The Operations function is a strategic Business Partner role within the Senior Management Team, assuring the best use of UNICEF assets in alignment with sound management practices, office priorities and goals to deliver results for children. The function supports the Head of the Office on managing the office and monitoring operations and programmes as needed while providing advice on best and innovative management practices to enhance office performance. Purpose of the job:
As a Strategic Business Partner and Deputy for the Head of the Office, the incumbent will be responsible to lead for results, drive change, provide risk informed, solution-focused analysis, advice and services and contribute to programme and management decisions for delivering results for children in all operational contexts.
Strategic Operations will accomplish this by:
Leading by example and supporting the Head of Office on managing the office
Acting as Officer in Charge in the absence of the Head of Office
Managing 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 and convening the other functions to arrive at a unified vision;
Acting as member of the Country and Senior Management Teams, representing the organizational risk, governance systems and policies perspective in management discussions, and promoting results based management.
Understanding business needs for the Country Programme, 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.
Leveraging technology for results and programme accountabilities, making effective adoption of tools and promoting the fundamentals of ICT management, information security and controls;
Supporting the country office during external and internal audit reviews and responding to audit observations and monitoring implementation of recommendations.
Guiding 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;
Leveraging governance, systems, and tools to provide regular feedback on risks and achievements of operations functions in the country;
Leading on facility management with a specific focus on inclusive accessibility, eco sustainability and common premises;
Overseeing 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
The Deputy Representative, Operations will be entrusted with the following five pillars, the core focus of all operations functions: Valuing People, Valuing Money, Valuing Risk Management, Valuing Systems and Structures, Valuing Partners.
In fragile and humanitarian contexts, the Representative ensures the delivery of a timely, efficient and principled humanitarian action and advocacy in accordance with UNICEF global Policy and Framework for humanitarian action. Where clusters are activated, the Representative ensures that UNICEF CLA responsibilities are fulfilled.
Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:
Valuing People: Lead, manage and develop people resources to promote technical competence and foster career progression and retention of a “fit for purpose”/ agile workforce
Promote an environment of management excellence, staff well-being and accessibility and inclusion through implementation of strategies, policies, procedures.
Provide proactive solutions and expert advice to senior management on people management and office culture.
Foster operations behaviors that focus on delivering results for children, whilst balancing risk informed decisions, policy compliance and flexibility through which partners’ needs are reliably addressed, to create an avenue for the greatest results.
Coordinate the human resource development and resourcing strategies to bring about changes in knowledge, skills, abilities and mind sets for Operations staff.
Keep abreast of industry standards in management and finance. Institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned with regional/national colleagues to contribute to organizational development initiatives to strengthen management and operations.
Promote and support Excellence in Operations by refining the evolving profession in UNICEF derived from the five strategic pillars.
Valuing Money:
Champion strategic resources to achieve organizational goals and ensure Value for Money (VfM)
Optimize identification and use of resources in various concrete Value for Money (VfM) areas, including eco-efficiency and inclusivity, common premises, costing, results-based budgeting financial monitoring etc.
Support Business Units on options to generate greater VfM with the goal of strategically expanding its use to UNICEF Country Office functions.
Lead the financial oversight management, monitoring and reporting of all the country programme budget - and where applicable private sector fundraising budgets; make analysis and recommendations for Representative’s and Deputy Representative’s to take risk informed decisions.
Advise various modalities of valuing resources through financing modalities such as budgeting and pre-financing modalities for supplies, cash-based transfer etc. along with key government counterparts
Oversee Supply outcome results related to Supply and Logistics Management and stay abreast of and promote the regional strategies and their implementation.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have:
Education:
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.) 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.
Experience:
A minimum of 8 years of professional experience, at the national and international level, is required, specifically in implementing strategic 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.
Prior experience in the development sector or UN system/ international NGOs would be an asset.
For country offices with a significant private sector fundraising operation, prior experience working with or in the private sector, and supporting private sector fundraising, is desirable
