Operations Manager (NO-3), FT, Belgrade, Serbia

Mid

Overview

Lead operations management to ensure effective support for programs and achieve results for children.

You have:

• An Advanced University Degree (Master’s and above) in Business management, Financial management, Accounting, Public Finance, or related operations function is required.
• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in operations management area including budget, financial management, and reporting.
• Experience in a UN system agency or large private/public company or in a developing country context is an asset.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office applications is required.
• Fluency in English is required; knowledge of another UN language is an asset.
• Knowledge of Results Based Management is a requirement.

Contract

This is a NO-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-3 contracts.

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, results.

UNICEF Serbia underwent significant changes in the last years by sharpening the strategic focus of its work and leveraging partnerships for scaling up results for children. The office has shifted from a small- to medium-sized office in terms of both staffing and throughput. The overarching goal of the 2021-2025 country programme is to contribute to the national efforts to progressively fulfil the rights of all children in Serbia, especially the most disadvantaged and excluded ones, and enable them to develop to their full potential in an inclusive and protective society respectful of their voices. The overall focus of the programme is on the two age groups that are currently most underserved, and among whom inequalities in development opportunities are largely manifested, namely, early childhood and adolescence. Through its five outcomes: (1) young child health and wellbeing, (2) quality and inclusive pre-university education, including early childhood education and care (ECEC), (3) child protection, (4) young people and (5) social policy, public financing and child rights monitoring, the programme aims to help young children, especially the most disadvantaged ones, to benefit from a first chance in life, and help vulnerable adolescents to obtain a second chance.

How can you make a difference?

As a Strategic Business Partner, the incumbent will be accountable for operations functions, facilitate change, provide risk informed, solution-focused analysis, advice and services and contribute to programme and management decisions for delivering results for children in specific operational contexts. The Operations Manager will accomplish this by:

• Facilitating services in the functional areas of operations support: budget, financial management and reporting, facilities management, administration, supply and logistics management, information and communications technology, human resources, and safety and security;
• Supporting the line manager to implement career development, opportunities for staff;
• Acting as a member of the Country and Senior Management Teams, representing the organizational risks, governance systems and policies, and promoting results based management.
• Understanding business needs for the office, to anticipate challenges, propose viable/creative solutions aimed at value for money.
• Providing key contribution to CPD, CPMP, AMP and support to Results Based Management and implementation using Value for Money criteria.
• Promoting the fundamentals of ICT management, information security and controls;
• Supporting supply and logistics strategies and interventions to meet programmatic needs while ensuring Value for Money (VfM), including procurement of fit for purpose products and services, and providing advisory support to governments, national systems and partners on supply chain management;
• Supporting the country office during external and internal audit reviews and responding to audit observations and monitoring implementation of recommendations.
• Providing regular feedback on risks and achievements of operations functions in the office;
• Leading on facility management with a specific focus on inclusive accessibility, eco sustainability and common premises;
• Monitoring business transactions processed by GSSC from a perspective of Efficiency, Performance, Risk Management and Fraud prevention
• Supporting the management of PSFR operations and promoting efficiency across systems and processes, where applicable.
• Supporting the Representative in addressing the results of the Pulse check survey/Global Staff Survey and designing office improvement plans accordingly.

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

• An Advanced University Degree (Master’s and above) in one of the following areas is required: Business management; Financial management; Accounting; Public Finance; and related operations function (Supply Chain, Human Resources, Information Technology, International Business, Project management, etc.) is required or a full professional accounting designation (CA, ACA, ACCA, CPA, CIMA, CPFA, Expert Comptable) from an internationally recognized institute/body of accountancy with valid membership in good standing is required.”
• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience, at the national and/or international level, is required, specifically in implementing organizational initiatives in one or more operations management area including budget, financial management and reporting, facilities management, administration, supply and logistics management, information and communication technology, human resources.
• Additional experience in one or more of the following areas, would be desired: Audit and investigations, Safety and security, Grant Management, Enterprise Risk Management.
• Experience in a UN system agency, large private or public company, or experience working in a developing country and/or humanitarian/ emergency context is an asset.
• Prior experience working with or in the private sector, and supporting private sector fundraising, is desirable.
• Experience in working with corporate ERPs (Enterprise Resource Planning) and IPSAS (International Public Sector Accounting Standards) is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of Results Based Management is a requirement.
• Experience in supporting successful client-oriented work units is an asset.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office applications is required.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: https://uni.cf/UNICEFValues

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others (8) Nurtures, leads and manages people.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework 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.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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:

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

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

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Potential interview questions

Added 3 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unicef.org