Head of Regional Operations, Africa, Group 2

About MSI

MSI Reproductive Choices is one of the world’s leading providers of sexual and reproductive healthcare. We believe that everyone should have the right to choose. From contraception to safe abortion and life-saving post-abortion care, we are committed to delivering compassionate, affordable, high-quality services for all.

Today, our organisation has over 9,000 team members working in 37 countries across the world. Our success lies in the fact that MSI teams are locally led, entrepreneurial and results-driven, and are passionate about delivering high quality, client-centred care in their own communities. As a social business, we focus on sustainable delivery, efficiency, and funding models that are built to last, so that the women and girls we serve today will have a choice in the future too.

We know that access to reproductive choice is life changing. For some, it can mean the ability to complete an education or start a career. For others, it means being able to look after the family they already have. For everyone, it means the freedom to decide their own future, creating a fairer, more equal world.

About the Role

As Head of Regional Operations, Africa Group 2 – francophone countries, you will provide critical support, evidence-based operational guidance and capacity building to drive the growth of high-quality family planning and safe abortion programmes across the MSI Africa Group 2 which includes 7 countries. Under the direction of Director Africa, Deputy and in collaboration with MSI technical teams, you will have significant responsibility for the operational unit’s implementation of MSI’s 2030 strategy.

Drawing on your field and headquarters operational experience, you will have significant responsibility for transformation and sustainability of the region as a successful operating model to ensure delivery of the MSI 2030 Strategy and regional OGSMs. You will contribute to the development, refinement and implementation of best practices to ensure that they are fit for purpose and are embedded within your country programmes. You will identify, document and share examples of learning, good practice and innovation across the operation unit and MSI Africa which will strengthen programme scale and impact, quality and sustainability.

You will lead and supervise Regional Programme Advisors and other team members, as assigned. Coordinating with MSI’s technical experts, you will ensure country programmes have the capacity and ability to meet MSI standards and guidelines and deliver sustainably on their annual business plans which consider projects deliverables. You will support embedding of technical expertise and tools, supporting countries in improvement of their approach to service delivery under Pillars 1 in line with donor requirements, Pillars 2 and 3 (to varying degrees depending on capacity) in line with MSI sustainability plan.

You will support countries in fast and effective problem solving – often working in a fast-paced environment and connecting country staff with relevant teams at GSO to find solutions. You will support projects inception and design, programme implementation, embedding of monitoring, evaluation and learning plan, working with country-programme teams, donor and technical teams to ensure donor funded projects are implemented in line with workplans and country programme priorities. You will contribute to the development of high-quality donor proposals.

About You

We recruit talented, dynamic people with diverse backgrounds and experiences, all united by a belief in our mission and a focus on delivering measurable results. We’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer and are committed to creating a fully inclusive workplace, where everyone feels able to participate and contribute meaningfully. You must be open-minded, curious, resilient, and solutions-oriented, and committed to promoting equality, and safeguarding the welfare of team members and clients alike.

To perform this role, it is essential that you have the following skills:

• Proven management experience from a complex international organisation
• Proven experience of driving impact, quality and sustainability in international programmes and improving operational standards
• Demonstrable ability to thrive in a matrix management environment. Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching
• Demonstrable ability to collaborate with team members who have a wide range of experiences and backgrounds.
• Excellent project management skills related to organisational development projects and international, cross- functional teams with a proven history of delivering results
• Proven capacity into donor compliance whilst delivering projects
• Experienced in facilitation and team building skills
• Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy-in from the necessary stakeholders
• Strong analytical and technical skills
• Highly developed relationship development and communication (oral and written) skills
• Highly developed problem solving, diplomatic, networking and negotiation skills
• Demonstration of ‘making things happen’, operating at pace and delivering effectively through others, as well as adapting quickly to shifting priorities

To perform this role, it is essential that you have the following experience:

• Proven experience of driving impact, quality and sustainability in international programmes and improving operational standards
• Experience implementing complex international development programs and projects inessential (or highly desirable)
• Ability to produce, deliver and present meaningful financial analysis and recommend appropriate actions to enhance organizational performance.
• Ability to initiate, develop and maintain relationships with their staff, peers and external stakeholders at a senior level

Formal education/qualification

• Educated to degree level MSc, MBA, MA, MPH or equivalent degree (desirable, but not essential)
• Knowledge of French language (essential) in addition to English

Personal Attributes:

We seek exceptional individuals who are aligned to MSI’s mission and entrepreneurial mindset. You must be a strong communicator, self-motivated and solutions-seeking, committed to driving social change in an environment that measures sustainable results and impact at an individual and global level. You must be able to work effectively with and across diverse teams and be comfortable with ambiguity.

For this role, we’re looking for an individual who is:

• Energy, drive and unwavering commitment for MSI’s mission, with the ability to push boundaries, and make tough decisions and challenge others in line with our mission.
• Passionate about our clients and strives to consistently meet and exceed expectations, putting the clients at the centre of everything, and ensuring we deliver high quality, high impact services that meet their individual needs.
• Highly motivated with the ability to motivate and develop the skills of the team and inspire individuals and teams through situational leadership and by providing clear direction.
• Works as part of a team, providing support and flexibility to colleagues, demonstrating fairness, understanding and respect for all people and cultures.
• Ability to influence key stakeholders at all levels both internally and externally within the organisation. Acts as a true MSI ambassador.
• A commercial mind-set, understanding the levers for profitability for success within the marketplace. Focuses on results, ensuring long term sustainability and increased impact.
• Ability to work independently and be self-motivated in defining goals and objectives
• Ability to work well with others in a team environment and across disciplines and cultures
• Passion for service excellence and improving quality
• Highly motivated, collaborative work style, creative thinker, highest levels of integrity, and a strong ethical sense
• Strong supporter of the cause of family planning and the right to safe abortion
• Ability to travel (up to 20% of the time) and at times to fragile and conflict settings, at short notice

Please click here to view the job framework

Location: London Support Office (hybrid working – 2 days per week in the office) or where any MSI country programme operates.

Full-time: 35 hours a week, Monday to Friday for UK based team members (for other countries the working hours will be in line with the local labour law).

Contract type: 3 year fixed term contract.

Salary: £46,000 - £59,600 per annum for UK based candidates. Discretionary bonus + benefits. For all other locations, the salary will be banded within the national context.

Salary band: BG 10

Closing date: 9th July 2024 (midnight GMT+1). Interviews may take place before this date for exceptional candidates.

For internal employees applying from an MSI country programme, the role will be positioned within the existing salary structure of the country. Local terms and conditions of the country will apply.