Head, Operations and Digital Transformation

Background About SEforALL 

Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) is an international organization working with leaders in government, the private sector and civil society to drive further, faster action toward achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7), which calls for universal access to sustainable energy by 2030, and the Paris Agreement, which calls for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to limit climate warming to well below 2° Celsius (and striving for 1.5° Celsius).    
 

Achieving these goals will require a radical rethink of the way we produce, distribute and consume energy. SEforALL is at the heart of this foundational shift to ensure no one is left behind. Drawing on data and evidence, we identify a critical path to success in achieving SDG7.   
 

The 8th UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched the Sustainable Energy for All initiative in 20121. Now an independent organization, we maintain close links with the UN, including through a relationship agreement, partnerships with UN agencies and with SEforALL's CEO acting as the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative (SRSG) for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of UN-Energy. These roles include advising the UN Secretary General and his staff on issues relating to sustainable energy and the implementation of SDG7 and supporting the coordination of sustainable energy issues in the United Nations system.    
 

The ambitions of SDG7 are extraordinary. Aiming to achieve them in the context of the Paris Agreement on climate change involves transformation at a scale never undertaken before. Swift action must be taken by leaders in governments, private sector companies, institutions, financiers, development banks, unions, communities, entrepreneurs and civil society. As we enter the final decade to achieve SDG7, SEforALL has strategically chosen to strengthen global agenda-setting while expanding its activities to an engagement model that prioritizes data-driven decision-making, partnerships with high-impact countries and implementation on the ground. SEforALL's current three-year business plan outlines “results offers” that scope out our planned interventions and demonstrate to our funding partners the impact of their support. 

Objectives of the Results Offer 

The Operations and Digital Transformation Department (OPS) is responsible for enabling the implementation of the strategic operational plans for SEforALL as well as for safeguarding resources and the smooth running of the day-to-day affairs of the organization. As part of its mandate, it is tasked with managing all matters pertaining to digital transformation, including IT strategies, planning, solutions, systems, and security to enhance the operational effectiveness and efficiency of SEforALL as well as mitigate IT risks. This includes the build-up and maintenance of a robust data warehouse and business intelligence platform within the organization for the use of internal and external stakeholders, as appropriate. OPS is also mandated to manage, in coordination with outside legal counsel, legal and regulatory matters, including ensuring statutory compliance for the legal status in Austria (and other countries, as appropriate), and maintain related relationships.  In addition, OPS has a broad mandate to provide high-quality and cost-effective general services, including managing the physical facilities (offices), travel, records and documents, as well as managing the related relationships with administrative service providers.   

Purpose/Objective of the Role 

The main objectives of the role include: 

• Establish the policy framework, standards, and processes for the provision of digital transformation and general services for SEforALL and the funds/facilities it administers. 

• Design and implement new innovations and technologies to reduce costs, improve operational efficiency, increase internal control, and strengthen system-driven processes. 

• Provide accurate, reliable, and insightful information to the Administrative Board, Funders’ Council, and the Leadership Teams on OPS department matters.  

• Manage facilities, office space, mail, and telecommunication in a reliable and cost-effective manner. 

• Design and implement the travel guidelines and procedures for staff travelling on official business. 

• Formulate, develop and monitor the records and information management guidelines and procedures, ensuring compliance with relevant standards (e.g., GDPR), to manage records and documents for SEforALL with adequate protection and ease of access to staff and other authorized parties; and advise all units on file retention and file destruction.  

• Serve as a focal point for all administrative, regulatory, and legal matters (in coordination with external service providers [e.g., lawyers]) with SEforALL’s counterparts and partners (e.g., government bodies, UN agencies, international development organizations, donors, etc.) in a manner that protects the interests of the organization with due consideration to its governance structure and objectives.  

• Enhance relationships with vendors offering services in the area of OPS.  

• Lead the development and implementation, in coordination with other units, of SEforALL’s Business Continuity plans including disaster recovery and management. 

• Evaluate SEforALL’s operational activity by collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data and metrics. 

• Create, maintain and update the Operations and Digital Transformation Manual as well as the organization’s policies and guidelines as they relate to OPS. 

• Ensure the achievement of the departmental KPIs and Workplan as well as plan, implement, and monitor the budget for OPS.  

Duties and Accountabilities  

The main duties and tasks of the role include, but are not limited to: 

 Operational and Strategic Planning 

• Lead the development and implementation of objectives, planning processes, organizational and donor budgets and operational KPIs for the OPS function. 

• Create and implement actionable short to medium term operational plans and budgets with KPIs linked to the mandate of the OPS function. 

• Coordinate the function’s activities so as to effectively utilizes resources and manages priorities in order to be both responsive and proactive to meet the expectations of internal and external stakeholders. 

• Manage, monitor and evaluate the function’s on-going performance and quality of its outputs and services as well as identify and initiate actions for improvement and innovation. 

• Oversee the Information Technology system enhancements as they relate to the function and ensure implementation for more effective and efficient operations. 

• Develop and disseminate the knowledgebase and inventory of best practices in the area of operations and digital transformation.   

• Contribute to the innovation and institutionalization of new initiatives in the function. 

Information Technology   

• Lead the development of the overall IT direction and strategy as well as the definition of strategic initiatives for IT.   

• Undertake the development and maintenance of, as well as monitor the compliance with, organizational IT policies and guidelines with the objective of increasing efficiency and internal control as well as reducing IT-related risks.  

• Collaborate with other units to optimize and automate SEforALL’s business processes with the objective of improving effectiveness and efficiency.   

• Oversee the development and maintenance of business processes documentation and user manuals, to ensure that all stakeholders have access to accurate sources of reference on processes, policies, and performance.   

• Supervise the development of the annual IT operating plans and budgets as well as support the cost-effective procurement of IT solutions.   

• Lead the IT organizational change management process (e.g., IT training and capability building, IT awareness, IT communication etc.).  

• Ensure the proper development and maintenance of a secure, resilient and robust IT infrastructure to provide support to SEforALL’s operations.   

• Oversee the identification and planning for SEforALL’s system capacity requirements and ensure that they are implemented, operated and maintained to support the IT infrastructure and its ongoing performance as well as quality of its outputs and services.   

• Define and ensure implementation of the Organizational Architecture Strategy.  

• Lead the selection and implementation of enterprise business systems and IT solutions. 

• Lead the overall development, implementation and maintenance of Data Warehouses, Data-Marts and Business Intelligence platforms, including analytical and key performance indicators dashboards.  

• Supervise the design and maintenance of the information security strategy and architecture.  

• Oversee the adoption and implementation of controls for data security including data governance, data classification, data leakage prevention, data encryption and data storage strategy.   

• Ensure the effective management of IT risks, including regular vulnerability assessments and penetration tests as well as the implementation of mitigation measures to manage the IT risks.  

• Oversee the planning and implementation of the Business Continuity Management Program, including the IT Disaster Recovery plan of SEforALL, to enable critical business areas to continue operating during crisis events.   

• Lead the proper implementation of IT projects and initiatives in a manner that ensures reliability, security and quality of IT systems serving business needs.   

Facilities Management and General Services  

• Oversee the space management framework and office support services with the aim to enhance SEforALL’s work environment as well as effective utilization of organization-wide premises and performance of office facilities systems.   

• Supervise the proper management of office inventory/supplies and oversee the controls over fixed assets. 

• Ensure that staff are working within an environment consistent with accepted safety and security standards.  

• Monitor situations and identify trends relevant to security situation. e.g. collaborating with UN/UNDP offices/other international organisations to get updates and staff training incountry on safety and security.  

• Develop risk assessments and proposing risk reduction measures in addition to developing, maintaining, updating and implementing when necessary, security protocols and operating procedures according to the changing situation.   

• Oversee the development and implementation of an archiving/records management program for SEforALL, including records and documents management business solutions, policy and procedures, business classification, file retention, archive, and destruction schedules, vital records program, disaster recovery, and business continuity plan for records and documents.  

• Oversee the travel agency services provided to the organization, assuring an efficient service provided to staff and other stakeholders.  

Specific Competencies for the Role 

• A minimum of 12 years demonstrated experience in information technology and/or business administration. Experience in the implementation of enterprise-wide IT systems and solutions would be preferred. 

• A minimum of 5 years of managerial/supervisory experience. 

• Professional level command of written and spoken English, particularly in report writing for both general and executive audiences. 

• Demonstrated experience in writing quality and succinct reports as well as preparing impactful presentations to various stakeholders. 

• Demonstrated experience in working with enterprise-wide IT systems, particularly Oracle NetSuite. 

• Experience with CRM systems (e.g. Oracle, Salesforce, etc.) would be an advantage. 

• Demonstrated experience in digital transformation platforms such as Enterprise Content Management (ECM), Business Process Management (BPM), Date Warehouse and Business Intelligence.   

• Demonstrated and progressive experience in business process management and project management, coordinating multiple deliverables across different functions to meet deadlines. 

• Demonstrated experience in the management of operations of an international organization, preferably within the development domain. 

General Competencies for the Role 

• Innovation and Adaptability: Has advanced skills and commitment to search for and produce innovative and creative approaches to activities. Is flexible to evolving circumstances, as well as helps others in doing so. 

• Resilience and Emotional Intelligence: Has advanced knowledge in the concepts of resilience and emotional intelligence. Is able to remain calm in challenging situations, to cope with setbacks, is responsive to the emotions of others and maintains a high level of performance. 

• Analytical and Strategic Thinking: Has an advanced level of analytical and strategic thinking skills. Gathers and processes demanding information, develops sound solutions and contributes recommendations for action to line supervisor/others as appropriate. 

• Collaboration and Partnership: Demonstrates advanced initiative and abilities to collaborate and form partnerships in own area of responsibility and across teams. Actively develops and maintains partnerships. Displays team-oriented attitude contributing to creating a positive team spirit. 

• Lead and Empower: Demonstrates initiative and role model behaviour in leading and empowering others. Takes responsibility for own work activities and personal actions and carries out the commitments agreed upon 

• Political and diplomatic understanding: Has an advanced level of political and diplomatic understanding. 

• Communicating information: Has proficient skills in communicating information and uses the skills effectively in own scope of work and in others’ work. 

• Research and Analytics: Has advanced skills in research and analytics and uses the skills effectively in own scope of work. 

• Project Management: Has advanced skills in project management. Plans and organises their own work using project management tools in support of achieving the team’s objectives 

• Client Orientation / Striving for Excellence: Has advanced skills in client orientation and achieving excellency in work delivery. 

Our Values - please refer to our core values as defined here: https://www.seforall.org/who-we-are/staff/our-values. 

Salary information: SEforALL has adopted its own salary scales corresponding to the SEforALL grading system. The minimum yearly salary for this position is EUR 87,177. The actual salary offer will be determined within the scale depending on the successful candidate’s qualification and experience, and applying the principle of internal equity. In addition to the base salary, SEforALL staff receive a benefits package that includes contribution to pension, contribution to health insurance & homeworking allowance. 

Additional Considerations 

• SEforALL offers exciting high-impact assignments, a collegial and creative work environment, and the opportunity for committed professionals to thrive and grow within flat hierarchies and in the pursuit of an inspiring mission. 

• SEforALL provides competitive compensation packages at its locations in Vienna, Washington DC and New York City, and flexibility and result orientated modern workplace arrangements. 

• Qualified female candidates and candidates from developing countries are strongly encouraged to apply. 

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 

• SEforALL reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a level below the advertised level of the post. 

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Your data will not be passed on to third parties outside SEforALL. We will only use your data to the extent necessary for the purposes of selecting personnel in accordance with the applicable data protection regulations. We will only disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by a court´s or administrative authority´s decision. In such a case, we will inform you as soon as possible of such an order so that you can take legal action against it if necessary. Please email to careers@seforall.org if you require updates to your information in accordance with Art. 5 lit. d of the GDPR