UN Women, 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

Under the guidance of the Country Programme Manager, 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/UN Women rules and regulations. The main role is to lead operations, ensuring smooth functioning of the CO/programmes/ projects operations, consistent service delivery and constant evaluation and readjustment of 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 with 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 HQs staff and Government officials to successfully deliver operations services.

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
• Focal Point for security issues

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/UN Women rules, regulations and policies, implementation of corporate operational strategies, establishment of management targets (BSC) and monitoring of achievement of results.
• Establishment of collaborative 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 operations, advice on legal considerations and risk assessment.
• Knowledge building and sharing with regards to management and operations in the CO, organization of operations staff training, synthesis of lessons learnt/best practices, and sound contribution to UN knowledge networks and communities of practice.

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.
• Performance of Manager Level 1 role in Atlas for voucher and treasury transaction approval.
• Organization and oversight of CO cash management processes, including liquidity management, recommendation of imprest level, risk assessment, timely accounting and reconciliation of all transactions, security for cash assets on site.
• 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.

Ensures strategic human resources management and supervision of the HR team 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.

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.

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

• Use of Atlas functionality for improved business results and improved client services.
• Identification of opportunities and ways of converting business processes into web-based systems to address the issues of efficiency and full accountability.
• 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.

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

• Ensure integrated activities on common services and implementation of the UN reform.

Serving as a focal point for Security Issues focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Acts as security focal point or back up security focal point
• Familiarizes with local UN/UNDP security plans
• Supports senior management in meeting MOSS compliance requirements   
• Liaises with HQ-based Security Adviser or his/her designated staff member on all security matters  
• Ensures that personnel request appropriate security clearance for travel
• Ensures that CO personnel and UN Women visitors are briefed on security 

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

Education:

• Master's Degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Economics or related field.

Experience:

• At least 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.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English. Knowledge of another UN language an asset.