The Position:
The Operations Manager operates under delegated authority from the UNFPA Regional Director. The functions of the Operations Manager covers a broad range of issues ranging from financial and procurement; IT; general administration; travel and logistics; common services; to security of UNFPA premises and staff. Under the overall guidance of the Regional Director, the Operations Manager leads strategic planning for UNFPA operations and setting of management targets, and outsourced services provided by UNDP. The Operations Manager advises the Region Director on course correction; cost effectiveness; and creative responses to emerging complex challenges.
How you can make a difference:
UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.
In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.
UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.
Job Purpose:
The key results have an impact on the overall economy, efficiency and effectiveness of RO 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
• Procurement and Logistical Services
• ICT
• Common Services and the implementation of the UN agenda on common services and joint procurement
You would be responsible for:
A. Under delegated authority from the Regional Director, 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 Regional Office level are met;
- Determine optimal techniques/processes for improving effectiveness and efficiency of business operations;
- Knowledge is shared and applied within the Regional Office, and the RO 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 Regional Office.
B. 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;
- General Administration: manages RO 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.
C. 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 Regional 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.
D. 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.
E. Under the overall guidance and leadership of the Regional Director, 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.
The Operations Manager performs any other duties as may be directed by the Regional Director or by the management of the Regional Office or Headquarters
Qualifications and Experience
Education: Advanced university degree in Finance and Public /Business Administration, Public Policy or other relevant social sciences
Knowledge and Experience:
- 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 management, contracts, 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.
Languages:
Fluency in English. Knowledge of another UN language such as French and /or Arabic, would be desirable
We are no longer accepting applications for this position.
