Assistant Operations Manager
GSM Association (UK Branch)Department: Mobile for Development
Team: Inclusive Digital Finance (InDiFin)
Location: London (hybrid working)
Position type: Fixed Term Contract 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. You 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 Role
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 teams, 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 tracking and reporting on deliverables and KPIs.
Support the preparation of monthly programme internal reports, 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 maintain programme’s’ workplans tracking.
Support end-to-end procurement processes including supplier onboarding, contracting, purchase orders and invoice management, in collaboration with the finance team.
Coordinate event planning and logistics, including sourcing and booking venues and liaising with programme teams and marketing.
Manage travel tracking 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 within donor-funded projects.
Strong organisational and planning skills, 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 requirements and priorities.
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 Office (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 your Skills
Across the diversity of roles at GSMA, there are core capabilities that all GSMA staff need. For this role, there five key capabilities required for this role are Project Management, Communication, Agility, Teamwork and Stakeholder Management.
Project Management: Fundamental to ensuring activities are well coordinated and delivered effectively. Requires the ability to manage competing priorities, track deliverables and reporting requirements, and maintain accurate documentation and oversight across multiple workstreams.
Communication: Critical to effective coordination and collaboration. Requires clear and professional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey information concisely, prepare reports, and engage confidently with different audiences.
Agility: Important in a fast-paced and evolving environment. Requires the ability to adapt quickly to changing priorities, manage multiple demands simultaneously, and respond proactively while maintaining attention to detail.
Teamwork: Central to successful programme delivery. Requires the ability to work collaboratively across cross-functional and geographically dispersed teams, build positive working relationships, and contribute proactively to shared objectives.
Stakeholder Management: Fundamental to the success of the programmes. Requires the ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels, ensuring requirements, timelines and actions are understood and communicated effectively through to completion. Able to manage expectations professionally, follow up on actions and escalate issues appropriately to support successful programme delivery.
We strive to offer a meaningful and inclusive application experience for all candidates. Should you require any accommodations or adjustments due to a disability or for any other reason during the hiring process, please contact [email protected] with your request.
Contract type
Fixed Term Contract (Fixed Term)Worker type
EmployeeWhat We Offer
Working at the GSMA offers you unparalleled access to the mobile industry. We offer a chance to truly shape the direction of mobile, whatever your role. By joining the GSMA, you will be exposed to a fast-paced rapidly evolving environment, working on global solutions, genuinely fascinating and industry-changing projects and a stimulating and dynamic environment designed to enable you to flourish.
In addition to architect-designed offices and competitive compensation, our benefits include fantastic learning & development opportunities, generous holiday allowances, four additional days off for professional development and many others.
To learn more about the GSMA, visit our career site, our LinkedIn page and our Twitter page.
Being You at the GSMA
We care deeply about diversity, equity and inclusivity and aspire to be the best at it. Your well-being and work/life balance is important, so flexi-time and remote working is available to all staff. We're keen to ensure everyone is equal, represented and connected so we particularly encourage applications from all demographics. The sucess of the GSMA year on year will continue to be contributed by people from all walks of life.
GSMA Values
Our values not only drive our culture – they shape how we work and interact inside and outside our global organisation.
Passionately driven
We approach everything we do with unparalleled capability, tenacity and commitment, knowing that the challenging scale, pace and complexity of our work is what leads to its world-changing impact.
Insightful leaders
We continually develop and engage our expertise, insight and creativity so that we’re always ready to respond to the changing landscape with authority, agility and nuance.
Stronger together
We lean on each other so the industry can lean on us, embracing our diversity by actively seeking out perspectives and skill sets beyond our own, fuelling each other’s successes and constantly asking how we can help.
Underpinning our values is our collective mindset to show up purposefully as good human beings every day, in every situation. When we’re at our best – we are collaborative, considerate and compassionate to others, and we create a safe space for one another to thrive, assuming positive intent in our colleagues. And if we aren’t at our best and the pressure is on – we feel free to be ourselves but still remain curious, lean into the tough stuff and we are always respectful to others and accountable for the part we play.