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Country Manager (INTERNAL VACANCY)

Manila

  • Organization: UNOPS - United Nations Office for Project Services
  • Location: Manila
  • Grade: Mid level - IICA-3, International Individual Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Programme Management
    • Leadership
    • Project and Programme Management
    • Managerial positions
  • Closing Date: Closed

Background Information - UNOPS

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.
UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us
UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.
Diversity
With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.
Work life harmonization
UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.
Background Information – Philippines
UNOPS Philippines was established in early 2016 to support, develop and oversee UNOPS' growing portfolio of programmes and projects in the Philippines. The office currently provides implementation services to a range of projects where UNOPS works closely with development partners, the Government and the Supreme Court focusing on the Governance/Justice, health and infrastructure sector.
The office is based in Manila, Philippines with project sites in Manila, Tacloban and Cotabato.  
UNOPS Philippines is in the process of expanding its area of engagement in cooperation with its development partners and is looking for qualified and committed experts.

Background Information - Job-specific

The Project Office is responsible for managing strategic and operational risks associated with the Project Office’s portfolio of engagements – as part of the Multi Country Office set up, developing and delivering cost effective services contributing to partners' sustainable results and achievements of UNOPS management results. 

The Project Office operates as an integral part of the Multi Country Office management structure. The Country Manager reports to the Multi Country Office Director who provides direction and guidance. The Country Manager role is responsible for planning, implementing, monitoring and supervising the delivery of all projects and support services in a given country that includes liaison and engagement development activities and delivering timely and cost effective services for sustainable results by partners and stakeholders.

Functional Responsibilities

Summary of key results:
  1. Project Office programme/project management
  2. Alliance building, networking and advocacy for business development
  3. Service delivery and quality assurance
  4. Representation and inter-agency partnership
  5. Knowledge management and innovation 

1. Project Office programme/project management 
  • Develop proposals and prepare project documents agreements in connection with identified opportunities and in cooperation/collaboration with partners. 
  • Plan and propose to the Multi Country Office Director required resources (human, financial and administrative) to achieve goals set for the Project Office. 
  • Establish the strategies and implementation plans for the Project Office, in collaboration with the partners, set objectives, performance measurements, standards and results expected to ensure timely and partner oriented services. 
  • Plan, recruit, manage and develop a flexible workforce with the skills and competencies needed to ensure optimum performance, and ensure gender and geographical diversity.
  • Promote teamwork, collaboration and diversity by providing timely guidance and supervision to the team to enable them to perform their duties responsibly, effectively and efficiently. 
  • Foster a positive work environment, respectful of both men and women, and ensure that the highest standards of conduct are observed.
  • Create, foster and role model a culture of respect and zero tolerance for discrimination, abuse of authority, harrasement, sexual harrasement and sexual exploitation and abuse. Ensure accountability for actions and perform duties in accordance with protection mechanisms and action plans, as expected by UNOPS policies, standards and commitments.
  • Oversee, monitor and direct appropriate measures to maintain the safety and security of UNOPS, assets, property, information and personnel and their eligible dependents within the respective area of responsibility.  
  • In consultation with the UNOPS Chief of Security act as the UNOPS Security Focal Point (SFP) within the country of operation including participating actively in the Security Management Team (SMT) and perform duties on security as outlined in the Framework of Accountability in the UN Security Management System Policy manual.

2. Alliance building, networking and advocacy for business development
  • Keep abreast of and assess the needs of the relevant national government and other UNOPS partners operating in the country, to identify and plan with them (and the Multi Country Office Director) areas for leveraging UNOPS services/competencies in project service delivery and management that will facilitate their achievement of sustainable results. 
  • Build and strengthen strategic partnerships through active networking, advocacy and effective communication of UNOPS competencies in project service delivery and management, to develop opportunities and engagements with new partners.
  • Keep the Multi Country Office Director informed/advised on opportunities and/or challenges to strengthen UNOPS capacity for programme/project management and business development.

3. Service delivery and quality assurance
  • Establish and maintain appropriate arrangements for direct operational support for delivery of the Project Office programmes/projects, including leveraging regional or corporate support facilities whenever available.
  • Monitor and oversee programme/project implementation, review progress, assess constraints and take corrective action, ensuring early warning of risks to the Multi Country Office, for action and/or intervention.
  • Take responsibility for financial decisions/exercise financial control to ensure the fiscal health/sustainability of the Project Office, including submitting financial reports to the Multi Country Office Director.
4. Representation and inter-agency partnership 
  • Participate, as delegated by the Multi Country Office Director, in inter-agency and external meetings/bodies to contribute to the harmonisation of policies, practices and approaches within the UN System, such as the implementation of the UNDAF/One Program, integrated Strategic Framework and ‘Delivering as One’.
  • Participate in any UN country team meetings or interagency management groups to contribute to discussions and initiatives to strengthen coherence, inclusiveness, aid effectiveness and security measures.
  • Keep the UN Resident Coordinator informed of UNOPS activities within the Philippines through regular communication and formal reporting on business acquisition and implementation of activities led by UNOPS as part of the UNDAF or equivalent.
5. Knowledge management and innovation 
  • Contribute to the development and introduction of innovation to ensure UNOPS is continually incorporating best practice approaches.
  • Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for corporate development planning and knowledge building.
  • Plan, implement and organise strategic capacity building of personnel, partners and stakeholders.

Competencies

Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization.
Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.
Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.
Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).
Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.
Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.
Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.
Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Education

  • Advanced Degree preferably in Engineering, Procurement and/or Supply Chain Management, project management, Law, Commerce, Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Economics or related fields.
  • A First University degree in combination with a minimum of nine (9) years’ qualifying experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience

  • At least 7 years of experience (or more depending on academic credentials) in international development, business development, operations and/or programme management in a large international and/or corporate organization is required.
  • 2 years of leadership experience including supervising teams and managing budgets is desirable. 
  • Experience working in the Philippines and South East Asian Region Region is desirable.
  • Some experience in UN system organizations, preferably in a developing country, is desirable.
  • Experience in the usage of G Suite is desirable.
  • Knowledge of UNOPS policy relating to project management and procurement would be an asset.

Languages

  • Fluency in both written and spoken English is required.
  • Knowledge of another official UNOPS language is an asset

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: International Individual Contract Agreement (IICA)  Contract level: IICA 3 /ICS 11
Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance
Duty station: Manila, Philippines. Manila is a family duty station.

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx 

Additional Considerations

  • Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
  • Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
  • Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
  • Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
  • UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
  • Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
  • 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 (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
  • The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

This vacancy is now closed.
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