Chief of Administration

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, and reports to the Deputy High Commissioner.




Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Chief of Programme Support and Management Services will be responsible for the following functions: MANAGEMENT ADVICE, POLICY AND PLANNING • Assists the High Commissioner and senior management in the development and implementation of the administrative and financial framework. • Advises senior management on budgeting, financial, human resources and general administration and management information issues and practices. • Produces major/complex analysis and reports for senior management, including on risk management and scenario planning. • Provides advice and support for the senior management in all areas of administration, management and logistics, as well as technical cooperation activities, special reviews of operational objectives and related administrative policies/procedures, etc. • Participates, on behalf of the Office, in task forces of the Secretariat on finance, human resources and administrative matters, including the implementation of the information management system. • Participates in the Senior Executive Team and Operations Group meetings to provide advice on administrative, financial and human resources matters, as required. • Provides guidance and advice in the implementation of Delegation of Authority to field offices and the roll out of the UN Secretariat Enterprise Resource Planning Software, UMOJA. • Provide guidance and support to the implementation of OHCHR’s organizational effectiveness initiative. • Provide guidance and advice to risk management across the office. BUDGET AND FINANCE • Takes the lead in securing the required resources for the Office from the United Nations' regular budget, including through presentation and defence of annual budget proposals to the General Assembly and its advisory committees. Exercises control over budgetary expenditures from these resources and advises senior management regarding the allocation/availability of approved resources. • Ensures that extrabudgetary planning is based on clearly defined priorities, and maintained at a reasonable level in line with anticipated income and projections for use of available reserves, for all OHCHR presences in Geneva, New York and around the world. • Develops, establishes and maintains a set of sound policies, procedures, standards and tools that are consistent with UN policy and practice in order to ensure proper accounting, financial management and control. • Supervises the OHCHR Chief of Budget and Finance, providing guidance and direction on business and resource planning. Formulates strategic direction and evaluates strategic options, particularly in terms of resource implications. Assumes the lead role in monitoring and supporting the execution of these strategies to achieve maximum impact. • Oversees the preparation of internal financial reports and reports to intergovernmental bodies on financial matters, and responses to Internal and External Audit observations in compliance with the Financial Rules and Regulations. HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT • Takes the lead in coordinating the full range of staff and human resource administration- related issues, ensuring departmental requirements are met. This involves overseeing development and maintenance of staffing plans; interpretation and application of staff rules relating to human resource issues; preparation of staffing projects and other ad hoc status reports on those issues. • Identifies potential management reviews of high sensitivity and complexity. Defines problems to be addressed in management reviews; directs the work of review teams through all stages. • Supervises the OHCHR Chief of Human Resources Management, ensuring that all human resources actions are in compliance with operational procedures for recruitment, placement and administration of OHCHR personnel, as well as mobility and career development, welfare, gender equality and inclusiveness, and staff-management relations. INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY • Takes the lead in ensuring that the Office is adequately supported through all relevant technologies and equipment, in line with the Organization's Information Management Strategy, and that appropriate data management services are available to support the implementation of the Office's mandate. • Supervises the OHCHR Chief of Information Management and Technology in supporting the Office in all locations through provision of Helpdesk support; network infrastructure and web technologies; software development, support and deployment, working closely with the divisions to assist with the implementation of solutions that will assist them in their work; and developing proper standards and policies for OHCHR. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION • Takes the lead in ensuring that the Office, in all its locations around the world, is adequately supported with the necessary infrastructure and services to fulfill its mandate. • Supervises the Chief of General Administrative Services, overseeing the provision of documents registry and records management for the Office; travel services for staff of the Office, members of the human rights treaty bodies and Human Rights Council special procedures mandate holders, as well as participants in official meetings/workshops/ seminars organized by OHCHR; logistical support including low-value procurement and facilities/property management services. SAFETY AND SECURITY • Supervises the Chief Security Officer in the coordination of security for OHCHR operations worldwide, in collaboration with host governments and the UN Department of Safety and Security, including support for the international human rights mechanisms mandated by the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council.




Competencies

Professionalism: Ability to provide specialized advice in a broad range of financial, human resources management and administrative areas to the High Commissioner and senior management. Ability to apply UN rules, regulations, policies and guidelines in work situations and prepare reports or rationales with respect to key administrative decisions. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable. Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing. Judgement/Decision-making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.




Education

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in business or public administration, finance, accounting, law or related area is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.




Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.




Work Experience

A minimum of fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible experience in administration, budget, finance, human resources management, or related field is required. Ten (10) years of experience managing large multidisciplinary teams are required. Experience with the management of field operations is desirable.




Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.




Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.




Special Notice

At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Staff members appointed to the current position are required to submit a financial disclosure statement upon assignment or appointment and annually thereafter. For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 April 2024, are strongly encouraged to apply: Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Germany, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libya, Liechtenstein, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu. Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position.




United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.




No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.