Assistant Operations Manager

gsma; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

GSMA is seeking an Assistant Operations Manager for the Inclusive Digital Finance programme in London. This fixed-term contract role supports the Advancing Financial Health initiative, coordinating programme operations, financial management, reporting and governance to ensure efficient delivery and meaningful impact.

Reporting to the Senior Operations Manager, you will collaborate with global teams across compliance, finance, legal, HR and marketing, while managing workplans, procurement,

Qualifications

• Demonstrable operations and project management experience, ideally in donor-funded projects.
• Strong organisational and planning skills across multiple workstreams.
• Experience budgeting, forecasting and financial processes.
• Proven track record in tracking and reporting on project activities.
• Strong stakeholder management across teams and external partners.
• Flexible and adaptable to changing requirements and priorities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work in a global, multi-location team.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Proficient in MS Office; familiarity with project or grant management systems.
• Interest in international development and/or social enterprises.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Senior Operations Manager in tracking and reporting on deliverables and KPIs.
• Support the preparation of monthly internal reports and donor reporting.
• Maintain programme risk, issue and lessons learned logs with timely escalation.
• Assist with activity planning and maintaining work plans.
• Support end-to-end procurement including supplier onboarding and contracts.
• Coordinate event planning and logistics with programme teams and marketing.
• Manage travel tracking and organised filing (e.g., SharePoint).
• Perform other duties as requested.

Skills

Operations management

Project management

Budgeting & forecasting

Reporting & KPIs

Stakeholder management

Adaptability

Communication

Team collaboration

Attention to detail

MS Office / Office 365

Grant management

International development interest

Tools

SharePoint

Job description

Department: Mobile for Development

Team: Inclusive Digital Finance ( InDiFin )

Location: London (hybrid working)

Position type: Fixed Term Contrac t until 31/10/27

What the hiring manager says

" As an Assistant Operations Manager, you will play a crucial role in supporting the effective delivery of the " Advancing Financial Health in Mobile Money Ecosystems" initiative . Y ou will help coordinate programme operations, financial management , reporting and governance processes, ensuring activities are delivered efficiently and contribute to meaningful impact. "

Kate Zechner, Senior Operations Manager

About the Team

The Mobile for Development (M4D) team drives innovation in digital technology to reduce inequalities in our world. Singularly positioned at the intersection of the mobile ecosystem and the development sector, we stimulate digital innovation to deliver both sustainable business and large-scale socio-economic impact for the underserved.

The Inclusive Digital Finance ( InDiFin ) programme drives an inclusive digital finance ecosystem by mobilising providers, policymakers and partners to deliver market innovation and reform - closing the gap between financial access and genuine financial health for underserved populations. The vision of the programme is a world where everyone, regardless of who they are or where they live, can confidently manage daily needs, plan for the future and withstand financial shocks - contributing to more stable, equitable and prosperous societies.

Under the "Advancing Financial Health in Mobile Money Ecosystems" initiative, the InDiFin programme will generate evidence on the drivers of financial health, equip mobile money providers (MMPs) with practical, evidence-based tools and implementation support, and embed financial health measurement into MMP product design, strategy, and decision-making.

About the R ole

The Assistant Operations Manager role will be an exciting opportunity for an individual with a passion for international development and the role of digital innovation in driving socio-economic impact for the underserved .

You will support the " Advancing Financial Health in Mobile Money Ecosystems " initiative by helping to plan, coordinate and deliver programme activities in collaboration with the wider team.

The role reports to the Senior Operations Manager, who leads on operational management of the InDiFin team across delivery, reporting (including donor reporting ) and business planning. You will work closely with programme tea ms , as well as colleagues across the wider M4D including, compliance/finance, legal, HR, marketing and subject matter experts.

As an Assistant Operations Manager, you will be responsible for the following:

• Assist the Senior Operations Managers in track ing and report ing on deliverables and KPIs .
• Support the prep aration of monthly programme internal report s , and quarterly and annual programme donor reporting .
• Maintain programme risk, issue and lessons learned logs , ensuring timely escalation where required .
• Assist with programme activity planning and m aintain programme's ' workplans tracking .
• Support end-to-end procurement processes including supplie r onboarding , contract ing, purchase orders and invoice management , in collaboration with the f inance team .
• Coordinate event planning and logistics , including sourcing and booking venues and liaising with programme teams and marketing .
• Manage travel track ing and maintain organised shared filing systems i.e. SharePoint .
• Any other duties commensurate with level as requested by the Senior Operations Managers .

About You

The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following skills and experience :

• Demonstrable operations and project management experience , ideally with in donor-funded projects .
• Strong organisational and planning skill s , with ability to manage multiple priorities across different workstreams.
• Experience supporting budgeting, forecasting and financial processes .
• Proven track record in tracking and reporting on project activities .
• Strong stakeholder management skills , including the ability to work effectively across teams and manage upwards .
• Flexibility and ability to adapt to changing requirement s and prioriti es .
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills .
• Ability to work as part of a team, supporting other team members in a busy global environment, across several different geographical locations .
• Excellent attention to detail .
• Proficiency using MS O ffice ( i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams) and experience with project or grant management systems .
• An interest in international development and/or social enterprises in emerging markets .

This is a hands-on role requiring a pro-active, self-motivated individual who can work independently and collaborate effectively to support programme success.

About y our S kills

Across the diversity of roles at GSMA, there are core capabilities that all GSMA staff need . For