Programme Support Unit (PSU) Deputy Manager

UNOPS helps its partners in the United Nations system meet the world’s needs for building peace, recovering from disaster, and creating sustainable development.

UNOPS is known for its ability to implement complex projects in all types of environments around the globe.

In an effort to promote organizational excellence, UNOPS seeks highly qualified individuals for the following position:

Vacancy Details

Vacancy Code: VA/2011/AFO/KEOC/PMO/02

Position Title: Programme Support Unit (PSU) Deputy Manager

Position Level: NO-A Fixed Term Appointment

Position status: Non-rotational

Org Unit: Kenya Operations Center

Duty Station: Nairobi, Kenya, with travel to project locations in Kenya, Somalia, Liberia and
other Sub-Saharan African countries.

Duration: 1 Year

Closing Date: 12th December 2011

Background

The UNOPS mandate is to act as a project delivery platform for UN system agencies, funds and
programmes, international and regional financial institutions, intergovernmental organizations, donor and recipient governments, and non-profit non-governmental organizations.

As a self-financing entity within the UN system, UNOPS must ensure that the projects it delivers meet client expectations in terms of cost, quality and time, while at the same time ensuring that these projects collectively meet a broader array of programmatic success criteria.

The Programme Support Unit (PSU) at the Kenya Operations Center (KEOC) provides ‘support services’ in area of: human resources, procurement and administrative management to KEOC project and programme managers, as well as other personnel at KEOC project offices in Nairobi.

Duties and Responsibilities

The PSU Deputy Manager reports to PSU Manager and is responsible for the achievement of the following:

• Support the PSU Manager to achieve full compliance of KEOC operations with UNOPS rules, regulations and policies, implementation of corporate operational strategies, establishment of management targets and monitoring of achievement of results;
• Support the implementation of UNOPS business processes, including Organizational Directives and Administrative Instructions in Human Resources, Administration, and Procurement;
• Support the PSU Manager to undertake monitoring and analysis of the operating environment, advice on legal/regulatory considerations and risk assessment;
• Knowledge building and sharing with regards to management and operations in the OC, organization of support staff trainings, synthesis of lessons learnt/best practices, and sound contributions to UNOPS knowledge networks and communities of practice;

Team Leader/Manager Duties:

• Works with the KEOC Deputy Director, the PSU Manager and KEOC project managers to agree quarterly plans (‘work-packages’) for human resources, procurement and administrative package;
• Supports the development of PSU work plans on the basis of the various plans agreed with KEOC project managers and oversees the collective work of the PSU team in the fulfillment of these plans, paying close attention to cost, quality and time considerations;
• Coaches, mentors, trains and otherwise supports PSU Team members in the fulfillment of their duties and in their professional development, including to ensure that PSU Team members have an up to date understanding of the UNOPS Legislative Framework and KEOC procedures.

Procurement:

• Supervises the Procurement Sub-Unit and ensure adherence to established procedures and/or the establishment/revision of procedures, always looking for ways to make these more efficient and effective in support of the KEOC project managers.
• Liaise with the KEOC Compliance Officer in his/her capacity as Procurement Advisor, as well as with the Regional Office and the Headquarters, to obtain the necessary clearances/approvals for procurement action.

Human Resources:

• Supervises the HR Sub-Unit and ensure adherence to established procedures and/or the establishment/revision of procedures, always looking for ways to make these more efficient and effective in support of the KEOC project managers.
• Liaises with the Regional Office and the Headquarters to obtain the necessary clearances/approvals for HR action

Administration:

• Supervises the the Administration Sub-Unit and ensures that KEOC project managers and other KEOC personnel receive effective and efficient support in the areas of: travel & transport, information technology, protocol and host country relations, office administration.
• Ensures that any tenants at the KEOC HQ in Nairobi are provided with the services that they have contracted to receive

Performs any other duties as assigned by the PSU Manager.

Required Selection Criteria

• Masters degree in Business Administration, Financial or Programme Management, or related field of study; Additional years of relevant work experience, preferably in combination with a relevant bachelor’s degree, may substitute for the requirement for a master’s degree
• 2 years of relevant work experience is required.
• At least 1 year of personnel administration experience is required
• Extensive work experience in procurement and/or HR and/or general administration is required
• An ability to write clear and to the point analytical prose in English is required.
• A PRINCE2 or equivalent project management qualification is highly desired.
• Experience using Atlas or a similar enterprise resource planning system is highly desired.
• Risk management experience is highly desired.
• Quality management experience is highly desired.
• Results based management experience is highly desired.
• Experience operating in an ISO: 9001 compliant environment is highly desired.
• Prior United Nations experience desired.

Submission of Applications

Candidates are strongly requested to carefully review the application guidelines below, incomplete documents and/or submissions not meeting the application guidelines will not be considered.

Interested candidates must submit their applications, including

1. Letter of interest
2. Complete Curriculum Vitae
3. Complete, updated and signed United Nations P.11 form

All of the above required documents must be sent via e-mail to vacancieskeoc@unops.org.Kindly indicate the vacancy number and the post title in the subject line when applying by email.

The body of the email must include the table below with responses in the exact format.

• Last name:
• First name:
• Highest completed educational qualification:
• Exact years of experience relevant to the assignment
• Experience with the United Nations (Yes/No). If yes, specify name of agency, Fund or Programme and exact years of relevant experience:
• Professional qualification and/or experience

UNOPS reserve the right to reject any application without the above format in the submission email.

* Please note that this is a local post and is open to all nationals of the country of the duty station and to individuals who otherwise hold a valid Kenyan work permit.

Additional Considerations

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

For more information on UNOPS, please visit the UNOPS website atwww.unops.org

For more information on the NO-B Fixed Term Contract position, please visit:
www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/salaries_allowances/salaries/nairobi.htm