Ousseynou Samb
NGO Worker
Dakar
Summary
More than 20 years of experience in developing, implementing and monitoring development projects Goal-oriented Operations Director in streamlining procedures to implement and oversee development and humanitarian program. Well-organized and proactive with hands-on and resourceful style. Knowledgeable about recruitment, regulatory compliance, risk management and operational excellence.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
15
15
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Regional Program Operations Director
Save the Children International
6 2023 - Current
- Built strong relationships with stakeholders at all organizational levels, fostering collaboration between departments for optimal results.
- Managed financial resources with a focus on cost control, leading to significant savings without compromising service quality.
- Reviewed financial and operational reports on regular basis to make effective decisions.
- Cultivated a high-performance work environment by setting clear expectations and fostering open communication among employees.
- Streamlined operations by implementing efficient processes and policies, resulting in improved program delivery.
- Conducted performance evaluations and provided constructive feedback to team members, promoting professional growth and development.
- Lead on risk management plans to mitigate potential issues, ensuring smooth project execution.
- Act as Country Director when needed
Regional Operations Manager
Save the Children International
02.2017 - 06.2023
- Provision/identification of operational support needs and assistance to 9 Country Offices, including support related to strategy development, risk management, program delivery, and all strategy, leadership, and management of structures, systems, and processes related to delivery.
- Ensure review and quality control of key documents, adherence to agreed standards, policies, procedures, and tools, and provide a sounding board for discussion of key strategic actions/decisions according to global requirements.
- Provide a sounding board for the Country Program for discussion of actions and decisions.
- Monitored and analyzed performance data, identifying areas of improvement and developing corrective action plans.
- Implemented risk management plans to mitigate potential issues, ensuring smooth project execution.
- Act as Director of Program Operations when needed.
Head of Award (Grant) Management in West and Central Africa
Save the Children International
01.2016 - 02.2017
- Lead and develop the regional award management effort, capacity building staff, and contribute to the development of best practices systems and processes.
- A strong coordination role, both internally and across the Save the Children global network, and with donors, to identify funding opportunities.
- Coordinate developing high quality proposals that are reflective of Save the Children and donor strategic objectives, while also ensuring proposal budgets are accurately costed.
- During the implementation of regional projects, provide support and information to the technical, field-based, and operations teams to deliver donor-compliant awards and ensure the consistent delivery of timely donor reports.
Regional Awards Manager
Save the Children International
05.2015 - 12.2015
- Management of grants in 11 countries in West and Central Africa
- Oversight and support to countries
- Monitoring and analysis of funding portfolio in West and Central Africa
Regional Awards Officer
Save the Children International
05.2014 - 05.2015
- Lead awards management/support across the West and Central Africa region
- Reinforce the quality of awards management systems, processes, and tools
- Provide oversight on donor reporting performance and the compliance of multi-country awards in the region.
Project Officer
Africare
07.2011 - 04.2014
- Liaise regularly with government ministries, donor-funded government initiatives, and government programs to identify possible new programs and funding sources.
- Maintain regular contact with NGO federations, Senegalese and international NGOs, and selected community-based associations to assess their needs and possible areas of collaboration with Africare.
- Developed and monitored project schedules, budgets and objectives for successful completion.
- Enhanced project efficiency by streamlining communication channels and implementing effective collaboration tools.
- Kept stakeholders informed of progress through regular status updates clearly communicating any changes to project scope, timeline or budget.
Admin & Projects Manager
Africare
01.2007 - 07.2011
- Overall responsibility for coordinating the management and control of Africare and projects general administration
- Main responsibilities include provision of technical, programmatic, and administrative support to the field offices and also coordinating with the logistics unit to ensure that the needs of field offices are met
- Full responsibility for elaborating the budgets of prospective grants/projects, Africare's Annual Buget, financial project reports, control of procurement compliance with Africare and donor rules/regulations for prospective projects, and supervision of staff performance.
- Implemented risk management plans to mitigate potential issues, ensuring smooth project execution.
Program Manager / Logistician
Africare
01.2006 - 12.2007
- Wrote technical and financial proposals to submit to various donors, such as USAID, USDA, World Bank, WFP, Global Fund, JICA, etc.
- Monitored and evaluated funded projects through frequent field visits.
- Served as a liaison with various partners to broaden the organization's visibility.
- Responsible for backstopping Africare Senegal's programs and projects.
- Overall responsibility for vehicle control and maintenance, equipment control and maintenance, property management and maintenance, transport and travel, and team member on selected procurements.
Junior Program Officer
Africare
06.2003 - 12.2005
- In charge of monitoring and evaluation projects on the field
- Support project portfolio through proposal writing and budget elaboration
- Assisted in ensuring adequate logistical support is provided to projects
- Served as a translator of all English to French and vice versa documents.
Program Development Intern
Africare
11.2002 - 06.2003
- Researching and developing new project concepts
- Conceptualizing and producing Africare/Senegal Annual Report
- Assisting with translations from French to English/English to French and any other office duties as assigned.
Program Assistant
Haiti Lumiere de Demain
04.2002 - 06.2002
- Worked with a non-profit whose mission is to bring educational opportunities to children in Haiti
- Assisted in grant research and writing
- Also coordinated the implementation of a book lending program, an after-school program, and a teacher training program in Haiti
Distribution Associate
The McGraw Hill Companies
08.2001 - 03.2002
- Fulfilled and shipped book orders
- Operated computerized order tracking system
- Performed general warehouse maintenance duties.
Upward Bound Resident Director
Ohio University
06.2001 - 07.2001
- Provided academic support, individualized tutoring, group counseling, academic advising, career counseling, and assessment to disadvantaged Appalachian youth participating in a social and academic empowerment program for high school students.
Graduate Assistant, African Studies
Ohio University
09.1999 - 06.2001
- Served as editor of quarterly newsletter for the African Studies Program, creating an online version in partnership with a web designer
- Managed databases and performed other administrative tasks for the African Studies Program.
Research Intern
Ghana National Commission on Children
06.2000 - 08.2000
- Investigated child legislation and children's health issues in Ghana, focusing on the effects of water-borne disease.
Education
MA - International Affairs
Ohio University
01.1999 - 05.2001
Masters - English
Universite Gaston Berger
01.1994 - 05.1998
Masters - International Affairs
Ohio University
01.1999 - 05.2001
None - Research
University of Wisconsin-Madison
01.1998 - 05.1999
Bachelor of Arts - English
Université Gaston Berger
01.1994 - 05.1998
Skills
Project Implementation, monitoring and reviews
Risk Management
Organizational Development
Capacity Planning
Financial Analysis
Staff Management
Staff Training and Development
Report Writing
Continuous Improvement
Logistics Management
Key Performance Indicators
Currentjob
Regional Program Operations Director, Save The Children International, Dakar, Senegal, 06/2023, Present, 1 year 4 months
Languages
French
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
English
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
Spanish
Elementary (A2)
Wolof
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Timeline
Regional Operations Manager
Save the Children International
02.2017 - 06.2023
Head of Award (Grant) Management in West and Central Africa
Save the Children International
01.2016 - 02.2017
Regional Awards Manager
Save the Children International
05.2015 - 12.2015
Regional Awards Officer
Save the Children International
05.2014 - 05.2015
Project Officer
Africare
07.2011 - 04.2014
Admin & Projects Manager
Africare
01.2007 - 07.2011
Program Manager / Logistician
Africare
01.2006 - 12.2007
Junior Program Officer
Africare
06.2003 - 12.2005
Program Development Intern
Africare
11.2002 - 06.2003
Program Assistant
Haiti Lumiere de Demain
04.2002 - 06.2002
Distribution Associate
The McGraw Hill Companies
08.2001 - 03.2002
Upward Bound Resident Director
Ohio University
06.2001 - 07.2001
Research Intern
Ghana National Commission on Children
06.2000 - 08.2000
Graduate Assistant, African Studies
Ohio University
09.1999 - 06.2001
MA - International Affairs
Ohio University
01.1999 - 05.2001
Masters - International Affairs
Ohio University
01.1999 - 05.2001
None - Research
University of Wisconsin-Madison
01.1998 - 05.1999
Masters - English
Universite Gaston Berger
01.1994 - 05.1998
Bachelor of Arts - English
Université Gaston Berger
01.1994 - 05.1998
Regional Program Operations Director
Save the Children International
6 2023 - Current