The Position:

Within the context of a complex political, social, economic, and humanitarian environment, the Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office is ensuring efficient and effective business practices and operations support for accelerated programme delivery towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, ICPD Programme of Action, and Africa Agenda 2063. The region also implements responsive and tailored support to middle-income countries, strengthened coordination and support for preparedness, response, and resilience-building in humanitarian contexts, and enhanced resource mobilization and financial management capacities. The Regional Operations Shared Service Center (ROSSC) in the ESA region consolidates services across core operational functions in procurement, finance, ICT, Human Resources, and administration for Middle-Income Countries. The ROSSC provides procure-to-pay services across Business Units; Given the complexity, scale, and volume of the UNFPA programmes in the region, which requires differentiated support across all country typologies and diverse country contexts, the position of Regional International Operations Manager will provide strategic oversight, guidance, and leadership for regional operations, including for the ROSSC. The IOM also advises the Regional Director on course correction; compliance, cost-effectiveness; and creative responses to emerging complex challenges

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire and deliver high-impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, and exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

You play a leading role in achieving key results which have an impact on the overall economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of Regional Office operations, and the functioning of UNFPA in line with the use of corporate resources in the following areas:

• Financial Services
• Human Resources
• Procurement and Logistical Services
• ICT
• Implementation of the UN agenda on common services and joint procurement (Business efficiency through the Business Operations Strategy, Common Back Offices, etc) CBO – Others)

You are accountable for supporting the effective development and delivery of an innovative Regional Programme focused on population and development and universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, including maternal health, family planning, gender, and adolescent and youth empowerment. The Regional International Operations Manager is a member of the Regional Office senior leadership team, together with the Regional Director and Deputy Regional Director. The Regional IOM provides leadership and advice on all aspects of office management and operations and works within the increased complexity of a regional context, with larger teams and greater oversight of processes to manage from an operational perspective.

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

Postgraduate university degree in any of the following disciplines: Public Administration or Business Administration, Economics, Management, or other related fields.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Minimum 7 years of experience in development in a governmental, multilateral, or civil society organization in a multicultural setting, including 3 or more years experience in managing teams in a complex organizational setting
• Ability to build strong relationships with clients, focus on impact and result, and respond positively to feedback
• Solid knowledge in procurement, financial and human resources management, contract, asset, and information and communication technology
• Ability to lead business process re-engineering, implement new systems, and positively affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal changes
• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting, formulation, and monitoring of projects/programmes
• Experience in international development, particularly in the mandate of UNFPA and dedication to the principles of the United Nations
• Field experience is essential; experience from a developing, humanitarian context is an asset.

Languages: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of other official UN languages is desirable.