Head of Operations

The Head of Operations is the lead role of the Operations Department within the country office, which focuses on providing operation support services to the portfolio of projects in the country. The Head of Operations ensures the efficient availability and quality management and support of the following services: procurement, administration, logistics, IT, security & safety, government liaison and representation, and to fully support all SNV operations.

As a CMT member (currently consisting of a total of 6 people), the HoO reports to, and works closely with the Country Director to ensure timely and compliant implementation of procurement and contracts, IT, security & safety, administration and logistics operations. The HoO is also responsible for leading strategic goals for the department, process improvements, and cross-department collaborations. Until the organisation grows, the manager will be directly responsible for implementation of some of the activities while also managing staff, processes and procedures for others. As member of the CMT, he/she will responsible for engaging on and providing leadership for some additional country-level initiatives, supporting other CMT member as needed, contributing to strategic direction, policy decisions and other country-level needs, while also contributing regular monitoring and reporting of the operations team activities. He/she will also be expected to engage with SNV Head Office as part of leadership representation.

A successful Head of Operations serves as a model to other country team members and demonstrates exemplary leadership competencies as well as operational technical excellence. This means that he/she must have deep expertise in managing operational functions, while also displaying positive transversal skills. These include, for example, emotional intelligence, inclusive leadership, conflict mitigation and resolution skills, the ability to facilitate change management processes, comfortable ability to give and receive feedback, client-centred orientation, strategic thinking, and creative problem solving.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Procurement and Contracts: Oversees all procurement and contracting for the country, though may supervise procurement specialists. Develops and maintains the infrastructure within which country team procurement and contracting processes take place in accordance with donor and corporate standards. Provides advice to relevant stakeholders to support efficient and compliant procurement and contracting. Supports contracting and procurement processes for country. Collaborates closely with finance team on efficient processes, and with program teams on timely and effective engagement of procurement services.
• Operations Service Delivery: Manages and organises integrated process delivery, optimising the use of guidelines and procedures within projects and/or a field office. In Vietnam, this is related to all of the following operation services: administration, travel, logistics, office management, inventory management, ICT, and in some cases, legal. Anticipates delivery challenges to ensure service continuity; identifies opportunities to streamline and make processes more efficient, adding digital approaches were appropriate. Facilitates collegial problem solving amongst teams. Ensures donor compliance.
• Security & Safety Management: Acts as the Country Security Focal Point (SFP). The HoO is responsible to maintain and operationalize the Security Management Plan and guide the Risk Management Team to ensure the implementation, accuracy, and relevance of security planning. Monitors the safety and security environment, analyzes context, report incidents, provide briefings, and support the security management of the country. Liaises with other country sub-office focal points to ensure continuity and consistency in security management.
• Government Liaison/Government Relations:Serve as the primary interface with government authorities, regulatory bodies, ministries where it pertains to SNV’s overall ability to operate, license, and other general government approval processes and representation. Owns the overall government relations strategy, protocols, and focal points for the country office, yet empowers and coordinates with relevant program and technical experts as they represent SNV at relevant ministries as well. Monitor legislative/regulatory changes, assess impacts on operations/procurement, and advise senior management on compliance risks or opportunities. Support crisis management or advocacy related to government matters affecting operations.
• Team Management:Leads, develops, motivates, and performance-manages direct reports and sub-teams to deliver results. This includes setting clear expectations, fostering collaboration, ensuring skill development, and driving accountability in a high-stakes environment. Serves as the head of the Operations Department and thus is also responsible for setting, managing and reporting on department annual goals and KPIs, and feeding into such in other departments and for the overall country office.

Qualifications

• Vietnamese citizen
• Undergraduate degree required; Master’s degree preferred in subjects such as Economics, Business Administration, Management, Supply Chain or equivalent.
• 10+ year experience in operations, supply chain, procurement, administration
• At least 5-8 years in progressive management/supervisory positions, including team leadership
• Experience in setting up and managing admin, procurement and operations management systems, and also in streamlining and finding efficiencies in systems and procedures
• Experience in procurement, logistics, and operations management.
• Demonstrated understanding of supporting complex operations in challenging environments, including working with a range of partners, donors, vendors, government officials and country contexts.   
• Demonstrated attention to detail, following procedures, meeting deadlines and working and problem-solving independently and cooperatively.
• Effective verbal and written communication, organizational, prioritization and Microsoft Office applications.
• Excellent negotiation, representation, skills and the ability to work comfortably with an ethnically diverse staff in a very sensitive environment.
• Experience in security management, and crisis management helpful.
• Proven ability to solve problems independently without direct supervision.
• Knowledge of German IKI, DFAT, EU regulations helpful.

Competencies:

• The capability of communicating messages in different ways to others, in accordance with their perceptions of the environment and reactions.
• Be able to unravel complex and abstract questions, separate central and side issues, and quickly incorporate new knowledge.
• Be focused on providing a service that as optimally as possible meets the needs of the client (ie. other team members). Grant the client time and attention with an eye on the maintenance of a good relationship, which is based on mutual trust.
• Show a strong intuition for commercial engagements and make active use of opportunities; set up initiatives that have direct financial benefit for the organisation, driven by a desire to achieve good results.
• Generating confidence and displaying integrity in contact with others. Treating others fairly and in a consistent way by keeping high ethical standards and by doing so contributing to the trustable corporate image of the company
• In a management role, ensure that fellow workers attain agreed objectives. Be direct and vigorous in the interaction. Have authority over others.
• Be action- and results-driven. When possible, grab the chance to take the initiative oneself and to act directly.
• Practice emotional intelligence: self-regulate emotions appropriately, be able to authentically self-reflect about own strengths and weaknesses, communicate in complex relationships effectively, understand and be empathetic to others’ points of view.

Additional Information

Contract Duration: SNV Vietnam offers 2 or 3 -year contract with the possibility of extension.

Reporting Line: Country Director

Direct Reports: Team of 4 (procurement, operations/admin x2, ICT), extended (and dotted line) team of approximately 10.

Desired start date: May 2026

Working at SNV:

SNV offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package. We offer a challenging work environment, opportunities to lead and innovate, and a commitment to growing your skills in a fulfilling and diverse working environment. Our staff benefit from, and contribute to, an internal global network of experts. For more information, please visit our website: www.snv.org/careers.

How to Apply:

If you believe that your credentials meet the outlined profile, we invite you to apply by uploading your CV and letter of motivation before 5.00pm on 12 March 2026.

SNV reserves the right to close the vacancy before the indicated deadline if the appropriate candidate is identified.

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