Operations Manager, PLSO Ukraine

ABOUT Q2 IMPACT

The QED Group, LLC, doing business as Q2 Impact, is a global consulting firm with more than 25 years of experience providing data-driven and insightful solutions in close to 100 countries. We are passionate about transforming lives through knowledge-based solutions. Leveraging deep expertise in monitoring, evaluation, and learning, we help our clients collect, analyze, visualize, and ultimately use data in more effective ways. Our work maximizes results through the use of cutting-edge technologies and innovation, organizational development, and evidence-based decision-making.

Q2 Impact is recruiting for an experienced Operations Manager to lead the anticipated USAID/Ukraine Partner Liaison Security Office (PLSO). The contract will provide USAID/Ukraine Implementing Partners (IPs) and their sub-partners resources, security information, and opportunities to reduce their security risk profile with the goal of improving delivery of UAG assistance. The PLSO serves as a liaison to and facilitates communications between the IPs and USAID/Ukraine, and between IPs themselves, to enable the IPs to better use and share publically available information as a decision support mechanism.

POSITION SUMMARY
The Operations Manager, for Ukraine PLSO is the leading member of the security team and is responsible for the management of the PLSO program. The position oversees all aspects of the program, including HR, long-term expatriate and local staff, short-term technical experts, financial management. The Operations Manager will be the primary liaison between Q2 Impact home office and USAID. The Operations Manager ensures compliance and will represent the program to external audiences, including USAID, IPs, other USG agencies, and other donors as required.

**This position is based in Ukraine**

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as the USAID/Ukraine Liaison to the Executive Office (EXO) for IP security matters and serves as the point of contact between USAID and its IPs on security issues.
• Collaborate with the Mission’s technical teams, EXO leadership, and other USG agencies in Ukraine and be the primary POC for the Contracting Officer Representative and the Contracting Officer.
• Support IPs identify needs and sisues relevant to their safety and security related to non-front line and front-line specific issues and needs.
• Understand medical and general evacuation/recovery procedures.
• Coordinate with relevant in-country entities for the purpose of sharing and aggregating security information among partners working in the same environment, including but not limited to convening and/or promoting IP information-sharing and networking events or tools.
• Facilitate formal and informal briefings to newly arrived international staff of USAID IPs tailored to suit the IPs organizational approach and area of operations. Provide briefings to individual IPs and include non-prescriptive personal security advice.
• Understand security from the Ukraine context.
• Maintain relationships with member-based organizations in Ukraine including OSAC, INSO Ukraine, ASIS Ukraine, European Business Associatation Security Committee, US Chamber of Commerce Defence and Security Council.
• Maintain required security and training-related certifications and ensure that the project team does the same.
• Oversee information gathering and analysis, and report on political, security sector, economic, social/humanitarian, and infrastructure issues in Ukraine as they relate to IP programs and operations.
• Develop and maintain platform to assist the IP community and Mission communicate security issues that impact programs and operations.
• Review and provide improvements and guidance to security plans, security upgrades and security-related contract or award modifications, including associated costs, and provide non-prescriptive, non-mandatory guidance to the CO.
• Provide the CO, COR, and IPs medium and long-term, concise and actionable, contextual analysis as to underlying drivers and possible impacts of security incidents/conditions relevant to IP security, USAID staff, and the RSO. Provide assessments of the security environment and communicate changes among the network.

MINIMUM EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree with a preference for a degree in criminal justice, political science, or foreign assistance-related field.
• A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in relevant field, such as military or security operations or crisis management or law enforcement.
• A minimum of 7 years of experience in security operations management, crisis management and/or security programming in Ukraine or a similar country context in Eastern Europe, preferably working with USAID IPs and stakeholders at various levels of government.
• At least 5 years of management and supervisory experience working on programs that are similar in size and scope to the PLSO, with a preference for Ukraine and/or Eastern Europe and a preference for having worked with USAID.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a dynamic of numerous stakeholders and develop/maintain a network of various entities at all levels (e.g., USG agencies, IPs, CSOs, NGOs, local government, military, etc.).
• Demonstrated experience in safety and security protocols in high-risk environments, particularly in Ukraine.
• Demonstrable leadership skills and ability to manage a high-performing team, including recruiting, training, and supporting staff to continuously meet program demands.
• Fluency in English, fluency in Ukrainian is preferred.

SALARY RANGE: $150,000 – $204,000

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

• This position reports to the Director of institutional Support Services.

This position description is an overview of the major functions and requirements of this position. This document is not intended to be an exhaustive list encompassing every duty and requirement of the position; the Employee’s Manager may assign other duties as related or as otherwise deemed appropriate and necessary within the general scope, without the need for additional compensation.

Please note that applications submitted by other means; or without either a resume/CV and/or biodata may not be considered. Only finalists will be contacted.

The Q2 Impact is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, Minorities, Veterans, and individuals with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. AA/V/D. Reasonable accommodation requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.