Operations Specialist for Abyei Field Office

Location: Sudan (the) - Abyei

Under the overall guidance of the Deputy Country Director (Operations) and direct supervision by the Head of Office, the Operations Specialist is responsible for two key deliverables:

1. Re-establish the operational capacity of the UNDP Field Office in Abyei by putting in place systems and procedures and training of operational staff in the office.

2. Complete the preparations for the building of the UN common compound in Abyei in consultation with the relevant UN agencies and the Abyei Administration.

The Operations Specialist works in close collaboration with UNDP programme units (Governance and Rule of Law, Human Security and Recovery, and HIV/AIDS/Gender) in Khartoum and with the UNDP Office in Southern Sudan, operations team, programme staff in other UN Agencies, UNDP HQs staff and Government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society.

I. Functions / Key Results Expected

1. Ensures Common premises and space set up focusing on the achievement of the following results:
1. Support UNDP in establishing UN Management Committee for Common Premises and Services for Abyei with the report to the Country Team
2. Support UNDP in leading UN Management Committee for Common Premises and Services for Abyei
3. Develop interagency cost-sharing agreement for the common premises and service
4. Develop the roadmap and the budget for establishing of common premises in Abyei in close consultation and coordination with UN Agencies
5. Support the arrangements of common premises with respect to the identity and importance of the individual participating members of the
6. Support UN Agencies in recruiting and training of the respective staff for the common services

2. Ensure operational support to UNDP field Office in Abyei

1. Support the CO in establishing standard business processes for the field office in Finance, Human Resources Management, Procurement, Logistical and ICT services, Results Management
2. Support the CO in establishing field support budget and operational workplan for the Abyei Field Office
3. Support the CO in recruitment and training of the operational staff for Abyei field office, particularly provide on-the-job training to the National Operations Manager (NOB).

II. Results Expected:
Effective strategic guidance and support to UNDP Sudan on operational management of UN common premises Abyei with the following concrete results

Terms of Reference and workplan for UN Management Committee for Common Premises and Services for Abyei
- Draft Interagency agreement on the common premises and services
- Draft interagency cost-sharing agreement for common premises and services
- Draft roadmap and the budget for establishing of common premises in Abyei
- Common premises and services in Abyei are established- Training of the recruited staff

III. Competencies and Critical Success Factors

Corporate Competencies:

- Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards
- Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
- Treats all people fairly without favouritism

Functional Competencies:
Knowledge Management and Learning- Sound knowledge of and exposure to a wide range of humanitarian assistance, emergency relief, human rights and development-related issues;
- Good knowledge of the country and region of assignment, including the political, economic and social dimensions;
- Ability to advocate and provide policy advice;
- Ability to identify issues and to use sound judgment in applying technical expertise to resolve a wide range of problems;
- Ability to work under extreme pressure in a highly stressful environment.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

- Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting
Strong analytical capacity, including the ability to analyze and articulate recovery and development dimensions and related issues that require a coordinated UN response;
- Good knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines pertaining to recovery and development issues and sound knowledge of the institutions of the UN system;
- Willingness to keep abreast of new developments in the field.

Management and Leadership

- Excellent communication (spoken and written) skills, including the ability to draft/edit a variety of written reports and communications and to articulate ideas in a clear, concise style;
- Ability to plan own work, manage conflicting priorities and work under pressure of tight and conflicting deadlines;
- Fully proficient computer skills and use of relevant software and other applications.
- Very good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations;
- Very strong leadership capacities to guide a multi-cultural team in difficult circumstances.

Education:

Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Economics or related field, with five years of relevant experience at the national and international level (or) Bachelor’s Degree with seven years of relevant experience at the national and international level.

Experience:
Experience in providing management advisory services and/or managing staff and operational systems and establishing inter-relationships among international organization and national governments.

Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web based management systems.

Experience in establishing common premises and services.

Language:

Fluency in oral and written English is essential; good knowledge of Arabic (spoken and written) is an asset.
How to apply

Applications to be submitted on line at: http://jobs.undp.org

Closing date: 03 Apr 2009