Operations Manager

How can you make a difference?

In support of the emergency programme and staff mobilisation plan for the Emergency Refugee Response, the Operations Specialist (Risk and Compliance) will be responsible for leading the strengthening of risk assurance and compliance efforts in the context of a large/medium/small scale country office. 

She/he will be responsible for providing complementary expertise, support, and monitoring related to the management of risk, including but not limited to the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of risk management practices at a process, systems, and entity level. She/he will ensure to lead the achievement of risk management objectives follows organizational rules and regulations, and acceptable ethical behavior; internal controls; information and technology security; sustainability; and quality assurance. Moreover, he/she will provide analysis and report on the adequacy and effectiveness of risk management and internal controls.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES and DUTIES & TASKS

Risk management support

• Lead the process of providing guidance and supporting the office in the annual risk assessment process and monitor the reliability of reports and their compliance with applicable rules and regulations.
• Lead the monitoring process of risk mitigation action plans including a mid-term review.
• Lead the office peer reviews process, undertake visits to project sites and field offices to verify the quality of performance.
• Ensure the risk management approach is embedded in any project/proposal, in office governance committees’ review of submissions and in any major decision made by the management.

Compliance support

• Lead the review process of the office systems, procedures and processes for compliance with organizational rules and regulations.
• Enforce and strengthen internal controls to ensure that systems are in place to prevent, detect and report non-compliance.  Support the process for the preparation of the annual Statement of Internal Control (SIC) by the office.
• Review and validate the internal work processes in Programme and Operations to ensure that accountabilities are clear and placed at the adequate levels as per global policies and/or best practices.
• Lead the establishment of a risk-based system to periodically and systematically review a sample of activities (Programme and Operations) to ensure they are carried out according to established work processes and in compliance with UNICEF policies and procedures.
• Lead the internal and external audit processes, conduct a quality assurance and follow-up on the implementation of the recommendations and provide feedback to the management.
• Periodically test compliance with the Table of authority and adherence to the delegation of authorities in line with UNICEF policies and Procedures; and ensure staff understand the roles and responsibilities delegated to them.
• Lead the process of reviewing the conformity of statutory and non-statutory committees, assess committee members have been trained/oriented on their roles and responsibility.

Fraud risk Management support

• Support the management of the office in collecting evidence to respond to OIAI’s queries when initially assessing allegations of fraud and misconduct or during actual investigations.
• Advise the management on lessons learned from investigations and measures to be taken accordingly.
• Ensure the implementation of the global anti-fraud strategy, suggest internal fraud prevention mechanisms and alert the management on any fraudulent issues as well as unethical behaviors detected.
• Lead the process of Fraud risk training / orientation to Partners and suppliers.

Oversight and advisory to the Management

• Advise the management on actions to be taken to enforce and strengthen accountabilities for a robust, responsive and transparent governance framework.
• Contribute to effective management process by participating in key governance meetings (particularly CMT, PMT and OMT).
• Coordinate Risk assessment and control activities with other UN agencies by representing the office in meetings related to Risks and Compliance activities.

Create awareness/capacity building

• Establish a system to document and report weaknesses in internal control and implement actions aimed at addressing internal controls gaps (SOP, memos…) and building the capacity of responsible staff.
• Analyze cause and effect of policy changes to the operations of the office, anticipate changes and advise on the new way of doing business.
• Lead the implementation of a continuous learning and development plan for the Risk and Compliance function.
• Ensure that management provides staff with access to relevant training and that staff and other personnel understand key UNICEF policies including PSEA, Fraud and Ethics.

Any support needed from the regional office

• On request, support the Regional Office in conducting reviews exercises in countries where Risk and Compliance positions are not established, or in supporting any other review in the area of expertise (Peer reviews, assessment…).
• Develop a network/community of risk and compliance specialists at both regional and global level for experience sharing, updated working documents as well as office rules and policies.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher*) is required in one of the following fields: Business Administration and Financial Management. Operations Management, Strategic Management, Risk Management, Audit, Investigation, Internal Control, Statistics and Data Analysis or Accounting certifications are considered as assets.
• A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• A minimum of eight years of continuous professional work experience in Risk and Compliance or another directly relevant area, several of which in internal audit is required. Experience in financial management, particularly developing and implementing financial control systems, ERM, audits, internal control preferably with international organizations, NGOs and UN.
• Field experience /familiarity with Emergency.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset. Relevant language skills to perform the post an asset.

Source: https://jobs.unicef.org/cw/en-us/job/576400