Head of Support Services

UNOPS Guatemala Country Office which is part of the Latin America & the Caribbean (LCR) region  is recruiting for this position: Head of Support Services (HoSS) to be based in Guatemala City, (Family duty station).

Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

About UNOPS:

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is a United Nations body responsible for infrastructure, procurement and project management. Our mission is to deliver practical solutions, making projects happen and responding where needs are greatest. For three decades, UNOPS has  helped people improve their living conditions and countries achieve peace and sustainable development. 

UNOPS's work seeks environmental, social and economic sustainability, which contributes to progress in equity and the common good of the countries in which it operates, thus promoting the improvement of the living conditions of the people most in need. UNOPS has a presence in 23 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. The services, products and technical assistance comply with the public administration principles of transparency, equity, integrity, free competition, impartiality, morality, effectiveness, efficiency and respect for national institutions.  

About our Culture:

Our work contributes to building the foundations for countries and communities to achieve peace and sustainable development, guided by our values: Inclusion, Integrity, Humility and Humanity. 

UNOPS celebrates diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunities. The UNOPS workforce is made up of people of diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations and abilities. UNOPS aims to maintain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive work environment for its entire workforce.

About UNOPS Guatemala Country Office

UNOPS activities in Guatemala have lasted 26 years. We started operations in the country in 1997, and from the beginning, we have always been characterised by intervening in a variety of sectors and projects of varying complexities. From accompanying the peace process following the armed conflict, promoting productive activity in regions of extreme poverty, to modernising the state in terms of reducing infrastructure gaps, sustainable procurement in various sectors including health, and more recently, supporting efforts in transparency and efficiency of public institutions, in line with the priorities of the government and the well-being of Guatemalans.

For more information about the UNOPS Office in Guatemala, please review this Factsheet.

The Role 

The Head of Support Services (HoSS) is a critical leadership role in the Guatemala Country Office, reporting to the Director, who provides general guidance and vision. 

The HoSS is responsible for providing an efficient and integrated support service for the Country Office, dealing on a daily basis with a diverse team of national and international professionals.

The Head of Support Services (HoSS) reports to the Country Director and is responsible for:

1- Operational Leadership, advisory and technical support:

Leads and oversees critical operations, including finance, HR, procurement, HSSE, ICT, and administration, ensuring compliance with corporate policies and UN standards. As a key advisor to the Country Director, the HOSS will help shape strategic decisions, foster a culture of integrity, and inspire a high-performance team.

2- Project planning and coordination support:

Advises and provides high level support on efficient project planning and coordination, including budget preparation, financial monitoring, risk management, and performance evaluation. This role involves advising on project goal setting, contract negotiations, cost-sharing, and fund deployment while ensuring smooth operations and mitigating potential risks. Work closely with the Programme and Project Managers to troubleshoot challenges and ensure everything stays on track.

3- Procurement:

Oversees and supervises procurement team and procurement processes, ensuring the process adheres to UNOPS regulations and ethical standards. The HOSS leadership will ensure that every step is transparent and compliant, while still driving forward project goals efficiently.

4- Financial and compliance management:

Leads financial planning, budgeting, and compliance management for the Country Office. This role ensures adherence to UNOPS financial regulations, oversees expenditure control, and manages financial reporting, accounting, and cash flow operations. The HOSS will drive efficiency, supervise financial services, resolve issues, and act as the focal point for audits while ensuring optimal resource utilization and accountability.

5- Human resource management:

Leads human resource team and oversees the human resources management compliance with HR regulations. This role ensures strategic workforce planning, creating a thriving culture of continuous learning and professional development. 

6- Administration and Information Technology:

Oversees administration and IT operations, ensuring a secure and reliable ICT environment, asset management, and efficient service delivery. 

7- Knowledge management and innovation:

Drives knowledge management and innovation, ensuring the integration of best practices into Country Office operations. This role involves promoting learning, sharing lessons for corporate development, and leading strategic capacity-building initiatives for staff, clients, and stakeholders. Foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation to enhance operational excellence.



Impact of Results:

The effective and successful achievement of results by the Head of Support Services (HoSS) directly impact on the development and performance of the programmes and projects, visibility and image of the UNOPS as an effective service provider in project services and management and consequently strengthen its competitive position as a partner of choice in sustainable development and project services in the country served.



*** For more detailed information on job functions, please review the Job Description in the documents listed at the end of this vacancy announcement.

• A Master’s Degree in Finance, Business Administration, Economics, Human Resources Management, Procurement, Asset Management/Logistics or other relevant field is required.

• A Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Business Administration, Economics, Human Resources Management, Procurement, Asset Management/Logistics or other relevant field in combination with an additional two (2) years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the education requirements outlined above

• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience covering at least two (2) of the following operations functions: Procurement, Finance, Logistics/ Asset Management and Human Resources. Knowledge of the other functions is required.  Knowledge of the other functions is desirable.
• A minimum of three (3) years of leadership experience, including a proven track record managing staff and operational systems is required.
• Some experience in UN system organizations preferably in a developing country is desirable.
• Experience dealing with UN regulations, rules and policies in the areas of contracting, procurement and human resources is desirable.
• Willingness to work in hardship duty stations and/or travel to post crisis locations.

• Flency of English and Spanish language is required. 

• Knowledge of another official UNOPS language is an asset.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

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

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

• Guatemala City is a family duty station.

Terms and Conditions 

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses ( they take around 4 hours to complete)  in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.