Senior Operations Coordinator Specialist

Santiago

Organization: FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Location: Santiago
Grade: Consultancy - Consultant - Contractors Agreement
Occupational Groups:
- Operations and Administrations
- Managerial positions
- REGIONAL OFFICE FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
Closing Date: Closed

IMPORTANT NOTICE\: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on your personal device date and time settings

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FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender and nationality

People with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

The incumbent may be re-assigned to different activities and/or duty stations depending on the evolving needs of the Organization

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Organizational Setting

The Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (RLC) is responsible for leading FAO's response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning, and implementation of FAO's priority activities in the region. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the Region and, in collaboration with departments and divisions at headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO's strategic response to regional priorities. RLC also implements approved programmes and projects in the region, monitors the level of programme implementation and draws attention to problems and deficiencies. RLC develops and maintains relations with region-wide institutions, including regional political and economic integration organizations. The Regional Office supports regional policy dialogue on food security, agriculture and rural development issues, facilitates the emergence of regional partnerships, and supports capacity development and resource mobilization for food security, agriculture and rural development in the region.

Currently, several countries in Latin America and Caribbean are preparing large scale projects that would multiply by five, ten or more times their average country delivery and would thus challenge their capacity to effectively and efficiently implement. To address this challenge, important organizational strengthening and preparation is needed at all levels since the very early stage of project design and throughout the project cycle, to upgrade countries capacities and establish proper backup from the Regional Office, to ensure that countries will deliver the expected results on the ground. In this context, the establishment of a Regional “Large-Scale Projects Task Force” (TF) is foreseen to ensure adequate support to country offices throughout the project cycle, including a “Senior Operations Coordinator Specialist”.

Reporting Lines

The Senior Operations Coordinator Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the RLC Senior Field Programme Officer, in collaboration with all members of the RLC Task Force for Large Scale Projects and in close coordination with the Country Offices,

Technical Focus

Provide and coordinate the operational support function to the field programme, in particular, in support to countries´ preparation and implementation of large-scale projects.

Tasks and responsibilities

The Senior Operations Coordinator Specialist will be in charge of coordinating the work of the Task Force and organizing the support of the Regional Office to the countries for proper project preparation and implementation. Specifically, the consultant will perform the following duties\:

• Plan the support of the Regional Office (RLC) to the countries initiating the design of large-scale projects;
• Prepare countries to undertake their organizational and institutional analysis;
• Coordinate and lead multi-disciplinary review of the countries´ organizational self-assessment;
• Review countries´ arrangements for undertaking partners´ institutional analysis;
• Support the identification of the required measures (including support from the Regional Office) to build countries capacities for the proper management and implementation of large-scale projects;
• Coordinate, activate and monitor the provision of RLC support by the various members of the Task Force and the subregional offices concerned, to ensure that agreed upon action is effectively and timely undertaken;
• Contribute to the large-scale projects´ formulation, in particular to review the proposed implementation arrangements and related budgetary provision;
• Support countries in finalizing the project general workplan and annual operational plan;
• Monitor countries milestones established to ensure smooth implementation and support decision-making for action when the country is not in a position to comply or deliver;
• Monitor large-scale projects implementation and support problem solving action, including through the activation of the Task Force´ support as needed;
• Provide operational guidance and support to technical units and project personnel, identifying and managing risks in consultation with the relevant expert units;
• Undertake missions to the countries that are formulating or implementing large-scale projects, to provide direct support to any of the above actions, as appropriate and feasible;
• Perform any other duties required, during any phase of the project cycle, to ensure proper design and implementation of large-scale projects in Latin America and the Caribbean.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree in agriculture, economics, food security, business administration and management, international relations or any other field related to the work of the Organization.
• 7 years of relevant experience in project implementation and monitoring, with proven coordination experience;
• Working knowledge of English and Spanish.

FAO Competencies
• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills
• Extent and relevance of experience in field programme/project operations, management and monitoring.
• Familiarity with FAO processes, policies and guidelines is a strong asset. Knowledge of other UN agencies processes and procedures is also an asset.
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field position.
• Knowledge of French is an asset.

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Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency

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This vacancy is now closed.
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