Operations Specialist

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

Under the guidance and supervision of Head of Field office, the Operations Specialist acts as an advisor to Senior Management on all aspects of the Field Office (FO) management and operations in Special Development Situations. The Operations Specialist is responsible for strategic human resources management, efficient procurement and logistical services, and ICT and consistency with UNDP rules and regulations. The Operations Specialist ensures consistent services delivery to FO, UNDP programmes and projects and UN common services. The incumbent sets policies and methods to maximize the FO performance in operations demonstrating capacity for innovation and creativity and providing advice to Senior Management on readjustment of the operations to take into account changes in the operating environment as and when needed.

The Operations Specialist leads and guides the FO Operations Team and fosters collaboration within the team and with other UN Agencies consistent with rules and a client-oriented approach. The Operations Specialist works in close collaboration with programme and project teams in the FO, operations staff in other UN Agencies, UNDP Juba staff and Government officials to successfully deliver operations services.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Head of Field office or his/her will:

1. As a member of the FO management team, ensures the strategic direction of operations focusing on achievement of the following results:  Compliance of operations with UN/UNDP rules, regulations and policies, implementation of corporate operational strategies, establishment of management targets and monitoring achievement of results.  Provision of advice on strategies, policies and plans affecting FO operations, delivery of practice advisory, knowledge and learning services.  Establishment of collaborative arrangements with potential partners, a Client Relationship Management System for resource mobilization purposes and appropriate operational partnership arrangements.  FO business processes mapping and establishment of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Finance, Human Resources Management, Procurement, Logistical and ICT services, Results Management.  Constant monitoring and analysis of the operating environment, quick readjustment of the operations, advice on legal considerations and risk assessment.  Knowledge building and sharing with regards to management and operations in the CO, organization of the operations staff trainings, synthesis of lessons learnt/best practices, and sound contributions to UNDP knowledge networks and communities of practice.

2.Ensures effective and accurate financial resources management and supervision of the Finance team focusing on achievement of the following results: Proper planning, expenditures tracking and audit of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations. Management of cost-recovery system for the services provided by the CO to projects and other UN Agencies. Accurate planning, forecasting and reporting of extra-budgetary income. Proper management of the contributions management business process and accounting for contributions to ensure that the money due to UNDP is properly identified, consistently and uniformly classified, recorded on a timely basis and received with sufficient supporting documentation. Organization and oversight of FO cash management processes, including liquidity management, recommendation of imprest level, risk assessment, bank relationship management; timely accounting and reconciliation of all transactions, security for cash assets on site. Routinely monitors financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions, and investigates anomalies or unusual transactions.

3. Ensures strategic human resources management and supervision of the HR team focusing on achievement of the following results: CO compliance with corporate human resources policies and strategies. Optimal staffing of the office and projects. Oversight of recruitment processes and performance management systems ensuring link of job design with recruitment, performance management and career development.

4. Ensures efficient procurement and logistical services management and supervision of the Procurement team focusing on achievement of the following results:  CO-compliance with corporate rules and regulations in the field and management of the CO procurement strategies including sourcing strategy, supplier selection and evaluation, quality management, customer relationship management, e-procurement promotion and introduction, performance measurement.  Management of the CO contract strategy including tendering processes and evaluation, managing the contract and contractor, legal implications. Oversight of procurement processes and logistical services in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations.  Proper management of UNDP assets, facilities and logistical services, including full compliance with IPSAS in the accounting for the procurement, utilization and disposal of the CO’s assets.

5.Ensures forward-looking information and communication management and supervision of ICT team focusing on achievement of the following results:  Maintains a secure, reliable infrastructure environment for ICT and adequately plans for disasters and recoveries  Identification of opportunities and ways of converting business processes into web-based systems to address the issues of efficiency and full accountability.  Promotion of different systems and applications for optimal content management, knowledge sharing, information provision and learning including e-registry, web-based office management system, etc.

6.Ensures proper common services organization and management, establishment of partnerships with other UN Agencies focusing on achievement of the following results: Elaboration of the strategic approach to implementation of common services in line with the UN reform, the latest developments in common services and the best practices.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:  Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);  Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;  Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
 Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;  Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers;  Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Results/expected outputs: The key results have an impact on the overall economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of CO operations 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.

Functional Competencies: 1. Building Partnerships  Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build alliances  Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners  Displays initiative, sets challenging outputs for him/herself and willingly accepts new work assignments. 2. Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing  Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches  Develops and/or participates in the development of mechanisms, including identifying new approaches to promote individual and organizational learning and knowledge sharing using formal and informal methodologies. 3. Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise  Understands advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines (financial resources and human resources management, contract, asset and procurement, information and communication technology, general administration)  Continues to seek new and improved methods and systems for accomplishing the work of the unit  Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally  Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments  Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments. 4. Promoting Organizational Change and Development  Performs appropriate work analysis and assists in redesign to establish clear standards for implementation 5. Design And Implementation of Management Systems  Carries out research into existing systems to identify best practice and make recommendations to management on applicability to UNDP  Identifies and recommends remedial measures to address problems in systems design or implementation.

Core Competencies:  Building support and political acumen  Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation  Building and promoting effective teams  Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication  Creating an emotionally intelligent organization  Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards  Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member. Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking.

providing management advisory services and/or managing staff and operational systems and establishing inter-relationships among international organization and national governments.  Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web based management systems and ERP systems, preferably PeopleSoft.  Experience of accrual accounting, IPSAS or IFRS is highly desirable

Other desired/mandatory required technical knowledge:  Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills;  Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing;  Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development.  Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel;  Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment;  Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines;  Desirable: valid national driver’s license and proven ability to drive manual gear 4x4 over rough terrain; (if not applicable, delete)  Sound security awareness;

The rapidly changing nature of novel coronavirus COVID-19 has placed significant and increasing restrictions on the freedom of movement of people across the globe, within countries and across borders. Such restrictions make it very difficult for international UN Volunteers to begin their assignments at their assigned duty station and UNV cannot guarantee assignments will proceed as normal.

Candidates for international UN Volunteer assignments during this period may be exceptionally granted alternative working arrangements to work from their place of recruitment until restrictions are lifted. This is at the discretion of the host entity. Candidates proceeding to interview are recommended to discuss the likelihood of travel and possible alternative arrangements with the host entity. If selected, candidates should carefully consider the circumstances before accepting UNV’s offer.

In cases where the UN Host Entity partner has requested the UN Volunteer to perform their assignment remotely, the Post Adjustment Multiplier (PAM) and related entitlements to be paid may be adjusted to the temporary duty station from where the UN Volunteer has been requested to work if requested by the UN Host Entity. The initial contract is issued upon arrival for the period indicated above. The contract can be extended depending on continuation of mandate, availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectancy of renewal of the assignment.

A UN Volunteer receives a Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA), which is composed of a Monthly Living Allowance (MLA) and a Family Allowance (FA) for those with dependents (maximum three). The Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) is paid at the end of each month to cover housing, utilities, transportation, communications and other basic needs. The VLA can be calculated using by applying the Post-Adjustment Multiplier (PAM) to the VLA base rate US$ 1,651. The VLA base rate is a global rate across the world, while the PAM is duty station/country-specific and fluctuates on a monthly basis according to cost of living. This method ensures that international UN Volunteers have comparable purchasing power at all duty stations irrespective of varying costs of living. The PAM is established by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) and is published at the beginning of every month on the ICSC website - http://icsc.un.org.

UNV provides life, health, permanent disability insurances as well as assignment travel, annual leave, full integration in the UN security framework (including residential security reimbursements). UN Volunteers are paid Daily Subsistence Allowance at the UN rate for official travels, flight tickets for periodic home visit