Regional Chief of Operations, (P-5), EAPRO, Bangkok, Thailand #1843

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, results

The Regional Chief of Operations role is to effectively lead and oversee the operations functions across a region for the efficient delivery of related services, directly impact on program performance resource mobilization and delivery of results for children. This in turn contributes to maintaining/enhancing the credibility of UNICEF as an effective and responsible manager of funds entrusted to the organization and to furthering UNICEF’s image as a competent organization for delivering cost effective and sustainable program results in regular and emergency settings. The Regional Chief of Operations comprehensively and timely identify, assess, mitigate, monitor, review and report on the most significant risks that could potentially harm the organization, is a critical element of UNICEF’s risk and internal control performance management framework. Risk management skills are necessary to safeguard UNICEF’s resources, continuity of operations and reputation to fulfill our primary mission to save and protect children, globally.

How can you make a difference?

As a Strategic Business Partner and regional advisor, 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 within the regional office and provide technical leadership and guidance for Operations in all countries and field offices within the region. Strategic operations will accomplish this by:

• Managing and providing strategic direction for services in the regional functional areas of operations support: budget, financial management and reporting, facilities management, administration, supply and logistics management.
• Leading by example and supporting the Regional Director to ensure processes are in place to identify, promote and empower the potential in operations staff within the region through career development, opportunities for stretch assignments and succession planning;
• Acting as member of the Regional Senior Management Team, representing the organizational risk, governance systems and policies perspective in management discussions, and promoting results based management;
• Understanding business needs for the Programmes in regional and country offices, to anticipate challenges, propose viable solutions, provide creative and innovative ideas aimed at a solution- focused approach to include value for money strategies, all underpinned by quality assurance measures;
• Advise on the implementation of results based management through results-based planning including results-based budgeting and implementation using value for money criteria;
• Guiding the country and regional programme and budget review processes;
• Leveraging governance, systems, and tools to provide regular feedback on risks and achievements of operations functions in the region and Headquarters;
• Supporting and advising regional and country offices during external and internal audit reviews and responding to audit observations and monitoring implementation of recommendations;
• Evaluating and suggesting enhancement of business transactions processed by GSSC from a perspective of Efficiency, Performance, Risk Management and Fraud prevention;
• Providing strategic and managerial guidance to Common Services, Supply and Procurement, and HACT Management as deemed fit and in line with the approved regional office structure.

The Regional Chief of Operations will be entrusted with the following five pillars, the core focus of all operations functions: 

1. Valuing People: Lead, manage and develop people resources to promote technical competence and foster career progression and retention of a “fit for purpose”/ agile operations workforce
2. Valuing Money: Champion strategic resources to achieve organizational goals and ensure Value for Money (VfM)
3. Valuing Risk Management: Enhance Risk Management to increase organizational performance and strengthen internal control
4. Valuing Systems and Structures: Ensure further operational centralization and optimization for maximized efficiency gains
5. Valuing Partners: Strengthening internal and external-facing partnerships and leveraging UNICEF’s oversight and understanding of programmatic financial management.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) 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.
• A minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience at the national and international level, is required, specifically in advocating and 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.
• Additional experience in one or more of the following areas, would be desired:
  • Audit and investigations
  • Safety and security
  • Grant Management
  • Enterprise Risk Management

• Experience in a UN system agency, large private or public company, or experience working in a developing country and/or humanitarian/ emergency context is an asset.

• Experience in working with corporate ERPs (Enterprise Resource Planning) and IPSAS (International Public Sector Accounting Standards) is highly desirable.

• Experience in Results Based Management is a requirement.

• Experience in managing successful client-oriented work units is an asset.

• Experience in co-creating policy is desirable.

• Prior experience working with diverse and executive level stakeholder groups or multi-stakeholder partnerships is highly desirable.

• Previous hands-on experience in strategic and managerial leadership, preferably in a multi-office context, is required.

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others (8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. 

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable male/female from programme countries are encouraged to apply.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be cancelled.

All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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.

Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.