Chief of Administration (Director, Division of Administration), D1

ECA’s mission is to deliver ideas and actions for an empowered and transformed Africa; informed by the 2030 SDGs and Agenda 2063. The mission is guided by ECA’s five new strategic directions which are: advancing ECA’s position as a premier knowledge institution that builds on its unique position and privilege to bring global solutions to the continent’s problems and take local solutions to the continent; developing macroeconomic and structural policy options to accelerate economic diversification and job creation; designing and implementing innovative financing models for infrastructure, and for human, physical and social assets for a transforming Africa; contributing solutions to regional and transboundary challenges, with a focus on peace security and social inclusion as an important development nexus; advocating Africa’s position at the global level and developing regional responses as a contribution to global governance issues. This post is located in the Division of Administration (DoA) at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

The incumbent works under the direct supervision of the Deputy Executive Secretary – Programme Support and under the overall guidance of the Executive Secretary.

Within delegated authority, the Director of Administration is responsible for the effective, efficient and systematic management and delivery of all administrative support services required by ECA to fulfill its mandate in an efficient and cost-effective manner, ensuring that the Commission adheres to the established UN regulations, rules policies and procedures in all operational areas. Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Executive Secretary – Programme Support, the incumbent is required to perform the following functions:

– Provides strategic advice to the Deputy Executive Secretary in the management of ECA to support the senior leadership in administrative planning of financial, human and physical resources management; and assists the Deputy Executive Secretary and senior management in the development and implementation of the administrative and financial and human resources framework and conduct of resource and asset management with due consideration to fiduciary standards and procedures and processes.

– Develops strategies, processes and procedures that ensure strategic and cost effective management of the administrative services of the following sections and units: human resources management; financial services; supply chain management; facilities management; health services; and relevant host country relations.

– Prepares major reports for senior management and UN legislative bodies, inclusive of the General Assembly and ACABQ, provides guidance in related areas including strategic planning, management policies, processes, rules and regulations including for business continuity and operational resilience and manages internal and external audits, including timely responses and implementation of audit and oversight evaluation recommendations.

– Develops cost plans and containment strategies for the division, monitors expenditures to ensure that they remain within authorized levels; provides guidance and direction on financial and resource planning and effective utilization.

– Provides supervision and policy advisory services and guidance to all areas under the Division and in support of the Commission’s work; promotes organizational-wide reform policies and initiatives, such as the UNSDG efficiency agenda, leads impactful results through inter-agency coordination and common services via active engagement with the Ethiopia Operations Management Team (OMT) and the Regional OMT (ROMT), under the guidance of Regional Collaborative Platform.

– Ensures that the outputs produced by the Division maintain high quality standards and ensures that production and service standards are met; implements innovative strategies such as the environmental management system (EMS) in support of sustainable business operations, business automation and innovation, and service management portfolios for Secretariat and other UN System clients by organizing and directing operational activities of the Division with the objective of continuous upgrading of divisional staff capacity and services.

– Leads, supervises and carries out the work programme of the Division, ensuring that work in the different areas is coordinated both within the Division and other Divisions, and with other organizations of the United Nations System, as appropriate.

– Manages, guides, develops, and trains staff under his/her supervision.

– Fosters teamwork and communication among staff in the Division and across organizational boundaries. – Performs other related duties as required.

Professionalism: Ability to provide specialized advice in a broad range of human resources management, financial, real estate management and administrative areas to senior management. Ability to prepare reports with respect to key administrative decisions. Ability to apply UN rules, regulations, policies, and guidelines in work situations and prepare reports or rational with respect to key administrative decisions. Demonstrated ability in handling complex organizational issues at the international level. 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Able to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management.

Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies and direction of the Organization; 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.

Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Leadership: Provides strategic and innovative leadership; collaborates to ensure operational strategies support the programme of work appropriately; 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.

Judgment/decision making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; proactively seeks and recommends sound policy guidance; 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.

This is a temporary position and will be available for a period of up to six (6) months, with the possibility of an extension. If selected, an internal candidate will be on temporary assignment to the post; an external candidate will initially be offered a temporary appointment. Any extension of appointment is subject to satisfactory performance and continued availability of the post. UNECA is committed to promoting diversity and gender equality within the Secretariat. Women candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. 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. Pursuant to section 6.9 of ST/AI/2010/3/Rev. 1, interns, consultants, individual contractors and gratis personnel may not apply for or be appointed to any vacancy in the Professional or higher categories within six months of the end of their current or most recent service. Subject to availability of funding for the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.

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.

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.