Vacancy title:
Operations Manager
Employment type: Full time, Industry: Nonprofit, and NGO, Category: Management, Business Operations, Human Resources, Admin & Office, Finance, Accounting & Finance, Transportation & Logistics, Social Services & Nonprofit
Jobs at:
Red Rhino Development
Deadline of this Job:
Wednesday, November 4 2026
Duty Station:
Nansana, Kampala | Uganda
Summary
Date Posted: Wednesday, October 21 2026, Base Salary: Not Disclosed
JOB DETAILS:
Location : Nansana, Uganda
Employment Type: Full-Time; one year renewable
Reports to: Country Director
Closing date: 4th November 2026
ORGANIZATIONAL DESCRIPTION
The Ugandan Water Project (UWP), through its exclusive implementing organization, Red Rhino Development (RRD), advances safe and sustainably managed water, sanitation, and hygiene services across Uganda. Together, UWP and RRD design, implement, and advocate for innovative water solutions that expand access to safe water while strengthening the systems needed to ensure those services endure.
Founded in 2008, the Ugandan Water Project is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides the strategic vision and funding for its work in Uganda. All programs are implemented exclusively by Red Rhino Development, a Ugandan company limited by guarantee established in 2015. In addition to implementing UWP-supported initiatives, RRD partners with other organizations to deliver water infrastructure and related programs throughout Uganda.
RRD's mission spans three tiers. RRD provides immediate water access today through rainwater catchment, borehole rehabilitation and drilling, and piped water installations. RRD develops sustainable enterprises that keep clean water flowing tomorrow through AquaTrust, its market-based water service. And RRD advocates for national systems that ensure safe water flows forever through RUMIS, Uganda's national water point management platform. As this mission grows in scale and complexity, so does the operational backbone required to carry it out — the foundation this role is responsible for building.
WHY THIS ROLE EXISTS
The Operations Manager role exists to lead RRD's operations, integrating Finance, Supply Chain, HR, and Admin into a single, well-run function. It also provides critical cross-functional support to Program, Engineering, and Construction teams, helping keep projects on time and within budget. This foundation matters now more than ever: RRD is anticipating a period of rapid growth, and needs an operational leader to carry it into the future. Growth like this demands a leader who can hold accountability and speed in balance — embedding the discipline of sound financial and administrative controls while upholding RRD's value of Agility.
Reporting to the Country Director, the Operations Manager will lead RRD's Finance and Supply Chain functions, supervising officer-level staff in each area, while also overseeing HR and Admin. The role will work closely with Program, Engineering, and Construction leads to support cross-functional efficiency.
WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS
This role is critical to RRD's ability to grow without losing the standard of excellence its work depends on. Every project delivered, every district entered, and every dollar of funding deployed depends on operations that are efficient, accountable, and well-run. Strong operational leadership protects the trust that funders place in RRD when they provide capital, the trust that partners place in RRD as a legitimate implementer, and the trust that staff place in RRD as an organization that supports them well. Ultimately, this role safeguards RRD's ability to fulfill its mission at scale – safe water for Ugandans, today, tomorrow, and forever.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
Character: Leads with integrity, humility, accountability, and sound judgment. Takes ownership, follows through on commitments, and earns the trust of colleagues, funders, partners, and the government.
Systems Thinking: Balances process, controls, and efficiency with the practical demands of a growing, multi-program organization. Treats operational discipline as non-negotiable — every system must be one that can be relied on without question.
Accountability & Trust: Meticulous, disciplined, and unwavering on follow-through. Understands that trust is earned through consistent, reliable execution.
Leadership: A builder of systems and people. Develops and mentors finance, supply chain and HR staff, establishes clear accountability, and creates a culture of accuracy, discipline, and continuous improvement.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
A. Operational Leadership & Organizational Development
- Provide active strategic leadership for operations as RRD grows in scale and complexity.
- Lead, manage, and hold accountable RRD's Finance, Supply Chain, HR, and Admin staff integrating all functions into a single, well-run operational team.
- Develop a high-performing operational culture built on accountability, efficiency, and continuous improvement.
- Strengthen organizational systems, clarify roles and responsibilities, and build the capacity needed to support continued growth.
- Drive organizational accountability through scorecards, performance reviews, and clear operational metrics, ensuring alignment with RRD's strategic priorities.
- Ultimately, this role leads alongside the team, not from behind a desk. Working in direct support of the operational departments is necessary. Going to the field, out to vendors, and to the stockyard to participate in the activity of the organization will provide first hand insight to support the team, address issues, and drive innovation.
B. Finance & Supply Chain Oversight
- Oversee RRD's financial systems, controls, and reporting, ensuring accuracy, transparency, and compliance with donor and statutory requirements.
- Ensure procurement processes are fair, efficient, and well-documented, balancing strong controls with the speed RRD's programs require.
- Establish systems that monitor operational and financial performance, identify inefficiencies, and drive continuous improvement.
C. HR & Administration
- Directly oversee RRD's HR and Admin function in the interim, ensuring staff are supported, policies are followed, and administrative operations run smoothly.
- Build the foundational HR systems and processes needed to support RRD's growing team, laying the groundwork for a future dedicated hire.
D. Cross-Functional Program Support
- Partner with Program, Engineering, and Construction leads to ensure projects are adequately resourced, procured for, and administratively supported to stay on time and within budget.
- Identify and resolve operational bottlenecks that slow down program delivery, embedding RRD's value of Agility into day-to-day operations.
E. Partnerships, Reporting, & Strategic Performance
- Build and maintain strong relationships with the Country Director, program leadership, and key internal stakeholders across UWP and RRD.
- Ensure accurate, timely reporting of operational, financial, and administrative performance to leadership and funders.
- Use operational and financial data to drive improvements and strengthen organization-wide decision-making.
KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
RRD & AquaTrust – Uganda : Country Director, Senior Program Manager, AquaTrust Enterprise Manager, Finance Officer, Supply Chain Officer, Engineering Officer, Construction Leads. UWP – USA: CEO, Operations Director, Program Director, Program Manager, and Finance Director. External : District Water Offices, Ministry of Water & Environment, Funders, Development Partners, External Auditors, and Financial Institutions.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- 5+ years of leadership experience with a proven track record of leading an organization, business unit, utility, or enterprise through growth, expansion, or organizational transformation while improving organizational efficiency and quality across functions.
- Demonstrated ability to build and lead high-performing teams by establishing clear accountability structures, developing leaders, and driving performance across multiple functional areas.
- Business and financial acumen, with demonstrated history of delivering results on-time and on-budget, improving operational performance, and balancing growth with financial sustainability.
- Experience developing and implementing systems, processes, and performance management frameworks that improve organizational effectiveness.
- Demonstrated ability to make sound decisions, solve complex problems, and lead effectively in dynamic and evolving environments.
- Exceptional relationship-building and communication skills, with experience engaging customers, government stakeholders, partners, funders, and/or investors.
- Proven ability to manage donor reporting, grants compliance, and project-level financial controls.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to use operational and financial data to drive decisions.
- Willingness to travel regularly in Uganda and spend time supporting field operations.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelors in Business Administration, Human Resources Management, Project Management, Supply Chain and Logistics Management; Finance and Accounting, or related field.
- Experience leading a utility, engineering, construction, or other service-based organization.
- Familiarity with the EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) framework.
- Familiarity with Project Management software, specifically Asana.
- Knowledge of accounting systems, preferably QuickBooks.
- Understanding of IFRS, GAAP, and local financial regulations.
- Experience using mWater or other digital data management and reporting platforms.
- Experience working alongside local, district, or national government institutions.
- Experience in WASH programming or community development.
- Fluency in one or more local Ugandan languages is an added advantage.
WHAT THIS ROLE REQUIRES
As RRD expands its programs, deepens government partnerships, and grows its team, the Operations Manager must bring structure, accountability, and operational excellence across Finance, Procurement, HR, and Admin. Success requires a leader who can maintain rigorous controls while adapting systems in real time, all without slowing down the program, engineering, and construction teams that depend on strong operational support to deliver.
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE
Success in this role will be demonstrated by financial and procurement systems that are accurate, efficient, and trusted by leadership, funders, and government partners; HR and administrative functions that run smoothly and support a growing team; clean, accurate financial reporting paired with strong operational controls. It also means Program, Engineering, and Construction teams that are well-resourced and unblocked, with projects consistently delivered on time and within budget. Ultimately, success means operations that scale alongside RRD's growing revenue without sacrificing quality or trust.
OUR VALUES
Success at RRD/UWP begins with shared values. The ideal candidate demonstrates the attitudes, attributes, and aspirations reflected in our Values below.
- Integrity : Do what is right because it’s right, even when nobody is watching.
- Expertise : Always learn. Pursue excellence in our job, industry, and context.
- Community : Build healthy, vibrant relationships serving one another.
- Generosity : Always share & add high value to others.
- Agility : Work with urgency, act swiftly, and remain flexible.
Work Hours: 8
Experience in Months: 60
Level of Education: bachelor degree
Job application procedure
If you are excited by ownership, challenge, and meaningful impact and believe you can help build Red Rhino Development’s growth story we want to hear from you. Send your application with a cover letter that introduces us to who you are not just what you do, CV and copies of qualification and other documents to: By email: redrhino@ugandanwaterproject.com and dorothy@ugandanwaterproject.com
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