Deputy Director of Operations – D1

Background:

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

The Division of Management and Administration (DMA) is responsible for the management of financial and administrative resources in the areas of information communications and technology, the effective and efficient delivery of essential operations services in UN Women, Procurement, Security, Facilities and Asset Management. This work also includes the continuous development and improvement in operations, policies, and methods to align with UN Women and stakeholders’ evolving business needs, and advisory support to the Executive Director in the formulation and implementation of the UN Women overall mission, strategy and plans of actions and statutory financial statements for the entity and donor reporting.

Under the direction and guidance of the Director, Division of Management and Administration, the Deputy Director of Operations, is responsible for:

• Oversight and performance assessment over resources planning and management for DMA;
• Oversight and management of Procurement, Facilities & Asset Management, Security  & Operational Safety and Health (OSH) and Information Systems Technology (IST)Leading formulation of procurement policies and provision of operational direction to UN Women’s procurement function; including provision of strategic procurement advice and guidance to managers in Country Offices, regional office and Headquarters; UN Women’s information communications and technology in line with Personal Data Protection & Privacy as well day-to-day oversight and direction of Security & OSH
• Leading formulation of administrative policies and providing operational guidance on administrative management as it relates to Facilities and Asset Management.
• Lead UN Women’s corporate work on Policy Development and Management in the areas of Anti-Fraud, DOA/ICF and Personal Data Protection & Privacy.
• Lead UN Women’s contribution to the inter-agency work on Business Innovations related to BOS, CBO, Common Premises and Efficiency Gains.

The Deputy Director of Operations, oversees and guides all financial and administrative operations to ensure the timely, effective, and efficient delivery of services according to plans, standards of performance, objectives and accountability framework for operations; and promotes the protection and safe custody of all UN Women financial and administrative resources. 

This is a Temporary position through to 04 August 2025. Whereas an external candidate will be offered a temporary appointment, subject to release agreements, staff members in UN Women may be administered as a temporary assignment and staff members in the UN Common system may be administered under a loan arrangement.

 

Key Functions and Accountabilities:

Strategic leadership in operational management related to procurement, ICT, Security and administrative services including assets and premises management.

• Determine the strategy and develop the implementation plan for operations and services in support of field operations and headquarters operations;
• Lead establishment of annual work plans for operational services in collaboration with the respective teams, set objectives, performance measurements, standards and results expected to ensure timely, correct and effective control and services. Monitor implementation and progress;
• Direct the development of procurement strategy and policies and oversee the provision of operational services (procurement, security, ICT, assets and facilities management) in UN Women;
• Guide, monitor and evaluate operational services for efficiency/efficacy;

Procurement planning and monitoring:

• Lead the procurement advisory function, and development and implementation of procurement policies and procedures;
• Monitor & maintain oversight over procurement activities in UN Women including development of procurement plans, ensuring compliance with procurement guidelines, and evaluating the attainment of Value for Money for UN Women.  Monitor, identify and report on any irregularities in the procurement process.

Information systems and telecommunications:

• Collaborate closely with stakeholders in UN Women to discuss opportunities and ways to enhance business processes and operations through innovation in information systems and telecommunications;
• Identify and promote systems and applications to meet UN Women needs for content management, knowledge and information sharing and other program and operational needs;
• Oversee the establishment and maintenance of a secure and reliable infrastructure environment for IST and ensure adequate planning to safeguard information and systems;
• Collaborate and/or consult UNDP and other UN system partners to share knowledge, resources and/or systems to maximize cost effectiveness in IST.

Security:

• Oversee the assistance and advise provided to field and headquarters operations on their respective responsibilities to protect and minimize the risk to UN-Women staff, project personnel, property and operations in the field.
• Provide leadership to the security management function in the direction to UN-Women field security staff in the implementation of UN and UN-Women security policies, procedures and plans for protection of UN-Women personnel as assets and the safe delivery of programmes in the field.
• Monitor the formulation and review of UN-Women security policies including security compliance and effective administrative support to field security operations.
• Act as Chief of the Crisis Response Team (CRT) and oversee updating and testing of the Business Continuity Plans for UN-Women HQ and the field within the context of crisis management.
• Represents UN-Women in inter-agency security fora such as the Crisis Operations Group (COG)

Administrative planning and monitoring:

• Lead the formulation of administrative policies and provide operational guidance to UN Women country, regional and headquarters offices on the management of premises (including negotiations with suppliers), equipment, travel, and general services;
• Oversee and monitor the effective and efficient use of UN Women’s physical assets;
• Provide advice and support to Country Office, regional and headquarters managers on administrative functions.

 

Management of operational support and guidance including policy development and management

Advisory support and technical guidance:

• Collaborate with UN Women internal and external partners, colleagues and stakeholders, to keep abreast of evolving trends and share ideas for improvements and alignment of services to needs;
• Monitor and evaluate the overall operating environment in UN Women, assess risks and take action to respond to weaknesses and to operational needs;
• Develop the plan and oversee implementation of decentralization of operational authority to Country Offices, ensuring effective and efficient transfer of responsibilities with accountability. Oversee sustainability of effective decentralization through systematic training and monitoring, evaluation and reporting of performance in Country Offices;
• Provide operational advice to the Director and other senior UN Women managers on expansion of the funding base; and contribute to development of policies and standards of agreements to facilitate resource mobilization (including cost-sharing and trust fund agreements).

Knowledge management and capacity building:

• Constantly monitor and evaluate operational policies, procedures, methods, tools, and associated systems to ensure their utility, applicability and efficacy in operational management. Recommend, set and/or develop new policies and procedures and introduce innovation and best practices in business operations to enhance services;
• Plan and implement a strategic capacity building plan for learning and development in the area of operational management (procurement, ICT, Security and administrative services including assets and premises management); including lead/organize training events and design/set training agenda on focus areas.

Representation and networking:

• Represent UN Women in inter-agency and external meetings/bodies dealing with operational management policy setting and decision-making.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners, colleagues, and stakeholders to keep abreast of evolving trends, development and needs, share ideas for improvements and align services according to needs.
• Lead UN Women’s contribution to the inter-agency work on Business Innovations related to BOS, CBO, Common Premises and Efficiency Gains.

Policy development and management:

• Lead UN Women’s corporate work on Policy Development and Management in the areas of Anti-Fraud, DOA/ICF and Personal Data Protection & Privacy;
• Provide guidance and advice on policy interpretation;
• Lead improvements and revisions to policies, procedures and guidance under DMA’s purview particularly in the areas of Anti-Fraud, DOA/ICF and Personal Data Protection & Privacy;
• Oversee in consultation with Section Chiefs further revisions and enhancements to policies, procedures, and guidance in the areas of Procurement, Facilities & Asset Management, IST and Security & Safety.

Management of the DMA Directorate

• Management of staff in the DMA Directorate and their work plans in line with corporate priorities and DMA’ contributions to the Strategic Plan
• Management of timely contract extensions and personnel performance evaluations
• Oversee the formulation of the Budget of the DMA Directorate and the allocation for planned commitments and expenditure.
• Oversee the finalization of DMA’s Strategic Note, DMA’s contributions to the Strategic Plan, EDAR, Work Plans and required reporting, including the establishment of biannual work plans for the Sections in DMA.
• Oversee DMA’s consolidated input to various external processes such as the QCPR, JIU mandated reviews, MOPAN, UNSDG, Executive Board and the ACABQ
• Supervise staff members by providing them with clear objectives and goals as well as direction and guidance to enable them to perform their duties and responsibilities effectively and efficiently.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.

 

Competencies :

Core Values:

• Integrity;
• Professionalism;
• Respect for Diversity.

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
• Accountability;
• Creative Problem Solving;
• Effective Communication;
• Inclusive Collaboration;
• Stakeholder Engagement;
• Leading by Example.

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Values and Competencies Framework: 

 

Functional Competencies:

• Excellent negotiation, advocacy, and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent communications and public speaking skills.
• Excellent planning, goal-setting and prioritization skills.
• Ability to carry out complex negotiations on contractual terms and conditions affecting significant amounts of UN Women’s resources.
• Demonstrated excellent communication skills, with tact and diplomacy.

 

Recruitment Qualifications:

Education and Certification:       

• Master’s degree or equivalent in in Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, or related field is required.

• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:        

• At least 15 years of extensive experience that combines strategic and managerial leadership in financial planning/budgeting, financial management and operations in a large international and/or corporate organization preferably in the UN System and its organizations is required.

• Experience in leading motivating and supervising, technically strong teams is required.

• Experience leading and coaching staff in international settings is required.

• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) Experience in the use of a modern web-based ERP System, preferably Oracle Cloud, is desirable.

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required.

• Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable (French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Spanish). 

 

Statements :

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

 

Diversity and inclusion:

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel 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.)

 

This is how cinfo can support you in the application process for this specific position:

• Application preparation: Before you apply for this position: Improve your application documents by registering for a Job Application Support. Our coaches are here to help tailor your application to the requirements of the job (service provided at your own cost).
• Interview preparation: When invited to the interview: Prepare for the interview by registering for a Job Application Support.
• Additional services for  Swiss nationals who get invited to the selection process (written test, interview, assessment centre, etc.):
  • Let us know by writing to recruitment@cinfo.ch. We flag matching applications to HR partners and SDC/SECO for visibility.
  • Benefit from free interview/assessment preparation by registering here : Interview and Assessment Centre Preparation for Jobs in Multilateral Organisations. Our coaches stand ready to help prepare for upcoming interview/assessment centre.