UN WOMEN Jobs - 79349- UN Women: Programme and Operations Specialist

UN Women: Programme and Operations Specialist

Advertised on behalf of

UN WOMEN

Location :

Geneva, SWITZERLAND

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

28-Jun-18 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year

Languages Required :

English

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

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.

Aligned with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, UN Women’s Second Chance Education and Vocational Learning (SCE) Programme is a solution for those who have missed out on education. It aims to break current trends and provide a comprehensive solution for marginalized women and young women who are at risk of being left behind. This project aims to develop context specific, affordable and scalable learning, entrepreneurship and employment pathways for empowering the world’s most disadvantaged women and young women. It offers women and young women, their families, local communities and societies the benefits of access to educational services which are tailored not only to their needs as learners, but also to their future as earners. The SCE Programme achieves this by leveraging the opportunities of innovative teaching approaches, digital technologies and social networks.

The Programme will contribute to the following outcomes: i) More marginalized women and young women access and benefit from high quality educational content, material and learning pathways; ii) More marginalized women and young women benefit from increased employment, livelihood and entrepreneurial opportunities; iii) Fewer marginalized women and young women are disadvantaged and denied education opportunities due to harmful and discriminatory social norms; iv) More marginalized women and young women have improved access to education and employment pathways through enhanced multi-sectoral policy and financing frameworks that enable scaling of successful SCE solutions.

Under the supervision of the Chief Humanitarian Action and Crisis Response Office (HACRO) Geneva the Programme and Operations Specialist is responsible for overseeing the operational aspects of SCE Programme implementation. The Programme and Operations Specialist works in close collaboration with programme teams in the office, providing close guidance to programme staff who perform adjunct operations functions, ensuring that such staff are knowledgeable of rules and procedures governing programme finances, donor reporting, and personnel. The Programme and Operations Specialist will provide a comprehensive programme management and operations support specifically on selection and monitoring of implementing partners and responsible parties to SCE countries of no presence, such as Australia.

Duties and Responsibilities

Manage the programmatic and technical support for the SCE programme:

Provide overall programme advisory support to the Office Management;
Review and provide feedback to programme strategies and documents, workplans, case studies and related knowledge products and publications, as needed;
Provide technical advice on the development of systems, processes and mechanisms to support programme planning, implementation, monitoring and progress reporting;
Review programme annual work plans to assure compliance with UN Women programme goals and results-based indicators;
Analyze and ensure alignment of project budgets with logical framework matrices and work plans;
Draft reports on activities, outputs and outcomes; and compile information in preparations of country office donor and UN Women reports;
Manage programme quality control and identification of potential challenges;
Align programme activities in close liaison with operations team.

Manage the monitoring and reporting for the SCE programme and oversee implementation tracking:

Manage the monitoring of mutually agreed results frameworks and performance indicators;
Prepare programme team for audits and monitor implementation of audit recommendations;
Ensure strategic and efficient management of office and programme financial resources;
Exercise proper financial controls;
Review and take corrective action as appropriate on audit findings;
Provide training on results-based management to office staff, as necessary.

Manage the operations in the SCE Programme and Humanitarian Action and Crisis Response Office Geneva as needed:

Participate in review meetings and assess the managerial and operational capacities of implementing partners in collaboration with the programme and technical team;
Manage the implementation of corporate, budget, financial, procurement, and HR policies and systems and ensure adequate training of staff and project personnel on these issues;
Oversee all operations activities, including finance, human resources, procurement, transport, IT, security, administration and ensure they follow UN Women rules, regulations, policies and procedures;
Monitor and analyze financial situation on the portfolios and programmes to ensure adherence to delivery rates and utilization of resources to meet agreed upon targets and results;
Oversee recruitment processes; liaise with the RO/HQ and service providers as necessary;
Oversee contracts; advise on appropriate contract modalities;
Manage the provision of goods and services for the SCE programme and HACRO Office following established corporate procedures regarding sub-contract review and awarding of contracts, evaluate for cost effectiveness and manage the negotiations in connection with eventual agreements;
Manage the preparation of procurement plans for the SCE programme;
Ensure staff have access to ATLAS functionality for improved business results and improved client services;
Ensure effective information flow, communication and coordination across the office, between programmes, projects and operations, and with other UN Women offices and units.

Manage knowledge building efforts:

Manage the process of identifying and synthesizing of best practices and lessons learned that are directly linked to the implementation of the programme and contribute to their global dissemination.

Serve as the focal point for security issues and ensure safety and security of staff:

Brief supervisor and staff on security matters and disseminate relevant information as advised by UNDSS, brief UN Women visitors on security;
Ensure full compliance with MOSS and MORSS procedures on security of staff and office premises;
Ensure that personnel request appropriate security clearance for travel;
Liaise with HQ-based Security Advisor or his/her designated staff member on all security matters;
Develop and maintain Business Continuity Plan.

Participate in inter-agency activities:

Represent UN Women in inter-agency meetings and working groups on operations issues to ensure UN Women’s interests are reflected in common system activities related to common services and premises, cost recovery and cost sharing arrangements, privileges and immunities, entitlements and salary surveys, security etc;
Liaise with UNDP and other UN agencies on operational issues, activities, and collaboration.

Key Performance Indicators:

Programme team workplans and budgets are developed and implemented in line with approved work plans;
Programme team adhere to UN Women’s Rules, Regulations, policies and procedures, using a results based management approach;
All operations services are provided in compliance with UN Women rules, regulations and policies;
Timely implementation of operations services;
Finances are properly identified and in a timely manner;
Regular monitoring of programmes, issues/deviations are raised in a timely manner;
Timely and quality reporting and regular dissemination and sharing of information, including best practices/ lessons learned.

Competencies

Core values:

Integrity;
Professionalism;
Respect for Diversity.

Core Competencies:

Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
Accountability;
Creative Problem Solving;
Effective Communication;
Inclusive Collaboration;
Stakeholder Engagement;
Leading by Example.

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies:?http://www.unwomen.org/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/about%20us/employment/un-women-employment-values-and-competencies-definitions-en.pdf

Functional Competencies:

Strong knowledge of operation, finance, procurement, human resources, ICT, and security systems and processes, particularly in the UN system is an asset;
Ability to develop detailed operational plans, budgets, and deliver on them;
Ability to synthesize program performance data and produce analytical reports to inform management and strategic decision-making;
Strong analytical skills;
Ability to handle confidential information;
Strong knowledge of Results Based Management;
Good knowledge of UN programme management systems.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, HR, or related field is required.

Experience:

At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience at the national or international level, in office management, operations and/or finance;
At least 2 years of experience in programme management, including programme design, programme coordination, monitoring, donor reporting and capacity building;
Experience in handling of web based management systems and ERP systems, preferably PeopleSoft;
Experience of accrual accounting, IPSAS or IFRS is highly desirable;
Professional background in programming/ projects management is desirable.

Languages:

Fluency in English is required;
Working knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.

Application:

All applications must include (as an attachment) the completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from?http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/employment?Kindly note that the system will only allow one attachment. Applications without the completed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.

Note:

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.