Current vacancies

Stretch Assignment: Operations Specialist, (P3/P4 or NO3/NO4), WCARO, Dakar, Senegal

Title: Operations Specialist
Level: P3/P4
Reports to: Senior Operations Manager
Duration: 3 months
Section: Operations, Section, WCARO
Location: Dakar, Senegal
Dates/Duration: Stretch assignment from September until December 31st 2025.
Eligibility: All Fixed-Term, Permanent or continuing appointment UNICEF staff members currently working in UNICEF worldwide.

1. 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 risk-informed decisions, strategic planning, strengthening operational systems and compliance for a smooth implementation of Programmes and the achievement of tangible results for children across the region.

2. Purpose of the assignment

To cover for three months the functions of the Operations Manager 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, financial and general operations-related matters across the region. This includes accounts closure activities, capacity building activities, RO self-assessment exercise, and knowledge management.

3. Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate the Oversight on Accounts closure activities
  • Asset Count exercise: Follow-up with country offices to ensure required training is completed and asset count is completed per DFAM instructions and by the deadline.
  • Monthly closure activities: Follow-up with country offices and provide necessary support to ensure monthly activities are performed and long outstanding items are cleared prior to year-end closure activities.
• Coordinate capacity building activities
  • 2024 Admin and Finance workshop recommendations: follow up with offices, DFAM and RO Operations on the implementation of the 2024 workshop recommendations
  • Admin and Finance webinars: support the planning and facilitation of monthly technical webinars on key administrative and financial matters, including cost saving measures.
• Support the Regional Office self-assessment exercise.
  • RO Self-Assessment exercise: Perform a range of activities to help the RO strengthen Regional Governance and Oversight Mechanisms.
    • Set up a SharePoint repertory of all committees ToRs, membership and meeting minutes.
    • Review Non-Statutory committees ToRs and membership (PCM, Budget Process, etc.).
    • Review Committees activities (2022, 2023 and 2024).
    • Map out and Review Regional Governance bodies.
• Coordinate the roll out of RO resource Management teamsupport strategy to Country Offices during the FFI transition period
  • Support in implementing activities related to support affected staff.
  • Finalize the Regional risk assessment related to administrative and financial functions and support the roll out of the risk mitigation action plan.
  • Support the roll out of the Administrative and Finance functions transition plan.
  • Support in the implementation of the Administrative and Finance functions Knowledge management strategy.
• Knowledge Management:
  • Support the development of a comprehensive KM strategy by mapping existing resources, identifying critical gaps, and aligning with the team’s priorities and ways of working.
  • Help strengthen knowledge flows and accessibility by assessing how information is currently stored, accessed, and shared, and by introducing improvements that enhance collaboration and institutional memory.
  • Establish a sustainable KM platform (e.g., SharePoint) as the team’s central knowledge hub, ensuring information is structured, user-friendly, and positioned to support future learning and innovation.
• Perform any other duty as requested by the supervisor.

4. Requirements
   • Advanced university degree in Finance/Accounting, Audit, or any relevant area
   • At least five years of experience in dealing with Administrative, Financial and Budgetary matters, including at least 3 years in a large country Office or a Regional Office.
   • Fluency in French and English is required, both in writing and verbal.
   • Familiarity and knowledge of the region is an asset.
5. Release arrangement

Interested staff should obtain their supervisor's approval before applying for the stretch assignment. 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.