Business Operations Manager- Pay band 7

IMPORTANT NOTE: Only applications submitted via the British Council's careers platform will be taken into consideration.

Salary: DZD 195,000 Monthly gross salary

I. Role Purpose

The Business Operations Manager will oversee the management of the business administration, local financial processes, estates, local administrative and human resources activities, as well as IT and security functions in Algeria. The role will ensure that British Council corporate standards and relevant polices/ procedures are met, and ensure that the business support team are efficiently and effectively deployed to support operations in achieving business objectives and ensuring compliance across Business Operations and all Algeria Departments. The role will ensure that team performance adds value to the delivery of objectives and to ensure that all risks, particularly financial compliance and business continuity are identified, monitored, managed and controlled.

To support new initiatives and organisational change by providing appropriate advice, support, training and leadership to all operational teams, across Departments.

To be a key, and pro-active member of the Country Leadership Team (CLT)

II. Role Context

The British Council is the UK’s international culture and education organisation. We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. 

In Algeria, the British Council partners with government and non-government actors to foster resilient economies through capacity building and connecting cultures. By leveraging UK expertise in the fields of education, English instruction and the arts, the British Council helps Algerian youth and institutions to achieve their objectives, creating stronger networks in Algeria, the UK and beyond.

III. Main Accountabilities

Management

• Oversee and manage the entire Business Operations (BO) team.

• Manage and monitor overhead budgets: this includes providing advice and decision support to the Country Director, explaining variances and making recommendations for adjustments/re-forecasting; also provide information for Exams and Teaching Centre business plans, forecasts and commentaries as necessary;

• Regularly update cashflow projections according to rolling corporate schedule to support expected spend on business support services.

• Promote and support our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) policy in Algeria in coordination with the office EDI coordinator

• Actively seek efficiency savings to improve KPls; ensure value for money through supplier negotiations; understand and extract data from the financial and business system (SAP) to analyse trends and recommend changes to enhance performance.

• Conduct general induction for new joiners (incl. non-BOT staff).

• Manage and update key local policies (e.g., office policies, mobile phone, etc.).

• Monitor local Delegated Authorities.

Relationship Management, Suppliers, and Services

• Manage contracts and services of outsourced providers for premises maintenance, accounting and payroll preparation, office cleaning, IT, transportation and premises security.

• Manage vendor relationships to ensure quality and cost effective provision of services such as transport/travel, hotel, catering and hospitality, courier/post, real estate and landlord(s). All services are supported by strong compliance and control regime around contracts and purchase order processes.

• Manage relationships with government, local law enforcement and embassies, as relevant, on regulatory compliance and security-related issues and ensure that country leadership team is properly briefed.

• Oversee office wide procurement and contracts management in close coordination with from British Council's procurement unit, 'MarketPlace'

• Manage event planning and execution/logistics.

• Arrange travel for visitors and regional teams.

Risk Management

• Co-ordinate crisis management planning, ensuring that contact lists and records are kept up to date and acting as a key member of the incident control team, if convened

• Lead on development and testing of Business Continuity Plan (BCP); ensuring that plan is maintained and supports any off-site working arrangements that may become necessary.

• Lead on management of top risks, scheduling quarterly and annual meetings to help fellow senior managers identify and develop mitigation plans for key risks to the business; draft templates for management discussion and Director's 'sign-off' as necessary.

• Ensure that all children and vulnerable adults who we come into contact with through our work are properly respected and protected in full compliance with our global safeguarding and child protection policies; plans are in place to assure this.

• Risk assessments for selected activity and our premises (incl partner premises where relevant) are conducted to inform planning and action and ensure safe and secure working environment.

• Adequate insurance cover is in place linked to our global policy and supplemented locally as necessary.

• Liaise with tax, accounting and legal advisors as necessary - locally and within British Council (region and HQ) - to ensure that status and tax affairs are properly managed and that we are compliant with local law.

• Ensure that information governance and risk management (IGRM) policies are being followed and that our systems and practice are compliant particularly around use of personal data and serve as first point of contact with regional IGRM advisor.

• Oversees stock checks (e.g. stationery, cleaning supplies, IELTS materials) by set deadlines to ensure appropriate controls meet separation of duty requirements

• Support internal audit processes.

• Act as the fraud focal point.

Facilities and Estates Management

• Oversee office management including e.g. leases and renewals, moves and renovations, relationship with landlord

• Monitor building and ground maintenance of all British Council rented properties and ensure office storage facilities are secure in compliance with British Council requirements and local legislation.

• Implement yearly preventive building and ground maintenance schedules, ensuring timely action and reporting.

• Ensure office services and supplier contracts (e.g. cleaning, IT, security) are delivered effectively in line with corporate standards.

• British Council assets are properly accounted for and looked after, with inventories prepared and kept up-to-date; this includes any British Council assets in partner premises or rented properties (in the case of UK-appointed/international staff).

• Travel policy and procedures including use of public transport/taxis are fit-for-purpose i.e. safe and efficient; and communicated to and adhered to by staff.

 Security

• Lead on the development of a security compliance regime for British Council Algeria operations, ensuring that security contingency plans are in place and evacuation or lockdown procedures are understood by staff and customers.

• Manage security stakeholder relationships with outsourced security company, local authorities, British Embassy, Regional Security Director

• Ensure that all security equipment and lifeline devices are accounted for and in good working order.

• Ensure all incidents are investigated and reported appropriately.

• Ensure that training and awareness-raising for staff and/or contractors is organized and provided as appropriate.

• Oversee and develop security team if needed (currently outsourced)

• Manage staff access control to premises.

• Assess security measures in new offices/venues and partner schools.

• Manage staff access/removal from Telephone Tree, SOLACE, Teams channels, and mailing lists.

• Oversee public liability insurance management.

 On-site Finance Related Activities

• Oversee cash-handling and banking procedures; ensure cash policy is compliant with global British Council policies

• Oversee petty cash policy and conduct petty cash spot checks

• Check cash receipts from Customer Services with journals posted as required.

• Manage relationship with bank, ensuring that adequate signatories are in place for cheque authorisation and/or approval of electronic transactions.

• Oversee the BO team’s processing of off-system payments and urgent advances.

• Safeguard and manage cheque books handover.

 Procurement & Contract Management

• Handle high-value procurement and tendering.

• Manage key operations contracts.

• Conduct due diligence and vendor screening.

• Monitor and update Preferred Suppliers List and aggregate spend across departments.

• Oversee finance payables and receivables, including off-system transactions.

• Support FCCF.

• Monitor PO GR IR.

 HR Operations & Mobility

• Supervise implementation of all HR Operations tasks that require to be performed locally, including admin support (relationship with Labour Inspectorate, employee files, preparation of documents, CNAS forms, payroll signatory coordination, medical insurance, etc.)

• Coordinate work permit and residency submissions for foreign employees.

• Assist with rent hunting, utilities setup, Wi-Fi, and lease management for foreign employees.

 Health & Safety

• Ensure safe and clean working environment for staff and customers in line with our health and safety standards, local law and audit recommendations.

• Preventive maintenance schedule is developed and overseen.

• Risk assessments are carried out and acted upon.

• Training and awareness-raising for staff and/or contractors on safe working practices eg. first aid, fire safety, waste management etc.

• Appropriate channels in place for staff to raise health and safety issues.

• Ensure all incidents are investigated and reported appropriately.