Chief Operating Officer – Rizwan Adatia Foundation

Application last date Feb 15, 2022

Rizwan Adatia Foundation is a non-denominational, not-for-profit international organisation committed to improving the quality of life primarily in selected countries in Africa and Asia. RAF has branches and affiliates in 7 countries, including India. RAF works with the most marginalised individuals, families, communities in the poorest areas of Africa and Asia to improve the Quality of Life by acting as a catalyst that brings together resources, technology, systems, and effective grassroots strategies, giving better choice and control to people for a lasting change.

In pursuit of its mission, RAF has made a wide array of long-term, strategic and systemic investments in the state of Gujarat, Rajasthan and Jharkhand around the key sectors of health, nutrition, education, and economic development.

RAF has been working in India with the most marginalised and underprivileged section of the society, especially women and youth for the last 6 years.

RAF is currently seeking to recruit a Chief Operating Officer for India, which operates a multi-sector programme portfolio spread across three states of India. The COO will be responsible for providing overall intellectual leadership and guidance, including day to day focus and improvement of the programme portfolio of RAF in India.

To be a successful candidate, you will have to be a visionary and dynamic team leader. You will demonstrate entrepreneurial instinct and have extensive knowledge of contemporary developments in the development arena of India. You will have strong interpersonal and communication skills as well as cultural awareness and sensitivity. Highly qualified in programme designing and management, you will have substantial senior leadership experience, preferably within INGOs.

Policy and Strategy

• Champion and provide leadership in effectively implementing as well as growing the programme portfolio in a post-pandemic set up under the guidance of the global team and Board members of RAF- India.
• Create a five-year detailed operating plan with key milestones linked to the strategy, the impact of the pandemic (or other such crises) and annual operating budgets.

Management

• Promote an organisational culture and ethos that reflects the values of RAF and fosters effective performance, high motivation and positive outcomes for the primary stakeholders, especially communities connected with RAF- India’s programmes.
• Ensure that RAF-India’s operations are managed in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee the design, delivery and quality of RAF-India’s programmes and services.
• Lead the country office in the delivery of operational goals; Finalise annual work plan in line with budget availability; and oversee the implementation including providing direction, support and technical guidance.
• Ensure that the Programmes deliver the intended results by developing as well as maintaining an active result-based framework.

Strategic partnership and resource mobilisation

• Lead the development of resource mobilisation strategies and manage the implementation of resource mobilisation strategies, plans and efforts.
• Finalise donor reports and negotiate and/approve cost-sharing agreements with donors; Establishing reporting accountability framework to ensure that donors are duly informed on a timely basis. Establish and maintain an active relationship with individual, corporate and bilateral donors to achieve active collaboration, cooperation, and alliances for programme development, implementation, and resource mobilisation.

HR Management

• Facilitate the recruitment and retention of the highest quality staff throughout RAF- India, ensuring that the organisation evaluates staff performance on a regular basis and provides professional development aligned to the organisation and individual staff members’ development goals.
• Ensure that sound policies, processes and documentation are created and maintained with the aim of creating a positive working environment for all RAF-India’s staff, career pathways within the organisation and in line with relevant employment legislation.

Financial Management

• In collaboration with the Manager, Finance, direct the development of RAF-India’s annual budgets based on compliant, sound, and informed knowledge, in line with agreed strategic and operating plans, solid performance data and market intelligence, including the impact of the pandemic.

Relationships

• Serve as the primary spokesperson and representative for RAF-India. Ensure that RAF- India’s mission, programmes and services are consistently presented in a strong, positive image to relevant stakeholders.
• Represent RAF- India in inter-governmental forums, public information/relations events and key meetings; participate in policy dialogue and forums and present policy papers on issues of common interest.
• Foster strong key stakeholder relationships, especially with the relevant Government ministries, local administration, and the wider community in collaboration with RAF Global.

Knowledge management and capacity building

• Promote critical thinking and implementation of innovations and best practices in the country programme portfolio.
• Promoting learning and development by providing opportunities by training and capacity building to enhance the competencies/productivity of programme personnel.
• Provide intellectual and technical insight in identifying tools, developing methodologies and producing knowledge management products linked to programme portfolio.

Essential Criteria For the role 

• Master’s degree or equivalent in development-related disciplines, economics, or public policy or other social science fields is required.
• More than 15 years of progressive and substantial senior leadership experience at a strategic level, along with significant experience leading an INGO/NGO with a multi-sector programme portfolio.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of country programme management, development cooperation, and donor landscape.
• Demonstrable experience and success in managing operations, financial and human resources.
• Experience in change leadership and management, including experience in leading a team.
• Demonstrable experience of cultural awareness, understanding and sensitivity.

Language Requirements 

• Excellent written and verbal communications skills in English.
• Working knowledge of national/regional language will be an asset.

In addition, the ideal candidate will be/have:

• Passionate about delivering high-quality development services to the most marginalised communities.
• Advocate for diversity, pluralism and the unique place and contribution every individual makes to the community.
• An individual who demonstrates a real sense of professionalism, commitment and integrity.
• High-level networking and negotiating skills.
• Ability to develop relationships, build trust and command respect.
• Positive and adaptable to changing circumstances and open to new ideas.
• Enthusiastic and reliable with personal impact and presence.
• Inquisitive and able to think creatively, solve problems and make decisions based on sound judgment, drawing on expertise from others.

To apply, kindly email your CV along with the covering letter at hr@rafglobal.org

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

RAF is an equal opportunities employer. RAF is deeply committed to achieving workforce diversity and inclusion in terms of gender, nationality, and culture. We especially encourage women and differently-abled persons to apply.