Historique

Since November 2013, Ukraine has been affected by a rapid succession of intense, disruptive events.  In late November 2013, Ukrainian citizens took to the streets of Kyiv in opposition to President Yanukovych's decision to postpone signing the EU Association Agreement.  Fundamentally, the so-called Maidan protest movement articulated the people’s desire not only for a more inclusive, transparent and responsive government, but a fundamental change to Ukraine’s socio-political system.  The protests culminated in February 2014, with deadly clashes between protesters and Ukrainian security forces resulting in President Yanukovych fleeing the country.  Pre-term Presidential and Parliamentary elections – held in May and October 2014 respectively – saw a pro-European and pro-reform executive and legislative brought to power, but numerous challenges and obstacles remain, including the ability to introduce and implement wide-ranging and radical reforms in line with popular expectations and in order to avoid further socio-economic deterioration as winter sets in and the economic impact of the conflict in the east becomes more apparent.

At the same time, against the background of the political unrest in Kyiv in the first half of 2014, Crimea was annexed by the Russian Federation in a move that is not recognized as legitimate by the bulk of the international community.  In early April, protests erupted in the eastern and some southern parts of the country, with protestors demanding greater autonomy from the central Ukrainian government and closer relations with – or even joining – Russia.  Since then, the situation in the eastern Donetsk and Lugansk regions has deteriorated into an armed conflict between the Government Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) forces and armed groups opposing them.  Despite various ceasefire agreements being brokered in the past few months, sporadic fighting continues on a daily basis.  Following the holding of elections in the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic and Lugansk People’s Republics held elections on 2 November, which were recognised by the Russian Federation but denounced as illegitimate by Kyiv and the international community, the overall political situation is set to become even more complicated and a protracted conflict can be expected.

The fighting has resulted in a high loss of life (over 4,000 people killed and almost 10,000 wounded) and significant displacement.  As of 31 October, an estimated 442,219 people have been internally displaced, with another 488,466 fleeing to neighbouring countries.  An estimated 5.2 million people continue to live in adverse conditions brought about by the conflict, including significant damage to major infrastructure such as roads and bridges, electricity and water supply systems, supply chains of basic goods, and public and residential buildings. The risk of an outbreak of communicable diseases among affected populations trapped in the area of conflict remains high. The rapidly approaching winter is expected to worsen the conditions, particularly for vulnerability of people residing in or seeking to return to these areas.

The United Nations has assumed a broad role in humanitarian response, human rights, early recovery, and sustainable development and in governance, peace-building and reconciliation. The UN in the country grew exponentially, from 687 (number of international staff - 97 and local staff - 590) in Q4 2013 to 791(number of international staff - 154 and local staff - 637) in early November 2014 with new UN missions (OCHA, OHCHR, WFP, DPA) started operations from March-April 2014.  The security situation has deteriorated drastically and required provision of additional operational capacity to the ongoing programme and the UN’s expanded presence on the ground.

There is a major challenge for the UN system to remain coherent and effective in this context. UNDP assumes a particularly crucial role, given its broad mandate. In response to the crisis UNDP office is working to scale up rapidly and significantly, not only to address the reform agenda (governance, decentralization, economic reform, etc.) but also to respond to the new challenges stemming from the conflict (early recovery, human rights, reconciliation, peacebuilding, etc). UNDP plays particularly important role in supporting the other parts of the UN system, in particular OHCHR and OCHA in providing common services and support to operations and business development in Ukraine.  In the absence of UN mission settings, the UNDP office provides regular support to high-level missions and ‘good offices’ of the Secretary General.

In this context under the guidance and supervision of DRR, the Business Development Specialist (Operations) (BDS) acts as an advisor to Senior Management on all aspects of CO management and operations. The BDS is responsible for strategic financial and human resources management, efficient procurement and logistical services and ICT, especially in emergency, humanitarian and early recovery environment, and consistency with UNDP rules and regulations. The Business Development Specialist (Operations) ensures consistent services delivery to CO, UNDP programmes and projects and UN common services. The incumbent sets policies and methods to maximize the CO performance in operations demonstrating capacity for innovation and creativity and providing advice to Senior Management on readjustment of the operations to take into account changes in the operating environment as and when needed.

The BDS leads and guides the CO Operations and Business Development Team and fosters collaboration within the team, other CO teams as well as other UN Agencies consistent with rules and a client-oriented approach. The Business Development Specialist (Operations) works in close collaboration with programme and project teams in the CO, operations staff in other UN Agencies, UNDP HQs staff and Government officials to successfully deliver operations services.

Devoirs et responsabilités

Summary of Key Functions:

• Ensuring effective implementation of UNDP programme through engagement with programme advisers and project teams and support to procurement, recruitment and programme finance management and resource mobilization;
• Ensuring strategic direction of operations taking into account the expanding operations in Ukraine due to emergency, humanitarian situation and early recovery activities;
• Financial resources management and supervision of the Finance team;
• Strategic Human Resources Management and supervision of the HR team;
• Efficient procurement and logistical services related to emergency, and humanitarian situation and supervision and capacity development of the Procurement team to respond to emerging requirements;
• Information and communication management and supervision of ICT team;
• Strategic support to expansion of common services, their organization and management, enhancing effective of partnerships with other UN Agencies;
• Ensure effective building of national staff capacities in areas of procurement, logistics, IT, finances in emergency and special situations.

As a member of the CO management team, ensures the strategic direction of operations focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Compliance of operations with UN/UNDP rules, regulations and policies, implementation of corporate operational strategies, establishment of management targets (BSC) and monitoring achievement of results, taking into account increasing programme scope and complexity;
• Ensuring that the CO meets annual delivery and resource mobilization targets;
• Provision of strategic advice on strategies, policies and plans affecting CO operations, delivery of advisory, knowledge and learning services, especially in areas of procurement and recruitment in emergency and humanitarian situations;
• Establishment of collaborative arrangements with potential partners, a Client Relationship Management System for resource mobilization purposes and appropriate operational partnership arrangements;
• Strategic review of the CO business processes and establishment of renewed internal Standard Operating Procedures in Finance, Human Resources Management, Procurement, Logistical and ICT services, Results Management necessary due to changing circumstances;
• Constant monitoring and analysis of the operating environment, quick readjustment of the operations, advice on legal considerations and risk assessment;
• Capacity Development, knowledge building and sharing with regards to management and operations in the CO. Regular organization of the operations staff trainings and synthesis of lessons learnt/best practices.

Ensures effective and accurate financial resources management and supervision of the Finance team focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Ensures proper planning, expenditures tracking and audit of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations;
• BDS is performing the function of Manager Level 2 in Atlas for vouchers and replenishments approval, deals management and bank reconciliations;
• Approval of pending disbursements as the “third authority” (cheques, bank transfers, EFT). Approval of bank reconciliations;
• Ensures effective management of cost-recovery system for the services provided by the CO to projects and other UN Agencies. Accurate planning, forecasting and reporting of extra-budgetary income;
• Ensures effective organization and oversight of CO cash management processes, including liquidity management, recommendation of imprest level, risk assessment, bank relationship management; timely accounting and reconciliation of all transactions, security for cash assets on site;
• Member of the bank signatory panel;
• Routinely monitors financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions, and investigates anomalies or unusual transactions. Informs supervisors and other UNDP staff at Headquarters of the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained.

Ensures strategic human resources management and supervision of the HR team focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Ensures CO compliance with corporate human resources policies and strategies;
• Ensures effective and optimal staffing of the office and projects as well as UN Agencies (as requested) in timely manner;
• Provides strategic oversight of recruitment processes and performance management systems ensuring link of job design with recruitment, performance management and career development.

Ensures efficient procurement and logistical services management and supervision of the Procurement team  focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Ensures CO compliance with corporate rules and regulations in the field and management of the CO procurement strategies including sourcing strategy, supplier selection and evaluation, quality management, customer relationship management, e-procurement promotion and introduction, performance measurement, taking into account the emergency and humanitarian situation;
• Provides strategic advice to programme colleagues on project design to achieve effective and faster results of proposed intervention;
• Effective management 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 UNDP rules and regulations. BDS is acting as Manager Level 2 in Atlas for Purchase orders approvals;
• Oversees the proper management of UNDP assets, facilities and logistical services.

Ensures forward-looking information and communication management and supervision of ICT team focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Strategically oversees the maintenance of secure, reliable infrastructure environment for ICT and adequately plans for disasters and recoveries, according to different contingency scenarios;
• Uses of Atlas functionality for improved business results and improved client services. Promotes best practices from other CO to improve efficiency of business processes;
• Identifies opportunities and ways of converting business processes into web-based systems to address the issues of efficiency and full accountability;
• Promotes different systems and applications for optimal content management, knowledge sharing, information provision and learning including e-registry, web-based office management system, etc.

Ensures proper common services organization and management, establishment of partnerships with other UN Agencies focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Elaboration of the strategic approach to implementation of common services in line with the UN reform, the latest developments in common services and the best practices;
• Ensures that requests from other UN agencies for expansion of services due to emergency and humanitarian situation are addressed in effective and timely manner with full cost recovery.

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.

Compétences

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• 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 UNDP 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;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure.

Summary of Critical Competencies for Immediate Response Situations:

• Possess a comprehensive set of competencies enabling immediately taking on the challenging role of leading early recovery efforts in the designated area of responsibility – strategic, integrity, results orientation, teamwork, good inter-personal skills, well developed communication skills, sound judgment, analytical skills, flexibility, proactive engagement, innovation, risk management, gender and culturally sensitivity, ability to work under pressure and demonstrates high tolerance for change, complexity and unpredictability.

Qualifications et expériences requises

Education:

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Economics or related field;
• UNDP Certification programmes Prince2, Procurement, HR, Accounting and Finance.

Experience:

• 7 years of  relevant experience at the national and 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.
• An understanding of IFRS/IPSAS or equivalent standard would be desirable.

Language:

• Fluency in English;
• Russian/Ukrainian will be advantage, but not requirement.