Operations Manager at the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Operations Manager

Job no: 560369
Location: Lagos
Contract type: Fixed-Term Appointment
Level: P-3
Categories: Operations

Organizational Context and Purpose for the Job

• The fundamental and primary mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations.
• The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action.
• For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in child survival, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries.
• This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Strategic Office Context:

• The Operations function is a strategic Business Partner role, assuring the best use of UNICEF assets in alignment with sound management practices, office priorities and goals to deliver results for children.
• The Generic Job Profile for an Operations Manager, at the P3/NOC level, can be used in a small to medium size UNICEF country office as the head of operations, or in a large zonal office,  typically reporting to the Head of Office/Zone at P5/P4level.

Job Purpose
As a Strategic Business Partner, the incumbent will be accountable for operations functions, facilitate change, provide risk-informed, solution-focused analysis, advice and services and contribute to programme and management decisions for delivering results for children in specific operational contexts. Operations Manager will accomplish this by:

• The Operations Manager will be entrusted with the following five pillars, the core focus of all operations functions: Valuing People, Valuing Money, Valuing Risk Management, Valuing Systems and Structures, Valuing Partners.
• Facilitating services in the functional areas of operations support: budget, financial management and reporting, facilities management, administration, supply and logistics management, information and communications technology, human resources, and safety and security;
• Supporting the line manager to implement career development, and opportunities for staff;
• Acting as a member of the Country and Senior Management Teams, representing the organizational risks, governance systems and policies, and promoting results-based management.
• Understanding business needs for the office, anticipating challenges, propose viable/creative solutions aimed at value for money.
• Providing key contributions to CPD, CPMP, AMP and support to Results Based Management and implementation using Value for Money criteria.
• Promoting the fundamentals of ICT management, information security and controls;
• Supporting supply and logistics strategies and interventions to meet programmatic needs while ensuring Value for Money (VfM), including procurement of fit-for-purpose products and services, and providing advisory support to governments, national systems and partners on supply chain management;
• Supporting the country office during external and internal audit reviews and responding to audit observations and monitoring implementation of recommendations.
• Providing regular feedback on risks and achievements of operations functions in the office;
• Leading on facility management with a specific focus on inclusive accessibility, eco-sustainability and common premises;
• Monitoring business transactions processed by GSSC from a perspective of Efficiency, Performance, Risk Management and Fraud prevention
• Supporting the management of PSFR operations and promoting efficiency across systems and processes, where applicable.

How can you Make a Difference?
Under the general supervision and guidance of the Chief of Field Office, Lagos, and the Deputy Representative Operations, the Operations Manager will be accountable for the operations functions, facilitate change, provide risk-informed, solution-focused analysis, advice and services and contribute to program and management decisions for delivering results for children in specific operational contexts.

The Operations Manager will accomplish this by:

• Facilitating services in the functional areas of operations support budget, financial management and reporting, facilities management, administration, supply and logistics management, information and communications technology, human resources, and safety and security.
• Valuing People: Together with People Management, contributing to manage and develop people resources to promote technical competence and foster career progression and retention of a “fit for purpose”/ agile workforce for the Lagos Field Office.
• Supporting the line manager to implement career development opportunities for staff.
• Acting as a member of the Field Office Management Team representing the organizational risks, governance systems and policies, and promoting results-based management.
• Understanding business needs for the office, anticipating challenges, propose viable/creative solutions aimed at value for money.
• Providing key contributions to CPD, CPMP, AMP and support to Results Based Management and implementation using Value for Money criteria.
• Promoting the fundamentals of ICT management, information security and controls.
• Supporting supply and logistics strategies and interventions to meet programmatic needs while ensuring Value for Money (VfM), including procurement of fit-for-purpose products and services, and providing advisory support to governments, national systems, and partners on supply chain management.
• Supporting the country office during external and internal audit reviews and responding to audit observations and monitoring implementation of recommendations, pertaining to Lagos Field Office.
• Providing regular feedback on risks and achievements of operations functions in the office.
• Leading on facility management with a specific focus on inclusive accessibility, eco-sustainability and common premises.
• Monitoring business transactions processed by GSSC from a perspective of Efficiency, Performance, Risk Management, and Fraud prevention
• Supporting the management of PSFR operations and promoting efficiency across systems and processes, where applicable.
• The Operations Manager will be entrusted with the following five pillars, the core focus of all operations functions: Valuing People, Valuing Money, Valuing Risk Management, Valuing Systems and Structures, Valuing Partners.

Requirements
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have:

• An Advanced University Degree (Master’s and above) in one of the following areas: Business Management; Financial Management; Accounting; Public Finance; and related operations function (Supply Chain, Human Resources, Information Technology, International Business, Project management, etc.) or a full professional accounting designation(CA, ACA, ACCA, CPA, CIMA, CPFA, Expert Computable) from an internationally recognized institute/body of accountancy with valid membership in good standing is required.”
• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience, at the national and/or international level, specifically in implementing organizational initiatives in one or more operations management area including budget; financial management and reporting; facilities management; administration; supply and logistics management; information and communication technology; human resources.
• Prior experience in the development sector or UN system/ international NGOs would be an asset.
• Additional experience in one or more of the following areas would be desired:
• Audit and investigations
• Safety and security
• Grant Management
• Enterprise Risk Management
• Experience in a UN system agency, large private or public company, or experience working in a developing country and/or humanitarian/ emergency context is an asset.
• For country offices with a significant private-sector fundraising operation, prior experience working with or in the private sector, and managing private sector fundraising, is desirable.
• Experience in working with corporate ERPs (Enterprise Resource Planning) and IPSAS (International Public Sector Accounting Standards) is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of Results Based Management is a requirement.
• Experience in supporting successful client-oriented work units is an asset.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office applications is required.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or the local language of the duty station is considered an asset.

Application Closing Date
3rd April, 2023 (W. Central Africa Standard Time).

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Click here for more information - DOC

Note

• UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.
• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
• UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF.
• UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.