Operations Officer at African Development Solutions (Adeso)

The Operations Officer main role is to provide cross-cutting operational support across Adeso’s full portfolio, including both nonprofit programs and for-profit enterprises. The officer will contribute to the smooth functioning of the organization by coordinating procurement, logistics, administration, compliance tracking, and oversee procurement processes and related documentation. Working closely with the Operations, Programs, Finance, and Subsidiary teams, the Operations Officer will ensure that internal systems are efficient, compliant, and adaptable to the needs of a dynamic and growing organization. The ideal candidate will bring strong coordination skills, attention to detail, and the ability to navigate diverse operational contexts from field-level logistics to enterprise support.

SPECIFIC ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Operations Coordination
• Coordinate daily operational activities for Adeso’s programs, departments, and subsidiaries.
• Ensure timely processing of procurement, logistics, and administrative requests in line with internal procedures.
• Maintain organized records for operational processes, contracts, licenses, and regulatory submissions.
• Procurement & Vendor Management
• Lead procurement of goods and services, ensuring transparency, compliance, and value for money.
• Manage vendor relations, contract execution, and delivery tracking.
• Support development and enforcement of procurement policies and guidelines.
• Reinforce a tracking system for all local and HQ procurements on behalf of the subsidiaries and Adeso.
• Ensure framework agreements are in place for major and high-value items procurements.
• Receive, review, and process vendor and contractor documentation including invoices, delivery notes, and contracts, ensuring completeness and compliance with internal procedures.
• Coordinate with Finance to ensure timely processing of vendor and contractor payments.
• Develop a supplier lists, review and update regularly.
• In collaboration with the units team leaders and managers, Officer will develop and regularly update the procurement plan.
• Logistics & Supply Chain Support
• Coordinate logistics for product/service delivery, inventory movement, and warehousing.
• Monitor inventory and ensure proper asset tracking across offices and field sites.
• Oversee event and workshop logistics, including resource planning and follow-up.
• Administrative, Compliance & Legal Support
• Manage routine administrative tasks, including office coordination, travel logistics, and documentation.
• Track compliance with statutory requirements such as licenses, tax filings, and insurance.
• Contribute to policy development and periodic review of operational SOPs.
• Support drafting, review, and filing of contracts, agreements, and SLAs.
• Maintain records of legal and compliance documents for audits and reviews.
• Systems Strengthening & Innovation
• Identify operational inefficiencies and propose improvements.
• Support adoption of tools and platforms that enhance workflow automation.
• Participate in the documentation and rollout of new SOPs.
• Coordination & Reporting
• Serve as a liaison between operations and other departments to ensure crossfunctional alignment.
• Provide regular updates on operational status, challenges, and compliance needs.
• Contribute to internal reporting and audit preparations.

EDUCATION, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Operations Management, Logistics, or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in operations, administration, or compliance support within a private sector, startup, or social enterprise environment.
• Experience in drafting or reviewing contracts and service-level agreements (SLAs).
• Familiarity with compliance standards and regulatory filings for business entities (e.g., licensing, tax, vendor agreements).
• Previous exposure to procurement, asset management, and enterprise operations.
• Experience in both nonprofit and private sector operations is required; strong private sector experience will be considered an added advantage.