Background

Further to agreement reached between the Government of Syria and the UN in Syria to establish a number of UN Hubs from where Agencies programme and operations could be run, the UN in Syria has proceeded with the establishment of UN Hubs in Qamishli, Homs, and Aleppo.

 The UN Hubs have been authorized to operate under the umbrella of the Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO). As such, the RC has appointed UN Hub Team Leaders who also function as Area Security Coordinators. To support the day-to-day management of joint UN operations functions in any UN Hub, a UN Hub Operations Coordinator has been / will be appointed in every Hub on a cost-sharing basis. The Operations Coordinator will implement the common services including but not limited to: transportation, office running and maintenance, information technology including telephone and also security services. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall directions of the UN Operations Management Team (OMT) and the day-to-day supervision of the UN Hub Team Leader and in full coordination with Agency operations managers and staff, the UN Hub Tartous Operations Coordinator will:

• Coordinate a working group of Agency operations managers where activities towards UN common services in a particular Hub will be identified, prioritized, planned, costed and monitored;
• Develop quarterly work plans with related budgets that respond to the needs of the different Agencies present and working from the Hub, and submit them for approval to the Hub operations working group and to the OMT;
• Once approved, implement work plan activities within approved budgetary limits, producing monthly implementation reports (substantive and financial);
• Maintain proper control over various financial and administrative records;
• Under the approved quarterly work plan, manage and implement the full range of common services for the benefit of all UN Agencies in the Hub;
• Ensure that UN rules and regulations pertaining to efficiency, transparency, competition and value-for-money are used when procuring any goods and/or services;
• Ensure full certification of goods and services completed under the UN Hub operational work plan and ensure payment through the UNDP office (the financial manager of the UN Hub cost-shared budgets);
• Monitor and verify all work performed by all contractors within the Hub;
• Liaise with UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) as appropriate, in particular when arranging transportation and pursuing the minimum operating security standards (MOSS) compliance in the Hub;
• In coordination with UNDSS and Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC), implement/ improve the common security telecommunication system in the Hub;
• Communicate with the governorate authority on operational and administrative matters;
• Supervise the work of other UN Hub and/or Agency UN staff that have a role to play in particular common services as identified in the work plan, which includes administrative staff, drivers and security guards, etc;
• Produce a lessons learnt report at the end of every quarter for the benefit of other Hubs;
• Conduct any other assignment in the UN Hub as requested by the UN Hub Team Leader or the OMT.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:       

Preparing information for advocacy

• Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating UN’s priorities.

Results-Based Programme Development and Management

• Contributes into results through primary research and analysis;
• Researches linkages across programme activities to identify critical points of integration;
• Monitors specific stages of projects/programme implementation.

Building Strategic Partnerships

• Maintaining a network of contacts,
• Maintains an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up-to-date on partnership related issues;
• Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders.

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches

• Enhancing processes or products;
• Generates new ideas and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things;
• Documents and analyses innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches.

Resource Mobilization

• Providing inputs to resource mobilization strategy;
• Collects, researches and analyzes information on resource mobilization and utilization, drafts reports and documents and maintains information/databases on potential and actual donors and donor funded projects.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

•  Basic research and analysis;
• Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things;
• Documents and analyses innovative strategies and new approaches.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

• Fundamental knowledge of own discipline;
• Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position;
• Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning;
• Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
• Demonstrates in-depth understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments.

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals

• Preparing information for global advocacy;
• Identifies and communicates relevant information for advocacy for UN’s goals for a variety of audiences;
• Maintains a functioning network of contacts in the media and civil society, to promote a better understanding of UN’s priorities and to support advocacy efforts.

Client Orientation

• Establishing effective client relationships;
• Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion;
• Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines;
• Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients.

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity; 
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
• Self-development, initiative-taking;
• Acting as a team player and facilitating team work;
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
• Creating synergies through self-control;
• Managing conflict;
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
• Informed and transparent decision making.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• University Degree (Bachelor Degree) in Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Economics, or related field.

Experience:

• Six years of relevant experience in providing administrative, financial and operational services;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in the UN and national language of the duty station.