experience in a similar role within the corporate sector, NGO sector
• Experience in managing a portfolio of medium to large-scale operations/project
• Business/commercial financial management
• Proven experience of working with senior key stakeholders (Internal and External
• Evidence of quality management skills, and of having managed a service delivery/support function to deliver improvements in service quality to customers and users.
• Evidence of managing and working in a multi-disciplinary property or estate team carrying out a mix of different functions or delivering different services.
• Experience working in a global context with SBU and /or country operations

Desirable:

• Experience in a similar role in an international organization

Further Information

• Pay Band – 7
• Remuneration: ETB 96,474.00 Gross Per Month
• Contract Type – Two (2) Year Fixed Term Contract
• Location – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
• Department/Function – Operations
• Additional information
• Language requirements: Strong written and oral English communication skills.
• The Role holder must have existing rights to live and work in the country the role is based.
• Closing Date – 2 April 2024. Applications will close at 23:59 East Africa Time

A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world.

Equality , Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Statement

The British Council is committed to policies and practices of equality, diversity and inclusion across everything we do. We support all staff to make sure their behaviour is consistent with this commitment.  We want to address under representation and encourage applicants from under-represented groups, in particular, but not exclusively, on grounds of ethnicity and disability.  All disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria are guaranteed an interview and we have Disability Confident Employer Status. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.

The British Council is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults who we work with.

We believe that all children and adults everywhere in the world deserve to live in safe environments and have the right to be protected from all forms of abuse, maltreatment and exploitation as set out in article 19, UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) 1989.

Appointment to positions where there is direct involvement with vulnerable groups will be dependent on thorough checks being completed; these will include qualification checks, reference checks, identity & criminal record checks in line with legal requirements and with the British Council’s Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.

If you have any problems with your application please email askhr@britishcouncil.org

Please note: Applications to this role can only be considered when made through the Apply section of our careers website. Our ‘ASK HR’ email is only to be used in case of a technical issue encountered when applying through the careers website. Emails with supporting statements and CV/Resumes sent to this email address will not be reviewed and will be deleted.