Operations Manager, Advancing Digital Democracy

Management Systems International (MSI), a Tetra Tech Company, is a Washington, D.C. metro area management consultancy with a 40-year history of delivering results for our clients. Our expertise is in the fields of monitoring and evaluation; democracy and governance; peace and stability; rule of law and accountability; education; gender and inclusion; strategic communications; and leadership and organizational development. MSI has implemented projects in 90 countries around the world such as Colombia, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Syria and Ukraine, and works domestically. We support clients ranging from the U.S. Government (e.g., the U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Departments of State and Labor, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation) to large bilateral and multilateral donors (e.g., the World Bank and the United Nations Development Program). We also work with national and local governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), think tanks, foundations and universities. For more information, please visit our website at .Proposal Summary:  MSI is pursuing the USAID Advancing Digital Democracy program. The purpose of this activity is to foster open, secure, and inclusive digital democracies in which data-driven technologies advance, rather than undermine, democratic values and respect for human rights. It will offer to support and strengthen country-level and global multi-stakeholder coalitions that can identify opportunities for productive engagement, leverage incentive structures, and create shared language for tackling the most pressing issues in the digital age.The program will provide support for partner-country stakeholders to spur rights-respecting digital innovation while addressing potential adverse impacts of technology and data across the digital ecosystem. The program will operate in politically closed spaces and robust emerging economies and will engage civic and private actors while tailoring support to leverage existing opportunities and address specific needs in particular countries. Objective 1: Governments implement legal and regulatory frameworks related to technology data, and information that align with and fulfill their international human rights and democratic commitments.Objective 2: Respect for human rights and democratic values are embedded in the development and design of digital technology and data management.Objective 3: Civil society and citizens more effectively engage in democracy and human rights issues involving technology.Cross Cutting Objectives: (1) Engagement between diverse stakeholders and sectors is fostered and self-sustained; (2) Collaborative CLA feedback loops created and used to adapt the program.Position Summary: The Operations Manager, located in Washington D.C., will be responsible for day-to-day operational and administrative tasks supporting ADD. The Operations Manager will directly supervise project security, IT business functions, and travel coordination, procurement and logistics functions.Responsibilities:  Ensuring that contract implementation is in accordance with USAID regulations and procedures and the specifications determined in the RFP. This will include monitoring contract compliance and procedures and assuring fair and transparent procurement processes, among other things.Supporting the ADD Team in development of procedures, policies, recordkeeping, and duties as required and related to overall operations and administration of the contract, including procurement.Supervising and managing the operations team, including travel coordination, IT, and security staff.Support the placement and administration of any field-based staff (based in various international locations) on the contract.Overseeing the efficient integration of IT business systems across the project team, in coordination with the home office, including all major business systems, knowledge management, back-ups, and piloting and promoting new software tools inside the team.Preparing client approval documents, as needed.Coordinating other administrative, financial, and contractual matters pertaining to the contract, as needed.Qualifications:  A bachelor’s degree in a related field including but not limited to business administration, economics, political science. Master’s degree preferred. A minimum of eight (8) years of experience in management roles that included operations management, strategic planning, program management, government contracting, resource management, finance and budgeting. A minimum of five (5) years of experience effectively managing a diverse staff working on varied projects. Expert knowledge in USAID allowable costs for travel and per diem. Advanced understanding of allowable costs for expatriate allowances and shipping. Prior experience with USAID or other donor-funded projects preferred. Experience developing, managing, overseeing, and reporting on multi-million-dollar budgets. Knowledge of U.S. foreign assistance programming, and international development organizations. Strong organizational skills and a self-starter with excellent presentation, interpersonal, writing and communication skills who takes initiative and leadership. Fluency in English is required. Additional language fluency preferred. MSI is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusion. We strive to develop and maintain a culture that honors the perspectives and identities of our employees, our communities and those impacted by our work.We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute, including race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital or veteran status, pregnancy or disability, or any other basis protected under applicable law. In accordance with applicable law, we make reasonable accommodations for applicants’ and employees’ religious practices and beliefs, as well as any mental health or physical disability needs.MSI is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities/Veterans Employer.Reasonable Accommodations:MSI is dedicated to hiring an inclusive workforce. If you would like to request reasonable accommodations during the application process, please visit Tetra Tech’s Disability Assistance Page. Our recruitment team looks forward to engaging in an interactive process to provide reasonable accommodations for candidates.Only candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please. Additional Information Organization: 216 MSI