Operations Manager

Job Description

Title: Operations Manager

Company Name: Uttaran

Vacancy: --

Age: Na

Job Location: Satkhira (Tala)

Salary: --

Experience:

• At least 5 years
• The applicants should have experience in the following business area(s): NGO

• Master of Business Administration (MBA)

• Bachelor’s degree required (Engineering, Industrial Operations, Business Administration, or related). Master’s degree (MBA, M.Eng, MPA) preferred.

• At least 5 years
• The applicants should have experience in the following business area(s): NGO

• At least 5 years in senior operations or plant management roles. Experience in water treatment, manufacturing, or logistics sectors highly desirable.

• Operations Excellence: Proven experience in managing and optimizing production systems and supply chains in resource-constrained or rural settings.

• Business Acumen: Strong understanding of unit economics, operational KPIs, market growth levers, and cost optimization.

• Technical Literacy: Familiarity with water treatment technologies (especially RO systems), electrical/mechanical systems, and quality control instruments.

• Analytical Skills: Ability to use data tools (Excel, PowerPoint, Google Sheets) to drive decision-making and continuous improvement.

• Financial Oversight: Experience in operational budgeting, cost accounting, and financial reporting.

• Language Proficiency: Fluent in English and Bangla, with excellent communication skills across diverse stakeholder groups.

• Digital Tools: Proficient in Microsoft Office; experience with CRM, or logistics software is a plus.

• Leadership: Collaborative and adaptive leadership style with the ability to manage cross-functional teams and field-level staff.

• Mission Alignment: Strong commitment to social enterprise values, community empowerment, and climate-resilient infrastructure.

About Uttaran Paani

Uttaran Paani is a social enterprise initiative of Uttaran, a leading grassroots NGO in Bangladesh. Operating in the water-scarce and salinity-affected region of Southwest Bangladesh, Uttaran Paani manages four Reverse Osmosis (RO) water purification plants that deliver safe, affordable drinking water to underserved communities. The enterprise integrates business efficiency with social impact to ensure long-term sustainability and scalability.

The strategic partner of Uttaran Paani on this project is the French non-profit association 1001fontaines, whose goal is to ensure everyone can drink safe water and enjoy improved health. Its mission is to design and deploy at scale sustainable safe drinking water solutions for vulnerable communities. This is made possible through the provision of high-quality bottled water services up to the point of use, the capacity-building of local organizations to ensure the continuity of these services, and the mobilization of the communities and local ecosystems to raise awareness about the importance of safe water for health and development.

Reports to: Uttaran Head of Programme, Climate Change & Water Governance

Position Overview

The Operations Manager will be responsible for optimizing the entire value chain of Uttaran Paani’s water production and distribution system. This includes plant operations, logistics, sales strategy, technical maintenance, data-driven decision-making, and financial performance. The role demands both strategic acumen and strong execution capabilities, ensuring efficient delivery of safe water while maintaining the enterprise’s financial health and social mission.

Responsibilities:

Plant Operations Management

• Oversee day-to-day operations of three RO plants to ensure compliance with production KPIs, quality assurance standards, and safety protocols.
• Optimize input-output ratios (water recovery rate, energy efficiency, consumable usage).
• Implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for plant performance and staff productivity.

Sales Strategy & Channel Development

• Develop and execute B2C and B2B sales strategies aligned with monthly revenue targets.
• Expand distribution channels via data-driven territory management and market segmentation.
• Establish sales performance dashboards and CRM protocols to track customer conversion and retention metrics.

Logistics & Supply Chain Optimization

• Design efficient distribution models for timely water delivery from plants to customers and retail outlets.
• Leverage route optimization tools and GPS tracking for fleet management.
• Establish KPIs for last-mile delivery, including fulfillment rate, delivery time, and vehicle utilization.

Technical & Quality Control Oversight

• Supervise preventive and corrective maintenance schedules for RO systems, pumps, storage units, and electrical infrastructure.
• Ensure compliance with WHO and national water quality standards through regular lab testing and field sampling.
• Introduce remote monitoring tools integration for technical oversight.

Data Analytics & Performance Reporting

• Develop and maintain operational dashboards for tracking production, distribution, sales, and cost-efficiency metrics.
• Generate periodic performance reports for internal stakeholders and partners, including variance analysis and process improvements.
• Implement ERP or MIS tools to centralize data collection and workflow tracking.

Financial Planning & Cost Management

• Manage operational budgeting, cost controls, procurement compliance, and vendor performance.
• Identify cost-reduction opportunities across OPEX and CAPEX without compromising service quality.
• Align financial planning with business growth and sustainability objectives.

Social Impact Integration

• Embed social impact metrics into operational KPIs (e.g., cost per liter delivered, number of households served, affordability index).
• Engage local stakeholders and integrate feedback mechanisms to improve service relevance and user satisfaction.
• Support monitoring teams in the evaluation of health, economic, and gender-related outcomes of water access.

Candidate Profile

A successful candidate will bring a hybrid profile of operations leadership, business management, and technical competence. You should be comfortable scaling systems, leading multidisciplinary teams, and using operational levers to drive both commercial performance and community impact.

Applicants should mention their expected salary as part of the application process.