Field Operations Manager

Global Support and Development•Charlotte, NC

14h

About The Position

Ready to lead on the front lines of disaster preparedness and response? Global Support and Development (GSD) is seeking a high-impact Field Operations Manager to join our mission-driven team in Charlotte, N.C. GSD fills gaps between local needs and innovative disaster solutions across the Caribbean, Central America, and the Pacific. In this pivotal role, you’ll be the bridge between steady-state planning and acute field operations, serving as a decisive leader and liaison who ensures our teams can focus on what matters most: saving lives and building community resilience! If you are a seasoned professional with a problem-solving mindset and the grit to thrive in dynamic, post-disaster environments—including on our dedicated humanitarian vessel—we want to hear from you. BACKGROUND: Global Support and Development (GSD ) is a humanitarian organization whose mission is to work with regional, national, and local communities across the Caribbean, Central America and Pacific for resilience to crisis through rapid response, disaster preparedness, and climate adaptation. GSD began as an impromptu response to Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu in 2015. Since our founding, we have worked with a number of regional, national and local communities and supported various international and United States domestic disaster response and preparedness efforts. Our first response defined the core of GSD’s DNA as an organization – to work with communities – led by their needs, filling the gaps they have identified, while leveraging unique approaches and capabilities with an innovation mindset. By integrating our team’s diverse skill sets and resources into local responses, we provide rapid response assistance to affected communities in coordination with regional, national, and local community partners. We work to support and strengthen local capacity through disaster preparedness initiatives, including innovation and climate adaptation, to reduce the impact disasters and the climate crisis have on communities. PURPOSE OF POSITION: The Field Operations Manager (FOM) possesses the experience, competencies, and skill set necessary to facilitate effective operation of diverse teams in steady state and field during dynamic, sometimes acute emergency, contexts. They should understand all GSD team functions including Response and Preparedness, Capabilities, Partnerships, external communications, Information, MEAL, Logistics, and Health, have strong organizational understanding and skills, and embody key leadership characteristics. During GSD response activities, the FOM may take on a response role as Team Leader or Assistant Team Leader, coordinating, leading, and managing GSD staff to a common response outcome. While the Team Lead focuses on operational planning, coordination, external partner relations, and high-level safety decisions, the Assistant Team Leader focuses on internal day-to-day team activities and field level execution. As the primary point of contact for partners and associates of GSD, the FOM serves as the liaison between t he team and other stakeholders, ensuring the Field Operations and GSD response teams can focus on their work on site of GSD operations. The FOM has authority to make decisions in the field, and is responsible for team safety and security. When not in the field, they continue ongoing work streams, focus on operational planning for engagements or responses, build capacity of colleagues in the Field Operations section, and support the development of efficient processes across GSD.

Requirements

Five (5) or more years of progressively responsible experience in managing disaster response or humanitarian emergency response programs and teams
Two (2) or more years of supervisory experience
Proven experience developing programs and teams
Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s degree preferred; or Equivalent experience and training
Demonstrated skills and experience designing and implementing programs and strategic, operational design and delivery of activities
Proven capacity in project management, staff management, multi-tasking and prioritization, time management, intercultural communication, partner engagement, and diplomacy
Experience managing teams in safety-sensitive and fast-paced environments
Excellent communication skills, both internally and externally, written and verbal
Innovative and creative problem solver
Proven ability to contribute both independently and as a member of a diverse team, including the ability to effectively utilize team members with disparate skillsets and experiences pursuing multidisciplinary activities
Comfortable actively listening to new and different perspectives of crisis-affected communities, stakeholders, and team members, maintaining effective dialogues and team collaboration, and ensuring feedback is incorporated into GSD operations and team activities
Shows awareness of strengths and weaknesses, and their impact on others and the team, and recognizes skills of other team members and how they complement the team
Inspires others by clearly articulating and demonstrating the values, core purpose and principles that underpin humanitarian work and of GSD, and speaks out clearly for GSD values and principles
Maintains broad strategic perspective at the same time as awareness of detail of a situation, and exercises judgment and effective analysis in challenging situations even in the absence of specific guidance
Demonstrated ability to understand the political and cultural context in operational areas, able to apply lenses of protection, humanitarian principles, gender, diversity, and inclusion aspects within a disaster response, promotes and ensures compliance with humanitarian standards and principles that inform behavior of staff
Discernment for confidentiality in relation to organizational, partner, and donor activities and communications
Experience leading diverse teams into complex, post-disaster situations
Effective communication skills, both internally and externally, written and verbal
Ability to effectively utilize diverse team members with a wide range of skill sets and competencies in service of achieving the team’s objective, and must be comfortable addressing conflicts in a professional and constructive manner
Strong organizational skills and the ability to rapidly shift tasks
Experience working and/or traveling domestically and internationally
At this time, GSD is not offering sponsorship and is only accepting applications from persons eligible to work in the United States
Routine domestic and international travel up to 60% is required
All employees are expected to follow strict safety protocols, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) as required and adherence to safety regulations (maritime, and other), to mitigate risks
Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and North Carolina state law, GSD will provide reasonable accommodation for a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship or a direct threat to the health and/or safety of the individual or others
Ability to obtain necessary travel documents and fulfill any other travel requirements (including an active passport, visa requirements, vaccinations, etc.)

Nice To Haves

Certification in project management is desired.
Working knowledge of Spanish and/or French desired.

Responsibilities

Develop, implement, and execute plans, processes, and projects in support of departmental strategy, maximizing efficient use of resources and ensuring shared vision
Support budgetary planning, control, and analysis for Field Operations
Provide effective leadership, planning, and support for multi-disciplinary teams including Response Specialists and other internal members, to ensure effective implementation of engagements and responses
Collaborate with the Director of Field Operations and other senior leadership (Director of Operations and Planning, Director of Partnerships, etc.) to plan effective responses to partner requests for capacity strengthening and disaster response
Assign tasks, roles, and responsibilities within the team, recruiting relevant support and expertise needed from within GSD, or externally as appropriate; monitoring progress, and identifying solutions to obstacles faced by the team or team members
Ensure appropriate adaptation of team activities to dynamic contexts in the field, while remaining in line with partner requests and management’s direction
Identify and propose solutions to operational challenges in the field
Proactively monitor and assess the safety and security of the team when in the field, liaising closely with GSD’s Safety and Security team, and reporting any concerns or incidents to the Director of Field Operations and the Director of Safety and Security
Establish and maintain positive relationships to facilitate effective coordination with partners and other stakeholders in the field, including government representatives, community leaders, other INGOs and local NGOs, and UN agencies. This will be expected to be documented and reported back to the organization
Represent GSD externally with diverse stakeholders
Ensure appropriate monitoring and reporting of team activities to facilitate effective MEAL activities, in collaboration with the MEAL Manager
Lead documentation of activities, including writing after action reports and contributing to relevant lessons learning activities to inform future engagements and responses
Provide effective coordination and communication both within the Field Operations Team, and within the wider GSD team, to minimize internal misunderstandings, and to help manage and respond to any miscommunications effectively and professionally
Ensure continuity of given work streams throughout planning, implementation, and close-out processes, and, as appropriate, provide thorough handover to ensure effective continuation of activities
Prompt and action GSD’s core values of accountability, humility, and integrity in all work we conduct
Promote good stewardship of financial and other resources to achieve maximum benefit to those impacted by disaster or at risk of impact
Perform other duties as assigned