Programme Officer - Global Portfolio Manager (Common Back Office)

Contract

This is a P-4 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 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 171,387 USD and 220,969 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.

Org. Setting and Reporting In his December 2017 report, the Secretary-General presented his vision and proposals to reposition the UN development system to better respond to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. While the focus was firmly placed on improving the overall effectiveness, accountability and cohesion of the UN development system’s collective results on the ground, the Secretary-General also anticipated that the proposed change measures would have the potential to also achieve cost savings that could be redeployed into development activities. This aspect of the reform aims to realize cost avoidance and performance improvement by harmonizing, centralizing and consolidating the use of resources to generate efficiencies in financial and quality terms, to be redeployed as part of programmes to better support the 2030 Agenda. The SG report cited six initial but non-exhaustive potential areas for consolidation of business operations:

1. “…establish common back offices for all UN country teams by 2022…”; 2. “…ensure compliance with an improved Business Operations Strategy by 2021…”: 3. “…increase the proportion of UN common premises to 50 per cent by 2021…”; 4. “explore various options, including the possible consolidation of location-independent business operations into six or seven networks of shared service centers”; 5. A new generation of UN Country Teams; and 6. Integrating UN Information Centers into Resident Coordinator’s Offices.

Over the past year, the UNSDG Business Innovations Group (UNSDG BIG) has developed guidance and business models to advance the SGs efficiency initiatives: BOS, Common Back Office and Common Premises are critical instruments to enhance efficiency and effectiveness of the UN System through common operations support to the UN programme implementation.

The incumbent reports to the Senior Programme Officer / Deputy Chief of Branch of the Country Business Strategy Section at DCO HQ.

Responsibilities 1) Within delegated authority, and under the supervision of the DCO CBS Deputy Chief, the Programme Officer manages and coordinates a portfolio of roll-out countries under the Local Shared Service Center initiative. More specifically, the Programme Officer will:

• Provides day-to-day management and coordination of the engagement with a portfolio of UN Country Teams in support of the CBO design and implementation.
• Provides capacity development services and advisory support for RCs, UNCTs, RCOs and Operational Management Teams (OMTs) on CBO.
• Provide Quality Assurance of the CBO framework, in close collaboration with UNDCO HQ and the UNSDG governance bodies.
• Monitors CBO implementation in delegated portfolio of countries, identifying bottlenecks and facilitating solutions.
• Supports reporting related to CBO at the field, regional and global levels.
• Contributes to the piloting and scaling-up of innovations aimed to reduce cost or enhance quality of business operations interventions at country-and regional levels.
• Researches and collects best practices; identifies opportunities for scaling-up innovations and assesses capacity development needs for RC/UNCT/OMT/RCOs and regional inter-agency working groups.
• Liaises with UNDCO HQ on issues that need resolution and recommends solutions from reports on best practices.
• Performs analysis and modeling; contributes to the development and collection of data at country and regional levels in support of CBO.
• Takes the lead with respect to the preparation and implementation of the work programme and budget, ensuring that financial resources are utilized to implement agreed activities in accordance with the Programme Budget and allotments issued consistent with UN policy and practice.
• Help identify efficiency gains through possible linkages between the CBO/LSSC and GSSCs and establish best practices for possible scaling.
• Under the supervision of the DCO CBS BOS/GSSC Team Leader supports the work of the inter-agency Global Shared Service Center WG, with a particular view to increase efficiency gains through linkages between GSSCs and Common Back Offices/Local Shared Services Centers (CBO/LSSCs).
• Support UN Country Teams with analysis and establishment of links between GSSCs and CBO/LSSCs.
• Contributes to other activities as necessary.

Work implies frequent interaction with the following: - UNDCO senior management and other UNDCO staff. - Resident Coordinators, Resident Coordinator Office staff and Operations Management Teams (OMT). - UNDCO Regional Desks Teams and UNCTs. - Counterparts, senior officers and technical staff in relevant Secretariat units and in UN funds, programs and other UN specialized agencies.

Results Expected: - Develops, implements, monitors and evaluates assigned programme/projects in the area of Common Back Offices. - Provides thorough, well-reasoned written contributions, e.g., background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc. - Develops and maintains effective working relationships. - Promulgate coherent policies, and consistent adherence to these by clients. - Facilitates efficient use of resources..

Competencies - Professionalism: Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to common premises. Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to conduct data collection using various methods. Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other databases. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; observes deadlines and is results focused; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

• Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

• Judgement/Decision-making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

  Education Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, management, economics, international relations or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

  Work Experience - A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in project or programme management, administration or related area is required.

  • Experience with to the development and implementation of the CBO and common services, including client centric operational delivery models, is required.

  • Experience with change and project management, including the design and implementation of change processes regarding service delivery is a desirable.

  • Experience with inter-agency or inter-organizational collaboration in the development sector is desirable.

  • Experience with strategy development, methodology development, and basic RBM and M&E concepts is desirable.

  • Experience with development and delivering of training and capacity development in support of change management processes is desirable.

  • Experience in the United Nations system or a comparable international organization is desirable.

  • Experience and knowledge of UN Systems policies, practices and procedures is desirable.

  • Experience gathering, analyzing and reporting on business operations data in development cooperation context is desirable.

  Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another official UN language is an advantage.

NOTE: "Fluency equals a rating of "fluent" in all four areas (read, write, speak, understand) and "Knowledge of" equals a rating of "confident" in two of the four areas.

Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice This position is available for an initial period of 364 days. Extension of appointment is subject to the availability of funds.

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. People with disabilities are also strongly encouraged to apply, as supported by the Secretary-General's Disability Inclusion Strategy.

United Nations Considerations According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.