Current vacancies

Stretch Assignment: WCARO/Operations (Onsite or both)

Title: Operations Specialist
Level: P3/NOC– we encourage staff from all levels with the relevant experience to apply
Reports to: Senior Operations Manager
Duration: 3 months
Section: Operations Section, WCARO
Location: Dakar, Senegal
Dates/Duration: Stretch assignment from 15 April 2025 until 15 July 2025.
Eligibility: All Fixed-Term, Permanent or continuing appointment UNICEF staff members currently working in UNICEF worldwide.

Background

UNICEF The Regional Office for West and Central Africa provides strategic oversight and support to 24 countries across the region. Within this framework, the Regional Operations team plays a critical role in ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of strategic operational functions. This team provides technical assistance and oversight to country office operations colleagues on a wide range of administrative, financial, and operational matters. Additionally, it offers guidance and decision support to Senior Management, enabling informed strategic planning, strengthening operational systems and compliance for a smooth implementation of Programmes and the achievement of tangible results for children across the region.

Purpose of the Position

To cover for three months the functions of the Operations Specialist in the Regional Operations team. Under the supervision and general guidance of the Senior Operations Manager, the Operations Specialist will proactively provide technical assistance, support and guidance on administrative and financial matters across the region. This includes monitoring country office performance, offering guidance on financial and administrative policies, supporting capacity-building initiatives, and facilitating the Programme Budget Review (PBR) process through data analysis and administrative coordination.

Duration
This stretch assignment will be for a period of three(3) months.

Key expected results

Support to the PBR process

• Assist the Regional TRT and PBR Secretariat in streamlining communication, ensuring timely information exchange and efficient workflow management. This includes liaising with key participant and Country Offices, maintaining records, and addressing any administrative challenges that may arise from the process.
• Analyze relevant data to provide insights and support evidence-based decision-making within the TRT and PBR process.

Oversight on administrative and financial matters across the region.

• Track key administrative and financial performance indicators across country offices, identifying recurring issues, providing recommendations, and offering technical support for continuous improvement.

Technical assistance to country offices on finance and administrative matters as needed

• Provide advice and guidance to COs on a variety of financial and administrative matters, involving interpretation and application of policy guidelines, financial and administrative rules and regulations.

Support to the RO Self-Assessment in the area of Administrative and Finance processes

• Contribute to the RO self-assessment by completing the review of administrative and Financial processes of the Common services.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here.

Minimum Qualifications and Competencies

• An Advanced University Degree in one of the following areas is required: Business management; Financial management; Accounting; Public Finance; and related operations function (Supply Chain, Human Resources, Information Technology, International Business, Project management, etc.).
• Or a full professional accounting designation (CA, ACA, ACCA, CPA, CIMA, CPFA, Expert Comptable) from an internationally recognized institute/body of accountancy with valid membership in good standing is required.
• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience, at the national and/or international level, in Operations management, Administrative and Financial management is required.
• Familiarity and knowledge of the region is an asset.
• Working knowledge of English and French.

Funding arrangement

Interested staff should obtain their supervisor's approval before applying for the stretch assignment via TMS. The releasing office will continue to cover the staff member's salary. The receiving office will cover costs for an economy round-trip air ticket and reduced DSA at 50% for the duration of the assignment.