International Operations Manager – P4  

The Position:

The International Operations Manager (IOM) plays a leading role in supporting the delivery of the UNFPA country programme, which aims to realize the 2030 Agenda in order to make a positive difference in the lives of millions of people. Under the guidance of the Representative, the IOM leads strategic planning for UNFPA operations, setting of management targets, and outsourced services.

The IOM leads a broad portfolio ranging from:

• Finance Management
• Human Resources
• Procurement
• IT
• Travel and Logistics
• Common service
• Security of UNFPA premises and staff

The IOM advises the Representative on course correction; compliance, cost effectiveness; and creative responses to emerging complex challenges.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

You are accountable for supporting the effective development and delivery of an innovative Country Programme focused on population and development and universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, including maternal health, family planning, gender, and adolescent and youth empowerment. Through delivery of effective programmes, including in emergency settings, you serve on the frontline, supporting the organization’s ability to deliver high quality results. Your ultimate accountability is to the people that you serve; the most vulnerable, excluded, or marginalized and for the causes that you serve; human rights, sustainable development and humanitarian relief.

You would be responsible for:

Summary of Responsibilities:

• Strategic direction of UNFPA operations
• Day-to-day management of UNFPA’s operations
• Support and coordination of UNFPA’s common services
• Safety and security of UNFPA staff and premises
• Partnership building on operational issues
• Carry out any other duties as may be required by the County Representative, Regional Office management or Headquarters.

Detailed Description of Responsibilities:

A. Strategic direction of UNFPA operations:

• Contribute to the delivery of the country programme, and ensure overall operations are carried out effectively, in a transparent manner and in compliance with established policies, procedures and rules.
• Ensure annual and longer-term management targets, at the UNFPA corporate and Country Office level are met.
• Determine optimal approaches for improving effectiveness and efficiency of business management, fostering innovation and furthering operational excellence.
• Drive knowledge management practices within the Country Office.
• Build capacity of staff through coaching and mentoring on operations management relevant for programme implementation and sound project management.

B. Day-to-day management of UNFPA’s operations:

• Financial Management: ensure the integrity of financial systems, review of budget requirements and the consistent application of rules and regulations.
• Human Resources Management: Support the Representative in the recruitment and management of staff, providing them with direction and motivation; fostering empowerment; learning and career management and promoting cross-unit team work.
• Supervise operations staff demonstrating performance appraisal and transparent leadership approaches that support a culture of growth and development, where good performance is incentivized and underperformers are held to account.
• General Administration: Oversee CO travel, logistics and premises; establishment of work plans, and monitoring of the achievement of results in collaboration with programme staff.
• Ensure high quality provision of procurement and other project support services.
• Monitor quality and timeliness of services provided by Service Providers.
• Routinely monitor financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions, and alert
  HQ to any unusual transactions.

C. Support and coordination of UNFPA’s common services:
 

• Provide policy support, guidance and advocacy at the country level on development, establishment and management of common services with other participating UN organizations/ agencies.
• Ensure that common services and joint arrangements benefit UNFPA in its objective to provide efficient and economical support services to the implementation of the country programme.

D. Safety and security of UNFPA staff and premises:
 

• Support staff safety by driving compliance with UN Minimum Operating Security Standards (MOSS) and Minimum Operational Residential Security Standards (MORSS).
• Together with the Representative, represent UNFPA in the Security Management Team and effectively implement security measures agreed in the SMT in compliance with security policy in UNFPA.
• Represent UNFPA in Operations Management Team (OMT) meetings, ensuring that UNFPA interests are respected and value for money for goods and services are in line with best business practices.

E. Partnership building on operational issues:
 

• Represent UNFPA in inter-agency administrative meetings, and ensure smooth cooperation between agencies on joint undertakings such as hardship questionnaires and salary surveys.
• Identify new approaches and measures to further enhance UNFPA delivery capacities, professional management and cost effectiveness.
• Promote a client-oriented approach among all operations staff.
   

F. Carry out any other duties as may be required by the County Representative, Regional Office management or Headquarters.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

Advance degree from an accredited university in any of the following disciplines: Public Administration or Business Administration, Economics, Management or other related field.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• 7 years of experience in development in a governmental, multilateral or civil society organization in a multi-cultural setting, including 3 or more years’ experience in managing teams in a complex organizational setting.
• Ability to build strong relationships with clients, focus on impact and result, and respond positively to feedback.
• Solid knowledge in procurement, financial and human resources management, contract, asset, and information and communication technology.
• Ability to lead business process re-engineering, to implement new systems, and to positively
  affect staff behavioural/ attitudinal changes.
• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting, formulation and monitoring of projects/programmes.
• Experience in international development and dedication to the principles of the United Nations.
• Field experience is essential; humanitarian context is an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to sustain and advance current partnerships.
• Demonstrated ability to provide strategic vision and focus by successfully communicating and implementing priorities based on clear deliverables.
• Demonstrated ability to take responsibility for team decisions, providing the rationale as appropriate.
• Demonstrated ability to provide team managers with the needed direction to achieve results
  and hold them accountable.

Languages: 

Fluency in French and English is required.

Required Competencies: 

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity, 
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, 
• Embracing cultural diversity, 
• Embracing change

Core Competencies: 

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,

UN Leadership Characteristics:

• Norm-based – grounded in UN norms and standards
• Principled – defends norms and standards without discrimination, fear or favour
• Inclusive of all personnel and stakeholders
• Accountable
• Multi-dimensional
• Transformational
• Collaborative
• Self-applied – modelled in our own behaviour

Managerial Competencies:

• Providing strategic focus
• Engaging in internal/external partners and stakeholders
• Leading, developing and empowering people, creating a culture of performance
• Making decisions and exercising judgment

Compensation and Benefits:

 This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable. 

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA’s workforce – click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements. 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts. 

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.

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 [email protected]. 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.​