USAID Operations Lead

TITLE: USAID Operations Lead

POSITION LOCATION: Tashkent, Uzbekistan

EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Full Time (40 hours/week)

About the organization

American Councils for International Education is a premier, international non-profit organization creating educational opportunities that prepare individuals and institutions to succeed in an increasingly interconnected world. Through academic exchanges, overseas language immersion, and educational development programs. American Councils has designed and administered innovative programs that effectively broaden individual perspectives, increase knowledge, and deepen understanding for more than 40 years across more than 80 countries.

Position summary

The Operations Lead will be actively engaged in the USAID Uzbekistan Youth Workforce Development and Entrepreneurship Activity that is focused on preparing youth to be successful entrepreneurs, while also supporting youth, girls and women, and disability empowerment in Uzbekistan. The successful candidate will be responsible for procurement, HR processes, sub-contracts management, vendor management, donor reporting aspects, as well as logistics coordination of the project. The Operations Lead will be working closely with local Uzbekistan stakeholders (the Ministry of Public Education, local expert groups, private sector entities, and other interested parties). This position reports directly to the Chief of Party (CoP).

Responsibilities

Operations Lead’s specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

· Preparation of invoices, purchase orders, quotations, reports, procurement documentation, memos, official letters, and other programmatic documents.

· Coordination of travel arrangements for local and foreign staff members, as well as consultants, including booking accommodation and flights, calculating living allowance payments, and arranging/renewing visas through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, and other relevant government organizations.

· Planning and facilitating meetings both in Tashkent and the regions of Uzbekistan.

· Human resource planning, performance management, and staff relations operation.

· Ensuring effective inventory utilization, equipment procurement and purchase, maintaining solid inventory data, and reduction of sub-rental expenses.

· Tracking, maintaining, and updating vendor pricing, rebates, and service levels in all regions of project operation.

· Coordinating with third party vendors (food and beverage, hotels and hospitality, transportation networks, tourism companies, IT, general services).

· Updating and maintaining office facilities in good order, including negotiating with property maintenance services when needed.

· Initiating procurement of goods and services with vendors, following all relevant procurement processes and procedures.

· Overseeing the lifecycle of several subcontracts of the project.

· Assisting in the process of drafting new contracts and contract amendments.

· Assisting in preparation of payments/cheque requisitions for all suppliers and consultants.

· Maintain, monitor, and review project budget and expenditures, assist in preparation of reports when necessary.

· Traveling within the country to contact key target audiences, key partners, implement program events, monitoring, and/or training.

· Performing general office duties, such as ordering supplies, maintaining records, management database systems, and performing basic bookkeeping work.

· Carry out other logistical and administrative duties for the project as needed.

· Other related duties as assigned and when needed.

Qualifications

· Master’s Degree strongly preferred in one of the following study areas: Business Management, Supply Chain Management, Economics, Finance or related field;

· Written and spoken fluency in Russian and Uzbek are required; Excellent English strongly recommended.

· Minimum 7-10 years’ experience in education, educational management or administration, office administration, personnel management, entrepreneurship, civil service, or youth development.

· Previous USAID experience strongly recommended.

· Experience cooperating with government institutions, authorities, and representatives is essential. Private sector contracting and procurement strongly recommended.

· Understanding of basic accounting and maintenance of financial records and databases and coordinating logistics; Interest in education and international development.

· Ability to maintain a high level of professionalism, confidentiality and discretion;

· Proactive, independent, and flexible self-starter in task management and project implementation;

· Ability to think critically and strategically and execute tasks in a well-planned manner;

· Demonstrated experience in design and management of projects, including budget management and monitoring of results;

· Ability to comfortably manage multiple tasks and meet demanding timescales;

· Excellent understanding of Uzbekistan labor law/procurement policies and financial reporting.

· Ability to quickly adapt to unfamiliar situations and come up with unorthodox solutions to the arising challenges;

· Demonstrated excellence in communication, multicultural interpersonal skills;

· Flexibility to occasional work on weekends and evenings;

· Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office software suite, Google Workspace, and common social media platforms.

· All applicants should be able to provide and maintain work authorization in Uzbekistan.

Compensation

· American Councils for International Education offers a competitive international salary based on Tashkent, Uzbekistan cost of living standards.

Starting Date: As soon as possible

TO APPLY:

· Please send to info.uz@americancouncils.org your resume/CV as well as a cover letter that includes the following: (i) why are interested in the position, (ii) why you are well suited for the position, and (iii) what you would expect as a monthly salary (final takehome salary amount per month after taxes).

· Your resume/CV should be saved as follows: LAST NAME OF APPLICANT – resume.doc (for example, if your last name is Kayumov, the file should be Kayumov-resume.doc).

· Your cover letter should be saved as: LAST NAME OF APPLICANT – letter.doc (for example, if your last name is Kayumov, the file should be Kayumov-letter.doc). File extensions of .docx and PDF are also acceptable.

· Write LAST NAME OF APPLICANT – Future Entrepreneurs in the subject line of your email.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY – American Councils is committed to taking affirmative steps to enhance employment opportunities for minorities, women, veterans, and people with disabilities, and strives to ensure that meaningful employment and promotional opportunities are maintained for everyone. American Councils’ commitment to equal employment opportunity is based not only on federal requirements, but also on a longstanding commitment to maintaining a diverse workforce reflective of the communities in which we operate.

PAY TRANSPARENCY NONDISCRIMINATION PROVISION – The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information