Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

  • Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
  • Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
  • Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
  • Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

Organizational Context

The Regional Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (RBEC) leads the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Europe and Central Asia region to implement the organization’s Strategic Plan, through the implementation of the regional and country programme strategies and other respective plans of UNDP offices. RBEC provides oversight and support to 17 Country Offices (COs), an Office in Kosovo (as per UNSCR 1244), a Project Management Offices in Cyprus and Istanbul Regional Hub. The Bureau’s functions include strategy setting, communication, external UN system relations, operational and programme support, as well as the development and management of regional programmes.

UNDP’s Regional Centre for Europe and the CIS (Istanbul Regional Hub) is UNDP`s advisory hub for the Europe and CIS region tasked with the responsibility to provide policy and programmatic support to UNDP´s development activities in the region. Throughout UNDP´s focus areas, it works towards increasing the impact of UNDP´s activities in the region by assisting Country Offices in development of country-level initiatives through advisory services and technical support and by implementing regional-level projects in partnership with a wide range of partners supported to a global network of expertise. Under the leadership of the Director, the Istanbul Regional Hub employs a multi-disciplinary team of specialists and advisors, project managers, operations and programme support staff.

The Istanbul Regional Hub (IRH) houses global and regional expertise primarily to serve the region, as well as serves as a location for some global functions. The regional capacities include also the country office support, performance management and oversight of UNDP offices, directly supervised by the Bureau’s Deputy Regional Director, located in IRH. The recently integrated regional bureau team in charge of country office support and oversight is comprised of dedicated geographical desk officers, results-based management and programme quality assurance specialist, and matrixed supervision of procurement and safeguards advisors based in Istanbul. The team comprises team members based in New York in charge of financial and risk management, oversight, and operational support. To strengthen risk management and oversight, as well as operational support to country offices, the bureau established this position reporting to the NY-based unit and located closer to the field in Istanbul.

The Operations and Oversight Specialist, under the direct supervision of the New York based Oversight Specialist, will contribute to the Regional Bureau’s quality assurance and oversight actions pertaining to enhancing the CO management performance.

In addition, the Operations and Oversight Specialist will be coordinating the work of the Hub’s resource management will also assist IRH Manager in a variety of issues related to overall management of the operations of the Hub.

Job Purpose 

Under the overall guidance of the Regional Bureau Deputy Director, the Chief of RBEC’s Country Office Support Team and direct supervision of the Oversight Specialist, the Oversight Operations Specialist will contribute to the Regional Bureau’s quality assurance and oversight actions pertaining to COs management and operations through monitoring and oversight, as well as support and advisory activities. The areas of responsibility includes and are not limited to: management of financial and human resources, efficient procurement and logistical services, ICT and common services consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities

1.)     Oversight of CO management performance and quality assurance of CO programme and operational activities 

  • Work in collaboration with the primary RBEC focal point for CO oversight and troubleshooting and supports in implementing solutions to identified challenges.
  • Support Bureau’s COs in resolving specific programme/project management and operational issues, initiatives and challenges by engagement and systematic follow-up with relevant central bureaus and units (such as BMS/OFRM, BMS/OLS, BMS/OP, BPPS, OAI, etc
  • Leverage RBEC business intelligence and digital systems and tools for efficient and comprehensive monitoring of CO performance. Contributes to develop enhanced BI systems for oversight support.
  • Proactively recognizes root causes and addresses gaps in performance and guides CO management and staff as applicable
  • Conduct periodic and targeted quality assurance and transaction level analyses, including sampling and reviews at project level, of CO operations, programme implementation, and risk management, and making recommendations on improvement to RBEC and CO management team.
  • onitor Bureau’s audit performance and conducts analysis of audit issues and advises on corrective actions by analyzing audit reports, following up on management responses and supporting COs to address pending recommendations.
  • Review and advise on programme planning, resource allocation and consolidated project budget planning and pipeline management.
  • Perform data analysis of programme/project design and implementation and financial sustainability
  • Contribution to RBEC business units reviews of organizational setup and / or business processes including data analysis, workload review, scenario planning.

2    Oversight of the IRH operational and financial performance and advisory support to IRH programme-finance and operational functions 

  • Substantively contribute to IRH Operations team management through monitoring of compliance of operations with UN/UNDP rules, regulations, policies, and Internal Control Framework (ICF). 
  • Oversee and support proper planning of IRH financial resources, tracking and recording of expenditures in compliance with IPSAS, and audit of financial resources, including extra-budgetary income in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations.
  • Monitor dashboards and financial exception reports for unusual activities and/or transactions; and investigate anomalies or unusual transactions. Ensure appropriate IRH and UNDP HQ staff are informed of the results of the investigation when satisfactory answers are not obtained.
  • Support IRH Management team to Implement corporate operational strategies. Establish management targets (BSC); and regularly monitor office performance indicators for achievement of results. Timely follow up of corrective actions when required.
  • Support mapping of IRH business processes, and establishment of internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Finance, Human Resources Management, Procurement, ICT, Logistic, Protocol, Travel and Events Management Services. 
  • Contribute to preparation of IRH Internal Control Framework and delegation of authorities
  • Oversee project financial closures for the Hub and out-posted units including oversight of the cleaning of accounts for closed offices in RBEC.
  • Act as the Audit focal point for the IRH and support RBEC COs on audit related matter on demand driven basis.
    Support senior management in identifying and overseeing risks to ensure dynamic and effective risk management in the IRH and to make more risk-informed and timely decisions. Monitor and analyze the operating environment; undertake risk analysis related to operations for discussion with the IRH Management team

3)  Implementation and support of Internal Control Framework in the region

  • Advise Offices on the overall accountability framework and how to best operationalize it given office context. 
  • Perform the Bureau Focal Point function on ICF.
  • Manage the Bureau’s digital platform to ensure compliance of ICF by all Offices.
  • Conduct periodic reviews of the ICF of the Offices and guide the managers on segregation of control function and advising Offices to formalized delegation of authorities in line with corporate frameworks.
  • Identify control issues in the Offices by regular monitoring of corporate dashboards and ensuring corrective action. 
  • Advise Offices on the implementation of anti-fraud mechanisms and anti-money laundering and countering finance terrorism (AML/CFT) policies and procedures and provides hands-on support in addressing gaps.

4) Sound contribution to regional management practice activities and facilitation of knowledge building and sharing focusing on achievement of the following results:

  • Ensure knowledge building and sharing about management and operations in the region, coordination of staff learning needs, and consolidation of lessons learnt/best practices.
  • Provide sound contributions to UNDP knowledge networks and communities of practice.
  • Organization of on-boarding sessions and training for the operations/ projects staff within the Hub and for Country Offices.
  • Synthesis of lessons learned and best practices in the area of operations.
  • Review and comment on SOPs and business processes of IRH and RBEC COs on demand basis.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities:   None
 

Core Competencies

  • Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
  • Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
  • Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
  • Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
  • Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
  • Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
  • Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

  • Business Direction & Strategy System Thinking    •    Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system
  • Business Direction & Strategy    Strategic Thinking    •    Develop effective strategies and prioritised plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight.
  • Business Management    Resource Management    •    Allocate and use resources in a strategic or tactical way in line with business needs and priorities and principles of accountability and integrity.
  • Business Management    Customer Satisfaction/Client Management    •    Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers' needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients' immediate requests.    •    Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.
  • Finance     Accounting (General)    •    Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, frameworks, standards, regulations, policies and trends, and ability to pply this to strategic and/or practical situations.
  • Business Management     Risk Management    •    Identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks
  • Business Management    Portfolio Management    •    Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization's programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity. Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management.
     

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Economics, or related field is required, or
  • A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree. 

Experience:

  • Minimum of 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services and/or managing operational systems, preferably in a UNDP Country Office or regional or HQ location.
  • Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.), web-based management systems such as ERP, data analytics, dashboards, and BI tools is required,
  • Experience in finance and operational management (budgeting, financial monitoring, procurement, HR, administration) and good knowledge of accrual accounting, IPSAS or IFRS is desirable. 
  • Experience with the provision of advisory and/or support services on project management, finance, and other operational matters and solving operational challenges is desirable.
  • Experience in change management exercises across the region and operations advisory work for country offices including workforce optimization, workload review, internal control framework analyses exercises is desirable.
  • Experience in operational oversight, internal controls, risk management, audit, compliance, or quality assurance functions is desirable. 
  • Experience in knowledge management, training, and capacity development is required.
  • Experience in application of UN regulations, rules, and procedures is desirable.
  • Experience using Quantum is desirable.
  • Experience in people management is desired.
  • Experience of working in global virtual teams is desirable.

Language Requirements:  

  • Fluency in English is required.
  • Knowledge of another UN language is desirable.
  • Fluency in the languages spoken in the region is an asset.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Probation

For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Right to select multiple candidates

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.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.

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