Head of Support Services

UNOPS established its country presence in China in 2014 and is managing three projects signed with Chinese government entities. UNOPS provides advisory and technical assistance services with its expertise in procurement, project management, as well as capacity building of key local stakeholders.

1. Advisory and technical support

2. Project planning and coordination support

3. Procurement

4. Financial management

5. Human resource management

6. Administration and Information Technology

7. Knowledge management and innovation

Advisory and technical support

• Contribute to the formulation of Project Centre strategies and policies through advisory services to the Project Centre Director.

• Provide technical advice and operational guidance on innovative approaches to project financing, risk assessment/mitigation and use of financing structures, mechanisms instruments and guarantees.

• Collaborate with colleagues to identify the need, determine cost and plan all Project Centre support services, including procurement, finance, human resources and administrative services. 

• Assist the Director in setting goals, targets and performance standards for projects, and recommend tools for monitoring, evaluation and auditing

• Monitor and supervise all aspects of operations to ensure compliance with corporate strategies, UNOPS rules, regulations, policies, and standards of accountability, ethics and integrity and achievement of results.

• Monitor support services to ensure optimum client service and satisfaction, including liaising with appropriate Head Quarters Practice Groups for required support.

• Participate in  UN forum discussions and planning to ensure UNOPS position, interests and priorities are fully considered.

• Act as focal point for any internal/external audit exercise.

Project planning and coordination support

• Provide assistance and support to programme and project budget preparation, revisions and work planning.

• Provide input into project engagement and acceptance documents including assisting with contract negotiations.

• Provide advice on goal setting, targets and performance standards for projects and recommend tools for monitoring, evaluation and auditing.

• Monitor project financial projections, take decisions and/or refer critical issues to the Project Centre Director and/or other stakeholders for action.

• Provide advice on programme and project cost sharing, deployment of funds and closure.

• Constantly monitor and analyse the operating environment to identify potential risks and take action/refer critical issues for intervention to ensure delivery of results.

• Closely liaise with the Field Offices (within the OH/OC) in order to troubleshoot any issues that might cause interruption in the support services management.

Procurement

• Oversee and supervise Project Centre procurement processes, including tendering processes and evaluation and supplier selection, to ensure viable procurement solutions that meet operational needs and compliance with UNOPS procurement procedures, regulations and standard of accountability, ethics, integrity and performance.

• Evaluate contractual arrangements and legal commitments/risks for appropriate action.

• Oversee the efficiency and integrity of the procurement evaluation process to ensure cost-effective procurement of goods and services.

• In consultation with relevant colleague, review, administer and issue contracts, agreements/amendments with institutions and UN agencies.

• Oversee the logistics of goods and equipment on project sites to confirm delivery and safe warehousing.

• Evaluate, list, update and monitor the performance of the roster of service providers of suitable firms or institutions.

Financial management

• Prepare the Project Centre financial plan and manage the budget process/cycle to ensure timely revisions and reallocation of funds.

• Oversee Finance Unit and ensure compliance with the UNOPS/Financial Rules & Regulations and Finance procedures

• Monitor, track and control expenditure to ensure optimum and appropriate use of resources.

• Ensure the availability of required financial reports and exception reports including investigating anomalies to resolve problems, reporting or recommending any action required to relevant stakeholders.

• Supervise the timely review, posting and closure of accounts. Certify/verify accuracy and compliance with standards of accountability framework. Submit/prepare mandated report on financial status.

• Supervise all financial services (accounting, cash management, payments etc.) ensuring timeliness and compliance with standards of accountability and performance.

• Monitor the Management Budget expenditures for the OH/OC and ensure that LMDC (Locally Managed Direct Cost) is properly recovered, billed and spent in accordance with the applicable procedures;

Human resource management

• Plan personnel required for Project Centre programmes/projects.

• Oversee all human resource services/processes including recruitment, salary administration and compensation, performance review, training and development, ensuring compliance with human resource rules, regulations, procedures and standards of performance and ensuring that hiring managers actively seek to create diverse teams in terms of gender and geography.

• Promote and support a learning culture by empowering individuals and teams to identify critical learning needs and plan/provide easy access to learning opportunities to maintain personnel competency and flexibility.

• Foster a positive work environment, respectful of both men and women, and ensure that the highest standards of conduct are observed.

• Exercise control of all staffing issues within the OC as required by the projects’ demands including recruitment, training, staff performance review

Administration and Information Technology

• In close collaboration with Headquarters, support maintenance of a secure and reliable ICT environment, including adequate plans for disaster recovery.

• Manage the acquisition, maintenance, inventory, recording, verification and protection of project and administrative facilities/assets, including IT infrastructure, equipment and servers.

• Identify opportunities for leveraging the use of IT to enhance business operations and efficiency and to facilitate knowledge management, and information sharing.

• Manage the timely and efficient delivery of all administrative services, (e.g. premises, asset management, organizational and personnel security, travel and IT).

Knowledge management and innovation

• Contribute to the development and introduction of innovation to ensure UNOPS is continually incorporating best practice approaches in Project Centre support services.

• Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for corporate development planning and knowledge building.

• At the request of the Project Centre Director and in collaboration with the team, plan, implement and organise strategic capacity building of project personnel, clients and stakeholders.

Education:

• Master’s degree in a relevant related field is required.
• Bachelor’s degree in combination with additional 2 years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of Master's degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in one or more of the following areas: Procurement, Finance, Logistics/ Asset Management and/or  Human Resources is required, preferably in large international and/or corporate organization.
  
• A minimum of 2 years of professional experience as a Team Leader in an organisation.
• Some experience in UN system, preferably in a developing country is desirable.
   

Language requirements:

• Fluency in written and spoken English and Chinese (Mandarin) is required
• Knowledge of another official UNOPS language is an asset

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to manage a team, establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural, multi ethnic environment.
• Ability to communicate ideas and concept clearly and convincingly.
• Ability to go beyond established procedures and models and to manage complex situations to resolve issues and deliver results.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• 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.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.