Director, Country Office
Organizational Context
UNOPS operates in Latin America and the Caribbean across 23 countries, focusing on infrastructure, public health, and institutional capacity building to drive sustainable development. The Regional Director's Office in Panama City provides strategic leadership and coordination for the region, ensuring operational excellence and alignment with organizational goals. The Panama Country Office specifically manages projects in infrastructure, procurement, capacity strengthening, and HR services, working closely with national partners.
Job Purpose
The Country Office Director is responsible for the overall direction and management of all delivery and operations within the Panama Country Office's scope. This includes leading liaison and engagement development activities to ensure timely and cost-effective service delivery for sustainable results. The role involves representing UNOPS in the country on behalf of the Regional Director, fostering strong partnerships with stakeholders, and ensuring the effective implementation of UNOPS' mandate and strategic plan. The Director plays a crucial role in aligning country-level activities with regional and global objectives, contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals through robust project management and operational oversight.
Responsibilities
The Country Office Director is accountable for people leadership, fostering a culture of trust, diversity, and inclusion, and ensuring high standards of conduct. This includes planning, recruiting, managing, and developing a diverse workforce. In portfolio management, the Director develops country office strategy, oversees portfolio implementation, manages operational risks, and ensures alignment with the UNOPS strategic plan. Key duties involve setting objectives, monitoring progress, and making decisions to achieve results. The role also encompasses alliance building, networking, and advocacy to strengthen partnerships and identify opportunities for UNOPS services. Service delivery and quality assurance are critical, ensuring timely and cost-effective project execution according to partner expectations and financial sustainability. Representation and inter-agency coordination involve representing UNOPS in relevant forums, including the UN Country Team, to promote the organization and contribute to UN coherence. Risk management and knowledge management are also key responsibilities, driving innovation and sharing best practices.
Work Experience
Requires significant experience in strategic and managerial leadership within public affairs, management, business development planning, and operations in a large corporate or international organization. Experience in Panama or other Latin American countries in comparable leadership roles is highly desirable, as is experience with new technologies for scalable operations.
Skills
Innovation Management, Organizational Leadership, Portfolio Management, Risk Management, Stakeholder Management, Strategic Alliances, Strategic Partnerships, Strategic Thinking, People Leadership, Alliance Building, Networking, Advocacy, Service Delivery, Quality Assurance, Representation, Inter Agency Coordination, Knowledge Management.