Global Lead – Capacity Development and Operations Management – P4

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 United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence against Women (UN Trust Fund) was established through the UN General Assembly Resolution 50/166 in 1996. The UN Trust Fund is a global multi-lateral grant making mechanism supporting national efforts to prevent and end violence against women and girls, one of the most widespread human rights violations in the world. It provides technical assistance and funding to advance the development of innovative models and strategic interventions in the area of ending violence against women and girls. Since 2010, UN Women has administered the UN Trust Fund on behalf of the UN system, providing a strong institutional foundation and field support through a global infrastructure of country and regional offices.

The UN Trust Fund invests in demand-driven and evidence-based solutions and life-changing initiatives led by civil society and women’s rights organizations. The long-term vision of the UN Trust Fund is a world of global solidarity in which all women and girls live free from all forms of violence and enjoy and exercise their human rights. To help achieve this vision, the UN Trust Fund focuses on enabling CSOs, especially Women’s Rights Organizations (WROs) and those representing the most marginalized groups, to play a central role in delivering survivor-centered and demand-driven initiatives and support their programmes to achieve sustainable impact on ending violence against women and girls (VAW/G) in a manner that contributes to global solidarity, partnerships and stronger, inclusive feminist movements.

The UN Trust Fund Secretariat ensures the responsible stewardship of its financial and operational resources through appropriate planning, robust fiduciary oversight, and adherence to UN Women’s Financial Regulations and Rules. This function enables transparent, efficient, and sustainable operations that uphold donor confidence, mitigate institutional risk, and position the UN Trust Fund to deliver on its strategic vision.

Reporting to the Deputy Chief, the Global Capacity Development & Operations Manager plays a strategic role in strengthening grant-making operations, Secretariat systems, and grantee institutional capacity. The incumbent is responsible for leading the design and execution of operational and compliance systems, providing oversight of the grant management cycle, coordinating internal workflows, and delivering targeted capacity-building support to partners. A strong emphasis is placed on leveraging technology, ensuring fiduciary integrity, and enabling effective programme delivery through operational excellence.

Key Functions and Accountabilities:

1. Manage and oversee UN Trust Fund Secretariat and Fund operations

• Serve as a member of the Management team and oversee all aspects of the Fund’s financial and operations planning and budgeting to ensure resources are optimally aligned with organizational goals.
• Develop and manage the Secretariat’s annual operating budget to ensure resources are strategically allocated in line with the Fund’s Strategic Plan and workplans.
• Conduct financial forecasting, scenario planning, and expenditure reviews to safeguard long-term operational sustainability and inform leadership decision-making.
• Advise on budget formulation and cost optimization measures to ensure maximum value for money in advancing the Fund’s mandate to support civil society-led solutions to end VAW/G.
• Monitor Secretariat expenditures against approved budgets to promote disciplined financial management and early identification of variances.
• Produce timely, accurate, and donor-compliant financial reports to uphold transparency to Member States, external stakeholders, and UN Women oversight bodies.
• Ensure Secretariat operations are fully compliant with UN Women’s Financial Regulations, the Internal Control Framework, and IPSAS standards to safeguard the Fund’s financial integrity.

2. Oversee operational processes and manage institutional risk to strengthen operational resilience

• Oversee financial, procurement, travel, and administrative workflows to enable timely and cost-effective delivery of Secretariat functions and services.
• Determine optimal techniques and business processes; lead business process mapping and establish internal standard operating procedures in all areas of the CD and Operations Team’s functions.
• Coordinate Secretariat contributions to internal and external audit exercises, including provision of documentation, management of audit responses, and implementation of recommendations, to reinforce organizational accountability.
• Maintain Secretariat-level financial and operational risk registers and integrate risk mitigation strategies into operational planning to proactively manage fiduciary and reputational risks.
• Serve as the operational liaison with UN Women divisions including Finance, Procurement, Legal, and Field Support.

3. Provide Strategic Advice on Grants Operations and Partner Management support

• Provide technical and strategic support on the Annual Call for Proposals, grant-making processes, partner risk, and operational decision-making, and ensure timely delivery of aspects under the Operations teams purview.
• Lead the development and continuous improvement of procedures and tools for calls for proposals, due diligence, grant agreement development, and compliance monitoring.
• Oversee grant lifecycle management, ensuring alignment with UN Women’s financial rules, internal control frameworks, and accountability standards.
• Support the integration of operational considerations into overall portfolio reviews and reporting.
• Provide targeted operational support and coaching to grantees in high-risk or complex contexts.
• Ensure UN Trust Fund operational and financial procedures and guidelines are up to date and informed by best practice and in line with changes with UN Women.

4. Strengthen Grantee Institutional Capacity for Results, Resilience, and Sustainability

• Design, implement, and monitor a comprehensive strategy that addresses grantee’s capacity needs across project, operational (finance, procurement, HR), governance and risk management.
• Oversee the design and delivery of annual in-person CD workshop, training materials, diagnostic tools, and a multilingual online learning platform tailored to meet diverse grantee needs.
• Support granteesparticularly smaller CSOsin strengthening internal systems and policies, including financial management, operational compliance, safeguarding, and organizational governance.
• Conduct regular institutional capacity risk assessments of grantees to inform tailored support plans and mitigate fiduciary and operational risks across the portfolio.
• Integrate resilience-building support across the grant lifecycle to help grantees adapt to changing operating environments, ensuring continuity of EVAW/G programming during crises, backlash, or emergencies.
• Manage the Fund’s platforms and systems related to grantee capacity development, including tracking grantee growth, needs assessments, training delivery, and feedback loops.

5. Leverage Digital Systems to Drive Operational Excellence and Innovation Operational

• Support the digital transformation of operational processes, including improved financial reporting, grants management, and procurement systems, to enhance responsiveness and reduce administrative burden.
• Manage the Grants Management System to ensure adherence to UN transparency commitments, and access to financial and programmatic data that can effectively be used for management and analysis
• Promote the use of digital platforms, dashboards, and automated tools for grant oversight and Secretariat management.
• Collaborate with IT and data teams to ensure that operational systems are fit-for-purpose, inclusive, and adaptable to evolving needs.
• Support digital capacity development for grantees and Secretariat staff, ensuring equitable access to tools and training.
• Perform Manager Level 3 Committing Officer role in Quantum for voucher and PO approvals.

6. Manage and Mentor CD and Operations Team to Enable Cohesive, Results-Oriented Delivery

• Lead and supervise the CD and Operations Management Team and ensure close collaboration within the Trust Fund Secretariat, ensuring cohesive teamwork, accountability, and alignment with the Fund’s strategic priorities.
• Oversee annual work planning and reporting, delegation of responsibilities, and performance management for direct reports, fostering a culture of results, collaboration, and learning.
• Provide management and mentoring to team members on all aspects of CD and operations, grants management, monitoring, and portfolio oversight, ensuring clarity of roles in implementing wraparound support to grantees.
• Manage, monitor and build the capacity of UN Trust Fund Financial Focal Points in UN Women COs to provide efficient and effective support into grant management processes.
• Support Secretariat colleagues through training, guidance, and the development of user-friendly tools and resources.
• Promote an inclusive, enabling, and high-performing work environment.

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

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities:

The incumbent leads a team of 13 personnel, which includes 5 direct reports (2 P3, 1 P2, 2 P1) as well as 8 affiliate staff (SC and consultants).

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:

• Ability to communicate sensitively and effectively across different constituencies.
• Demonstrated capacity to perform effectively within a multicultural work environment, tact and ability to deal with confidential matters in a discreet and reliable manner.
• Ability to participate effectively in a team-based, information-sharing environment, to collaborate and cooperate with others.
• Strong inter-personal skills and excellent organizational and coordination skills.
• Excellent analytical skills of substantive as well as organizational issues.
• Capacity to plan, prioritize and deliver tasks on time.
• Ability to set priorities; work under pressure with colleagues at all levels.
• Ability to perform a variety of tasks in a fast-paced and pressured environment.
• Good understanding of operation, finance, procurement, human resources, ICT, and security systems and processes, particularly in the UN system;
• Ample knowledge and use of computer office tools (Excel, PowerPoint, Word etc.).

Recruitment Qualifications:

Education and Certification:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in International Development, Business Administration or in the field of social sciences or other relevant field.
• 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 7 years of progressively responsible experience at the national or international level in project or operations management is required.
• Experience in grant making and grants management, especially in the areas of women’s rights and empowerment and gender equality is required.
• Experience in developing or facilitating capacity development activities, learning materials and programs related to project management and/or civil society strengthening, preferably in the areas of gender equality, women’s empowerment and/or ending violence against women is required.
• Experience in leading a team is required..
• Experience in programming/ projects management is required..
• Experience coordinating with partners and stakeholders is required..
• Proven experience in directly supporting Civil Society Organizations with institutional strengthening and/or project management will be considered an asset.
• Experience with databases and data management will be considered an asset.

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.)

Note: Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form, including the sections on education and employment history, are completed. If all sections are not completed the application may be disqualified from the recruitment and selection process.

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