Business Operations Strategy (BOS) international consultant - technical support to the BOS formulation

UNCT is seeking a suitably qualified consultant to develop, within the available framework, a finished product of the Business Operations Strategy (BOS) for Pacific Multi-Country Office.

Background: 

Under the overall leadership and guidance of the United Nations Country Team (UNCT), the Operations Management Team (OMT) endeavors to facilitate the implementation of United Nations Pacific Strategy (UNPS) by harmonizing operational practices of UN bodies, agencies, funds and programmes for the Pacific Multi Country Office. Within this context, the UNCT has decided to adopt and implement UN Development Group’s (UNDG) results-based framework to plan, monitor, implement and evaluate operational activities, namely the Business Operations Strategy (BOS).

The BOS will outline main areas of inter-agency harmonization and operations activities planned to support the United Nations Pacific Strategy implementation cycle (2018-2022).

Scope of Work/ Work Assignments: 

The key deliverable for this consultancy is to develop, within the available framework, a finished product of the Business Operations Strategy (BOS) for Pacific Multi-Country Office to cover the period that will coincide with UNPS cycle. This should be done in close collaboration with Pacific MCO (Fiji) OMT and its technical working groups (Procurement, HR, ICT, Finance), as well as other thematic groups of the UN including the Programme Management Team. The strategic stages within the formulation process include:

• finalization of Baseline Analysis: collection, overview and analysis of operational data to determine current status); conduction of client satisfaction surveys to establish baseline indicators;
• determining new needs and requirements (review of the UNPS results framework to determine new needs and advice on system requirements to address those new needs);
• conduct cost-benefits analysis and strategic prioritization (rationalizing and ranking in terms of the most beneficiary and cost-saving activities);
• finalization of the results and M&E matrices as well as related budgeting)
• Finalizing the BOS document by compiling all relevant collected data and drafting the narrative.

Within this framework, the proposed pillars of the BOS under which the analysis shall be done include: Procurement, Human Resources, Common Services, ICT and Finance respectively based on the work of the OMT Working Groups and the current country context.

Qualifications

Interested candidates must have the following competencies, qualifications, required skills and experience:

• Advanced degree (Masters) in operations, finance, auditing, logistics, procurement, management, statistics or development related field preferably with specific focus on international development and humanitarian operations.

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of experience with procurement, logistics or operations having quantitative analysis background and having UN experience.
• Professional training in, and experience with statistical/operational analyses, and inter-agency procurement activities involving multiple UN agencies.
• Experience developing the UN BOS for other UN Offices.
• Languages: English

Competencies:  

Professional Competencies:

• Professionalism: Knowledge and understanding of UN’s operational context in the Pacific, particularly in the fields of common services and the Business Operations Strategy. Ability to identify key procedures and issues, conduct data collection, operational analyses and discussions with decision-makers to propose solutions to these issues. Ability to apply sound judgment in the context of assignments given, and work under pressure. Shows persistence and remains calm in stressful situations. Shows pride in work and achievements, demonstrates professional competence and mastery of the subject matter. Responds positively to feedback and different points of view. Conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results.
• Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with the terms defined here. Identifies priority activities and assignments, and adjusts them as required. Allocates appropriate time and resources for completing work by foreseeing risks and developing contingency plans accordingly. Monitors and adjusts plans as necessary, and uses time effectively.
• Accountability: Takes ownership of responsibilities and honors commitments. Delivers assigned tasks within prescribed time, cost and quality standards. Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules. Takes personal responsibility for his/her shortcomings.

Functional Competencies:

• Expertise in operational support activities required to ensure high-quality and cost-effective delivery of UN’s development and humanitarian assistance.
• Experience with holding operational analyses to identify benchmarks on quality and efficiency for inter-agency operations activities, and monitor and implement these activities accordingly.
• Knowledge of UN’s legal and market context in the Pacific, particularly to facilitate UN’s inter-agency harmonization, operational support and procurement activities.

Attached is the Detailed Terms of Reference.  Business Operations Strategy (BOS) Consultant. EXT.pdf

DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS

Applicants must submit the following documents with their consultant application form  

• Personal CV including information about experience in working for other UN Offices with the same implementation/ assignments and contact details for 3 supervisory referees
• Technical Proposal: An outline of how the BOS consultancy will be undertaken with a clear implementation schedule
• Financial Proposal:
  • 1 Lump sum contract: The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days).  

• Work Schedule/ Work Plan: The consultancy period is as follows:

  Start date 01 August 2018 and end date 30 September 2018