Specialist , West and North Africa Operations

Specialist, West and North Africa Operations

Location: Dakar, Senegal or Rabat, Morocco

About IDinsight

We amplify social impact by partnering with leaders to develop tailored solutions. Our mission is to use data and evidence to help leaders combat poverty worldwide.

IDinsight is a mission-driven global advisory, data analytics, and research organisation that helps global development leaders maximise their social impact. We tailor a wide range of data and evidence tools, including randomised evaluations and machine learning, to help decision-makers design effective programs and rigorously test what works to support communities. We work with governments, multilateral agencies, foundations, and innovative non-profit organisations in Asia and Africa, across sectors such as agriculture, education, health, governance, sanitation, financial inclusion, and more.

We have expertise in a variety of rigorous approaches and methodologies, which we tailor to each client depending on their needs and constraints. To achieve a positive social impact we:

• Support clients’ use of data and evidence for routine and major decision-making.
• Inform funding decisions – toward high-impact initiatives and away from less effective programs or approaches.
• Create and share tools, knowledge, and ideas that expand the use of data and evidence for social good.

Our diverse, growing team of roughly 250 outstanding colleagues operates in nearly two dozen countries around the world. Learn more about our mission and values at www.IDinsight.org.

The West and North Africa (WNA) team operates as a regional unit based primarily in Dakar and Rabat. The region brings together approximately 30 teammates from diverse nationalities (+10) and professional backgrounds, reflecting a strong multicultural and interdisciplinary profile. WNA is one of IDInsight’s six global regions, alongside Global, US, East & Southern Africa (ESA), India, and Southeast Asia (SEA).

About the Operations Specialist role

The Operations Specialist will be a core member of the WNA regional team, ensuring that our offices in Dakar and Rabat are compliant, well-run, and supportive of our mission. The role combines hands-on office administration, procurement and financial operations, compliance and risk management, people experience and systems/process improvement.

The Operations Specialist will report to the Africa Regional Operations Director, work very closely with the WNA regional Director and WNA Leadership, and collaborate with global Operations, Finance, HR, and Legal teams.

Key responsibilities

• Administrative and Office Operations
  • Oversee day-to-day office administration and office services in Dakar and Rabat, including correspondence, supplies, filing systems, and record management;
  • Manage the overall functioning of WNA offices, ensuring they are safe, welcoming, and conducive to productive work;
  • Supervise administrative or support staff where applicable, delegate responsibilities and monitor quality and timeliness of administrative tasks;
  • Supervised administrative staff, delegated responsibilities, and monitored clerical functions to ensure efficiency and productivity.
  • Plan and implement office layouts, equipment procurement, and basic facilities management in coordination with landlords and service providers;
  • Produced presentations and management-level reports to support leadership decision-making;
  • Maintain historical records by defining and enforcing procedures for retention, protection, retrieval, transfer, and disposal of documents.
• Procurement and Financial Operations
  • Lead and coordinate procurement processes for WNA offices in line with IDinsight and client policies, including obtaining quotes, reviewing bids, drafting justifications, and managing approvals;
  • Ensure all procurement processes are properly documented and compliant with internal policies and relevant client requirements;
  • Manage relationship with suppliers and service providers; monitor performance and ensure timely delivery of goods and services according to specifications;
  • Support the review of monthly payroll inputs from WNA offices.
• Human resources
  • Managed office culture initiatives and employee experience across WNA offices.
  • Regularly engaged with teammates to gather feedback, identify challenges, and share insights with relevant decision-makers.
  • Supervised, trained, mentored, and coached administrative staff; supported performance management and professional development.
  • Tracked employee visas, contracts, and key employment dates.
• Compliance and Risk Management
  • Ensure that WNA offices comply with all relevant local legal, labor, and administrative requirements in Senegal and Morocco, in close collaboration with Legal and Finance;
  • Track and maintain up-to-date registrations, licenses, permits, and other statutory requirements related to office operations and organizational presence;
  • Monitor contract timelines (leases, insurance, key vendor agreements) and visa/work permit status to avoid lapses;
  • Maintain an up-to-date inventory for WNA, ensure proper assignment and documented handover of equipment, and oversee retrieval of IDinsight property when staff or consultants depart;
  • Support the procurement of insurance for office premises, equipment, and - in coordination with global HR - applicable staff health or travel coverage;
  • Support security and safety efforts, including:
    • Ensuring appropriate physical office security (locks, fire extinguishers, alarms, safety equipment)
    • Maintaining emergency contact lists and basic emergency procedures for WNA offices
    • Monitoring the local context and flagging security or operational risks to WNA and global leadership.
• Systems, tools, and records management
  • Design, implement, and refine office policies, standards, and procedures;
  • Maintain and continuously improve operations systems and tools for WNA, in line with global Ops standards;
  • Ensure proper retention of electronic and paper records in accordance with IDinsight policies and grant obligations (contracts, finance records, HR-related documents, registrations, etc.);
  • Coordinate with IT and global ops on the setup and maintenance of eessential tools (email groups, shared drives, collaboration tools) for WNA teammates;
  • Ensure that critical systems and tools are anchored in institutional accounts rather than single individuals, and that there are no single points of failure;
  • Supporrt the preparation of presentations and management reports to inform WNA and global leadership decision-making on operations and risk
• People experience, culture, and HR support
  • Help cultivate a positive, inclusive, and values-aligned workplace culture in WNA; design and support office-based culture and wellbeing initiatives
  • Regularly engage with teammates in Dakar and Rabat to gather feedback on operations, identify pain points, and suggest practical improvements to leadership;
  • Support onboarding of new staff in WNA, including office orientation, basic security procedures, and introduction to local operational processes
  • Track key employment-related dates (visa renewals, contract end dates) and coordinate with HR to ensure timely actions
• Recruitment and business operations support
  • Support local and regional recruitment processes (for operations and other roles as appropriate) by coordinating candidate communication, logistics, and interviews, and maintaining recruitment trackers;
  • Contribute operational input to WNA budgeting, planning, and client development processes, for example by:
    • Providing cost information and operational feasibility input for proposals and scopes of work
    • Advising on local regulations or operational implications of new engagements
• Perform other duties related to office operations and regional support as requested by the Africa Regional Operations Director and WNA Regional Director
  
  

Qualifications

• Deep passion for improving lives around the world and contributing to evidence-driven social impact.
• 2–6 years of relevant professional experience in operations, administration, logistics, or office management, ideally in an NGO, international organization, or professional services.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred in business administration, management, human resources, operations, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience with procurement and vendor management, office management, facilities, or administrative systems.
• Strong understanding of, or ability to quickly navigate, local public administration and regulatory environments in West and North Africa (e.g., working with municipal authorities, tax offices, ministries, or other government agencies)
• Outstanding interpersonal, leadership, and relationship-building skills across cultures and seniority levels.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively, coach, and support colleagues within a dynamic and multicultural environment.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills with excellent attention to detail and follow-through..
• High degree of autonomy and initiative; able to manage multiple workstreams and deadlines with minimal supervision
• Professional proficiency in English and French required; Arabic/Darija and Wolof are strong assets.
• Intellectual curiosity, sound judgment, and a healthy sense of humor.
  
  

Professional development

Skill and career development are core to IDinsight's values and long-term impact strategy, and have been noted highlights of teammates’ experiences. IDinsighters receive significant mentorship from IDinsight leadership, support from talented peers, and are given considerable autonomy when ready. They maintain professional development plans and are given "stretch" opportunities designed to strengthen a variety of skills. Real-time feedback is embedded in our culture and formal structure enables maximum professional growth. Additionally, teammates have access to an annual professional development stipend that they are encouraged to utilize to explore their career interests and develop their skills.

Nuts & bolts

Location

This position can be based in IDinsight’s Dakar, Senegal or Rabat, Morocco office. This position is not eligible for remote work. Preference will be given to those with pre-existing work authorization in these countries; however, IDInsight will seek work permits where possible for exceptional candidates.

Start date

The expected start date for this position is February 1st, 2026. We anticipate a minimum commitment of two years, with regular professional development conversations and the potential to grow into a long-term career at IDinsight

Work Authorization

IDinsight is able to sponsor employment visas for all nationalities in these locations; however, we will prioritise candidates who do not require IDinsight to sponsor work.

Compensation

Compensation and benefits are commensurate with the qualifications and experiences IDinsight is hiring for. We are especially proud of the people-focused benefits we offer, including comprehensive health insurance, including mental health coverage; paid vacation, sick, and parental leave; relocation benefits; a travel stipend; technology and work from home stipends; a professional development budget; and more. Please note, that while we aim to be competitive within the global development sector, we are non-profit, and as such are usually unable to meet compensation brackets similar to leading private sector organizations.

How to apply

Please ensure that your CV includes relevant professional and personal experience as well as details on academic qualifications. CVs can range from one to two pages. Please note, headshot photographs, parental details, birth dates, marital status and other personal information not relevant to the application do not need to be included in your CV. Additionally, we strongly encourage you to use your cover letter to highlight why you want to work for IDinsight specifically, and what has prepared you to succeed in the role you’re applying for. A customized cover letter is an important part of IDinsight’s recruiting process as it allows us to understand your motivations for the position, relevant skills, and clarity of writing.

More information, including details on IDinsight’s hiring process and frequently asked questions, can be found online at IDinsight Careers. Any questions should be directed to wna.careers@idinsight.org.

IDinsight’s commitment to reducing power asymmetries

IDinsight is committed to reducing power asymmetries in the social sector. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion reflects our understanding of the need for the sector to abandon unhealthy practices of the past. We wish to be part of a new generation of international NGOs who are honest about this history and transparent about our role in the present. Our commitment is also aligned with the impact of our work.

We seek a workforce that is inclusive of a variety of perspectives that will help us refine and improve our methods and relationships, and strengthen the services we provide our clients and their communities or constituencies. The following commitments represent our vision for the IDinsight team:

1. IDinsight will have greater representation from the populations with whom we work and clients we serve.
2. IDinsight will have greater representation from the countries in which we work.
3. Across all countries in which we recruit, we will seek greater representation from historically excluded communities.
4. IDinsight will foster an inclusive work culture that empowers a diverse team to do their best work.

IDinsight is committed to non-discrimination in our recruitment, employment practices, and organizational culture, regardless of people’s age, disability, gender, gender identity, genetics, national origin, race, color, religion or belief, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic or status protected by applicable law. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.