Leadership Pool Initiative – International Operations Manager

VACANCY NO.: Job ID 2314

CLOSING DATE: 21 September 2014(5.00 p.m. New York time)

POST TITLE: Leadership Pool Initiative – International Operations Manager

CATEGORY: ICS-11 ( equivalent to P-4)

DUTY STATION: Multiple Duty Stations

POST TYPE: Rotational

DURATION: One year (renewable)

ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT: Country Office

Overview of Leadership Pool Initiative

UNFPA is seeking candidates for our innovative Leadership Pool initiative. Candidates who apply for one or more job types in the Leadership Pool are competing to participate in a comprehensive assessment process, and if successful will become a member of UNFPA’s Leadership Pool - a pre-assessed group of candidates used as the source for filling future international rotation posts vacancies within UNFPA. Candidates should apply for all job types for which they are interested in being assessed.

After being assessed and found ready for one or more Leadership Pool job types, Pool members will benefit from individualized career advice and provision of tailored development opportunities to enhance their readiness to assume leadership posts. When rotational post vacancies arise in a particular job type, Pool members who were successfully assessed for that job type will be contacted and invited to indicate their interest in being selected for the vacancy. During the course of their service with UNFPA, international rotational staff are expected to serve in a variety of functions and locations including hardship and non-family duty stations.

ORGANIZATIONAL SETTING:

The Operations Manager operates under delegated authority from the UNFPA Representative. The functions of the Operations Manager covers a broad range of issues ranging from financial and human resources management; procurement; IT; general administration; travel and logistics; common services; to security of UNFPA premises and staff. Under the overall guidance of the Representative, the Operations Manager leads strategic planning for UNFPA operations and setting of management targets, and out sourced services provided by UNDP. The Operations Manager advises the Representative on course correction; cost effectiveness; and creative responses to emerging complex challenges.

The Operations Manager is responsible for supervision and guidance of the UNFPA’s operations staff and ensuring cross-unit cooperation and coordination. The Operations Manager ensures a client-oriented approach and consistency with UNFPA rules and regulations and good management practice. The Operations Manager represent UNFPA in Operations Management team (OMT), and liaises with other UN Agencies, UNFPA HQs staff and Government officials to successfully deliver operational services.

JOB PURPOSE:

The key results have an impact on the overall economy, efficiency and effectiveness of CO operations, and the functioning of the UNFPA in line with commonly adopted practices as it relates to the use of corporate resources in the following areas: • Financial Services; • Human Resources; • Procurement and Logistical Services; • ICT; • Common Services and the implementation of the UN agenda on common services and joint procurement.

MAJOR ACTIVITIES/EXPECTED RESULTS:

1. Under delegated authority from the Representative, the Operations Manager provides strategic direction of the UNFPA operations with the following expected results: • Contribute to the delivery of the country programme, and overall operations are carried out, effectively, efficiently, on time and in a transparent manner; • Annual and longer-term management targets, at the UNFPA corporate and Country Office level are met; • Determine optimal techniques/processes for improving effectiveness and efficiency of business operations; • Knowledge is shared and applied within the Country Office, and the CO participates actively in the management practice; • Build capacity of operation staff through coaching and mentoring on staff on all aspects of operations management; • Create a learning environment; establish and institutionalize learning opportunities within the Country Office.
2. Under delegated authority, the Operations Manager is responsible for the day-to-day management of UNFPA’s operations: • Financial Management: has senior manager rights in Atlas and ensures the integrity of financial systems, review of budget requirements and the consistent application or rules and regulations; • Human Resources Management: in consultation with the Representative, the Operations Manager is responsible for the overall recruitment, performance and career management in the office. Supervises operations staff and aims to motivate and promote organizational excellence. Ensures that the goals of gender equality and overall diversity are met while simultaneously ensuring regulations and procedures are applied consistently; • General Administration: manages CO travel, logistics and premises; establishment of work plans, and monitors the achievement of results; • Service Provision: is responsible for high quality provision of procurement and other project support services. Monitors quality and timeliness of services provided by Service Providers; • Teamwork: promotes cross-unit team work; • Routinely monitors financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions, and alert HQ to any unusual or suspicious transactions.
3. The Operation Manager is UNFPA’s support to, and coordination of, common services: • Provides policy support, guidance and advocacy on development, establishment and management of common services with other participating UN organizations/agencies at the country level; • Ensures that common services and joint arrangements benefit UNFPA in its objective to provide efficient and economical support services to the implementation of the country programme.
4. The Operations Manager ensures the safety and security of UNFPA staff and premises, in particular: • Supports the implementation of UN/UNDP MOSS compliance; • Together with the Deputy Representative, represents UNFPA in the Security Management Team and is responsible for efficient implementation in UNFPA of security measures agreed in the SMT and for compliance with security policy.
5. Under the overall guidance and leadership of the Representative, the Operations Manager supports partnership building on operational issues: • Represents UNFPA in inter-agency administrative meetings, and ensures smooth cooperation between agencies on joint undertakings like hardship questionnaires and salary surveys; • Identifies new approaches and measures to further enhance UNFPA delivery capacities, professional management and cost effectiveness; • Promotes a client-oriented approach among all operations staff.
6. The Operations Manager performs any other duties as may be directed by the Representative or by the management of the Regional Office or Headquarters.

Required Competencies:

i) Values: Integrity, commitment, embracing cultural diversity

ii) Core Competencies: Achieving results, accountability, developing professional expertise, analytical thinking, working in teams

iii) Managerial Competencies: Provide strategic focus, engage internal/external partners, lead, develop and empower people, create a culture of performance

iv) Required Skillset:

• Facilitating quality programmatic results
• Managing the organization’s financial resources
• Ensuring compliance with ICT standards and applications
• Ensuring compliance with Organization’s Policies and procedures
• Provide procurement services
• Ensure facilities and assets management
• Align human resources management with the organizations strategic direction
• Attract and develop the regional/country workforce

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Advanced university degree in degree in finance and public /business administration, public policy or other relevant social sciences • At least 7 years of relevant experience in development in a governmental, multilateral or civil society organization in a multi-cultural setting, including 3 or more years of senior-level management responsibilities in a challenging and complex organizational setting. • Excellent management and leadership skills with the ability to build strong relationships with clients, focus on impact and result, and responds positively to feedback. • Solid knowledge in financial and human resources management, contract, asset and procurement, information and communication technology, and general administration. • Ability to lead business processes re-engineering, to implement new systems, and to positively affect staff behavioural/ attitudinal changes. • Demonstrates knowledge sharing orientation, and ability to mentor and coach staff. • Demonstrates effective team building and leadership, and conflict resolution skills. • Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting, formulation and monitoring of projects/programmes. • Initiative; strong conceptual abilities; sound judgment; strong interest in development work, especially the mission of UNFPA; and dedication to the principles of the United Nations. • Fluency in English is required; knowledge of another UN language is an asset. Arabic desirable

How to apply:

UNFPA has established an electronic application management system. This allows applicants to create a candidate profile, which can be updated regularly and submitted for more than one vacancy.

Download the Step by Step Guide to Applying in the E-Recruit System of UNFPA athttp://www.unfpa.org/employment . Please print out the Guide for your reference during the registration and application process.

Notice: There is no application, processing or other fee at any stage of the application process. UNFPA does not solicit or screen for information in respect of HIV or AIDS and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

Notice to applicants: In accordance with the rules of the United Nations, persons applying to posts in the international Professional category, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, are required to renounce such status upon their appointment. Exceptions to this rule are very limited and can be made only for: (a) stateless persons; (b) newly appointed staff members who have applied for citizenship by naturalization, when such citizenship will be granted imminently; (c) acting staff members in the General Service and related categories with permanent residency status, on promotion to the Professional category; (d) staff members appointed under a temporary appointment. Please understand that UNFPA is not in a position to provide advice on or assistance in applying for any citizenship.

No expectancy of renewal in accordance with UN Staff Regulations 4.5