Operations Manager
Location: Nansana, Uganda
Employment Type: Full-Time; one year renewable
Reports to: Country Director
Closing date: 4th November 2026
1. 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.
2. 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.

3. 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.
4. 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 HRstaff,
establishes clear accountability, and creates a culture of accuracy, discipline, and continuous improvement.
5. 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.
6. 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.

7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.

11. 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.
13. 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.
14. HOW TO APPLY
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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