Internal/External Vacancy Announcement: Programme Specialist (Operations), P-3, Temporary Appointment, Juba, South Sudan (364 days). Not for South Sudanese.

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.

And we never give up.

For every child, Hope

The fundamental 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 the health, 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. Therefore 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.

How can you make a difference?

The Programme Specialist will lead the health programme operations, budget, and supply delivery team including conducting training activities for staff’s competency building, staff development, learning and career development. The position will provide technically accurate and sound recommendations on interpretation and implementation of operations policy and procedures, and optimal utilization of UNICEF’s resources, in compliance with rules and regulations. The Programme Specialist performs advanced skilled work on UNICEF Operations, Budget, and Supply chains, and manages the more complex cases and client requests, which frequently requires the evaluation of difficult situations and adaptation of procedures and processes to resolve such cases. The function is characterized as highly independent and provides opportunities for Associates to lead and carry out responsibility for end-to-end, from the beginning to the end of the process and provide input into the design and development of improved operations, budget, and supply delivery mechanisms.

Main Duties And Responsibilities

• Effective operations of financial, human resource and administrative management.
  The Programme Specialist will lead the health programme operations, budget, and supply delivery team. The function will manage and ensure the effective, equitable and efficient operations of the health programme’s finance, human resource, supply, and administrative systems to support and facilitate the attainment of health programmatic goals and objectives by meeting changing operational requirements. The position will support effective management of the expanded consultants’ services and eventually serve as the interface with the third-party human resources service providers by facilitating the drafting and reviewing of TORs related with different services required at section level. Advise management and assist the health section and field office staff, as required.
  • Policy interpretation and application
    As technical professional and manager, accountable for the correct and consistent application of organizational policies and procedures in the management of finance and administrative functions of health projects through the provision of technical leadership and operational support to the health programme.

    Contribute to national and sub-national strategic planning and policy changes/formulation on operational matters as necessary; Provide technical input to contribute to the establishment of operational guidelines in close coordination with the Chief of Health, Health Manager, and Operations Section (Finance, Human Resources, Supplies and Logistics and Administration).

    Implement the effective communication, training, roll-out, monitoring and evaluation of new operational initiatives, guidelines, and procedures (to UNICEF staff and external partners, as required).

    • Fiduciary integrity/responsibility for funds and assets
      Safeguard the financial resources entrusted to the office by advising on and/or managing financial assets, financial planning, and cash management activities and by recommending improvements to the financial and administrative management systems and procedures. The position will provide oversight and monitoring of the expanded health section cash payments in multiple locations all over the country through contracts with cash services vendors. Accountable for fiduciary integrity/responsibility for funds and assets taking decision on all operational and financial transactions, disbursement of funds, and administrative arrangements.

      Ensure efficient, cost-effective, and transparent utilization of resources through knowledge and technology transfer between the health section, field offices and counterparts and foster consistency of approaches.

      • Leadership in strategic planning and health project formulation in the areas of operations
        Play a major role in strategic planning and decision-making within the UNICEF Health Section and provides sound professional input and oversight to the development, reform and change of financial, human resource and administrative policies, systems, and procedures including strengthening of the section’s performance-based management of resources including funding.

        Participate in effective management process by providing technical advice and support to relevant corporate committees (e.g. the Partnerships Review Committee).

        • Office Services
          Ensure the provision of relevant services for the health section and health staff/consultants working in field offices including space management, equipment, communications, and security to enhance staff safety and productivity. Funding gap analysis for program, payroll of staff and cross sectoral requirement.
          • Health Project Management and Planning
            Development of the finance, budget and administrative components of health projects is timely completed; review of administration and operations requirements, and compilation of required job descriptions, prior to budget preparation, in line with the health programme commitment; contribute to the preparation of health partnership documents and budgets and the accompanying justification and documentation. Maintain up to date end to end analysis of the health programme budget and by the major grants, supply procurement, and receipts in country and distribution. Prepare presentations from the analysis for presentation during health programme, donors, and partners meetings. Participate in the health programme strategy development, planning and performance review meetings, to identify staffing and administrative operational requirements. Within the framework of health work plans, coordinate and contribute towards human resources planning.
            • Compliance and Internal Control
              Monitor and manage budget process. Ensure all other operational reporting requirements are fully met for the office. Monitor compliance with UNICEF systems and procedures and ensure integrity in all financial, and other administrative operations of the office.

              Serve as the focal person for project partnerships and related performance management indicators; ensure all other operational reporting requirements are fully met for the health programme; collaborate with donor relation section for financial reporting and respond to any queries related to expenditure including explanation of deviation or underutilization; advise on corrective measures to be taken and establish relevant internal controls. Develop training activities to ensure effective operational project performance and efficiency.

              • Staff Learning and Development

              Develop training activities to ensure effective operational performance and efficiency for internal staff as well as with external partners. Develop and implement effective learning and development programme activities for both programme and operations staff (including implementation partners) on operational matters for capacity building. Plan and conduct operations workshops for staff’s competency building, staff development, learning and career development. Provide coaching and counselling to the staff on performance enhancement/development.

              • Partnership, Coordination and Collaboration
                Maintain government counterpart relations; resolve issues pertaining to conditions of service, operational facilities and privileges within the context of the Basic Cooperation Agreement; Ensure adherence to financial regulations and rules pertaining to Cash Assistance to Government (CAG) and Non-Government Partners. Meeting with partners related with financial transactions gap and provide technical support for processing of cash transfer requests.

                Cooperate and coordinate with other section colleagues with quality assurance initiatives (e.g. HACT capacity building of IPs).

                Advise Head of Section/Section Managers on finance, human resource and administrative matters providing guidance on all operational submissions; brief health section staff on financial, human resource and administrative policies and procedures providing authoritative advice; provide technical guidance and oversight to programme staff and swiftly resolve operational issues.

                Make substantive recommendations on the improvement of systems and internal controls, planning and restructuring and resolution of sensitive issues and problems, taking into account the prevailing conditions in the locality. Organize and train staff and IPs in compliance with the guidelines.

                Collaborate with Programme staff providing creative problem solving in support of programming activities while maintaining sound internal operational controls.

                Represent the office in meetings with local banks and administrative suppliers; negotiates locally issued contracts as well as in meetings with other UN Agencies to coordinate operational matters and activities, including harmonization of the UN common system.

                Provide operational support to emergency preparedness and emergencies.

                To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

                Education

                An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: accounting, business administration, economics, or financial management.

                Work Experience

                A minimum of five years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: office management, finance, accounting, ICT, human resources, supply, administration, health administration or other related areas.

                Experience in an emergency duty station is an asset.

                Experience in health-related programme management is an asset.

                Language Proficiency

                Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of thee duty station is considered as an asset.

                Technical Knowledge to be Acquired/Enhanced

                UN policies and strategy to address operational issues involved in harmonization of operations in the common system.

                UNICEF positions about UN common approaches to operations issues.

                UN security operations and guidelines.

                Government regulations and laws in the locality

                Core Competencies (For Staff Without Supervisory Responsibilities)
                

                • Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
                • Works Collaboratively with others (1)
                • Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
                • Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
                • Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
                • Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
                • Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

                For every Child, you demonstrate…

                UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

                To view our competency framework, please visit here.

                UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

                We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

                UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

                Remarks

                UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female are encouraged to apply.

                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.