Regional Chief of Operations, P-5, Geneva, Switzerland

Purpose of the Position

Under the general guidance of the Regional Director (RD), the incumbent of this post will support and advise Regional Office, Regional Management Team and Country Offices within the region, on operational aspects pertaining to budgets, finance and accounts, general administration and office management, monitoring and control mechanisms, risk-informed decision making and IT as required. The incumbent will provide strategic analysis and recommendations to the RD on these operational aspects to inform the RD on oversight function.

The Regional Chief of Operations will provide leadership, guidance and oversight, as appropriate, to ensure cost effective, gender sensitive and secure operations in support of the Regional Office Management Plan (ROMP) consistent with organization's goals, strategy and objectives. The incumbent will contribute to the strategic objectives for the ROMP; as well as provide oversight, strategic leadership and direction to a multidisciplinary team of professionals in Operations Unit, Consolidated Services Team and Operations Support Center serving multiple countries.

The incumbent will also provide strategic leadership, oversight, guidance and support to offices and operations staff in the region, in operations management. The incumbent will contribute to the strengthening of the capacity of operations staff in policy interpretation and implementation of improved operations management systems including HACT capacity building and preparation for and follow up on Audits, as well as other "Management for Results" aspects.

Key Expected Results

Effective operations of financial, human resource and administrative management

• Oversee and advise to ensure the effective, equitable and efficient operations of the region's or office's finance, human resource and administrative systems to support and facilitate the attainment of programmatic goals and objectives by meeting changing operational requirements.
• Ensure efficient, cost-effective and transparent utilization of resources through knowledge and technology transfer between offices and consistency of approaches across the region, including cost saving initiatives.
• Advise management and assist in establishing new offices.

Policy interpretation and application

• Oversee and advise to ensure the consistent application of organizational policies and procedures in the management of finance and administrative functions through the provision of technical leadership, guidance and operational support at the regional and country levels.
• Ensure the effective communication, training, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of new operational initiatives, guidelines and procedures throughout the region, with emphasis on all aspects required to achieve UNICEF's objectives for gender parity, diversity and a supportive work environment for men and women.

Fiduciary integrity and transparency for funds and assets

• Safeguard financial resources entrusted to the office and region by advising on management of financial assets.
• Provide guidance on fiduciary integrity and transparency for funds and assets for optimum utilization.
• Advise on financial decisions, financial transactions, disbursement of funds, and administrative arrangements.

Leadership in strategic planning, policy formulation, and corporate management process in the area of operations

• Assist the Regional Director and Deputy Regional Director in strategic decision making within UNICEF Operations and provide initiative and substantive input to the development, reform and change of financial, human resource and administrative policies, systems and procedures that secure the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity in staff.
• Participate in global and regional strategic planning and policy changes, including formulation on operational matters; provide authoritative advice from technical, operational and administrative perspectives to contribute to the improvement and establishment of operational guidelines, including those that strengthen gender policy in programming and staff gender parity.
• Provide strategic advice to the Regional Director and Deputy Regional Director on operational aspects of the UN Reform agenda.

Capacity Building and Staff Learning/Development for operations staff

• In consultation with the regional HR chief, advise on training and learning policies in line with UNICEF's training and learning/development strategy, ensure linkage to relevant operations systems.
• Ensure that training is provided in interviewing and selection for diversity, gender-awareness and gender-sensitivity.
• Work with the HQ Advisors to implement operations systems and learning programmes to upgrade the capacity of Regional office, Country Offices, and key counterpart staff in area of operations and gender-balanced staff recruitment and promotion; provide guidance and support to build Country Office capacity to plan, organize and conduct orientation and training activities.
• Determine training and learning needs in consultation with organizational units at HQ and in the field in order to identify organizational competency gaps.
• Plan and arrange regional operations workshops/learning programmes for organizational competency building.
• Advise on staff learning/development, career development, coaching and counselling in operations area.
• Monitor training activities to ensure to have cost-effective training programmes are available and meet the needs of enhanced operational performance and efficiency.
• Exchange best practices in the area of learning and training in operations; advocate for continuous learning; advise Country Offices on learning and training programmes and techniques.
• Assist in establishing processes to ensure that state-of-the-art knowledge in operations management is incorporated into the knowledge sharing mechanism is available for use in country and regional operations.
• Form a network of external training institutions relating to operations management and participate in inter-agency meetings and working groups to exchange information and collaborate for the benefit of staff and organization.

Budget Planning and Review

• Advise and guide the country and regional programme and budget review processes as regional focal point to ensure that all operations components of annual/biennium budgets for submission are timely, accurate, integrated, consistent and coherent with the corporate/regional priorities and budget guidelines.
• Proactively ensure timely submission of all required consolidated budget documentation in time for budget planning and review.
• Provide technical advice and support in contributing to making decisions on budgets and operational issues during the deliberations at corporate committees (PBR, RMTs, etc).

Compliance and Internal Control

• Monitor compliance with all operational systems and procedures and ensure integrity in all financial and other administrative operations of the office; advise on corrective measures to be taken and establish relevant internal controls to coordinate and ensure audit responses and the implementation of agreed audit recommendations.

Partnership, Coordination and Collaboration

• Advise on establishment and maintenance of effective government counterpart relations.
• Coordinate and advise to resolve issues pertaining to conditions of service, operational facilities and privileges within the context of the Basic Cooperation Agreement.
• Promote and assist capacity building of government counterparts to ensure adherence to financial regulations and rules pertaining to Cash Assistance to Government (CAG).
• Advise Regional Director, Deputy Regional Director, Heads of Offices on finance, human resource and administrative matters.
• Provide expert guidance on all operational submissions for the approval of the Regional Director/Deputy Regional Director.
• Brief office staff on financial, human resource and administrative policies and procedures.
• Provide technical guidance, oversight and advice to Operations Officers in country offices and resolves complex and sensitive problems.
• Coordinate with the HQ Divisions and other Regions to support policy/position formulation in the area of global/regional operations as well as harmonization of operations in the UN common system; advise on the applicability of new policy directives to regional operations.
• Coordinate and make major, substantive recommendations on the establishment of systems and internal controls and on planning and restructuring.
• Participate in and provide expert advice and support to consultative and management committees (e.g. IBRs, PBR, RMTs, CMT, JCC, CRC, PSB, TRT, etc.); train and/or brief committees accordingly.
• Collaborate with Deputy Representatives, Programme Officers and country level staff providing creative problem solutions in support of programming endeavors while maintaining sound internal controls.
• Represent the office in meetings with other UN Agencies to coordinate and collaborate on operational activities, including those of UN Reform agenda addressing UNICEF's Gender Balance Action Plan within the SG's initiative for gender parity in staffing.

Emergency Preparedness and Response

• Assist in monitoring and assessing the emergency preparedness plan including its validity for the current crisis, i.e. the security situation and immediate actions needed, the ability of the office to function, the funds that have been reallocated from existing sources, etc.
• Advise on adapting the emergency preparedness and response plan as necessary with particular attention to gender issues that may be expected to intensify during emergencies.
• In consultation with Representative, Deputy Representative, Operations Officer, Emergency Officer, HR Officer, Supply/logistics Officer, Communication Officer and other key staff including those staff in zonal offices, assess the nature and extent of the emergency.
• Coordinate and provide assistance to the Country Office in identifying support requirements in terms of immediate response and human, financial and supply/logistics resources as well as long-term strategy and plan.
• Provide advice in establishing regional security strategy and plan in line with UN procedures and requirements.
• Coordinate promptly with Regional Director/Deputy Regional Director, Regional Advisers, Representatives, Deputy Representatives, Emergency Officers, Programme Officers, Operations Officers and other pertinent staff at field level for security-related issues and emergency operations.
• Review and advise the RD on funding appeals in with particular attention to gender issues that may be expected to intensify during emergencies.
• Support information technology, telecommunications and security assistance to the Country Office, as necessary.
• Assist and support the Regional Director/the Deputy Regional Director and other Regional Advisers to coordinate emergency responses with other agencies and organizations at the regional level.

Qualifications of Successful Candidate

• An advanced university degree (Master's) in Accounting, Audit, Business Administration, Financial Management, Economics or directly-related technical field(s) is required. A valid professional certification (CA; CPA; etc.) from an accredited chartered accountancy institution, in conjunction with a relevant first-level (Bachelor's) university degree (as per areas identified above), may be taken in lieu of an advanced university degree.
• A minimum of ten (10) years of relevant experience, at the national and international levels, in office management, finance, budget, accounting, ICT, human resources, supply and/or administration is required.
• Previous hands on experience in a supervisory/managerial capacity is required.
• Work experience in emergency duty station is desirable.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of an additional UN Language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish) is considered an asset.

Competencies of Successful Candidate

• Has highest-level communication skills, including engaging and informative formal public speaking.
• Consistently achieves high-level results, managing and delivering projects on-time and on-budget.
• Creates and encourages a climate of team-working and collaboration in a multi-cultural environment.
• Has high-level leadership and supervisory skills; provides others with a clear direction; motivates and empowers others; recruits staff of a high caliber; provides staff with development opportunities and coaching.
• Sets, develops and revises organizational strategy and develops clear visions of the organization's future potential.
• Analyzes and integrates potentially conflicting numerical, verbal and other data from a number of sources.
• Quickly builds rapport with individuals and groups. Actively nurtures good relationships with people across all organizational levels and boundaries, and with government leaders and stakeholders.
• Identifies urgent and potentially difficult decisions and acts on them promptly; initiates and generates team and department-wide activities.
• Ensures that team or department follows relevant company policies and procedures.
  Remarks
  This is an extension of the application deadline to expand the candidate pool. Previous applicants need not re-apply as their original application will be duly considered.

HOW TO APPLY:

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.

If you want a challenging career while improving the lives of children around the world UNICEF, the leading children’s rights organization, would like to hear from you.

Visit us at www.unicef.org/about/employ to register in our new e-Recruitment system and apply to this and other vacancies. Applications must be received by 31-Dec-14

Vacancy position link:

https://careers.unicef.org/sap/bc/webdynpro/sap/hrrcf_a_posting_apply?PA...
Please note that only candidates who are under serious consideration will be contacted.

In the selection of its staff, UNICEF is committed to gender balance and diversity without distinction as to race, sex or religion, and without discrimination of persons with disabilities: well qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.