Operations Specialist

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• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture.
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply;
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

Organizational Setting

The Forestry Division (NFO) leads FAO's work in promoting sustainable forest management and providing leadership on the environmental, social and economic dimensions of forestry, including contributions of forests and trees to poverty reduction and food security and nutrition. Staff of the Division liaise with member countries, civil society and the private sector in aspects ranging from development of effective forest policies to forest conservation and management issues and strengthening the role of forests in climate change mitigation and adaptation. The Division also collects, analyses and disseminates information on the world's forest resources and on the production, trade and consumption of wood and non-wood forest products.

Guided by its new Climate Change Strategy, FAO is scaling up support to developing countries to transition toward sustainable and climate-smart patterns of agricultural development. Such a transition is vital to FAO's efforts to achieve food security and nutrition for all, and can play an important role in broader international efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change. In this context, FAO Members have emphasized the need to scale up public and private investment in climate action. FAO is responding through a variety of avenues, including by prioritizing the development of a project portfolio with the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The purpose of this position is to support FAO's lead role in the Sustainable Forest Management Impact Programme on Dryland Sustainable Landscapes (GEF DSL-IP) and FAO's co-lead role in the Food Systems, Land Use, and Restoration Impact Programme (GEF FOLUR-IP) funded under GEF-7.

Reporting Lines

The Operations Specialist reports to the Senior Natural Resources Officer - Global Programme Coordinator of the GEF DSL-IP Global Coordination Project (GCP) and GEF FOLUR-IP under the overall supervision of the Deputy Director, NFO. S/he will work closely with the Decentralized Offices, Technical Experts within NFO and other relevant FAO units.

Technical Focus

Coordinate the operational support function of the GEF DSL-IP and GEF FOLUR-IP.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Act as focal point for all IP operational matters, organize and handle the day-to-day operational activities and take action in consultation with the Project Management Unit on any issues which arise during the execution period;
• Provide operational backstopping and oversight support to optimize the delivery of outcomes at global and child project level;
• Review and monitor the IPs’ budgets, prepare requests and revisions as required, maintain and monitor budget expenditures and resources, review project transaction listings;
• Ensure that relevant reports on expenditures, forecasts, progress against work plans, project closure, are prepared and submitted in accordance with FAO, World Bank and GEF defined procedures and reporting formats, schedules and communications channels, as required;
• Support the Programme Coordinator in coordinating relations (including contractual arrangements) with key GCP/IP partners, ensuring technical and operational aspects, in order to optimize effectiveness and efficiency of outcome delivery;
• In close coordination with GCP Project Management Unit members, international technical consultants and project steering committee members, oversee the planning of GCP activities in order to optimize their effectiveness and efficiency and identifies corrective measures to overcome operational constraints;
• Provide technical and organizational support to the preparation, publishing and dissemination of strategy documents by the GCP;
• Support the Programme Coordinator in the preparation of trainings, workshops and stakeholder meetings at global regional and national level;
• Participate and represent the project in collaborative meetings with project partners and the PTF, as required;
• Support the development and oversee the implementation of the IPs’ fee work plan;
• Undertake missions to monitor technical and operational performance, as appropriate;
• In consultation with the FAO Evaluation Office and FAO-GEF Coordination Unit, support the organization of the mid-term and final evaluations, and provides inputs regarding project budgetary matters;
• Perform any other related duties.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in public or business administration, finance, accounting, economics, social sciences or another field related to the FAO mandate.
• Five years of relevant experience in project management/operations and support.
• Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of French for COF.REG. Working knowledge of English is sufficient for PSA.SBS.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work is desirable.
• Extent and relevance of experience in programme/project formulation, analysis, planning and implementation.
• Understanding of FAO policies and programmes including different implementation modalities and experience working with GEF projects and programmes is considered a strong asset.
• Extent and relevance of experience in supporting, advising and guiding the implementation of complex multi-stakeholder projects and programmes.
• Extent of experience in formulation, implementation and monitoring of projects.
• Experience with programmatic, multi-agency coordination and resource partner relations.

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