Job Title: Operations Manager
Location: Remote
Contract Type: Full-time
Reports To: Co-founder
Role Overview
- Our whole model rests on delivery, and delivery rests on strong operations. Chlorine only reaches households if procurement, supply, payments and people systems work every day.
- The Operations Manager leads finance, procurement, supply chain, people operations and compliance across the US and Nigeria, and is a core part of how SafeStart delivers and grows.
- We're early enough that you'll set up many of these processes yourself, not just follow them.
- The role suits someone who likes clean systems, gets things finished, and is comfortable being the person who knows where everything is.
Responsibilities
Finance Operations:
- Run payments, reimbursements, per diems and field cash management, following approved budgets and controls.
- Keep the books up to date in Xero: coding, bank reconciliations, receipts and month-end close.
- Produce monthly budget-versus-actuals reports and cash forecasts, and flag variances early.
- Prepare the financial parts of donor reports and help with audits and grant compliance.
Procurement & Supply Chain:
- Manage chlorine procurement, deliveries and third-party warehousing in Kano, including stock reconciliations against distribution data.
- Run procurement for equipment, services and consultants: quotes, contracts, purchase records and value for money.
- Keep the asset register and track equipment issued to field staff.
- Manage event procurement, planning and bookings.
People Operations:
- Handle contracts, onboarding, off-boarding and personnel files for staff and consultants in Nigeria, working with our employer-of-record and partner organisations.
- Coordinate payroll inputs, leave records and HR policies.
- Support recruitment logistics: posting roles, scheduling, reference checks and offers.
Compliance, Systems & Admin:
- Track statutory filings and registrations in the US and Nigeria, including Nigerian data protection (NDPA) requirements, working with our legal advisors.
- Maintain our Microsoft 365 setup: SharePoint structure, user accounts, permissions and templates.
- Keep policies, SOPs and document control current as we grow.
- Take on operations work for new programmes as SafeStart expands.
Executive Support:
- Manage the co-founders' diaries across time zones (US, Nigeria, South Africa). Schedule and prioritise meetings with partners, donors, government and the team.
- Book and coordinate travel for the co-founders and staff: flights, accommodation, ground transport, visas and security check-ins. Keep costs within the travel policy and budget.
- Prepare for key meetings. Circulate agendas and papers in advance, take notes where needed, and track actions and follow-ups to completion.
What We're Looking For
Essential:
- At least 4 years in operations, finance or grants management, ideally at an NGO, social enterprise or donor-funded programme.
- Hands-on bookkeeping experience in Xero or similar, and confident in Excel: reconciliations, budgets, forecasts.
- Experience with procurement and with supply or inventory management.
- Very organised and precise, and you finish what you start. You set up systems rather than working around them.
- Clear written English, and comfortable working remotely with little supervision.
- Reliable internet and power where you're based.
Desirable:
- Experience operating in Nigeria (payments, procurement, statutory requirements) or across several countries.
- Experience with US nonprofit finance or donor compliance.
- Experience with Microsoft 365 or SharePoint admin, or automation tools.
Application Closing Date
30th November, 2026.
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online
Note
- Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.
- Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview and a more detailed assessment.
- SafeStart reserves the right not to appoint.
