Position Location: Remote, preferably in Latin America or Continental United States
Background: Creative Associates International is a dynamic, fast-growing global development firm that specializes in education, economic growth, democratic institutions and stabilization. Based in Washington, D.C., Creative has a global field presence with a strong client portfolio that includes the U.S. Department of State and Department of Labor, among others. Since its founding in 1977, Creative has earned a solid reputation among its clients and is well-regarded by competitors and partners alike.
Project Summary: The U.S. Department of State–funded Western Hemisphere Financial Flows and Extractive Industries Program (FFEIP) supports select foreign governments in strengthening the abilities of key institutions responsible for financial intelligence, investigations, prosecutions, and regional coordination to disrupt illicit gold networks that sustain transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs).
Position Summary: Creative Associates International seeks a Senior Operations Manager to oversee the operational and financial management of FFEIP. The Senior Operations Manager will ensure efficient, compliant, and timely implementation of program activities across multiple countries, overseeing procurement, consultant contracting, financial administration, travel and event logistics, and participant vetting. Working closely with program leadership and Creative’s Home Office, the Senior Operations Manager will strengthen operational systems and internal controls, monitor budgets and expenditures, manage financial documentation and reporting, and provide operational guidance to program staff and partners to ensure compliance with U.S. Department of State requirements and Creative policies and procedures.
Reporting & Supervision: The Senior Operations Manager will report directly to the Program Manager as a member of the project management team. The Senior Operations Manager will maintain close coordination with Creative’s Home Office Project Support Pool, Global Operations, Finance, and other relevant support teams.
Primary Responsibilities:
Operations:
- Ensure that program implementation is in accordance with U.S. Department of State regulations and procedures and the specifications determined in the award. This will include compliance, assuring fair and transparent procurement processes, review of financial management, monitoring activity implementation, logistics, consultant management, and contributing to programmatic reporting.
- Serve as the primary operational liaison between program staff, implementing partners, and Creative’s Home Office, coordinating human resources, administrative, logistical planning and operational support needs.
- Establish and maintain consistent operational systems, procedures, internal controls, and documentation standards across program locations, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and mitigate operational risks.
- Coordinate travel arrangements, accommodations, venues, transportation, materials, and other logistical requirements for consultants, trainers, program staff, and participants.
- Coordinate with technical teams and implementing partners to ensure timely deployment of subject matter experts and readiness of training and mentoring activities.
- Provide operational guidance, training, and troubleshooting support to program staff and partners, including through periodic travel to FFEIP activity locations as necessary.
- Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Program Manager and consistent with the needs of the program.
Procurement and Consultant Management:
- Oversee procurement planning, vendor selection, contracting, and purchasing processes, ensuring fair, transparent, cost-effective, and timely procurement in accordance with Creative’s Field Manual and applicable award requirements.
- Serve as the primary procurement liaison with Creative’s Home Office, coordinating requisitions, requests for quotations/proposals, scopes of work, source selection documentation, purchase orders, blanket purchase agreements, and other procurement instruments.
- Coordinate technical evaluation committees, vendor due diligence, procurement documentation, and procurement file reviews or audits, as required.
- Support the identification and recruitment of subject matter experts and manage consultant contracting, onboarding, and deployment arrangements in coordination with program leadership and Creative’s Home Office.
Financial Management and Reporting:
- In coordination with Creative’s Home Office, support the daily financial operations of the project.
- Serve as the primary financial liaison between the FFEIP field staff and Creative’s Home Office Finance team to ensure all program financial records and supporting documentation are complete, accurate, properly maintained, and audit-ready, and meet operating country requirements.
- Prepare authorized payment requests to vendors in accordance with applicable award requirements and Creative financial policies and procedures for processing by Creative’s Home Office.
- Contribute to timely quarterly, annual, final, and other required financial reports on program expenditures and budget status, and coordinate with Creative’s Home Office Finance and Award Management teams for review, approval, and submission, as applicable.
- Review financial closeout of program activities, ensuring expenditures are reconciled and all required financial documentation and supporting programmatic records are complete and compliant with applicable award requirements and Creative policies and procedures.
Compliance and Vetting:
- Ensure operational compliance with U.S. Department of State award requirements, applicable U.S. Government regulations, Creative policies and procedures, and relevant local laws and regulations.
- Coordinate with Creative’s Home Office on compliance matters, including obtaining appropriate guidance on sanctions, eligibility restrictions, and other applicable legal or policy requirements.
- Manage the collection, verification, and submission of required information for Leahy Vetting of eligible training participants and beneficiaries, coordinating with U.S. Embassy counterparts to support timely approvals.
- Coordinate required operational communications with U.S. Embassy counterparts regarding planned trainings, participant vetting, and other implementation requirements.
- Monitor compliance risks, documentation standards, and operational controls, escalating potential issues and supporting corrective actions as necessary.
Required Skills & Qualifications:
- Required BA degree in a relevant field (international relations, political science, business, or a related field), MA, MS, or MBA degree preferred.
- Minimum of ten years of professional work experience, including at least four years of relevant experience in a senior operations role.
- Demonstrated experience managing the budgets and procurement plans of multi-year donor-funded programs of similar size and complexity. Experience managing U.S. Department of State-funded program finances and budgets preferred; comparable experience with other U.S. Government agencies or international donors will also be considered; familiarity with U.S. Embassy operations and information flows preferred.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, supervisory, and leadership skills, with demonstrated ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.
- Must have existing legal authorization to work in their country of residence, be eligible to perform duties under a regional remote work arrangement, and able to conduct short-term travel throughout the Western Hemisphere, subject to Creative’s employment policies and applicable local laws.
Preferred Skills & Qualifications
- Fluency in Spanish and professional proficiency and fluency in written and spoken English are highly encouraged.
Only finalists will be contacted. No phone calls, please.
Creative Associates International Inc. is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer (gender/race/disability/veteran) and provides equal opportunity to all individuals regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by state, federal, or local law. Please view Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Posters provided by OFCCP here.