Senior Operations Manager

Job Title: Senior Operations Manager

Project Name: FCDO-funded Programme (Supporting Adaptive Defence Reform II)

Job Type: Full-time

Location of Position: Kyiv, Ukraine (office)

Reporting to: Head of Board

Remuneration: Fees are subject to negotiation in line with market rates

Indicative LOE/Time Frame: Full time, Sep 2026 - March 2027 (with possible extension)

Application Deadline: 23 Aug 2026

Application Instructions:

1. A cover letter is mandatory to be considered. Cover letters should effectively align your skills and experiences with the specific job responsibilities outlined in the position's description, demonstrating your aptitude and enthusiasm for the role, your daily fee and current availability.
2. Click the "Apply Now" link to upload your cover letter and CV in English.
3. Only successful shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

About NGO Edge:

NGO Edge is a Ukrainian non-governmental organization implementing large-scale international technical assistance programmes. We are seeking an experienced Senior Operations Manager to lead operational management of an FCDO-funded programme, ensuring efficient delivery, donor compliance, digital transformation, and continuous improvement of internal systems.

Project Description:

The FCDO commissioned NGO EDGE to implement the project "Supporting Adaptive Defence Reform - II" (SADR-II), building on the foundations laid by its predecessor programme. The project forms part of the UK government's broader commitment to strengthening defence governance and institutional resilience in partner countries, in line with FCDO's wider security sector reform objectives. We are seeking an experienced Senior Operations Manager to lead operational management of the programme, ensuring efficient delivery, donor compliance, digital transformation, and continuous improvement of internal systems.

About the Work:

The Senior Operations Manager will serve as the operational lead for the programme, overseeing operations, procurement, planning, compliance, consultant and sub-grantee coordination, process automation, and organizational systems. The role will drive operational excellence while introducing automation and AI-enabled solutions to improve efficiency and scalability. Reporting directly to the Head of the Board and worksing closely with the Finance Manager, programme teams, and other senior staff to ensure efficient programme delivery and organizational performance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leading the day-to-day operational management of the programme
• Supervising operational staff, including the Project Coordinator, Administrative Assistant, and other operations personnel
• Coordinating the operational management, onboarding, and performance monitoring of consultants and sub-grantees
• Leading the Activity-Based Budget (ABB) planning process by coordinating with programme and finance teams, consolidating inputs, quality-assuring assumptions, and presenting recommendations to the Head of the Board
• Overseeing procurement, contracts, logistics, asset management, and operational planning in compliance with FCDO requirements and internal policies
• Ensuring donor compliance, effective internal controls, audit readiness, operational risk management, and consistent policy implementation
• Developing, documenting, and continuously improving SOPs, workflows, and operational systems
• Leading appropriate digital transformation initiatives, including business-process automation and the responsible implementation of AI-enabled solutions
• Identifying opportunities to reduce manual work, improve data quality, and increase organisational efficiency through technology
• Supporting organisational growth, cross-team collaboration, and continuous improvement

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Master's degree in business administration, operations management, international development, public administration, or another relevant field
• At least 7 years of progressively responsible operational management experience, including experience supervising staff or coordinating operational teams
• Demonstrated experience managing donor-funded programmes, preferably funded by FCDO, USAID, the EU, the UN, or another comparable donor
• Strong written and spoken English (minimum B2; C1 preferred), as English will be the primary working language with the client
• Native-level or full professional proficiency in Ukrainian for engagement with local suppliers and stakeholders
• Strong practical knowledge of procurement, contracting, compliance, finance coordination, internal controls, and risk management
• Demonstrated experience leading process improvement, workflow automation, or digital transformation initiatives
• Experience implementing AI-enabled or workflow-automation solutions responsibly is highly desirable