UN Women Operations Manager

Job ID/Title :UN Women Operations Manager
Category : Administration/Operations
Brand :UNWOMEN
Post Level :NOC
Application Deadline :16-May-12
Duty Station :Jerusalem    
Languages Required :Arabic, English

Starting Date :
(date when the selected canditate is expected to start)    
Duration of Initial Contract :     1 year with possibility of extension

Background:
The UN Women (UNW), 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. Placing women’s rights at the centre of all its efforts, the UN Women will lead and coordinate United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It will provide strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.
UN Women plays an innovative and catalytic role in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) since its inception in 1997. UN Women oPt focuses its activities on one overarching goal, namely to support the implementation at the national level of existing international commitments to advance gender equality in line with the national priorities. In support of this goal, and thoroughly taking into consideration the specificities of the oPt context, UN Women concentrates its efforts and interventions toward the realisation of following strategic goals: Engendering governance, peace and security; Supporting women's economic security and rights; and Promoting women’s rights and protection against violence.
Under the guidance of Head of Office/ Country Representative, the Operations Manager acts as an advisor to Senior Management on all aspects of Country Office (CO) management and operations. This includes strategic financial and human resources management, efficient procurement and logistical services, ICT and common services consistent with UN Women rules and regulations. The main role is to lead the operations, ensuring smooth functioning of the CO/programmes/ projects operations, consistent services delivery and constant evaluation and readjustment of the operations to take into account changes in the operating environment as and when needed.
The Operations Manager leads and guides the CO Operations Team and fosters collaboration within the team, with programme staff and with other UN Agencies and a client-oriented approach. The Operations Manager works in close collaboration with programme and project teams in the CO, operations staff in other UN Agencies, UN Women Regional Office (Center) and HQ staff and Government officials to successfully deliver operations services.

Description of Responsibilities:
Summary of Key Functions:
-Ensuring strategic direction of operations
-Financial resources management and supervision of the Finance team
-Human Resources Management and supervision of the HR team
-Efficient procurement and logistical services and supervision of the Procurement team
-Information and communication management and supervision of ICT team
-Common services organization and management, establishment of partnerships with other UN Agencies

1-As a member of the CO management team, ensures the strategic direction of operations focusing on achievement of the following results:
-Full compliance of operations with UN Women rules, regulations and policies, implementation of corporate operational strategies, establishment of management targets (BSC) and monitoring of achievement of results.
-Manage and supervise the day to day work of the Operations Team to ensure maximum efficiency and provision of efficient operation services to office, staff and UN Women projects/programs. Prepare annual work plan for the team and ensure its successful  implementation.
-Manage, supervise and promote the performance of the Operations team by implementing performance management systems including staff development.
-Establishment of collaborate arrangements with potential partners, a Client relationship Management system for resource mobilization purposes and appropriate operational partnership arrangements.
-CO business processes mapping and establishment of internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in Finance, Human Resources Management, Procurement, Logistical and ICT services.
-Constant monitoring and analysis of the operating environment, timely readjustment of the operations, advice on legal considerations and risk assessment.
-Knowledge building and sharing with regards to management and operations in the CO, organization of the operations staff trainings, synthesis of lessons learnt/best practices, and sound contributions to UN Women knowledge networks and communities of practice.

2-Ensures effective and accurate financial resources management and supervision of the Finance team focusing on achievement of the following results:
-Proper planning, expenditure tracking and audit of financial resources, including extra-budgetary income in accordance with UN Women rules and regulations.
-Proper management of the contributions management business process and accounting for contributions to ensure that the money due to other UN agencies is properly identified, consistently and uniformly classified, recorded on a timely basis and received with sufficient supporting documentation.
-Performance of Manager Level 1 role in Atlas for voucher and Treasury transactions approvals, bank reconciliation. Approval of pending disbursements as the “third authority” (cheques, bank transfers, EFT). Approval of bank reconciliations.
-Monitoring of financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions and investigation of anomalies or unusual transactions. Provision of information to supervisors and other UN Women staff at HQ of the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained.
-Ensuring all financial transactions are identified, recorded and verified in compliance with IPSAS as outlined in the corporate policies and procedures.

3-Ensures strategic human resources management and supervision of the HR staff focusing on achievement of the following results:
-CO compliance with corporate human resources policies and strategies.
-Optimal staffing of the office and projects.
-Oversight of recruitment processes in accordance with UN Women rules and regulations, appropriate use of different contractual modalities, contracts management,
-Establishment and maintenance of the proper performance management and staff development systems.
-Implementation of the Universal Access strategy on learning ensuring access of the staff to role appropriate learning activities.
-Supervise Human Resources staff and provide training for staff
-Develop the Learning plan for OPT and ensure its implementation
 
4-Ensures provision of efficient procurement and logistical services and supervision of the Procurement team  focusing on achievement of the following results:
-CO compliance with corporate rules and regulations in the field and elaboration of the CO  procurement strategies including sourcing strategy, supplier selection and evaluation, quality management, customer relationship management, e-procurement promotion and introduction, performance measurement.
-Elaboration of the CO contract strategy including tendering processes and evaluation, managing the contract and contractor, legal implications. Oversight of procurement processes and logistical services in accordance with UN Women rules and regulations, OM acting as Manager Level 1 in Atlas for Purchase orders approvals.
-Proper management of UN Women assets, facilities and logistical services, including full compliance with IPSAS in the accounting for the procurement, utilization and disposal of the CO’s assets.
-CO Compliance with corporate rules and regulations regarding Travel
-Proper management of all logistical services
 
5-Ensures forward-looking information and communication management and supervision of ICT team/ service provider focusing on achievement of the following results:
-Use of Atlas functionality for improved business results and improved client services.
-Coordinate the Maintenance of a secure, reliable infrastructure environment for ICT and adequate planning for disasters and recoveries.
-Identification and promotion of different systems and applications for optimal content management, knowledge sharing, information provision and learning including e-registry, web-based office management system, etc.
-Development and implementation of a CO ICT disaster recovery plan.

6.-Ensures proper common services organization and management, establishment of partnerships with other UN Agencies focusing on achievement of the following results:
-Establishment of common services, maintenance of coordinating machinery to ensure integrated activities on common services and implementation of the UN reform.
-Elaboration of the strategic approach for implementation of common services in line with the latest developments in common services and the best practices.
-Proper planning and tracking of common services budget
 
 Impact of Results

The key results have an impact on the overall economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of CO operations as it relates to the use of corporate resources in the following areas:
-Financial services
-Human Resources
-Procurement and logistical services
-ICT
-Common Services and the implementation of the UN agenda on common services and joint procurement.

 
Competencies :
Competencies and Critical Success Factors

Functional Competencies:
Corporate Competencies:
-Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN's values and ethical standards
-Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UN Women
-Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
-Treats all people fairly without favoritism

Functional Competencies:
-Knowledge Management and Learning
-Promotes knowledge management in UN Women and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example
-Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills

Development and Operational Effectiveness
-Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting
-Ability to lead formulation and monitoring of management projects
-Solid knowledge in financial resources and human resources management, contract, asset and procurement, information and communication technology, general administration
-Ability to lead business processes re-engineering, implementation of new systems (business side), and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change

Management and Leadership:
-Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback
-Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
-Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills
-Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities
-Leads teams effectively and shows mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills
-Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills

Qualifications :
Education:
Master’s Degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Economics or related field.

Experience:
5 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services and/or managing staff and operational systems and establishing inter-relationships among international organization and national governments. Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web based management systems and ERP systems, preferably PeopleSoft.
Previous experience with the UN is considered an asset.
Experience of accrual accounting, IPSAS or IFRS is highly desirable.  Professional background in programming/ projects management is desirable.
Language Requirements:
Fluency (both oral and written) in English and Arabic essential. Knowledge in Hebrew is considered an asset.
“UNDP/PAPP is an equal opportunity employer: applications from both internal and external men and women will be considered equally”

Important message to all applicants!
-Please be aware that the UNDP/PAPP will review your application only if you have uploaded Personal History Form (P.11) to your application. Please download the form from the following link: http://jobs.undp.ps.
-You will get the opportunity to upload the P-11 at when you apply for the position.
-Incomplete applications or applications received after the closing date will not be given consideration. Please note that only applications that are under consideration will be contacted.
-For more detailed information about UNDP/PAPP please visit our website at www.undp.ps.