Senior Operations Officer

Tags: finance English language Environment
  • Added Date: Monday, 03 July 2023
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Grade: NOB

Publication date: 3 July 2023
Application deadline (midnight local time): 16 July 2023

Vacancy no.: RB/COLOMBO/NO/2023/03

Job ID: 10943
Department: RO-Asia and the Pacific
Organization Unit: CO-Colombo
Location: Colombo
Contract type: Special Short Term

The recruitment process for National Officer positions is subject to specific local recruitment and eligibility criteria.

The following are eligible to apply:

  • ILO Internal candidates in accordance with paragraphs 31 and 32 of Annex I of the Staff Regulations.
  • External candidates

    *Conditions of employment for external candidates: In conformity with existing ILO practice, the appointment of an external candidate will normally be made at the first step of this grade.

    Organizational Setting

    This position is located in the ILO Country Office (CO) for Sri Lanka. The ILO CO for Sri Lanka and the Maldives supports ILO constituents to realise decent work for inclusive growth and sustainable development. The CO works in close collaboration with the government of Sri Lanka, employers' and workers' organizations, and other stakeholders, through the current Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) 2018-2024.

    Main Purpose

    As a team member, the incumbent provides comprehensive and professional services in the design and delivery of operational services that facilitate implementation of the Officeโ€™s programme of work. The incumbent oversees finance, human resources (HR) and administration areas and may also be required to oversee other operational areas such as procurement, facilities and asset management, security, communications, information management and information technology (IT). Services are delivered in an efficient, effective and client-oriented manner and include the use of the enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. The incumbent contributes to the development and enhancement of work methods and procedures. Work is governed by established rules, regulations, policies, procedures and guidelines.

    The position works under the supervision of the Country Office Director. The incumbent has a high degree of independence in completing work assignments. Supervision received is focused on the overall delivery of results impacting the Office.

    Working Relationships

    Internal contacts are with staff and managers in field offices, project locations and headquarters to build and maintain effective working relationships, exchange information and gain agreement on operational issues for the improvement of services.

    External contacts are primarily with banks, service providers, United Nations (UN) agencies, and working groups, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other international organizations to maintain effective working relationships, clarify requirements and resolve issues, and to discuss best practices and latest developments in the concerned operational area.

    Key Duties and Responsibilities

    1. Provide substantial professional services in the design and delivery of operational services encompassing HR and administration areas. Oversee procurement, facilities and asset management, security, communications, information management, information technology (IT), transport, registry and messenger services, as required.
    2. Take the lead in updating the Office's Business Continuity Plan to ensure smooth operations in case of crises
    3. Take the lead in coordinating and overseeing necessary office renovations ensuring minimal disruption, and value for money
    4. Ensure staff medicals are undertaken per Office Guidelines
    5. Develop a prototype for the office to manage and monitor the use of flexible working hours and teleworking in line with Office Guidelines and Directives;
    6. Oversee and provide professional support for the delivery of a range of HR services including contract administration, recruitment, benefits and entitlements and advisory services to staff and managers. Promote the use of the Talent/Performance Management System and other HR tools to ensure compliance in the Office.
    7. Assist the Country Security Focal Point (CSFP) in ensuring the safety, security and well-being of officials and the security of premises and assets in accordance with United Nations security policies and procedures. Act as Local Security Assistant as required.
    8. Update the learning and staff development activities roster, and follow up with staff to ensure compliance on assigned and mandatory courses
    9. Monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of work methods and processes and make recommendations for improvements. Liaise closely with staff and managers to ensure effective and smooth service design and delivery, recommending improvements on interrelated processes.
    10. Conduct research and analyse data and information on a variety of operational related subjects. Prepare analytical reports to contribute to programme/project monitoring and provide inputs to reports and other communications.
    11. Participate in UN interagency meetings, working groups and joint initiatives on common system activities in the concerned operational areas. Prepare information notes on key issues and developments and follow up as required.
    12. Follow up on internal and external audit recommendations and draft responses to audit inquiries and observations for consideration of supervisor
    13. Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

      Education

      University degree (Bachelorโ€™s or equivalent) in a field relevant to the job.

      Equivalent work experience may be considered in lieu of a University degree in accordance with the table below.

      Experience

      Minimum of three years of professional work experience in administrative or operational areas, including in finance. Experience in working with multiple modules of an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.

      Substantial experience as a member of a planned change management programme would be an added advantage.

      Languages

      Excellent English and working knowledge of another official language of the Organization or an official national language of the duty station.

      Knowledge and Competencies (technical/behavioural)

      Good knowledge of financial principles and concepts.
      Good knowledge of HR management principles and concepts.
      Good knowledge of PC software (including word processor and spreadsheet and presentation software) such as Microsoft Office.
      Knowledge of project management and the (business) project cycle.
      Knowledge of UN Common System policies in the area of administration and operations.
      Knowledge of the substantive nature of Organizationโ€™s work programmes and activities.
      Knowledge of methods and techniques for designing and assessing quality and efficiency of process execution.

      In addition to the ILO core competencies [Integrity and transparency, Sensitivity to diversity, Orientation to learning and knowledge sharing, Client orientation, Communication, Orientation to change, Takes responsibility for performance, Quality orientation, Collaboration], this position requires:

      Ability to interpret and work within applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
      Ability to adapt quickly to new software and systems.
      Analytical skills with ability to make sound judgments and decisions on operational issues.
      Good drafting skills and ability to prepare analytical reports on a range of operational areas.
      Ability to oversee the work of and provide guidance to staff.
      A high degree of discretion with sense of responsibility in dealing with confidential matters.
      Interpersonal skills, tact and diplomacy when dealing with others.
      Ability to manage competing priorities.
      Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.

      Substitution of experience for university degree

      Equivalent work experience may be considered in lieu of a University degree in accordance with the table below.

      ๐Ÿ“š ๐——๐—ถ๐˜€๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐—›๐—ผ๐˜„ ๐˜๐—ผ ๐—š๐—ฒ๐˜ ๐—ฎ ๐—๐—ผ๐—ฏ ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—จ๐—ก ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฏ! ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿค ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฑ ๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ฟ ๐—ก๐—˜๐—ช ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐—ฟ๐˜‚๐—ถ๐˜๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜ ๐—š๐˜‚๐—ถ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ ๐˜๐—ผ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—จ๐—ก ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฏ ๐˜„๐—ถ๐˜๐—ต ๐˜๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜ ๐˜€๐—ฎ๐—บ๐—ฝ๐—น๐—ฒ๐˜€ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—จ๐—ก๐—›๐—–๐—ฅ, ๐—ช๐—™๐—ฃ, ๐—จ๐—ก๐—œ๐—–๐—˜๐—™, ๐—จ๐—ก๐——๐—ฆ๐—ฆ, ๐—จ๐—ก๐—™๐—ฃ๐—”, ๐—œ๐—ข๐—  ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—ผ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜€! ๐ŸŒ

      โš ๏ธ ๐‚๐ก๐š๐ง๐ ๐ž ๐˜๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐‹๐ข๐Ÿ๐ž ๐๐จ๐ฐ: ๐๐จ๐ฐ๐ž๐ซ๐Ÿ๐ฎ๐ฅ ๐“๐ž๐œ๐ก๐ง๐ข๐ช๐ฎ๐ž๐ฌ ๐ก๐จ๐ฐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ ๐ž๐ญ ๐š ๐ฃ๐จ๐› ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐”๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ž๐ ๐๐š๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐Ž๐–!

      Education required

      Equivalency for applicants who do not possess a university degree or post-secondary diploma

      Equivalency for applicants who do not possess a university degree but who possess a post-secondary diploma

      University degree (Bachelorโ€™s or equivalent) in a field relevant to the job

      Completion of secondary school

      +

      Six years of relevant work experience (in addition to the number of years of experience required in the job description)

      Completion of secondary school

      +

      Diploma/certificate from post-secondary education

      +

      Four years of relevant work experience (in addition to the number of years of experience required in the job description)

      Recruitment process

      Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application form. To apply, please visit the ILO Jobs website. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.

      Fraud warning

      The ILO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process whether at the application, interview, processing or training stage. Messages originating from a non ILO e-mail account - @ilo.org - should be disregarded. In addition, the ILO does not require or need to know any information relating to the bank account details of applicants.

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