Operations Manager

Operations Manager

Organisation Cook Bright Initiative (CBI)

Reports To Country Lead

Location Kampala, Uganda (office-based)

Employment Type Full-time, permanent, with a 6-month probation period

Application Deadline 25 October 2026

About Cook Bright Initiative

Cook Bright Initiative (CBI) supports the distribution of high-efficiency cookstoves across the country,reducing household fuel costs for better livelihoods. Working with multiple cookstove manufacturers, CBI monitors and evaluates the production, implementation and verification of their activities.

Position Overview

The Operations Manager makes sure that every improved cookstove is real, verified, inspected and in use – and that the evidence for it is audit-ready at all times. The role leads three units: the Call Center, Quality Assurance, and Monitoring & Evaluation. The guiding principle for the role: plan early, monitor closely, QA daily, reconcile regularly, document everything, escalate risks early.

Key Responsibilities

1. Call Center

• Lead the Call Center through its team lead, setting weekly priorities and verification targets.

• Ensure 100% of partner records are verified within a specified window, following the approved calling and follow-up protocol.

• Raise productivity by setting daily targets and tracking individual success rates and turnaround times.

2. Quality Assurance

• Lead the QA unit in inspecting stoves at partner production sites and in the field on a routine basis.

• Use QA findings to evaluate the performance of individual business units and stove partners.

• Scale inspection capacity as partner production volumes fluctuate and new partners are onboarded.

3. Monitoring & Evaluation

• Plan and run each Monitoring Period (MP): sample preparation, usage surveys, Kitchen Performance Tests (KPTs), baseline monitoring and spot checks.

• Recruit, train and deploy monitoring enumerators; no enumerator starts fieldwork without passing a competency check.

• Prepare field logistics before deployment: mapping, routing, budgets, KPT materials and finalised assignments.

• Review enumerator submissions daily and give feedback to senior management on an ongoing basis.

4. Partner & Financial Responsibilities

• Engage partners in a timely manner, providing clear and concise updates.

• Prepare and reconcile weekly and monthly budgets for the three units with 100% accuracy and full supporting documents.

• Support Finance's month-end close with budgets, receipts, reconciliations and explanations of variances.

5. Team Leadership & Reporting

• Set quarterly work plans for every team member and review progress monthly; address performance gaps through coaching or corrective action within two weeks.

• Run quarterly skill-development sessions for the Call Center, QA and M&E teams.

• Propose at least three improvement initiatives per quarter, each with a problem, solution, owner, timeline and expected benefit.

• Submit a one-page monthly memo covering what is going well, where support is needed, and management considerations for the next month.

• Maintain a weekly team tracker and a risk register covering data, field, partner, audit and financial risks.

Qualifications & Competencies

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Development Studies, Environmental Science, Statistics, Business Administration or a related field.

• A masters degree is an added advantage.

Experience

• At least 5 years of operations, monitoring and evaluation, or field programme experience, including at least 3 years managing teams.

• Hands-on experience running surveys or field data collection with mobile tools (ODK, KoboToolbox or similar).

• Experience managing budgets, field advances and reconciliations.

Technical Skills

• Operations & Field Logistics: Proven ability to plan and run field operations across multiple districts. Gets teams to the field on schedule and within the budget.

• Data & Analytics: Uses data to make decisions. Sets and tracks KPIs such as verification rates, turnaround times, inspection pass rates and survey completion. Advanced Excel or Google Sheets, including pivot tables, lookups, data cleaning and reconciliation.

• Project & Workflow Management: Coordinates several teams with competing deadlines, such as call verification, factory inspections and monitoring periods. Builds work plans, KPIs or OKRs and schedules and holds team leads to them.

• Budget & Inventory Control: Prepares, tracks and reconciles weekly and monthly unit budgets with full supporting documents.

• Process Improvement: Spots bottlenecks and waste in operational workflows and puts practical fixes in place that improve speed, accuracy or cost.

Preferred

• Experience with clean cooking methodologies, KPTs and usage surveys.

• Experience managing a call center, customer verification or quality assurance function.

• Experience working with manufacturers or last-mile distribution networks.

Core Competencies

• Ownership – takes full responsibility for results across all three units, not just the activities.

• Leadership through others – manages through team leads, coaches them, and addresses underperformance early.

• Attention to detail – catches errors in data, budgets and field reports before they become audit findings.

• Integrity – handles data, money and HR matters honestly and transparently.

• Problem-solving under pressure – keeps operations moving when plans change in the field.

• Early escalation – flags risks and problems before they become crises, and comes with proposed solutions.

• Clear communication – gives partners, staff and senior management concise, accurate updates.

Working Conditions

• Office-based in Kampala, Uganda.

• Core hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM (EAT); flexibility is required.

• Occasional travel may be required.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: Competitive.

• Health insurance coverage.

• Sick & Annual leave: In accordance with the Uganda Employment Act

• Professional development

• Performance-based incentives linked to KPI achievements.

Selection Process

1. CV screening and shortlisting

2. Technical assessment

3. First-round interview: technical skills, problem-solving approach and working style

4. Final interview: with Senior Leadership

5. Reference checks and job offer

How to Apply:

All applications will be received and reviewed through the BrighterMonday Portal by clicking on the 'Apply Here' section