Chief Independent Project Unit (UN House), P-5, Fixed Term, Diaminadio, Senegal

Contract

This is a P-5 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 10 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 159,984 USD and 200,496 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, Hope

Organizational Context and Purpose for the job

The 27 United Nations organizations present in Senegal and their approximately 1,800 staff will come together in a new custom-build office in Diamniadio, 40 km outside of Dakar. This 56,000m2 building complex on a piece of land the size of 28 football pitches will become a multilateral landmark in West Africa, and in addition to the Senegal UN offices it will host regional and sub regional UN offices responsible for the Sahel, West, and Central Africa. This UN House project in Senegal is undertaken within the framework of the UN Secretary-Generals reform initiative, the Efficiency Agenda, as it strives towards higher quality of services (as measured through client satisfaction) and more efficient administration utilizing Mutual Recognition to create a Common Back Office/Local Shared Services Centre, known as the Independent Project Unit (IPU). Being also a central Business Operations Strategy element, the UN House in Senegal accordingly address all the country level pillars of the UN Efficiency Agenda. The incumbent will be overall responsible for the management of this building and the common back-office services provided by the IPU for all the users of the building. In the new office compound, the UN will merge the service delivery of some administrative services and have a dedicated service unit provide these services to all the UN organizations. The Chief of IPU will lead this unit and will initially be responsible for the design and subsequently for the provision of Facility Management, Administration, IT, and Security services. The range of service lines could increase as the UN efficiency agenda further develops.

The Chief IPU will report to the Management Board consisting of all the Heads of Organizations of UN organizations present in Senegal, chaired by the UN Resident Coordinator. Given that the position is embedded in UNICEF Country Office structure, and for administrative purpose the final performance evaluation will fall under UNICEF’S Representative with the feedbacks and inputs of all the Management Board. The incumbent is expected to pursue client satisfaction in all decisions big and small, and her/his performance evaluation will correspondingly predominantly be measured via client satisfaction ratings. The incumbent will lead a team of approximately 26 UN staff (the size of the staff complement may increase in the future) and will be responsible for the services of hundreds of ancillary staff from partners to vendors. The manager will be responsible for a budget of around $8 mill p.a. The incumbent will be expected to continuously seek opportunities for further improvements in the client experience of the people using the UN House and to achieve further efficiency gains. It is also expected that the Chief will lead the development of revenue generation from the state-of-the-art in-house conference facilities, including a 500-seat amphitheater. In carrying out her/his duties, the incumbent will navigate an international and political environment and will work closely and secure productive relations with a range of diverse stakeholders including resident Heads of UN organizations (including Under-Secretary Generals), Senior UN Operations and Admin Managers, government entities, other external partners and, most important, the clients receiving the services provided by incumbent’s team.

How can you make a difference?

1. Ensure reliable and cost-effective Common Services for the UN HOUSE focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Develop a risk-informed management plan, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Service Level Agreements (SLAs), and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for shared services that ensure affordable, top quality, green, client oriented and predictable services in the areas of ICT, facilities management, and premises security and safety.
• Ensure that the work is performed in accordance with relevant UN rules and regulations and established UN guidelines for the respective areas
• Ensure transparency, value for money for all transactions and detailed and timely reporting on revenues, budgets, cost recovery, cost sharing, performance against service level standards, and other measures as may be agreed
• Maintain an up-to-date Business Continuity Plan (BCP) including annual BCP testing working closely and in coordination with BCP focal points of the UN agencies
• Manage shared assets in close coordination with the hosting entity
• Effective implementation of UN Department of Security and Safety (UNDSS) guidelines for Security Risk Management compliance
• Formulate annual budgets, and act as Authorizing Officer for all accounts of the shared services, and manage financial resources in line with rules and regulations of the hosting entity
• Oversee timely delivery of goods and services through working in close coordination with the hosting entity on procurement, oversee effective management of contracts and continuous evaluation of service providers
• Ensure readiness for joint UN and entity mandated specific audits
• Lead the process of constant monitoring and analysis of the operating environment, risk assessment and quick readjustments to the operations, while bringing critical information to the attention of the Management Board
• Prepare regular management reports on performance based on KPIs and expenditures of shared services for review by the relevant bodies.
• Commit to continuous improvements in the delivery of services to improve efficiency and enhance quality of services, informed by regular oversight of key performance indicators and client feedback, with clear accountability and feedback mechanisms to act on client inputs.

2. Effective leadership and supervision of the UN House IPU focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Establish adequate supervisory relationships, learning support and allocation of resources to ensure adequate capacity in key functions
• Timely preparation of unit workplans, annual performance plans and reviews for both UN staff and contracted personnel
• Ensure compliance with staff rules, Code of Conduct and UN House SOPs to achieve performance
• Leadership and teambuilding to support excellence, accountability, motivation, and a high-performance working environment
• Build capacity of staff to enable them to take on increasingly higher levels of responsibility.

3. Create a data driven management framework. Develop and implement Service Level Agreements and corresponding Key Performance Indicators for all the services provided:

• Design and implement KPIs and SLAs for all shared services, including on client satisfaction
• Target and track performance against the KPIs and SLAs by means of a ticketing or tracking systems, and report these regularly to client entities
• Monitor qualitative key performance indicators on clients’ satisfaction through both instant and periodic surveys, and report these regularly to client entities
• Organize regular performance reviews with client entities to discuss results in performance, complaints management, client satisfaction and service improvements
• Responsible for addressing low performance areas and ensuring implementation of agreed improvements as identified through performance reviews

4. Develop strategies and proposals for value for money, further efficiency gains and cost reduction of shared services in the UN House through innovation in common business operations focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Identification of structural opportunities for further cost-cutting to ensure affordability and sustainability through annual financial and operational analysis of performance and functions
• Business development analysis with a view to expand the scope of services and/or increase revenue in the UN House.
• Support OMT in developing future Business Operation Strategies and Locally Shared Services for further optimization of operations across UN agencies
• Foster a culture of innovation and continuing critical review of cost vs performance and service quality parameters
• Develop strategic partnerships with potential external clients for shared services and potential service providers.

5. Lead knowledge management to share the UN Senegal experience and contribute to communication (internally and externally) around the practice of integrated service provision

• Knowledge building and sharing with regards to management and operations of the UN House, synthesis of lessons learnt/best practices, and sound contributions to UNSDG governance and other systems, knowledge networks and communities of practices.
• Support UN Senegal on development of external communication products
• Engage with regional offices and Headquarters on issues pertaining to the shared services, best practices and potential for growth and adaption.

6. Other Duties as assigned by the Management Board.

• The incumbent will impact on the well-being of the UN staff in Senegal and accordingly their ability to support the development of the country and the region, the efficient use of entrusted resources, and will create a model and lessons learned that may support the success of the global UN efficiency agenda.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

At least Master’s Degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Economics or other relevant fields.

At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in an international environment overseeing the provision of support services.

Experience with people management, premises management, establishment of services and contracts management.

Leadership experience and political flair from managing culturally complex situations and multiple diverse stakeholders.

Fluency in French and English.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (2)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.