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Job Title                : Director of Operations
 Direct Supervisor: Executive Director
Location                : Kigutu, Burundi

ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND

Village Health Works (VHW) is a 501(c)(3) corporation. It is a social justice organization founded on the belief that global health equity is not a commodity but a right. Currently we are operating in Burundi, East Africa, with offices in New York and Burundi. Founded in 2006, VHW’s mission is to sustainably end extreme, multigenerational poverty in a way that uplifts and engages communities with dignity and in their own context.

Our core values are as follows:

  •     Every member of VHW’s team must value the dignity inherent in each individual, aspire to excellence in all we do, proceed with boldness and perseverance.
  •     Compassion and justice must be at the heart of our organization.
  •     To accomplish the mission of our organization we must be accountable to each other and to our community.

VHW was founded in partnership with the community we serve. We believe that the lack of access to quality healthcare and education based on critical thinking is the biggest threat to development and world peace. The organization uses a holistic model (see our Strategic Plan) to strengthen communities by removing barriers to human dignity and restoring hope, focusing first on treating and preventing illness through primary health care services. We have integrated into and alongside our healthcare programs education, food security program, music, arts and culture, and economic development programs working closely with a strong community engagement program. VHW has built an extensive campus in Kigutu (99 km from the City of Bujumbura) that is nestled amongst lush mountains and overlooks beautiful Lake Tanganyika. With over 500 full-time and part-time employees in Burundi, as well as a small team in the United States, VHW delivers a wide array of programs in a catchment area of 200,000 people within the southern provinces of Burundi.

VHW has invested in two initiatives that have extended its impact across Burundi and serve as a model for the country and region. VHW has completed construction and operationalization of the Kigutu Hospital and Women’s Health Pavilion, an 85,000 sq. ft. state-of-the art teaching hospital with surgical capacity. Additionally, VHW has established the Kigutu International Academy, a grade 9-12 boarding school to equip young minds with an education based on critical thinking to prepare them to become the leaders we wish their country and the continent to have.

For more information, please visit: villagehealthworks.org

Position Overview 

A seasoned and agile Director of Operations will lead the infrastructure, operations, and supply chain teams on its campus in Kigutu, Burundi.  This person will act as the glue for a number of critically important projects, such as VHW’s 150-bed Kigutu Hospital and Women’s Health Pavilion, working with members of the finance and supply chain/operations teams to implement infrastructure projects like the electrical grid, staff housing and schools’ construction, fleet management, and bulk procurement strategies. The Director of Operations will also oversee day-to-day operations, ensuring alignment with VHW’s strategic plan.  The ideal candidate is both able to lead by example and lead by teaching those around her/him, taking the opportunity to turn any situation into a team building and/or capacity building moment.  This person is also a tenacious self-starter who knows how to pivot quickly to find a way forward when a project or important day-to-day operational task hits a bump in the road.

The Director of Operations will report directly to the Executive Director in Burundi and work extensively with the US team on strategic and technical issues. He will supervise key members of the operations team, including the supply chain team, the fleet team, safety and security, and the construction and facilities maintenance teams – which is more than 50 people.

Specific Responsibilities

Operations Strategy, Oversight, and Systems Building

  • Ensure organizational operations align with the strategic plan. Guide, mentor and coach programs to ensure their goals and activities are best practice and are aligned with VHW’s core values and strategic plan.
  • Develop new tools and systems to improve VHW’s core operational efficiency (for example – improved vehicle tracking and fuel costing systems).
  • Facilitate structured reflection on supply chain and operations systems, working to iterate and refine them as feedback is shared.
  • Collaborate with the development team to ensure that grants are budget alleviating, covering the highest operational priorities.
  • Work closely with the Chief Operating Officer to build the necessary teams and capacity for the operations of the Kigutu Hospital (for example, creating and staffing a biomedical engineering team that will maintain the hospital’s medical equipment).

Facilities Management

  • Oversees facilities construction and maintenance teams. Ensure projects are delivered on time, in scope, and under budget.
  • Support on infrastructure projects design, procurement, and implementation – from water treatment, electricity, Internet, new construction, and/or waste management as needed.
  • Ensure contracting and procurement processes are in line with organizational processes and standards.
  • Support and troubleshoot barriers to the successful completion of VHW’s infrastructure initiatives.
  • Solicit service contracts, supervise contractors, and report on value added.

Internal Operations

  • Serve as a senior member of the leadership team, informing policy decisions and developing change of course scenario analysis.
  • Uphold and apply VHW policy daily.
  • Provide supervision and support for clinical operations, including the eventual biomedical engineering department.
  • Work to establish and refine Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for all departments, working closely with Department Leads and Program Managers.
  • Manages all service contracts and maintenance for vendors ranging from VHW’s customs clearance agent to long-term contracts with food vendors and vehicle repair shops.
  • Oversee fleet management and vehicle scheduling.
  • Work closely with the Finance team throughout the purchasing process, from the issuance of purchase requests to payment against purchase orders VHW has issued; ensure documentation is shared and stored appropriately so that budget actuals are accurate and up to date.
  • Oversee and implement safety and security plans and protocols, re-evaluating the organization’s needs and policies on a regular basis to ensure optimal safety and security.
  • Collaborate with members of the clinical and operations teams to develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the hospital — from waste collection and removal to inventory distribution and technical troubleshooting.
  • Innovate and design systems to optimize efficiency, minimize errors, and maximize transparency and information sharing.
  • Team Building: formulate JDs and proposed reporting structures, lead recruitment and candidate development across all operational departments as needed.
  • Contribute actively to VHW strategic planning, goal setting, and key performance indicator setting.

Human Resources

  • Provide a strong day-to-day leadership presence for all staff, bridging the challenges presented by the physical distance between Kigutu and US-based staff; support an open-door policy among all staff.
  • Lead VHW’s performance management process for operations, training and supervising all necessary team members to execute it properly. Evaluate and collate responses, integrating feedback into the annual work plan, organizational policy, and day-to-day operations.
  • Responsible for staff operations and creating a positive and open work culture.

Supply Chain and Materials Management

  • Strategic Planning: Develop and implement comprehensive supply chain strategies to optimize processes and align with organizational goals.
  • Procurement & Sourcing: Oversee the purchasing of raw materials and other resources (priority on medical and pharmaceutical), negotiating optimal contracts and pricing with vendors.
  • Inventory Management: Manage inventory levels to meet demand, prevent stockouts, and ensure sufficient materials and products are available.
  • Logistics & Distribution: Coordinate and manage all aspects of product transportation, storage, and delivery to ensure timely and efficient distribution to end users.
  • Vendor Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and partners, monitoring their performance to ensure they meet VHW objectives.
  • Performance Analysis: Use data monitoring and analytics to evaluate past performance, identify trends, forecast needs, and implement improvements to enhance efficiency.
  • Cost Reduction & Efficiency: Implement strategies and initiatives, such as Lean principles, to reduce costs and increase overall supply chain efficiency.
  • Team Leadership: Lead, mentor, and develop the supply chain team, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.
  • Technology & Compliance: Oversee the implementation of new technologies and systems, including EMR or EPR, to improve operations and ensure compliance with relevant regulations and standards.
  • Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with other departments, such as finance, medicine, etc. to ensure alignment and support.

Communications + External Relations

  • Build relationships with relevant INGOs, local partners and government agencies. In support of the Country Director, represent VHW in various meetings.
  • Provide support to VHW’s leadership and development teams, providing thorough reporting in collaboration with the Monitoring and Evaluation team.
  • Raise funds and coordinate donations of medical supplies and other in-kind support from local partners based in Bujumbura.

Qualifications

  • Proven leader with 7-10 years of experience in operations, administration, supply chain, procurement, HR, warehousing/inventory management, system design, and implementation and/or project management in a developing country or post-conflict environment.
  • 5+ years of management experience required. The ideal candidate is a skilled manager who is comfortable coaching, hiring, training, making tough decisions, and managing change.
  • Able to function with a high level of independence, flexibility, and good humor.
  • Electrical or mechanical engineering, construction, IT/communications, or other technical background considered an asset.
  • The ideal candidate has very strong analytical skills and is able to synthesize and organize data and report succinctly on findings.
  • Strong time management skills and a high level of integrity are required.
  • The ideal candidate is able to think strategically and plan for long-term initiatives. The ideal candidate is also able to implement change and demonstrate to others the value of process improvements.
  • Able to prioritize effectively, managing multiple responsibilities simultaneously and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
  • Comfortable working with colleagues from different cultures and collaborating across departmental boundaries. The ideal candidate is a skilled collaborator.
  • Poise, professionalism, and strong communication skills; able to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
  • Sense of humor and ability to pivot with agility.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills in English and preferably in French. Ability to speak Kirundi is an asset but is not required.
  • Preference for teamwork and a collaborative working environment.
  • Commitment to social justice and mission-driven organizations.
  • Ability to live and work full time at VHW’s main campus, in rural southern Burundi.

How to apply

Required documents:

– Cover letter
– Updated CV
– Certified copy of diplomas and training certificates
– Job Certificates
– 2 references

Application process:

If you are interested, please submit the required documents to the following email addresses: jobs@villagehealthworks.org and jobs_a@villagehealthworks.org

Please include “Director of Operations” in the subject line of your email.

Dead line: September 21st, 2025

Village Health Works considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, color,
religion, gender, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran or military

status.