By continuing to browse this site, you agree to our use of cookies. Read our privacy policy

Project Operations Manager

Kabul

  • Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
  • Location: Kabul
  • Grade: Mid level - P-4, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Democratic Governance
    • Public Policy and Administration
    • Governance and Peacebuilding
    • PROJECT OPERATIONS MANAGER
  • Closing Date: Closed

Background

UNDP Afghanistan Mission Statement:

UNDP supports stabilization, state-building, governance and development priorities in Afghanistan. UNDP support, in partnership with the Government, the United Nations system, the donor community and other development stakeholders, has contributed to institutional development efforts leading to positive impact on the lives of Afghan citizens. Over the years, UNDP support has spanned such milestone efforts as the adoption of the Constitution; Presidential, Parliamentary and Provincial Council elections; institutional development through capacity-building to the legislative, the judicial and executive arms of the state, and key ministries, Government agencies and commissions at the national and subnational levels. UNDP has played a key role in the management of the Law and Order Trust Fund, which supports the Government in developing and maintaining the national police force and in efforts to stabilize the internal security environment. Major demobilization, disarmament and rehabilitation and area-based livelihoods and reconstruction programmes have taken place nationwide. UNDP Programmes in Afghanistan have benefited from the very active support of donors. UNDP Afghanistan is committed to the highest standards of transparency and accountability and works in close coordination with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and the UN system as a whole to maximize the impact of its development efforts on the ground.

Organizational context:

The UN Electoral Support Project (UNESP) is the international community’s programming vehicle to support the next elections in Afghanistan, including the parliamentary and district council elections announced by the Independent Election Commission (IEC) for 7 July 2018. The project has two overall objectives – 1) to build the capacity of the Afghan electoral institutions (the Independent Elections Commission and the Electoral Complaints Commission) to implement elections in line; 2) to allow a programming mechanism for the international community to partially finance the elections as per the request of the Government of Afghanistan. The project follows previous UN projects in support of the Afghan electoral process, most notably the Enhancing Legal and Electoral Capacity for Tomorrow (ELECT) projects, from 2006-2011 (ELECT I) and 2012-2015 (ELECT II), and the UNDP Project Initiation Plan that is in place since July 2015 – October 2017. The UNESP places the UN’s electoral support to Afghanistan directly under the political and supervisory oversight of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), and reflects the growing sustainability of the Afghan electoral process, as evidenced by the Government of Afghanistan’s financial commitment to both electoral institutions, and the provision of significant in-kind support to the implementation of elections. The Project Board, under the overall political guidance of the UNAMA Deputy Special Representative for Political, will be co-chaired by UNAMA Deputy Special Representative for Political and the Chairpersons of the IEC and ECC or their delegates depending on the agenda item under discussion. It will be comprised of all key stakeholders to oversee and approve UNESP’s budget, annual working plans and policy in support of the Afghan electoral institutions. Project implementation support will be provided by UNDP Country Office, reporting, on fiduciary and operational matters, to the UNAMA Deputy Special Representative for Development/ UN Resident Coordinator/ UNDP Resident Representative through the UNDP Country Director.

Along with support to both electoral institutions, UNESP will also support Afghan civil society’s civic and voter education and observation efforts to enhance the quality and quantity of participation in the electoral process. Overall, the project will have three outputs: (i) administration of credible elections is facilitated by the meeting of key IEC structural and planning milestones; (ii) Credible electoral dispute resolution is provided by the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) (iii) public outreach (along with support to civil society) to encourage citizen engagement in the electoral process. Mainstreaming of gender throughout the project is evident in key output indicators related to women’s participation in all three project outputs, reflecting the importance that UNESP places on increasing the position of women in Afghan electoral and political life. The project also aims at supporting the EMBs in strengthening integrity of the electoral process by enhancing accountability of responsible actors and supporting the implementation of electoral fraud mitigation mechanisms. Assisting the EMBs to implement measures to increase public confidence in election and democracy will be mainstreamed through the electoral assistance provided.

The UNESP will be implemented under Direct Implementation Modality (DIM). UNDP rules and regulations will govern the project implementation including, but not limited to; resource management, procurement, recruitment, audit and evaluation. IEC and ECC are the main partners of the project. The Project will be managed by a Deputy Chief Electoral Advisor/Project Manager (PM), reporting, on fiduciary and operational matters, to the UNDP Country Director, and substantively to the UN Chief Electoral Advisor. The Country Office will ensure that the project’s monitoring, reporting, procurement and recruitment functions are carried out fully in line with UNDP’s programming requirements, and, in this respect, the Project will develop a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework to track project progress and results. The Deputy CEA/Project Manager through the project structure will ensure adherence to project implementation requirements, stakeholder coordination and timely project reporting, while the CEA will ensure effective donor coordination.

Organizational Context of the Post

Under the overall guidance of the Chief Electoral Advisor and direct supervision of the Deputy Chief Electoral Advisor / Project Manager, the Project Operations Manager supervisors and leads the project operations support staff fostering collaboration within the UNEST and with UNDP Country Office (CO) consistent with rules and a client-orientated approach. The Project Operations Manager works in close collaboration with the CO Operations Units (Finance, HR, Procurement and Administration etc.) and as well as CO Senior Management to successfully deliver operations services. The Project Operations Manager will be responsible for the direct planning and communication with Heads of Units CO to ensure consistency with UNDP rules and regulations. H/She ensures consistent services delivery to UNESP project. The Project Operations Manager will foster a working relationship with the IEC to encompass assistance to the IEC Secretariat (Administration, Finance, Human Resources, Procurement and Asset Management) to develop their capacity in their roles.

The Project Operations Manager advises the CEA and DCEA/Project Manager on UNESP project operational cost effectiveness, course correction and responses to emerging challenges.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

  1. Advises the UNESP project management on operational issues affecting the Project and overall operations;
  2. Oversees financial resources management on behalf of UNESP, supervises project finance staff and works in close collaboration with the CO Office Finance Management;   
  3. Effective management of HR management on behalf of UNESP and works in collaboration with CO Human Resources Office;
  4. Ensures efficient procurement and logistical services on behalf of UNESP and works in close collaboration with CO Supply Chain Management Office; 
  5. Oversee Information and communication management and supervision of UNESP ICT staff;
  6. Supports strategic partnership building on operational issues;
  7. Advise and assist the IEC in the capacity development of Secretariat units to ensure the IEC becomes fully compliant with Afghanistan Govt. public financial management systems and procedures.

Advises the UNESP project management on operational issues affecting the Project and overall operations:

  • Identifies approaches and modalities to achieve project operations targets and increased cost-effectiveness;
  • Manages the overall UNESP project operations;
  • Responsible for the direct planning and communication with Heads of Units CO to ensure consistency with UNDP rules and regulations. Ensures compliance of operations with UNDP rules, regulations and policies, implementation of corporate operational strategies, establishment of management targets and monitoring achievement of results;
  • Establishment of collaborative arrangements with project operations support staff fostering collaboration within the UNEST and UNDP Country Office (CO) consistent with rules and a client-orientated approach;
  • Identifies and manages the UNESP business processes with coordination of UNDP CO Operations Units and CO Senior Management to successfully deliver operations services Finance, Human Resources Management, Procurement, Assets and ICT services to ensure consistent services delivery to UNESP project;
  • Knowledge building and sharing with regards to management and operations in the project organization of the operations staff trainings, synthesis of lessons learnt/best practices, and sound contributions to UNDP knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Oversees financial resources management on behalf of UNESP, supervises project finance staff and works in close collaboration with the CO Office Finance Management:

  • Ensures proper planning, expenditures tracking and audit of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations, Project Operations Manager performing the function of Manager Level 1;
  • Organization and oversight of project cash management processes, including liquidity management, risk assessment, timely accounting and reconciliation of all transactions through CO OFM;
  • In collaboration with CO ensures proper management of the contributions management business process and accounting for contributions to ensure that the money due to UNESP is properly identified, consistently and uniformly classified, recorded on a timely basis;
  • In support with CO OFM to routinely monitor financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions, and investigates anomalies or unusual transactions. Informs DCEA \ Project Manager of the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained and ensure that all financial transactions are identified, recorded and verified in compliance with IPSAS as outlined in the corporate policies and procedures.

Effective management of HR management on behalf of UNESP and works in collaboration with CO Human Resources Office;

  • Ensure UNESP project compliance with corporate human resources policies and strategies;
  • In collaboration with CO HRMO assists in the recruitment processes and performance management systems ensuring link of job design with recruitment, performance management and career development.
  • Manages the optimal staffing of the project and offices as directed by DCEA \ PM.

Ensures efficient procurement and logistical services on behalf of UNESP and works in close collaboration with CO Supply Chain Management Office;

  • Manages UNESP Project in compliance of corporate rules and regulations and ensures timely procurement planning and sourcing in support of UNESP activities identified within the UNESP Project Document;
  • In collaboration with CO SCMO manages the project procurement strategies including sourcing strategy, supplier selection and evaluation, quality management, customer relationship management, e-procurement promotion and introduction, performance measurement;
  • Provides oversight of all procurement processes on behalf of UNESP Project acting as Manager Level 1 in Atlas for e-requisition approvals;
  • Oversees proper management of UNESP assets, facilities and logistical services, including full compliance with IPSAS in the accounting for the procurement, utilization and disposal of the project’s assets.

Oversee Information and communication management and supervision of UNESP ICT staff;

  • Ensure Maintenance of a secure, reliable infrastructure environment for ICT and adequately plans for disasters and recoveries;
  • Use of Atlas functionality for improved business results and improved client services;
  • Identification of opportunities and ways of converting business processes into web-based systems to address the issues of efficiency and full accountability;
  • Ensures promotion of different systems and applications for optimal content management, knowledge sharing, information provision and learning including e-registry, web-based office management system, etc.

Supports strategic partnership building on operational issues;

  • When requested by DCEA \ PM represents UNESP project in senior administrative meetings, promotes cooperation and coherence between CO and UNESP;
  • Identifies new approaches and measures to further enhance project delivery capacities, professional management and cost effectiveness;
  • Advocates for vis-à-vis collaboration and project support from CO Operations Units to ensure UNESP Project delivery capacity;
  • Promotes a client-oriented approach among UNESP operations staff.

Advise and assist the IEC in the capacity development of Secretariat units to ensure the IEC becomes fully compliant with Afghanistan Govt. public financial management systems and procedures.

  • Assist the Chief Electoral Advisor and Deputy Chief Electoral Advisor / Project Manager in the management of UNEST assistance for capacity building of the IEC Secretariat Units;
  • Review the IEC Organisational structure and provide guidance to ensure that the draft TOR’s are in line with the Civil Service Law. Assist the IEC Management in achieving the IEC structure cleared by government authorities;
  • Provide technical advice to the IEC leadership and IEC HR Unit to assist with the finalization of recruitment and the induction of new staff IAW Civil Service Law and Government policies and procedures;
  • Provide technical assistance, advisory and training support to the IEC Procurement Unit, following Afghanistan public Procurement Law, policies and procedures including the implementation of operation and project procurement plans, as well as training on key procurement concepts incorporating National and International recognized training programs;
  •  Provide technical assistance, advisory and training support to the IEC Finance Unit, including zero-based and incremental budgeting approaches, internal controls and audit, as well as training on key finance concepts incorporating National and International recognized training programs;
  • Provide technical assistance, advisory and training support to IEC HR Unit on human resources management, including talent management, staff performance assessment, and staff capacity development, as well as training on key HR concepts incorporating National and International recognized training programs;
  • Provide technical assistance, advisory and training support to IEC Administration Unit on administrative reporting, including asset management, inventory control, fuel management and travel etc. including the implementation of asset management ERP as well as training on key administrative and asset management concepts incorporating National and International recognized training programs.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

  • Demonstrates integrity by modeling 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 favoritism;
  • Excellent communication, interpersonal and management skills from a gender perspective and capacity to quickly develop a rapport with people from different backgrounds with both women and men.

Knowledge, Management and Learning

  • Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example;
  • Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills;

Development and Operational Effectiveness

  • Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
  • Ability to lead formulation, monitoring and evaluation of management projects;
  • Solid knowledge in financial resources and human resources management, contract, asset and procurement, information and communication technology, general administration;
  • Ability to lead business processes re-engineering, implementation of new systems (business side), and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change.

Management Leadership

  • Builds strong relationship with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
  • Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
  • Ability to lead effectively, mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills;
  • Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
  • Remains calm, in control, and good humored even under pressure;
  • Proven networking, team-building, organizational, and communication skills;
  • Sound time management and organized skills with the ability to handle multiple tasks;
  • Leads teams effectively and shows mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills;
  • Ability to work in a multicultural environment with sound understanding and capability to empower and develop the capacity of national counterparts;
  • Advanced computer skills and strong knowledge of various software including Excel, Power point and Word.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Economics or related field.

Experience:

  • Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience at the national and international level in providing management advisory services and/or managing staff and operational systems and establishing inter-relationships among international organization and national governments; of which
  • 3 or more years of Project Management responsibilities of similar size and complexity;
  • Previous Project Management experience in challenging environments;
  • Prior experience in Afghanistan, in particular on previous election management programs a significant advantage;
  • Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web based management systems and ERP systems.

Language Requirements:

  • Fluency in written and spoken English is essential;
  • Knowledge of Dari/Pashto an asset.

Disclaimer

Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. For more information please click here and here.

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Scam warning

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

This vacancy is now closed.
However, we have found similar vacancies for you: