Administration Associate

The UNOPS Africa Regional Office, based in Nairobi, Kenya, oversees the delivery of over 250 projects across 40 countries, with a focus on fragile and conflict-affected settings. Supported by more than 1,000 personnel across five multi-country offices—spanning North, West, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa, and the Horn of Africa—the office advances national priorities through strategic initiatives in Climate Action, Health, Infrastructure, Peace and Security, Middle-Income Country Support, and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The Regional Office provides strategic leadership, operational support, and oversight in key areas including Partnerships, Communications, Management and Oversight, Infrastructure and Project Management, Health and Safety, and Security. By promoting excellence in project delivery, fostering knowledge sharing, and driving continuous improvement, the office contributes to sustainable infrastructure, transparent resource management, and a better quality of life for communities across the continent.

Since 1999, the Central Africa Multi-Country Office (CAMCO), headquartered in Kinshasa, DRC, has partnered with UN agencies, international organizations, and governments in 15 Central African nations. CAMCO provides fund management, technical assistance, and capacity-building across critical sectors—infrastructure, health, education, governance, procurement, and environmental protection—while working with national and local authorities to secure local ownership and sustainable impact. The diverse portfolio spans rural-community empowerment, road rehabilitation, and peace consolidation in the DRC and CAR through Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) programmes, alongside wide-ranging procurement and human-resource services. Recent initiatives include drinking-water systems in Cameroon, mining-sector capacity-building, health-system support in the DRC, and infrastructure development in Madagascar, funded by a broad array of international partners. Together, these projects advance regional stability, resilient infrastructure, and improved livelihoods throughout Central Africa.

Since 1999, UNOPS has been a committed partner in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), delivering fund management, technical support, capacity building, and project management services. In collaboration with the Government, UN agencies, and international partners, UNOPS advances sustainable development across key sectors, including infrastructure, health, education, governance, procurement, and environmental protection. A strong focus on local ownership ensures that projects are implemented in a way that builds national capacity and empowers communities. UNOPS supports peace and security through technical assistance to MONUSCO and contributes to environmental preservation by managing regional initiatives such as CAFI and FONAREDD, working closely with Indigenous communities. In the health sector, efforts include the construction of health centers in Kwango (KOICA) and national health system support through the RSS3 initiative (GAVI). UNOPS also leads agricultural infrastructure development and food security efforts through the PNDA project (World Bank) and supports governance and stabilization through the multi-donor Coherence Fund, alongside humanitarian HR services for UNHCR.

The Administration Associate performs - and may supervise personnel in delivering - technical and administrative support services across both specialized and generalized processes in administration and logistics to ensure efficient, client-focused and effective service delivery. The incumbent fosters a quality- and results-oriented approach, ensuring the optimal and cost-effective use of office resources.

Administrative Services Coordination

• Coordinate individual work areas and guide personnel on executing standard office transactions, processes and client services, ensuring full compliance with UNOPS rules, regulations, policies and strategies. 
• Monitor team performance against service agreements and assess client satisfaction.
• Implement control mechanisms for designated administrative services, including maintaining accurate administrative control records such as commitments and expenditures.
• Oversee inventory control, ensuring proper issuance and tracking of inventory items and supplies.
• Review travel authorizations, supporting documentation and payment requests.
• Serve as a designated transactional role  in the ERP system
• Compile data and research information to support the planning of financial resources and administrative budgets for service delivery.

Logistics and Asset Management 

• Oversee the implementation of logistics systems in line with UNOPS procedures.
• Coordinate and supervise services related to shipments and customs clearance, travel, event management, administrative surveys, transportation, insurance, building/facility/space management, and office supplies.
• Coordinate supply and asset management services, including physical verification of inventory items.
• Ensure timely preparation and submission of periodic inventory reports.
• Oversee protocol services, including staff registration and securing host government authorizations.
• Liaise with local authorities regarding authorizations, privileges and immunities for UNOPS personnel, as well as office space and other administrative matters.
• Compile information on administrative services provided for cost-recovery billing.
• Supervise transportation services, ensuring client service, regular vehicle maintenance, insurance coverage, and fuel consumption monitoring.
• Ensure prompt reporting and investigation of vehicle accidents, damage, loss or theft, and maintain updated vehicle history records.
• Oversee external transportation contractors, including client service delivery and invoice processing. 

Knowledge Building & Sharing

• Support the organization, facilitation and delivery of training and learning sessions on administrative, logistics, travel, transportation, and asset and inventory management topics.
• Participate in knowledge-sharing initiatives and Communities of Practice (CoPs), contributing insights and lessons learned.
• Conduct research on administration-related topics and contribute to the drafting of reports, summaries and briefing notes.

Required:

• Secondary school (or equivalent) with 6 years of relevant experience OR
• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 2 years of relevant experience is required.

Desired:

• A globally or nationally recognized professional certificate in Administration is desired.

Required:

• Relevant experience is work in administration, logistics or operations.
• Experience in the use of collaboration and productivity tools (e.g. MS Office, G-Suite, etc) and web-based management systems is required.

Desired:

• Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in a developing country is desired.
• Experience in development or humanitarian contexts is desired.

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
  

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. 
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.