Operations - Senior Officer
Organizational Context
The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) supports sustainable development, climate action, and peacebuilding globally. The UN's Sanitation and Hygiene Fund (SHF), a hosted partnership within UNOPS, focuses on achieving universal access to sanitation and menstrual health through market-based approaches in low- and middle-income countries. This role is based in Nairobi and supports SHF's operations.
Job Purpose
The Operations Senior Officer will report to the SHF Head of Strategy and Performance, ensuring effective and efficient support for SHF's operational activities. This role is crucial for providing high-quality, client-focused, and results-oriented assistance in areas including operations, quality assurance, procurement, and grants management. The incumbent will ensure efficient service delivery and adherence to UNOPS rules and regulations, optimizing resource utilization. By collaborating closely with the SHF team, this position directly contributes to the fund's mission of catalyzing investment and improving access to sanitation and menstrual health services in developing countries.
Responsibilities
The Operations Senior Officer will provide comprehensive support across several key areas. In operations, this includes assisting in workplan development, advising personnel on corporate rules, managing contracts for advisory personnel, monitoring delegations of authority, and supporting in-country operations and events. Responsibilities also involve strengthening processes through manuals and training, and serving as the Nairobi administration focal point. For quality assurance, the role entails collaborating on audit compliance, coordinating reviews of programme documents, ensuring quality control of management outputs, maintaining document repositories, and leading on health, safety, security, and environmental (HSSE) matters. Contract management duties include supporting the drafting of Terms of Reference, evaluating proposals, initiating contracts, maintaining contract databases, and monitoring compliance. Grant support involves preparing and reviewing grant award requests, drafting agreements, onboarding partners, reviewing budgets and financial reports, verifying reporting, processing disbursements, resolving operational issues, and coordinating grant closure.
Work Experience
A minimum of two years of progressive experience in operations support, grants management, or program administration within an international organization or development project is required. Experience in reviewing award requests, drafting agreements, financial monitoring, and processing disbursements is essential. Desired experience includes knowledge of UN/UNOPS contractual and financial rules, procurement processes, and working in multicultural or developing country environments.
Skills
Contract Management, Documentation, Grant Administration, Operations Management, Procurement, Project Finance, Quality Assurance, Health, Safety, Security, and Environmental (HSSE) Management.