Director of Operations and Finance – VIA Foundation

Position Title: Director of Operations and Finance

Location: Kigali, Rwanda

Start Date: As soon as possible

Disclaimer: This position is for the Vumbuzi Impact Africa (VIA) Foundation – a new, independent nonprofit organization registered in Rwanda, which operates separately from the World Resources Institute (WRI). WRI is assisting with the recruitment of this position, and the candidate will be hired exclusively by the VIA Foundation. You will not be an employee of WRI under any circumstance. The hired applicant will be an employee of the VIA Foundation. WRI has no legal liability or oversight regarding employment, funding, or operations or any other issue associated with the employment of this position. All hiring and employment responsibilities including reporting, and funding associated with this role are managed solely by the VIA Foundation and its Board of Directors. Applicants should be aware that employment terms, policies, and procedures will be of the VIA Foundation and not WRI. The hiring organization is subject to and will adhere to Rwandan law regulations. WRI takes no legal responsibility or otherwise for the employment with the VIA Foundation.

About Vumbuzi Impact Africa (VIA) Foundation

The VIA Foundation is a recently founded financial intermediary organization dedicated to supporting the acceleration and scale-up of Ecosystem Restoration efforts across member countries of the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100). The mission of the VIA Foundation is to provide innovative financial solutions and strategic support to restoration champions, the local organizations that mobilize communities to revitalize degraded land.

As a trusted and up-and-coming intermediary, the VIA Foundation intends to mobilize resources, foster partnerships, and drive the implementation of sustainable landscape restoration projects. Our goal is to enhance ecosystem resilience, empower local communities, and contribute to global climate goals. With the support of a newly appointed board and executive management team, VIA aims to create a legacy of restored landscapes that thrive both ecologically and economically, ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.

Scope and schedule of work

1. Position Overview 

As VIA Foundation moves towards full operationalization, we are excited to welcome a results-driven Director of Operations and Finance who will play a dual role in driving operational efficiency and overseeing financial management. This position will focus on streamlining daily operations while ensuring robust financial oversight, aligning both functions to advance the foundation’s mission. In this pivotal role, you will oversee the foundation’s daily operations, ensuring seamless execution of initiatives that align with our bold mission. You will play a critical part in fostering growth and amplifying our impact across the continent, with an initial focus on the three landscapes: The Greater Rift Valley of Kenya; the Lake Kivu & Rusizi River Basin of Burundi, DRC, and Rwanda; and the Ghana Cocoa Belt. This is a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of transformative change while driving real, lasting progress. 

By April 2025, VIA Foundation will build its core operational policies, procedures, and team, with the goal of issuing grants to 100+ local organizations. Building on the established TerraFund program at World Resources Institute, your work will allow VIA Foundation to demonstrate its ability to catalyze public, private, and philanthropic capital to locally led organizations across the continent.

WRI will serve as the Guardian of VIA, collaborating extensively with the foundation to support its operationalization. This collaboration includes working closely with VIA, and the Director of Operations and Finance to establish VIA’s operational framework, financial systems, and governance policies, ensuring adherence to legal and regulatory requirements. While WRI provides this guardianship role, the Director will operate independently within the VIA Foundation's governance structure, maintaining a clear separation from WRI’s guardianship responsibilities.

1. Responsibilities:

You will play a key leadership role, driving the day-to-day operations and finance while aligning efforts with the foundation’s strategic goals. Key responsibilities include: 

Accounting (40%):

• Ensure all financial and accounting transactions are properly supported and processed in the foundation’s financial management system.
• Prepare monthly reconciliations for bank accounts and other general ledger accounts for the foundation.
• Review and post financial transactions, collaborating with program and operations staff to ensure accurate accounting and coding.
• Prepare journal entries for corrections of misallocated expenses.
• Ensure timely and accurate monthly financial close processes.
• Manage advances and receivables for staff and oversee expense reconciliation for corporate credit cards.
• Support the development and implementation of financial policies and procedures.
• Ensure compliance with donor guidelines, managing awards and grants, including the preparation of financial reports and required documentation for donor reporting.

Operations (30%):

• Review all payment requests for completeness and compliance before approval.
• Process payments to vendors and staff, ensuring timely and accurate disbursements.
• Oversee subgrant advances and reimbursements to restoration champions and private fund partners.
• Collaborate with program staff to ensure smooth processing of participant payments, including mobile money transactions.
• Maintain and reconcile the mobile money account.
• Ensure adherence to standard procedures, tools, and templates in alignment with the foundation’s operational framework.
• Lead internal and external audits, ensuring timely preparation of financial reports and documentation.
• Maintain and update the foundation’s asset register, performing regular physical verifications and reconciliations.
• Manage electronic and manual filing systems for efficient record-keeping.

Budgeting and Financial Management (20%):

• Collaborate with program and business development teams to prepare budgets for proposals.
• Review proposal budgets to ensure accuracy, feasibility, and compliance with donor regulations.
• Prepare quarterly fund requests and update budgets and forecasts for projects and operations.
• Monitor project expenditure against budget and provide variance analysis.
• Lead monthly financial reviews to assess spending trends and inform strategic decision-making.
• Provide financial analysis, including dashboards, to inform leadership decisions.
• Support the development of annual and interim financial reports for funders.

Human Resources (5%):

• Collaborate with leadership to develop an HR strategy, policies, and procedures to support foundation growth.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, and employee lifecycle management during the interim period before an HR specialist is hired.
• Develop an Employee Handbook and Administrative Procedures relevant to the foundation’s needs.
• Supervise and provide strategic direction to the HR specialist once onboarded.

Communication (5%):

• Serve as a key liaison between the Foundation Council, staff, and external partners to foster collaboration and transparency.
• Oversee internal and external communication strategies to effectively convey the foundation’s mission and progress.
• Respond to incoming queries and represent the foundation in external engagements, including conferences and meetings.

The Director of Operations and Finance is expected to deliver, at a minimum:

• Comprehensive Annual Strategic Plans: Develop and present a detailed strategic plan outlining the foundation’s goals, objectives, and key initiatives for the upcoming year, ensuring alignment with long-term vision. Present plans to the Foundation Council and the Foundation Guardians.
• Quarterly Operational Reports: Provide and present to senior leadership and Foundation Council in-depth reports on operational activities, accomplishments, and challenges, including insights on areas for improvement and opportunities for growth.
• Accurate and Timely Financial Reports: Deliver precise financial reports, including regular budget updates, financial statements, and performance analysis to ensure financial health and transparency. Work with the CFO to ensure fiscal transparency and health, alerting the senior leadership immediately of any risk factors to be addressed.
• Staff Performance Reviews and Development Plans: Conduct regular performance evaluations and create professional development plans for VIA team members to foster growth, engagement and high performance across the foundation. Create visionary growth strategies, high performance systems, and succession plans for all positions aligned with VIA’s growth.
• Risk Management & Compliance Reports: Ensure operations comply with regulatory standards and proactively identify and manage risks to safeguard the foundation's reputation and mission.
• Operational Efficiency Improvements: Identify and implement process improvements that enhance the foundation’s overall efficiency, ensuring the highest standards of performance and productivity. Update and evolve processes as the foundation grows.

1. Reporting:

In the current phase of the VIA Foundation’s development, you will report directly to the VIA Foundation Board of Directors and the Guardian. This reporting line ensures clear oversight and support from the Board during the foundation’s operational phase. You will be responsible for managing day-to-day operations and aligning VIA’s strategic objectives with its mission.

1. Qualification and Experience:

• Advanced Degree: Master’s degree in business administration, Nonprofit Management, Public Administration, or a related field. An equivalent combination of experience and education may also be considered. You must be a CPA/ACCA.
• Extensive Leadership Experience: A minimum of 10 years in senior management, with a proven track record of leading large-scale operations, ideally in the nonprofit, philanthropic, or mission-driven sectors.
• Operational and Strategic Expertise: Demonstrated success in overseeing day-to-day operations, strategic planning, financial oversight, and risk management in complex organizational settings. 
• Exceptional Leadership & People Management: Strong leadership skills with a history of building, managing, and mentoring high-performing teams. Experience in fostering a positive organizational culture, driving engagement, and aligning staff with organizational goals.
• Exceptional Communication & Stakeholder Engagement: Excellent verbal and written communication skills with experience engaging internal teams, external partners, and board-level stakeholders. Ability to represent the organization with credibility, confidence, and influence.
• Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills: Strong organizational abilities with a strategic mindset. Capable of analyzing complex situations and developing creative solutions to operational and organizational challenges.
• Tech-Savvy & Data-Driven: Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, financial management software, and other relevant digital tools. Experience in leveraging technology to improve operational efficiency and data-driven decision-making. Experience with Workday advantageous.
• Language Skills: Fluency in written and verbal English and French.
• Requirements: Existing work authorization is required where this position is based. VIA is unable to provide work authorization
   

1. Key Competencies

The Director will demonstrate the following core competencies:

• Visionary Leadership: Ability to inspire, motivate, and guide teams toward achieving the foundation’s mission and strategic objectives. A track record of fostering a collaborate, results-driven culture that encourages innovation and accountability.
• Strategic Thinking & Execution: Strong capacity to anticipate challenges and opportunities, craft effective strategies, and ensure seamless alignment of operational activities with long-term organizational goals. Ability to translate vision into actionable plans.
• Financial Acumen & Stewardship: Deep expertise in financial planning, budgeting, and resource management to ensure organizational sustainability. Proven ability to monitor financial performance and make sound fiscal decisions that support growth and impact.
• Operational Excellence: Ability to design and implement processes, systems, and policies that optimize efficiency, drive performance, and maintain the highest standards of quality across the foundation.
• Advanced Problem-Solving: Skilled in diagnosing complex operational and organizational issues, crafting innovative and creative solutions, and leading change initiatives that drive continuous improvements.
• Exceptional Communication & Relationship Management: Outstanding interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills. Capable of engaging with diverse internal and external stakeholders, including staff, board members, donors, and strategic partners, to build trust and alignment
• Ethical Judgement & Integrity: Strong moral compass, with a commitment to transparency, accountability, and ethical decision-making in all aspects of leadership and operations.
• Resilience & Agility: Ability to perform under pressure, maintaining focus and poise in fast-paced or uncertain environments. Adaptability to respond effectively to evolving challenges and opportunities

How to apply: Please submit a resume with a required cover letter by the date of 15 January 2025. You must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered. We may close for applications sooner if we receive a high volume of applications from qualified applications

1. Terms and Conditions

The final candidate will be offered a highly competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package that reflects the candidate’s experience, qualifications, and the critical nature of the role. Benefits include healthcare, retirement contributions, and opportunities for professional development.

The position may require occasional travel for meetings, conferences, stakeholder workshops, donor meetings, and key events that further the foundation’s mission and partnerships. You will also have the flexibility to manage a dynamic workload, with the possibility of hybrid work setting.

This is a unique leadership opportunity to work within a mission-driven organization committed to making a lasting impact. You will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the foundation, with opportunities for growth and leadership development.

Disclaimer: This position is for the Vumbuzi Impact Africa (VIA) Foundation – a new, independent nonprofit organization registered in Rwanda, which operates separately from the World Resources Institute (WRI). WRI is assisting with the recruitment of this position, and the candidate will be hired exclusively by the VIA Foundation. You will not be an employee of WRI under any circumstance. The hired applicant will be an employee of the VIA Foundation. WRI has no legal liability or oversight regarding employment, funding, or operations or any other issue associated with the employment of this position. All hiring and employment responsibilities including reporting, and funding associated with this role are managed solely by the VIA Foundation and its Board of Directors. Applicants should be aware that employment terms, policies, and procedures will be of the VIA Foundation and not WRI. The hiring organization is subject to and will adhere to Rwandan law regulations. WRI takes no legal responsibility or otherwise for the employment with the VIA Foundation.