Nino Willsea
Bristow
Summary
Results-driven global operations leader with 20+ years of experience optimizing organizational effectiveness across international development initiatives. Proven track record in driving strategic efficiencies, fostering partnerships, and ensuring regulatory compliance within multimillion-dollar projects. Adept at crisis management, risk mitigation, and operational restructuring to strengthen sustainability and impact. Recognized for cultural fluency and the ability to navigate complex global environments with agility and resilience.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief Operating Officer & Acting Chief Financial Officer
PATHFINDER INTERNATIONAL
01.2019 - Current
- Elevated to lead high-performing global finance and operations teams, driving organizational effectiveness through strategic budgeting, compliance oversight, and risk mitigation.
- Partner with CEO and executive leadership to define goals, KPIs, and performance dashboards in line with the organizational goals and strategic plans.
- Partner with CEO to develop and manage annual budgeting and planning process.
- Partner with the CEO and executive team to manage organizational risk appetite, ensure operational, financial and donor compliance across Pathfinder operations.
- Provide updates and reports to the Board of Directors, Finance and Investment and Audit and Compliance committees.
- Manage 43 million annual revenue and financial operations across 15 countries in Africa, Asia and United States to ensure financial compliance, fiscal stewardship, and cost control.
- Lead organizational finance and operations across six departments, managing a global workforce of 38.
- Manage six direct reports across Operations, Procurement, Administration, IT, HR, Compliance & IA, and Legal.
- Scope: Expanded Global Operations, Restructured Finance, Compliance, and Internal Audit Departments | Oversees Legal, Operations, Finance, Compliance, Internal Audit, Organizational Effectiveness and Standards, Security, IT, Grants and Contracts, Procurement, Administration and Travel
Chief, Global Operations
PATHFINDER INTERNATIONAL
04.2024 - 05.2025
- Promoted to Chief Global Operations Officer, leading Pathfinder's operational strategy aligned with sustainability and localization goals.
- Drove organizational excellence through strategic goal setting and performance management.
- Managed five departments and 25 staff across Procurement & Administration, Grants & Contracts, IT, Security & Operations, and Legal.
- Oversaw annual budgets and collaborated with the CFO team on forecasts and departmental priorities.
- Developed key organizational policies for compliance and streamlined operations, including Delegation of Authority and Global Safety and Security policies.
- Scope: Established Global Operations Department | Oversees Operations, Security, IT, Grants and Contracts, Procurement & Administration teams
Senior Director, Global Operations
PATHFINDER INTERNATIONAL
10.2022 - 04.2024
- Restructured IT, Security, and Operations Departments
- Integrated Travel and Administration into Global Operations.
- Designed policies to mitigate risks in award management and ensured compliance with regulations.
- Streamlined sub-award processes for a $150 million portfolio, improving management efficiency.
- Led proposal efforts, addressing complex contractual issues and donor compliance. Partner with HR and finance teams on various aspects of operation, including the management of employer of records vendor, travel, asset management, office lease management, financial compliance with rules and regulations, internal audit, and new business development.
- Reorganized and re-established the newest department within the Global Operations division - Procurement & Administration. Manage global travel, integration between ISOS, Travel and Global Security. Revise and release global travel policy and procedures. Oversee and lead global procurement actions and capacity building initiatives
Director, Grants, Contracts, and Procurement
PATHFINDER INTERNATIONAL
01.2019 - 09.2022
- Established and managed the Grants, Contracts, and Procurement Department with a focus on timely administration for a $125 million portfolio.
- Designed policies to mitigate risks in award management and ensured compliance with regulations.
- Streamlined sub-award processes for a $150 million portfolio, improving management efficiency.
- Led proposal efforts, addressing complex contractual issues and donor compliance.
Senior Director, Grants, Contracts, Procurement, and Compliance
IMA WORLD HEALTH
02.2017 - 01.2019
- Built a successful Grants, Contracts, Procurement, and Compliance department offering full-cycle grants/contracts management services across 6 countries with a total portfolio size of $500 million.
- Managed up to 25 active projects and over 60 active sub-awards and sub-contracts, while actively designing and executing process improvements for long-range strategic and planning processes aligning with financial and operational forecasts.
- Established IMA as one of the first US NGOs compliant with the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office's (FCDO) smart rules, terms and conditions, due diligence, and implementation and oversight policies. Responsible for ensuring International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) compliance. Served as IMA's FCDO compliance expert - developed IMA policies and procedures on FCDO's new contract Terms and Conditions.
- Selected to lead the coordination of merger efforts between IMA and Lutheran World Relief focusing specifically on compliance issues. Working closely with the CFO, successfully aligned policies across the 2 organizations.
- Developed and rolled out IMA policies and procedures, manuals, templates, and tools. Wrote and developed over 50 different guidance documents, policies, SOPs, tools, and templates (Grants, Contracts, and Procurement) to ensure IMA compliance with donor/client terms and conditions.
- Served as Acting Chief Operating Officer/Officer in Charge in absence of CEO/COO.
- Scope: Up to 7 direct reports | Cooperative agreements, CPFF, fixed-priced contract vehicles
Director of Grants and Contracts
MANAGEMENT SCIENCES FOR HEALTH (MSH)
09.2016 - 01.2017
- Promoted and progressed rapidly through positions with increasing responsibility. Directed all aspects of the Grants and Contracts department.
- Acted as a sole manager for the USAID-funded multi-million cooperative agreement in Ukraine and Afghanistan while simultaneously overseeing a global portfolio of 30+ countries.
- Provided day-to-day contract/grant compliance, negotiation and administration, and prime and sub-award negotiation and administration, overseeing donor interaction, waiver submission, budget analysis, and consultant daily rate negotiations.
- Developed and conducted trainings for 300+ US and country office personnel on grants, contracts, and compliance.
- Managed sub-award monitoring and administration from start-up to close out, including preparation of prime award briefs, drafting/reviewing of contractual templates, and handling of sub-award approval requests.
- Interpreted and prepared written responses and guidance documents related to the regulatory changes in FAR, AIDAR, and contributed and wrote research notes for the Contracts and Grants Management Unit.
- Scope: 4 Direct Reports | Managed a global portfolio of 30+ countries
Lead Contracts/Agreement Specialist
USAID, OFFICE OF ACQUISITION & ASSISTANCE
11.2013 - 01.2014
- Managed, administered, and monitored the entire PPL portfolio (Bureau for Policy, Planning, and Learning - M/OAA/Office of Special Initiatives and Development Partners), including review and approval of award modifications and participation in bi-weekly procurement forecast planning meetings with PPL Bureau.
- Played a leadership role in multi-million procurement management, ranging from IDIQ to GSA MOBIS schedule, to hybrid fixed price/T&M contracts.
- Acted as Branch Chief for coverage purposes upon request and provided guidance and mentoring to staff members.
- Scope: Direct hire | Multi-million procurement management (IDIQ, GSA)
Compliance Manager
POPULATION SERVICES INTERNATIONAL (PSI)
06.2010 - 10.2010
- Managed all aspects of compliance issues providing timely advice. Reduced time to process requests and improved end-user experience by participating in the restructuring of the grants and contracts department.
- Invited to participate in the human subject research committee, submitting requests to IRB, and working with IRB members and chair to make sure the requests get reviewed and processed.
- Provided substantive compliance support on donor rules and regulations, template and policy development for D.C. and field-based staff worldwide, maintaining daily interaction with field staff on various compliance issues including FAR, AIDAR, DSSR, ADS, and other European donor regulations.
- Provided technical assistance to functional departments on record retention, code of conduct, financial compliance, and contractual compliance matters and its legal team in developing and standardizing donor-specific templates and guidance.
- Provided training content on donor compliance and assisted the Research Ethics Board with 45 CFR 46 compliance regulations.
- Scope: Held first-ever compliance role | USAID, GF, SIDA, GTZ, DFID and Private Foundations
Grants and Contracts Analyst
POPULATION SERVICES INTERNATIONAL (PSI)
11.2009 - 05.2009
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Arts and Sciences
Tbilisi Technical University
Financial Management for Development Professionals
Humentum
CON 100, 101, 110, 112
Federal Acquisition Institute
FCDO Terms & Conditions
Humentum
Cost Analysis, Simplified Acquisition Procedures
USAID University
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Compliance Essential Training
LinkedIn
Negotiation Strategies & Techniques
George Washington University
Learning the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) Top 10
LinkedIn
Executive Leadership Certificate
Cornell University
04.2024
Skills
- Strategic Leadership & Governance
- Global Operations & Crisis Management
- NGO Management & Compliance
- Financial Oversight & Budgeting
- Grants, Contracts, & Procurement
- Risk Identification & Mitigation
- Regulatory Compliance (FAR, 2 CFR 200, AIDAR, ADS, DSSR, FCDO)
- Organizational Restructuring
- Policy Development & Implementation
- Talent Development & Leadership Mentoring
- Software: Word, Excel (including pivot tables and macros), Power Point
- Languages: English (fluent), Russian (functional native proficiency), Georgian (functional native proficiency), Ukrainian (basic understanding)
- Country experience: Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East, Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe
Timeline
Chief, Global Operations
PATHFINDER INTERNATIONAL
04.2024 - 05.2025
Senior Director, Global Operations
PATHFINDER INTERNATIONAL
10.2022 - 04.2024
Chief Operating Officer & Acting Chief Financial Officer
PATHFINDER INTERNATIONAL
01.2019 - Current
Director, Grants, Contracts, and Procurement
PATHFINDER INTERNATIONAL
01.2019 - 09.2022
Senior Director, Grants, Contracts, Procurement, and Compliance
IMA WORLD HEALTH
02.2017 - 01.2019
Director of Grants and Contracts
MANAGEMENT SCIENCES FOR HEALTH (MSH)
09.2016 - 01.2017
Lead Contracts/Agreement Specialist
USAID, OFFICE OF ACQUISITION & ASSISTANCE
11.2013 - 01.2014
Compliance Manager
POPULATION SERVICES INTERNATIONAL (PSI)
06.2010 - 10.2010
Grants and Contracts Analyst
POPULATION SERVICES INTERNATIONAL (PSI)
11.2009 - 05.2009
Financial Management for Development Professionals
Humentum
CON 100, 101, 110, 112
Federal Acquisition Institute
FCDO Terms & Conditions
Humentum
Cost Analysis, Simplified Acquisition Procedures
USAID University
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Compliance Essential Training
LinkedIn
Negotiation Strategies & Techniques
George Washington University
Learning the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) Top 10
LinkedIn
Executive Leadership Certificate
Cornell University
Bachelor of Arts - Arts and Sciences
Tbilisi Technical University
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