Purpose
As the head of operations of a medium-sized office, the incumbent will be accountable for management of cost effective, efficient and secure operations, in support of management, administration and implementation of the country programmes, consistent with operations of all other country offices in the Region in accordance with strategy, plans and decisions made by Regional Management Team and Country Programme Management Teams.
The incumbent will provide guidance in operations to a gender-balanced, multidisciplinary team of professionals to identify and correct gender balances.
Key expected results
Contributes to global and regional strategic planning and policy changes/formulation on operational matters as necessary; Provides technical input to contribute to the establishment of operational guidelines in close coordination with the head of office, the Regional Operations Officer and DFAM.
Implements the effective communication, training, roll-out, monitoring and evaluation of new operational initiatives, guidelines and procedures.
Ensures efficient, cost-effective and transparent utilization of resources through knowledge and technology transfer between offices and consistency of approaches.
Participates in effective management process by providing technical advices and supports to corporate committees (including PBR, RMTs, CMT, JCC, CRC, PSB, etc.).
Under the auspices of the Inter-Agency Operations Management Team, supports approaches for enhancing UN common services to attain efficiencies and effectiveness.
Serve as the focal person for office management indicators; ensure all other operational reporting requirements are fully met for the office; in collaboration with the Deputy Representative, ensure the implementation of agreed audit recommendations; advise on corrective measures to be taken and establish relevant internal controls. Develop training activities to ensure effective operational performance and efficiency.
Develops and implements effective staff learning and development programme activities for both programme and operations staff on operational matters for capacity building. Plans and conducts operations workshops for staff’s competency building, staff development, learning and career development. Provides coaching and counselling to the staff on performance enhancement/development.
Cooperates and coordinates with other UN agency counterparts in the UN reform initiatives (including HACT capacity building of IPs, common services and premises agenda, etc.). Advises Head of Office on finance, human resource and administrative matters providing guidance on all operational submissions for the approval of the Regional Director; briefs office staff on financial, human resource and administrative policies and procedures providing authoritative advice; provides technical guidance and oversight to junior Operations staff in country offices and swiftly resolves operational issues.
Coordinates/liaises with the HQ Divisions to support policy formulation in the area of operations; advises on the applicability of new policy directives to regional operations. Makes substantive recommendations on the improvement of systems and internal controls, planning and restructuring and resolution of sensitive issues and problems, taking into account the prevailing conditions in the locality.
Establishes and maintains all consultative and management committees (e.g. CRB, JCP, JCC, CRC, PSB, TRT, PBR and Training); Organizes and trains committees in compliance with the guidelines.
Collaborates with senior Programme Officers and country office staff providing creative problem solving in support of programming activities while maintaining sound internal operational controls.
Represents the office in meetings with local banks and administrative suppliers; negotiates locally issued contracts as well as in meetings with other UN Agencies to coordinate operational matters and activities, including harmonization of the UN common system.
Represents UNICEF in the local salary survey committee and fully participates in all processes of the salary survey review and administration to ensure the methodology is applied correctly throughout.
Coordinates promptly with the Regional Office, the Head of Office, Programme Officers and other staff in the country office for security-related issues and emergency operations. Provides operational support to emergency preparedness and emergencies. Informs and updates all staff members in the country office on security related issues and emergency operations.
Qualification
Advanced university degree in accounting, business administration, economics, or financial management or related field*.
Eight years of relevant work experience in office management, finance, accounting, ICT, and/or human resources; both national and International work experience in management, finance, accounting, ICT, human resources, administration supply and procurement related fields.
Fluency in French and working knowledge in English required.
*A first level university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Competencies
Has highest-level communication skills, including engaging and informative formal public speaking.
Consistently achieves high-level results, managing and delivering projects on-time and on-budget.
Creates and encourages a climate of team-working and collaboration in a multi-cultural environment.
Analyzes and integrates potentially conflicting numerical, verbal and other data from a number of sources.
Identifies urgent and potentially difficult decisions and acts on them promptly; initiates and generates team- and department-wide activities.
Creates organization-wide processes to help ensure that all adhere to procedures and policies.
Translates strategic direction into plans and objectives.
Has high-level leadership and supervisory skills; provides others with a clear direction; motivates and empowers others; recruits staff of a high caliber; provides staff with development opportunities and coaching.
Quickly builds rapport with individuals and groups. Actively nurtures good relationships with people across all organizational levels and boundaries, and with government leaders and stakeholders.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation. If you want a challenging career while improving the lives of children around the world UNICEF, the leading children’s rights organization, would like to hear from you.
Visit us at www.unicef.org/about/employ to register in our new e-Recruitment system and apply to this and other vacancies, quoting E-VN-2011-001830. Applications must be received by 28 October 2011.
Please note that only candidates who are under serious consideration will be contacted.
In the selection of its staff, UNICEF is committed to gender balance and diversity without distinction as to race, sex or religion, and without discrimination of persons with disabilities: well qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to apply
As the head of operations of a medium-sized office, the incumbent will be accountable for management of cost effective, efficient and secure operations, in support of management, administration and implementation of the country programmes, consistent with operations of all other country offices in the Region in accordance with strategy, plans and decisions made by Regional Management Team and Country Programme Management Teams.
The incumbent will provide guidance in operations to a gender-balanced, multidisciplinary team of professionals to identify and correct gender balances.
Key expected results
- Effective operations of financial, human resource and administrative management
- Policy interpretation and application
Contributes to global and regional strategic planning and policy changes/formulation on operational matters as necessary; Provides technical input to contribute to the establishment of operational guidelines in close coordination with the head of office, the Regional Operations Officer and DFAM.
Implements the effective communication, training, roll-out, monitoring and evaluation of new operational initiatives, guidelines and procedures.
- Fiduciary integrity/responsibility for funds and assets
Ensures efficient, cost-effective and transparent utilization of resources through knowledge and technology transfer between offices and consistency of approaches.
- Leadership in strategic planning and policy formulation in the areas of operations
Participates in effective management process by providing technical advices and supports to corporate committees (including PBR, RMTs, CMT, JCC, CRC, PSB, etc.).
- Office Services
Under the auspices of the Inter-Agency Operations Management Team, supports approaches for enhancing UN common services to attain efficiencies and effectiveness.
- CPMP
- Compliance and Internal Control
Serve as the focal person for office management indicators; ensure all other operational reporting requirements are fully met for the office; in collaboration with the Deputy Representative, ensure the implementation of agreed audit recommendations; advise on corrective measures to be taken and establish relevant internal controls. Develop training activities to ensure effective operational performance and efficiency.
- Staff Learning and Development
Develops and implements effective staff learning and development programme activities for both programme and operations staff on operational matters for capacity building. Plans and conducts operations workshops for staff’s competency building, staff development, learning and career development. Provides coaching and counselling to the staff on performance enhancement/development.
- Partnership, Coordination and Collaboration
Cooperates and coordinates with other UN agency counterparts in the UN reform initiatives (including HACT capacity building of IPs, common services and premises agenda, etc.). Advises Head of Office on finance, human resource and administrative matters providing guidance on all operational submissions for the approval of the Regional Director; briefs office staff on financial, human resource and administrative policies and procedures providing authoritative advice; provides technical guidance and oversight to junior Operations staff in country offices and swiftly resolves operational issues.
Coordinates/liaises with the HQ Divisions to support policy formulation in the area of operations; advises on the applicability of new policy directives to regional operations. Makes substantive recommendations on the improvement of systems and internal controls, planning and restructuring and resolution of sensitive issues and problems, taking into account the prevailing conditions in the locality.
Establishes and maintains all consultative and management committees (e.g. CRB, JCP, JCC, CRC, PSB, TRT, PBR and Training); Organizes and trains committees in compliance with the guidelines.
Collaborates with senior Programme Officers and country office staff providing creative problem solving in support of programming activities while maintaining sound internal operational controls.
Represents the office in meetings with local banks and administrative suppliers; negotiates locally issued contracts as well as in meetings with other UN Agencies to coordinate operational matters and activities, including harmonization of the UN common system.
Represents UNICEF in the local salary survey committee and fully participates in all processes of the salary survey review and administration to ensure the methodology is applied correctly throughout.
Coordinates promptly with the Regional Office, the Head of Office, Programme Officers and other staff in the country office for security-related issues and emergency operations. Provides operational support to emergency preparedness and emergencies. Informs and updates all staff members in the country office on security related issues and emergency operations.
Qualification
Advanced university degree in accounting, business administration, economics, or financial management or related field*.
Eight years of relevant work experience in office management, finance, accounting, ICT, and/or human resources; both national and International work experience in management, finance, accounting, ICT, human resources, administration supply and procurement related fields.
Fluency in French and working knowledge in English required.
*A first level university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Competencies
Has highest-level communication skills, including engaging and informative formal public speaking.
Consistently achieves high-level results, managing and delivering projects on-time and on-budget.
Creates and encourages a climate of team-working and collaboration in a multi-cultural environment.
Analyzes and integrates potentially conflicting numerical, verbal and other data from a number of sources.
Identifies urgent and potentially difficult decisions and acts on them promptly; initiates and generates team- and department-wide activities.
Creates organization-wide processes to help ensure that all adhere to procedures and policies.
Translates strategic direction into plans and objectives.
Has high-level leadership and supervisory skills; provides others with a clear direction; motivates and empowers others; recruits staff of a high caliber; provides staff with development opportunities and coaching.
Quickly builds rapport with individuals and groups. Actively nurtures good relationships with people across all organizational levels and boundaries, and with government leaders and stakeholders.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation. If you want a challenging career while improving the lives of children around the world UNICEF, the leading children’s rights organization, would like to hear from you.
Visit us at www.unicef.org/about/employ to register in our new e-Recruitment system and apply to this and other vacancies, quoting E-VN-2011-001830. Applications must be received by 28 October 2011.
Please note that only candidates who are under serious consideration will be contacted.
In the selection of its staff, UNICEF is committed to gender balance and diversity without distinction as to race, sex or religion, and without discrimination of persons with disabilities: well qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to apply