UNCDF Jobs - 54061- Operations Analyst (UNCDF)

Operations Analyst (UNCDF)

Advertised on behalf of

UNCDF

Location :

Brussels, BELGIUM

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

01-May-2015

Application Deadline :

27-Feb-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-2

Duration of Initial Contract :

One year (renewable)

Languages Required :

English French

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is a UN organization with a capital mandate (unique in the UN System) focused on reducing poverty and inequality first and foremost in the least developed countries (“LDC”s). To support the realization of UNCDF’s Business Plan and drive the rapid expansion of the organization’s capacity to assist LDCs to meet their graduation goals, respond to LDC demand for its services, and increase its geographical coverage of and average investment size in LDCs, UNCDF requires a partnership and business development strategy. This strategy encompasses specific, and interlinked, strategies for partnerships, branding and communications, and resource mobilization, which capitalize on mandate-specific partnership building, inter-governmental/client relations, and specific business development opportunities.

Despite the rapid growth of the microfinance industry in the past ten years, it is estimated that between two and three billion people still lack access to a broad range of financial products and services on a sustainable basis. The situation is particularly dire in the LDCs, where often more than 90 per cent of the population is denied access to financial services from the formal financial system. UNCDF focuses its strategy on Financial inclusion, which is universal access, at a reasonable cost, to a wide range of financial services, provided by a variety of sound and sustainable institutions. The range of financial services includes savings, short and long-term credit, leasing and factoring, mortgages, insurance, pensions, payments, local money transfers and international remittances.

Mobile Money for the Poor (MM4P)

With support from Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (“DFAT” formerly AusAid), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and the MasterCard Foundation (MCF), UNCDF manages Mobile Money for the Poor (MM4P), a global thematic initiative that addresses the opportunities and challenges of implementing branchless banking and mobile money in challenging markets in Africa and Asia.

MM4P’s long-term mission is to help low income and rural households in LDCs increase their financial security through appropriate, affordable and secure means to receive, manage and save money through these “digital finance” (DF). To do so, its intermediate goal is to help build inclusive digital financial sectors such that a wide range of digital financial services are provided responsibly, and at reasonable cost, by sustainable institutions in a well-regulated environment. UNCDF’s starts by defining the different stages of a market’s development and the range of interventions needed at different levels (i.e. macro, meso, micro, client) to move it across the stages. This combines a making markets work for the poor approach with UNCDF’s traditional operational model of directly supporting the most crucial level – retail service providers.

MM4P is currently implementing this programme in eight countries (Benin, Laos, Nepal, Liberia, Malawi, Senegal, Uganda and Zambia).

Post Context

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the CTA MM4P-Programme Manager the Operations Manager (Analyst) is responsible for the effective delivery of operational services. These include the management of the programme’s logistics and procurement, finances and human resources, ICT, and the support to UN system common services consistent with the UNCDF rules and regulations.

The incumbent, acts as a supervisor of the operations team in the Project Management Unit (PMU) and promotes a collaborative, client-focused, quality and results-oriented approach in the Unit. She/he ensures the smooth functioning of the Project office programme and operations activities. As well as the consistent delivery of services performing ongoing analysis and readjustment of the operations taking into account emerging needs and changes in the UNCDF office in Brussels.

The Operations Manager also works in close collaboration with the programme team, HQ and field teams, UNDP, government counterparts and other UN agencies to ensure the successful and efficient implementation of operational policies, procedures and audit recommendations.

The incumbent will also be entrusted with the identification of opportunities for collaboration and mainstreaming of operational activities with the UNCDF Brussels Liaison Office and other UNCDF Operational Units (MSU in HQ) as well as liaise with PMSU in corporate reporting and quality assurance processes . In this regard the incumbent will engage in the identification of operational options for the MM4P GTI Project and the engagement of collaborative mainstreaming processes with UNCDF and UNDP to enable the sustainability of operations. In close collaboration with the UNCDF Directorate and the PPCU (Partnerships, Policy and Communications Unit) the incumbent should also actively contribute to update donor reporting as regards the MM4P programme.

While GTI staff will continue to report to their respective Practices (and operations support staff to MSU), work processes and incentives (including through performance assessment) will be put in place to drive active engagement, dialogue, and prioritization for country engagement so as to gain coherence, optimize resource use, and facilitate greater flow of information.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions

Ensures the elaboration and implementation of efficient and mainstreamed operational strategies (Programmes, Projects and the Brussels office);
Manages and guides financial processes for the programme;
Supports the implementation of human resources processes (internal and projects);
Manages and guides procurement and logistical services;
Supervises the provision of information and communication technologies services;
Supports the common services organization and management, and collaboration in the establishment of partnerships with other UN Agencies.

Ensures the elaboration and implementation of efficient and mainstreamed operational strategies (for Programmes, Projects and the Brussels office) focusing on the achievement of the following results:

Ensures programme compliance with operations activities with UN/UNCDF rules, regulations and policies, implementation of corporate operational strategies, establishment of management targets, office budget, and monitoring of achievement of results;
Provides oversight of planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring of programmes/projects, tracking financial resources in accordance with the UN rules, ensures compliance of all programmes/projects with donor requirements;
Supervises Programme Assistant and Programme Management Associate, and provides technical advice and oversight to Finance and Administrative Associates based in the MM4P country teams;
Coordinates with UNCDF´s operations teams through regular exchanges, troubleshoots problems when needed;
Analyzes UNCDF business processes mapping and operating environment and contributes to internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in Finance, Human Resources Management, Procurement, Logistical and ICT services;
Monitors timely readjustment of the operations in collaboration with HQ, and provides inputs on legal considerations and risk assessment;
Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and sharing with regards to operations processes, highlighting lessons learnt/best practices, and sound contributions to UNCDF knowledge networks and communities of practice;
Identifies opportunities for collaboration and mainstreaming of operational activities with other UNCDF Operational Units (MSU in HQ).

Manages and guides financial processes for the programme focusing on achievement of the following results:

All financial transactions are identified, recorded and verified in compliance with IPSAS as outlined in the corporate policies and procedures;
Implementation of proper planning, expenditure tracking and audit of financial resources, including extra-budgetary income in accordance with UNCDF rules and regulations;
.Responsible for requesting payments (against Purchase Order (PO) /contract/agreement, and non-PO payment vouchers), dispatching the same;
Performance of Buyer role in Atlas for PO creation;
Request certificates of payment from consultants and preparing payment requests.

Manages the implementation of human resources processes (internal and projects) focusing on achievement of the following results:

Ensures Programme compliance with corporate human resources policies and strategies;
Supports timely recruitment processes in accordance with UNCDF rules and regulations, appropriate use of different contractual modalities, contracts management, OM performing the function of HR Manager in Atlas;
Implements the Universal Access strategy on learning coordinating access of the staff to role appropriate learning activities.
Acts as leave monitor for all Brussels-based staff.

Manages and guides procurement and logistical services focusing on achievement of the following results:

Ensures programme compliance with corporate rules and regulations in the field and contributes to the elaboration of procurement strategies including sourcing strategy, supplier selection and evaluation, quality management, customer relationship management, and introduction, performance measurement;
Contributes to the elaboration of the programme´s contract strategy including tendering processes and evaluation, guiding the management of contracts and contractor and legal implications;
Supervises procurement processes and logistical services in accordance with UNCDF rules and regulations;
Manages strategic procurement for DF and other key services required by the programme via Long Term Agreements;
Proper management of UNCDF assets, facilities and logistical services, including full compliance with IPSAS in the accounting for the procurement, utilization and disposal of the CO’s assets;

Supervises the provision of information and communication technologies services focusing on achievement of the following results:

Manages the relationship with ICT service providers (UNDP Brussels);
Use of Atlas functionality for improved business results and improved client services;
Analyzes and identifies opportunities to ameliorate business processes into web-based systems to enhance efficiency and accountability and ensure the maintenance of a secure, reliable ICT infrastructure environment and adequate planning for recoveries;
Research and identification of systems and applications for optimal content management, knowledge sharing, information provision and learning including e-registry, web-based office management system, etc.

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

Identifies opportunities for collaboration and mainstreaming of operational activities with the UNCDF Brussels Liaison Office;
Works with UNDP offices in MM4P countries to negotiate facilities and service level agreements;
Represents UNCDF in the local UN and UNDP Operation Team meetings;
Establish and manages relationship with UNDP country offices in which DF teams is housed or supported, including service-level agreements, local finance, local recruiting and contracting;
Ensure the successful and efficient implementation of common (UN House Brussels) operational policies, procedures and audit recommendations.

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:

Operational strategies;
Financial services;
Human Resources (Internal and outsourced for projects);
Procurement and logistical services;
ICT;
Common Services and the implementation of the UN agenda on common services and joint procurement.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

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;
Establishes and nurtures positive communication with partners.

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;
Identifies and communicates opportunities to promote learning and knowledge sharing.

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;
Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks;
Analyzes the requirements and synthesizes proposals;
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.

Promoting Organizational Change and Development

Basic research and analysis

Researches and documents ‘best practices’ in organizational change and development within and outside the UN system;
Demonstrates ability to diagnose problems and identifies and communicates processes to support change initiatives;
Gathers and analyses feedback from staff.

Design And Implementation of Management Systems

Research and analysis and making recommendations on management systems

Maintains information/databases on system design features;
Develops simple system components;
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;
Actively supports the interests of the client by making choices and setting priorities to meet their needs;
Anticipates client needs and addresses them promptly.

Promoting Accountability and Results-Based Management

Basic monitoring

Gathers, analyzes and disseminates information on best practice in accountability and results-based management systems

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;
Ability to address gender equality and empowerment of women considerations in strategic and operational activities of UNCDF.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Public Administration, Law, Finance, Economics or related field or the equivalent experience;
Project management certifications (Prince2 Foundation) is highly desirable.

Experience:

2 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services and/or managing staff and operational systems;
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web based management systems and ERP systems, preferably PeopleSoft. Experience of accrual accounting, IPSAS or IFRS is highly desirable;
MRM systems training and experience (i.e. DCED standard) is highly desirable.

Language Requirements:

English and French Proficiency (Orally and written form).

Note:

Applicants are strongly encouraged to upload (as a *pdf attachment) the completed and signed UNDP Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded fromhttp://sas.undp.org/Documents/P11_Personal_history_form.docx Completion of all the fields is required.

Please group all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.