Organization: UNDP – United Nations Development Programme
Location: Copenhagen | Istanbul | Kuala Lumpur | Addis Ababa | Dakar | Bangkok | Amman | Panama City
Grade: Senior Executive level – D-1, Director – Internationally recruited position
Occupational Groups:
Operations and Administrations
Human Resources
Managerial positions
Closing Date: 2024-12-02
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
As an essential component of the strategic direction of the UNDP Bureau for Management Services (BMS) and with an emphasis on the provision of cost effective and integrated management transactions services, UNDP’s Global Shared Services Center (GSSC) combines the resources of GSSC (Copenhagen), GSSC (Kuala Lumpur) and Regional Service Centers in Dakar, Istanbul, Amman, Addis Ababa, Bangkok, and Panama.
The GSSC provides transactional human resources, finance, and procurement services to UNDP Country Offices and Headquarters Units in 170+ countries / territories as well as to over 85 United Nations (UN) entities. The GSSC ensures that these services are delivered on time, with high quality, within the corporate regulatory framework, and to the satisfaction of clients. The Director, BMS/GSSC has the responsibility for the vision, management, and oversight of the service centre.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Director, BMS/GSSC is the primary interface with internal UNDP and external clients, provides quality assurance and unifying leadership for all shared services and ensures responsiveness of services and client satisfaction. Under the overall leadership of the BMS Director and the supervision of the Deputy Director of BMS, the Director BMS/GSSC designs and supports implementation of client service lines, supports client relationships, and manages the implementation and delivery of new business services, leveraging the resource and bringing enhanced opportunities for the UN system.
1) Directs and oversees coordinated management transactions services delivered from GSSC to UNDP and external clients.
Develops a procedural framework and client-focused culture in the delivery of services;
Ensures active engagement with functional leaders through regular work-planning, results-monitoring, and information-sharing to ensure all centralized services are governed by a unified management approach; and
Oversees the resource management of GSSC (KL) and GSSC (CPH) and ensures proper costing for services delivered as well as collection of cost recovery.
2) Ensures that GSSC delivers services against set performance targets.
Articulates a clear, compelling, and fully actualized client services model for transactional service delivery standards and formalizes service level agreements accordingly;
Co-develops and regularly communicates service standards and key performance indicators (KPIs);
Secures service level agreements with all clients;
Ensures all clients have clear knowledge of the services they can receive, the teams which support them, performance indicators, cost of services and mechanisms for resolving issues related to service delivery;
Continuously improve the effectiveness and efficiency of services to drive up quality and improve performance;
Maintains a unifying approach to gathering client feedback, escalating issues, and adapting service arrangements where results are not in line with set goals;
Communicates and interacts with the Directors of BMS functional units; and
Establishes and maintains regularly scheduled meetings regarding the status and performance of the GSSC.
3) Ensures efficient and effective operations at the GSSC by optimizing service delivery across all locations.
Leads an integration and coordination team to both facilitate the transition of services to the GSSC and to actively identify business process reengineering opportunities with the centre functional leads to streamline and standardize services performed by the unit in consultation with Global Process Leads (GPO).
Solicits business process improvement initiatives to build a culture of solutions-orientation, multi-disciplinary teamwork, and client satisfaction;
Collaborates with leaders of global service centers from other Agencies and international organizations to share knowledge and follow industry practices; and
Ensures compliance with applicable functional unit policies for services provided by the GSSC.
4) Ensures the financial sustainability of the GSSC.
Oversees the implementation of GSSC financial sustainability initiatives in collaboration with various stakeholders;
Manages and oversees the development and implementation of client strategies that ensure GSSC financial sustainability;
Continuously explores and recommends suite of services for existing and new clients with a view to ensuring GSSC financial sustainability;
Leads in the identification of new services and clients to support GSSC financial sustainability;
Ensures continued optimization of services to support GSSC financial sustainability.
5) Leads knowledge management and innovation
Encourage knowledge creation and management, including the development of communities of practice and development solutions teams;
Establish and maintain knowledge and innovation partnerships, including partnering with outside organizations in order to bring those insights into UNDP for a greater development impact.
Competencies
Core Competencies – UNDP Core Competencies can be found here.
Achieve Results – LEVEL 4: Prioritize team workflow, mobilize resources, drive scalable results/strategic impact
Think Innovatively – LEVEL 4: Easily navigate complexity, encourage/enable radical innovation, has foresight
Learn Continuously – LEVEL 4: Create systems and processes that enable learning and development for all
Adapt with Agility – LEVEL 4: Proactively initiate/lead organizational change, champion new systems/processes
Act with Determination – LEVEL 4: Able to make difficult decisions in challenging situations, inspire confidence
Engage and Partner – LEVEL 4: Construct strategic multi-partner alliances in high stake situations, foster co-creation
Enable Diversity and Inclusion – LEVEL 4: Create ethical culture, identify/address barriers to inclusion
People Management – UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:
Business Management – Operations Management:
Ability to effectively plan, organize, and oversee the organization’s business processes in order to convert its assets into the best results in the most efficient manner. Knowledge of relevant concepts and mechanisms.
Effectiveness – Project Quality Assurance:
Ability to perform administrative and procedural activities to ensure that quality requirements and goals are fulfilled.
Finance – Financial Risk Management:
Ensures financial resilience through proactive assessment of risk, implementation of controls and taking mitigating action. Understands risk and reward in relation to collaborative and commercial projects. Ensures a culture of positive risk management.
Finance – Financial Planning and Budgeting:
Ability to create and manage processes to achieve UNDP’s long and short-term financial goals, including through planning, budgeting, forecasting, analyzing and reporting.
Procurement – Stakeholder Management:
Ability to work with incomplete information and balance competing interests to create value for all stakeholders.
Business Direction & Strategy – Negotiation and Influence:
Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiates mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and creates ‘win-win’ situations.
Business Direction & Strategy – Systems Thinking:
Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgment to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Public Administration, Information Technology, Finance, Accounting or relevant field of professional management and operational management is a requirement; OR
A first level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in above mentioned fields in combination with an additional 2 years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of advanced university degree.
Professional accounting qualification from an internationally recognized institute of accountancy is preferred.
Experience:
Minimum 15 years (with master’s degree) or 17 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant professional experience in management.
Experience in leading diverse and remotely situated teams in multiple locations.
Demonstrated success in client relationship management and experience utilizing a Client Relationship Management Systems (CRM).
Experience in data analysis and in data-driven decision-making.
Experience in leading innovation in cost effective and integrated services and in organizational change management.
Solid track record of experience leading one or more of the following management areas: finance, human resources and procurement.
Demonstrated experience in managing operations in an international organization at country or regional level.
Language:
Fluency in English.
Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
Disclaimer
Important information for US Permanent Residents (‘Green Card’ holders)
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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