Role Description

Application deadline: May 17, 2024

The Savings Group Operations Advisor is responsible for supporting the operations of HOPE’s global network of savings group ministries. Key areas of focus

include operations quality, listening monitoring & evaluation (LM&E), and project management. HOPE International implements savings group ministries by equipping and supporting a network of church denominations and missionally-aligned ministry organizations with a holistic, church-centered savings group ministry. The goal is for the church partner to own and operate the SG ministry in a way that is consistent with their church’s structure and context. The Savings Group Operations Advisor will serve as a leader on the savings group operations team and will be responsible for program support, evaluation, and implementation.

• Location: Lancaster, PA or Durham, NC; remote US considered (willing to work EST hours). Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, or Benin,

• Level: Professional

• Salary range: $44,000-$50,000*

• Type: Full-time

• Department: Savings Group Programs

• Reports to: Savings Group Operations Manager

Responsibilities

• Promote and fulfill the mission and vision of HOPE International.
• Savings Group Operations Support
• Model servant-leadership in the work environment, including with HOPE co-workers and ministry stakeholders.
• Contribute to a culture that models Biblical principles and incorporates an intentional and effective Christ-centered witness in all savings group programs.
• Provide support to HOPE’s regional directors, country directors, and field teams by supporting capacity building and onboarding of new staff members, as well as special projects.
• Participate in regular savings group team meetings and planning/strategy sessions, carrying out assigned tasks and working to support field leadership for country-specific and network-wide initiatives.
• Support the development and maintenance of tools to support operational excellence.
• Listening, Monitoring & Evaluation
• Liaise with the HOPE LM&E team, and act as project manager and a point-of-contact for LM&E efforts on the Savings Group team.
• Contribute to the design and implementation of integrated feedback loops between quality assurance, LM&E, and core operations. Ensure that findings from both the quality assurance processes and LM&E activities are addressed and ultimately lead to improvements in operations.
• Process and Tool Improvement
• Support the improvement of department wide risk management tools to reflect current methodology and improve efficiency.
• Support updates to the curriculum using InDesign.
• Support monthly reporting, annual planning, and other routine processes by ensuring tools are up-to-date and the process is efficient and well understood by each stakeholder involved. This could include updating tools, creating and implementing planning processes, as well as training and coaching staff on the process.
• Project Management
• Provide skilled project management for multiple long and short-term projects across the savings group team. Expectations include creating project schedules, maintaining deadlines, facilitating project check-ins, and ultimately completing the project on time.
• Assist operations team management to ensure smooth team operations. Maintain accurate vision across team project workload, proactively raising concerns as needed.
• Act as liaison between project requestors and the SG operations team and coordinate with interdisciplinary and cross-cultural teams including LM&E, finance, and field program resources.
• Lead projects from start to finish with efficiency and effective implementation, aligning with HOPE’s Theory of Change key outcomes.
• Manage project teams with multiple stakeholders in varying contexts.
• Other
• Complete special projects as needed. Past examples include: assessing grant-making guidelines, tracking program data for HOPE’s internal rating procedure, and sharing HOPE’s operational resources with external organizations as a part of the Open Hands project.
• Ongoing savings group program team support as guided by the SG Operations Manager.

Qualifications

• Personal confession of Christian faith and commitment to the mission and vision of HOPE International.

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in economics, business management, or equivalent, and 2+ years of professional experience in international development, business, cross-cultural ministry, or a related field.

• Expertise using MS Excel for reporting and ability to create tools and templates in excel using formulas.

• Project management and organizational skills, including effective time management and prioritization of competing demands and multiple deadlines.

• Experience with monitoring and evaluation (M&E) preferred, preferably in an international development context.

• Proven leadership abilities; significant experience with cross-cultural collaboration.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Detail oriented, self-starter with demonstrated ability to work independently and in collaboration with a team.

• The ability to think critically, anticipate needs, and proactively improve processes.

• Fluent in spoken and written English; preferred proficiency in French.

• Willingness to travel 1-2 times per year to the countries where HOPE operates.

Special application instructions

* Note on salary: HOPE International determines starting salary ranges based on internal equity and the external market. Because we take a market-based approach to pay, this salary range is specific to US-based employment. Hires made in other countries will have a salary range based on local market factors and this range will be disclosed during the interview process.

Additional information