Job Description
Drive strategic delivery and sustainable impact by leading country-level planning, execution, and monitoring of all engagements.
The Country Manager reports to the Multi-Country Office (MCO) Director, who provides strategic direction, oversight and guidance. Working in close collaboration with the MCO’s Head of Support Services (HoSS) and Head of Programme (HoP), the Country Manager is accountable for planning, executing and monitoring the delivery of all engagements. S/he actively pursues new business, building key relationships and ensuring the timely, cost-effective and sustainable delivery of services to all partners and stakeholders.
People Leadership
- Create, foster and role model a culture of trust, empowerment and accountability within the Project Office.
- Build engagement and foster a diverse and inclusive work environment, respectful of all, and ensure that the highest standards of conduct are observed.
- Create, foster and role model a culture of respect and zero tolerance for discrimination, abuse of authority, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual exploitation and abuse. Ensure accountability for actions and perform duties in accordance with protection mechanisms and action plans, as expected by UNOPS policies, standards and commitments.
- Promote teamwork, collaboration and diversity, by providing timely guidance and supervision to the team, to enable them to perform their duties responsibly, effectively and efficiently.
- Plan, recruit, manage and develop a flexible and diverse workforce, with the skills and competencies needed to ensure optimum performance.
Project Office Portfolio Management
- Under the guidance and oversight of the MCO Director and HoP, develop proposals and prepare project agreements in connection with identified opportunities.
- Plan and propose required resources (human, financial and administrative) to achieve goals set for the Project Office.
- Establish the strategies and implementation plans for the Project Office.
- In collaboration with the partners, develop the objectives, performance measurements, standards and results expected to ensure timely and partner oriented services.
- Oversee, monitor and direct appropriate measures to maintain the safety and security of UNOPS, assets, property, information and personnel and their eligible dependents within the respective area of responsibility.
- Under the guidance of the MCO Director and with the support of the MCO Head of Support Services and the MCO Head of Programme, the Country Manager manages the overall HSSE performance in the Project Office while overseeing the implementation of all HSSE requirements.
- Consult - if most senior UNOPS person in-country - with the UNOPS Chief of Security act as the UNOPS Security Focal Point (SFP) within the country of operation, including participating actively in the Security Management Team (SMT) and perform duties on security as outlined in the Framework of Accountability in the UN Security Management System Policy Manual.
Alliance Building, Networking and Advocacy for Business Development
- Keep abreast of and assess the needs of the relevant national government and other UNOPS partners operating in the country, to identify and plan with them (and under the guidance of the MCO Director) areas for leveraging UNOPS services/competencies in project service delivery and management that will facilitate their achievement of sustainable results.
- Build and strengthen strategic partnerships through active networking, advocacy and effective communication of UNOPS competencies in project service delivery and management to develop opportunities and engagements with new and existing partners.
- Keep the MCO Director informed/advised on opportunities and/or challenges and risks to strengthen UNOPS capacity for portfolio management and business development.
Service Delivery and Quality Assurance
- In close collaboration with the MCO HoSS and HoP, establish and maintain appropriate arrangements for ensuring excellence of business processes and quality standards, as well as ensure direct operational support for delivery of the Project Office projects/programmes, including leveraging regional or corporate support facilities wherever available.
- Monitor and oversee project/programme implementation, review progress, assess constraints and take corrective action, ensuring early warning of risks to the MCO , for action and/or intervention.
- Take responsibility for financial decisions/ exercise financial control to ensure the fiscal health/ sustainability of the Project Office, including submitting financial reports to the MCO Director.
Representation and Inter-Agency Coordination
- Participate, as delegated by the MCO Director, in inter-agency and external meetings/ bodies to contribute to the harmonization of policies, practices and approaches within the UN System, such as the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, Integrated Strategic Framework (UNSDCF), and ‘’Delivering as One.’’
- On behalf of the MCO Director, participate in any UN country team meetings or interagency management groups to contribute to discussions and initiatives to strengthen coherence, inclusiveness, aid effectiveness and security measures.
- In alignment with the MCO Director, keep the UN Resident Coordinator informed of UNOPS activities within [country name] through regular communication and formal reporting on business acquisition and implementation of activities led by UNOPS as part of the UNSDCF or equivalent.
Risk Management
- Drive high-quality, well-informed decisions that align with organizational goals for effective and measurable outcomes to the regional assessment exercise for UN Resident Coordinators.
- Ensure corporate reporting, information flow and appropriate escalation of awareness of emerging risks and topics.
- Champion risk management through a ‘tone at the top’ leadership approach, promoting alignment with applicable standards and policies.
Knowledge Management and Innovation
- Contribute to the development and introduction of innovation to ensure UNOPS is continually incorporating best practice approaches.
- Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for corporate, regional and national development planning and knowledge building.
- Plan, implement and organize strategic capacity building of personnel, partners and stakeholders.
