Job: Regional Management and Oversight Advisor

Location: Copenhagen
Deadline: Monday, 04 November 2013

UNOPS mission is to expand the capacity of the UN system and its partners to implement peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations that matter for people in need. Working in some of the world's most challenging environments, our vision is to always satisfy partners with management services that meet world-class standards of quality, speed and cost effectiveness.

UNOPS provides services in sustainable infrastructure, sustainable procurement and sustainable project management, with projects ranging from building schools, roads, bridges and hospitals to procuring goods and services and training local personnel.

By assisting UN organizations, international financial institutions, governments and other development partners, UNOPS makes significant, tangible contributions to results on the ground.

We employ more than 6,000 personnel annually and on behalf of our partners create thousands more work opportunities in local communities. Through our headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark and a network of regional and country offices, we oversee activities in more than 80 countries.

UNOPS is committed to achieving a truly diverse workforce.

Background Information -AEMO

Based in Copenhagen, Denmark, the Asia, Europe and Middle East Office (AEMO) supports UNOPS offices throughout the region, providing financial oversight of projects, procuring goods and services and managing human resources. AEMO helps ensure that projects are executed to the highest standards, providing a shared knowledge base and ensuring that best practices and lessons learned are disseminated between projects across the entire region.

Functional Responsibilities

As part of the regional management team, the incumbent advises and supports the regional director with regards to:

• Strategic direction and regional priorities, including advising on appropriate structural arrangements within and between entities in the regional structure; cross-functional integration and coordination within the region;
• In close collaboration with the regional management team, development and implementation of the regional strategy and business plan based on UNOPS strategic plan, understanding of the needs and expectations of stakeholders and the external environment, and internal performance capabilities;
• In close collaboration with the regional management team, preparation of proposed regional targets in terms of recognized value, process excellence, people excellence and financial stewardship. Monitoring and oversight of regional performance and measures required to achieve targets;
• Drive and support world-class performance, organizational excellence and continuous improvement, and nurture a high-performance management culture;
• Stewarding the management resources of the region, ensuring cost recovery, and accurate financial reporting to partners and clients;
• Advancing development effectiveness, including through attribution of direct UNOPS costs to projects as appropriate;
• Oversight of the project portfolio performance, and execute appropriate controls;
• Facilitating and encouraging the sharing of information, knowledge and best practices, achieving dialogue throughout the region; i) Advising on implementation, communication and monitoring of relevant policies;
• Advising on development, review and updating of relevant policies; and
• Supervise operational staff of the Regional Office.

Competencies

1) Ability to assess the needs of the region, identify, prioritize and implement interventions and initiatives, including; a) Ability to deploy and lead approaches to drive strategic alignment, management oversight, coordination and continuous improvement in the region. b) Ability to identify improvement opportunities based on measurement and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data derived from the experience of people and performance of systems and business processes. c) Knowledge of organizational performance management and diagnostics, management assessment techniques and methodologies, for example impact evaluation, management review and organizational self-evaluation.

2) Excellent communication and facilitation skills in both oral and written English, including; a)Ability to build and sustain effective work relationship with coworkers, including managers of operational hubs and centres to achieve common goals; listens actively and responds effectively, and is able to defend and explain difficult issues and positions, and build consensus of internal stakeholders. b) Strong communicator with excellent interpersonal and team-working skills, able to inspire others and obtain buy-in. c) Ability to effectively present information in response to the needs of external and internal stakeholders through reports, procedures, instructions and guidance.

3) Ability to achieve results in an environment of competing priorities a) Knowledge of how to convert strategic priorities to practical solutions, including tactical sequencing of short- and long-term interventions, and familiarity with approaches and mechanisms enabling design and implementation of focused improvement efforts. b) Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. c) Ability to set and work towards defined goals, work well during transition and able to help others adjust to change.

4) Appreciation of UNOPS overall operational environment and management results framework a) Demonstrates integrity and fairness, displays cultural and gender sensitivity, shows strong corporate commitment and complies with the United Nations code of conduct. b) Appreciation of UNOPS self-financing business model, its role within the UN family, and/or of political and organizational parameters for strategic planning, budgeting and results management in an international organization or public sector environment. c) Knowledge of results-based budgeting/management and balanced scorecard, as well as external benchmarking and best practices for organizations integration in private and public organizations

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent), preferably in Business Administration, Public Administration, Political Science, International Relations, or other related field.
• A combination of first-level university degree with additional work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Experience: At least 7 years of relevant experience in an international business environment, providing management advise and oversight, including experience in working with- or overseeing project management.
• Prior experience with international organisations and the development sector is an asset

Language:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is essential;

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: ICA Contract level: ICA-3 Contract duration: 1 year with possibility of extension For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link: http://www.unops.org/ENGLISH/WHOWENEED/CONTRACT-TYPES/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements-ICAs.aspx

Additional Considerations

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time (CET)
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• For staff positions UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

More Info and Application