NATIONAL POST: Operations Analyst, Colombo, Sri Lanka, NOB, FTA

The Position:

Under the guidance of the Representative the Operations Analyst (OM) supports planning for UNFPA Country Office (CO) operations, supporting management targets and outsourced services, ensuring timely implementation, monitoring and reporting, addressing risks, promoting efficiency and effectiveness for the accomplishment of desired results.  

The Operations Analyst, leads the operations team in supporting a smooth functioning of financial and budget management, procurement and vendor management, administration and asset management, ICT, travel and logistics management, and human resources and premises management. 

You will report to the Representative and be part of the Country Management Team and the Programme Management Team. 

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

The Operations Analyst ensures a fully accountable, well-managed and results-oriented Country Office (CO).  You will contribute your operational expertise to facilitate effective delivery of UNFPA country programme, which aims to realize 2030 Development Agenda in order to make a positive difference in lives of millions of people.  Participating in inter-agency coordination, you will foster a collaborative, client-oriented approach towards the UNFPA CO team, UNFPA Implementing Partners and UN community, supporting effective communication and cooperation with Regional Office (RO) and Headquarters (HQ). 

You would be responsible for:

• In close collaboration with programme team and senior management, contributing to effective planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting on country programme and projects results and achievements.
• Contributing to strategic and efficient management and oversight of financial resources though; tracking of available resources, ensuring financial policy compliance, establishing reporting structures, control mechanisms and performance indicators.
• Managing day-to-day office operations, ensuring smooth running of the office and provision of high quality and timely service delivery by the operations team in a client-oriented manner. 
• Addressing operational bottlenecks in a proactive manner, advising when deviations from regulations may be required, and proposing alternative solutions to meet outcomes.
• Monitoring and facilitating execution of financial, administrative, HR, ICT, logistics and travel services, and overseeing procurement and vendor management, asset and inventory management, premises and common services; maximizing efficiency and effectiveness, streamlining and simplifying internal processes. 
• Assessing operational and staffing requirements for implementation of the country programme, supporting optimal staffing of the office and projects through executing timely recruitments, induction and training of personnel. 
• Supporting effective national execution of UNFPA activities, monitoring and building capacity of UNFPA Implementing Partners, conducting assurance activities in line with HACT framework. 
• Overseeing procurement and vendor management processes in line with corporate procedures, ensuring timely provision of goods and services for the CO; securing required clearances and undertaking negotiations and effectively performing contract management processes.
• Supervising operations team, including out-sourced operations personnel, at the CO.
• Participating in inter-agency meetings and contributing to UN reform, as well as ensuring UNFPA interests are reflected in activities related to e.g. common services and premises, financial arrangements security and etc. 
• Supporting a continuous flow of up-to-date information between the CO and the Regional Office and HQ.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

Advanced degree (Masters) in business administration, public administration, finance, accounting, social science or a related discipline.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• Minimum two (2) years of relevant experience in providing management advisory services and managing staff and operations (administration, finance, human resources, procurement, ICT, premises) in public or private sector.
• Progressively responsible experience in operations with UN or International NGO is desirable.   
• Ability to supervise and lead.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment, strong inter-personal, coordination and communications skills. Ability to build effective relationships.
• High integrity standards, strong capacity for sound judgement and capability to work with limited supervision.
• Proficiency in current office software applications, ERP and corporate ICT systems.

Languages: 

Fluency in English and one of the local languages (Sinhala or Tamil).

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity, 
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, 
• Embracing cultural diversity, 
• Embracing change

Core Competencies: 

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
• Communicating for impact 

Functional Competencies:

• Managing the organization’s financial resources
• Managing recruitment processes
• Developing ICT standards and applications
• Providing procurement services
• Ensuring facilities and assets management

Managerial Competencies:

• Providing strategic focus,
• Engaging in internal/external partners and stakeholders,
• Leading, developing and empowering people, creating a culture of performance
• Making decisions and exercising judgment

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements. 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts. 

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.