Results for Development (R4D) is a leading non-profit global development partner. We collaborate with change agents around the world — government officials, civil society leaders and social innovators — to create strong systems that support healthy, educated people. We help our partners move from knowing their goal to knowing how to reach it. We combine global expertise in health, education and nutrition with analytic rigor, practical support for decision-making and implementation and access to peer problem-solving networks. Together with our partners, we build self-sustaining systems that serve everyone and deliver lasting results. Then we share what we learn so others can achieve results for development, too.

We have a unique and vibrant culture at R4D. Diversity, equity and inclusion are at the heart of our work environment and help advance our mission. Diversity—of ideas, identities, perspectives and backgrounds—is vital to who we are and what we do. We seek people who embrace these values and will help reinforce them. Our work culture is collaborative, creative and entrepreneurial. We operate based on trust and respect. Teams across the organization frequently collaborate on programmatic work and support each other in continuously building a better R4D.

Position title: Program Operations Officer (PO), R4D UK

Location: This position is based in London, UK and reports to the Senior Director of Global Program Operations (based in Washington, D.C.) with dotted line responsibility to the Sr. Director of the R4D UK Office (based in London).

Remuneration: £45,000-£57,000 (depending on experience)

Practice/Department:

Program Operations – The Program Operations function at R4D is focused on ensuring continuity, compliance, efficiency and effectiveness across all stages of the award lifecycle. Program Operations supports high quality design, new business capture, start-up, implementation and closeout of individual programs in furtherance of R4D mission and strategy through effective deployment of financial and human resources and robust, standardized strategic/logistical/operational support. Program Operations also supports strong, consistent, efficient and effective organizational systems and processes that enable high quality project implementation and portfolio management.

Position Summary & Responsibilities: The Program Operations Officer will work with colleagues across R4D’s Global Program Operations team and the UK team (approximately 15 staff members from various R4D global teams) to support strategic portfolio growth, project and personnel management, and office management. Other key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• UK Staffing Strategy and Support
  • Participates fully as a member of R4D by contributing, assisting, and participating in projects, activities, and initiatives as requested by management.
  • Support senior UK and US staff in the design of a comprehensive Staffing Strategy for optimizing R4D UK team presence, skill sets and structure in line with our ‘INGO of the Future’ (INGO) model.
  • Monitor successful implementation of the staffing strategy and structure, including all recruitment processes such as design of role descriptions; acting as the focal point for US HR teams in managing all UK-related recruitment and visa sponsorship / renewal processes in conjunction with the US HR team; ensuring standardized onboarding processes and materials for new UK joiners, etc.
  • Liaise with relevant Project & Ops Managers within R4D teams who have staff working out of the UK office to monitor financial coverage for staff and act as a resource to inform senior managers making decisions on promotion, recruitment, performance management and/or coverage gaps.
  • Orient and educate staff to standardized operational and project management processes and procedures; ensure adherence across project teams.
  • Lead the design and implementation of team-building / social events for UK staff to help strengthen relationships and collaboration across the different practices and teams represented in the region.
  • Plan, coordinate, and lead meetings of UK-based staff to facilitate information sharing and skills-development with regard to R4D and UK-related operational policies and procedures.
  • Provide guidance to UK-based staff in booking compliant overseas travel (flights, accommodation etc) and securing visas as appropriate.
• Operational Cohesion and Support
  • Develop and manage a UK operations workplan
  • Serve as liaison between finance, operations, and human resource teams for the UK office and/or advise and support program staff to effectively engage with R4D support teams.
  • Provide support to UK-based staff to solve operational challenges as they arise in collaboration with other R4D staff and support teams
  • Ensure adherence / adaptation of UK staff practices to R4D’s global knowledge management strategies, including the setup and maintenance of project sites and folders.
  • Manage all tracking and monitoring of internal practice area processes, initiatives, and workplans.
  • Identify operational processes within the UK and/or between the UK and Washington D.C. that are ripe for improvement and streamlining; propose system improvements, facilitate leadership decision-making, and implement agreed-upon changes.
  • When relevant, serve as the UK operations representative to cross-organization efforts.
  • Support the planning and coordination of visits to the UK office by other R4D staff, including facilitating their access to office facilities, technological infrastructure during their visit.
  • Act as the focal point for UK office shipments / deliveries.
• UK Opportunity Scoping & Relationship Building
  • In partnership with related MDs, support the implementation of a process through which Program Leadership Group Practice Leads can contribute to a shared Business Development strategy for R4D UK in line with the objectives of being a globally connected INGO. This can include aligning technical priorities they wish to pursue as well as specific funders / partners they want to engage.
  • Conduct a landscaping of priority funders in the UK/European environment aligned to priorities identified within the shared Business Development Strategy
  • Monitor relevant opportunities (e.g. conferences, events) in the wider UK/European environment and support UK-based staff to leverage these and strategically showcase R4D’s work (UK and global). Provide pipeline updates to the R4D Business Development manager.
• UK Office management
  • Act as relationship manager for the UK Professional Employer Organization to cover UK-based contracting, payroll and pension administration
  • Support R4D finance team members to provide oversight of UK financials (including annual audit) in partnership with the UK PEO
  • Manage UK-based vendor procurement and contracting processes in collaboration with UK-based staff and the global Procurement team, including the UK office lease.
  • Manage UK office registration, government reporting and maintain an up to date Companies House profile
  • Support the UK Office Director with the preparation of materials for R4D UK Board Meetings
  • Maintain a UK-wide roster of UK holidays and staff leave

Qualifications

• University degree in relevant professional field (business, public health, management, economics, political science, public policy, international affairs).
• An MA with a minimum 3 years’ or BA with a minimum of 5 years’ relevant work experience in a research institution, government, bilateral or multilateral development agency, consulting firm, NGO, or think tank.
• Ability to operate in a highly matrixed role, able to build and manage relationships with a range of R4D staff in the UK and US
• Proven ability to drive problem solving / process improvement across office operations
• Excitement about operations work; passionate about how operations improvements can improve the ability of program teams to implement projects and carry out work
• Excellent analytical skills and comfort working with data.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a geographically diverse team.
• Exceptionally detail-oriented, excellent judgment, and ability to deliver high-quality results within tight timeframes.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and Power Point. Excitement about using Excel and other analysis tools to improve operations.
• Ability to prioritize effectively across a range of demands and tasks, and make well-reasoned decisions with limited or incomplete information
• Exceptional task management and work-planning skills and experience. Preference given to candidates with experience coaching others on task management, process development, etc.
• Familiarity with financial management systems and/or ERP Systems is a plus