Marie Stopes Kenya (MSK) has been operational in Kenya for 35 years. It is the largest provider of family planning services and offers life-saving and life-enhancing services to men and women of all ages through a range or sexual and reproductive health service through its own clinic outlets, 11 Outreach teams, a Public Sector Support Programme, a network of franchise outlets and the marketing of RH commodities. In addition, MSK has a 24-bed nursing home in Nairobi.

Under supervision from the Country Director, the Programmes and Operations Director will contribute to the organizational strategic planning, coordination, and implementation of the business plan. S/he is responsible for the overall results, reporting and management of the relevant donor-funded programmes, ensuring that strategy is effectively implemented and informed by evidence as well as new business development.

As a member of the Country Management Team, the position holder provides leadership, guidance, technical support and capacity building to the Programme teams, whilst ensuring adherence to all MSI standard policies and best practices.

Key Responsibilities

Effective Operational Delivery

 Successful development and delivery of Marie Stopes Kenya (MSK) operations in line with the values of the MSK Partnership and the goals of sustainability and leading the family planning sector

 Develop and implement a 3-5 year pipeline of potential new delivery models in line with Kenya’s economic changes and donor priorities

 Develop new business models with a wider range of services reaching a broader range of clients with a new demand generation model, in line with MSK’s strategic goals.

 Through the programmes and operations team, ensure business development strategies and work plans are developed and implemented, with a particular focus on driving MSK towards programmes sustainability and increasing access to family planning and SRH services in Kenya

 Ensure efficient and effective performance management of all programmes and operations delivery streams by providing guidance and implementing innovative improvements and corrective action where needed.

 Ensure effective communication between support office and teams based in field stations (including Social Franchise, Public Sector Strengthening and Outreach) to maximise performance.

Robust Project and Financial Management

 Ensure that all policies, systems and standard operating procedures, donor compliances are followed in the process of programme planning, procurement and implementation;

 Ensure grant compliance and effective project management – including project design, activities management and implementation, project performance tracking against defined indicators, budget tracking and timely financial and narrative reporting;

 Fully responsible for the management of the programmes and operations department budget including both services and financial targets;

 Provide on-job coaching to budget holders in their team to develop their ability to manage projects;

 Ensure accurate donor reporting is within the donor regulations and submitted within the relevant donor timeframes;

 Develop key templates for management of donors including but not limited to monthly tracking of activities and budgets with variances analysis;
 Ensure accuracy and timeframes of government reporting requirements are successfully met.

Quality Clinical Standards and Client Care
 Ensure that all service delivery channels provide quality services within the set MSI Medical Quality Standards;
 Ensure all initiatives by medical teams are effectively introduced in operational delivery (including Social Franchise, Public Sector Strengthening and Outreach) and ensure regular, effective supervision to field teams to check adherence to MSK protocol;
 Through the operations team, ensure that the rights and needs of clients are given priority and that clients are properly advised on their rights, treatment methods and options;

Ensure all incidences are reported and investigated according to Medical Development Team guidelines using the MSI provided templates/systems by all service channels under operations.

Solid Team Leadership and Development

 Provide the leadership and guidance to the team that enhances individual and team productivity with a focus on sustainability and increased results;
 Work with the Country Director to ensure the operations and programmes team structure proactively supports delivery teams to reach their targets.
 Directly manage and supervise the performance of the Operations Team (including Social Franchise, Public Sector Strengthening and Outreach both at Support Office and in the Field).
 Develop a professional culture in line with MSK core values that lead to a motivated, innovative and productive operational team (support office and field teams)
 Motivate and innovative productive service delivery teams (including Social Franchise, Public Sector Strengthening and outreach) offering appropriate support to these teams
 In collaboration with the People & Development Director, manage recruitment, performance monitoring, team motivation, and support of personal development of all programme and operational staff both at support office and in the field.
 Manage all aspects of safeguarding and Anti-Fraud and Bribery in his/her team.
 Raise the quality of programme and operational management through the development of an operations training curriculum in partnership with other departments/external relationships.

Efficient Operational Process and Systems
 Ensure a high standard of operational efficiency and effectiveness in operations (including Social Franchise, Public Sector Strengthening and outreach) with clear, transparent operational systems in place.
 Detail annual review of all operational system manuals for continued strengthening, roll out of new operational systems in a timely manner. Review to include operational team feedback.
 Create new operational systems manuals for new business operations including development, implementation and monitoring
 Manage the programmes/operations Team to ensure that they follow strict, consistent and documented procedures relating to clients, income and expenditure, and the management of stock, equipment and assets
 Manage the team to ensure regular supervisory visits to field teams with appropriate follow up
 Manage operational logistics including stock distribution to ensure positive impact on operations

Proactive Collaboration:
 Work closely with the Marketing Department to ensure a high level of participation in and commitment to promotional/marketing plans and demand generation activities for improved sustainability form all operational team members
 Work closely with the Marketing Department to ensure effective internal and external communications to ensure all team members and stakeholders are well informed on MSK activities
 Ensure that all MSK team members understand through formal training, on-the-job training and feedback and play their role in the promotion of the SRH & FP program.
 Work closely with the Marketing Manager to design and implement marketing strategies and plans.
 Identify opportunities for corporate/business partnerships that will contribute to the organization’s mission and goal.
 Support the Country Director to develop new commercial initiatives to enhance sustainability

Qualifications:
 Masters Degree in Business Management or Public Health or related course
 Knowledge of Operations, Commercial and Financial Management
 Fluent in English both oral and written

Skills and Experience:
 Minimum of 5 years of experience in Senior Management role, managing country-wide operations
either in the private or INGO sector. Proven experience in strategy, operational delivery, project management, innovation, successful introduction of new services/activities, and increasing financial performance.
 Significant experience managing multi-tiered management structures with evidence of increased performance/sustainability
 Solid experience in experience developing partnerships across a range of stakeholders (public/private) to drive increased performance
 Able to develop and articulate a clear strategic vision with robust operational delivery plans to the role
 Negotiation, influencing and conflict management skills
 Good interpersonal and soft skills with proven ability to ‘sell’ ideas, concepts with
 Strong written, reading and spoken English Language skills
 ICT proficient