Helen Keller Intl

Job Announcement : Operations Manager

Yaoundé, Cameroon

Helen Keller Intl

Guided by the remarkable legacy of its co-founder, Helen Keller, Helen Keller Intl partners with communities striving to overcome longstanding cycles of poverty. By delivering the essential building blocks of good health, sound nutrition, and clear vision, we help millions of people create lasting change in their own lives. Working in 20 countries – across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the United States – and together with a global community of supporters, we ensure every person has the opportunity – as Helen did – to reach their true potential.

Brief Background

In Cameroon, Helen Keller Intl works in eye health, nutrition, and the fight against neglected tropical diseases. To ensure the efficiency, compliance, and smooth functioning of its country office operations, Helen Keller Intl Cameroon is seeking a qualified candidate for the position of Operations Manager, based in Yaoundé, with oversight of a team of 11 staff across Yaoundé and the Maroua sub-office. This is a fixed-term position for an initial duration of one (1) year.

Purpose or Scope of work

Helen Keller Intl is a global health and development organization dedicated to eliminating preventable vision loss, malnutrition, and diseases of poverty.
With programs in 20 countries and nearly seven decades of experience, we combine evidence-based interventions with strong local partnerships to reach millions of people each year. This role will help ensure that our Cameroon country office operates efficiently, compliantly, and in service of program impact — upholding the same commitment to integrity and rigor that defines Helen Keller Intl's work worldwide.

Management/ Functional Relationships

This role reports to the Country Director. Internally, the role works closely with the Country Management Team, Program team, Finance team, Human Resources team, and global/HQ Operations counterparts, and directly supervises the Associate Officer, Information Technology. Externally, the role engages with suppliers and vendors, government authorities (tax administration, NGO consortium, local authorities), and international donors and partner organizations.

Key Responsibilities/ Specific Tasks

• Technical/Programmatic: Lead and coordinate the country office's operational functions — procurement, logistics, information technology, and security — ensuring efficient, compliant, and well-functioning operations in support of program delivery.
• People management: Supervise a team of 11 staff across Operations in Yaoundé and Maroua, including direct oversight of the Associate Officer, Information Technology; conduct compliance checks, identify learning needs, and implement training plans.
• Operations/coordination: Oversee procurement strategy and processes, vehicle fleet management, asset registration and control, and IT infrastructure and systems, while maintaining performance indicators and optimizing the use of existing framework agreements.
• External engagement: Advise the Country Director on operations, security, and compliance matters; liaise with suppliers, government authorities, and donors; and represent Operations within the Country Management Team.

Other Duties

This job announcement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities for the position. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. All positions are required to perform any additional tasks assigned by the supervisor.

Skills & Experience

• Technical & Leadership Competencies: Strong leadership, communication, negotiation, decision-making, and problem-solving skills; proven experience supervising, coaching, and managing the performance of multidisciplinary teams; ability to drive process improvement, change management, and capacity-building.
• Operational & Functional Skills: Excellent knowledge of operations, procurement, ICT, asset management, and safety/security; strong proficiency with IT tools and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems; good understanding of compliance requirements applicable to international donors.
• Education & Experience: Master's degree (or equivalent) in management, business administration, logistics and supply chain management, finance, operations management, or another relevant field; at least 7 years of relevant professional experience, including at least 5 years in a similarly responsible role, ideally within an international NGO or development organization; Cameroonian nationality required.

Working Conditions/ Travel

• Willingness to travel regularly to the Maroua sub-office and other project sites within Cameroon, as required.
• Primarily office-based in Yaoundé, with periodic travel to regional and field locations.
• As a supervisor of staff and manager of operational functions, this role carries safeguarding responsibilities and is expected to model and uphold Helen Keller Intl's Code of Conduct at all times.
• Good command of English and French, both spoken and written.

Compensation and benefits. 

Helen Keller offers a comprehensive benefits package. Specific offerings may vary by country in accordance with local laws.

Expectations

Fairness, Belonging and Zero Tolerance to Abuse

As a member of the Helen Keller Family, each employee is expected to:

• Help to develop and maintain an environment that welcomes and develops a multi-cultural workforce with varied lived experiences and identities.
• Foster a work environment where everyone feels valued and included.
• Support employees' evaluation and promotion processes based on skills and performance.
• Promote a safe, secure, and respectful environment for all members of Helen Keller family, stakeholders in general, and particularly for the communities we serve.
• Follow Helen Keller Code of Conduct helping to prevent any type of abuse including workplace harassment, sexual abuse and exploitation, and trafficking in persons.
• Adhere to the Organizational Core Values, which include courage, compassion, integrity and rigor.

To Apply

Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to cm.recrutement@hki.org Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Application Deadline:

The closing date for submission of applications is September 7, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. (strict deadline).

In the spirit of the extraordinary ability and vision of our founder, Helen Keller Intl fosters an environment of fairness and belonging for our workforce.

Helen Keller Intl is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment