Closing date: 7 December 2019

Duty station: Khartoum, Sudan

Post type: Fixed Term

Duration: One year renewable (*)

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(*) Possibility for contract renewal based on need, performance, and availability of funds and in  accordance with UN Staff Regulations 4.5

The position is located in Khartoum, Sudan. The incumbent will work under direct supervision of the UNFPA Sudan CO Representative.

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Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Representative, the Head, Field Operations Unit, is responsible for the supervision of program coordination at the field level and for the establishment of a reliable supply chain for distribution of supplies. In addition, he/she provides leadership, coordination and guidance for sectoral/inter-sectoral programme implementation and management in close collaboration with country office structures. The Head, Field Operations Unit is expected to support programme coordination, development/design and provide advice/interpretation of operational guidelines including the procurement of required commodities; liaison with the logistics cluster and crucially represent UNFPA in the Inter Sector Coordination Group as well as in the Access Working Group.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s new strategic plan (2018-2021), focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

The incumbent will be responsible for supporting programme coordination at field level, development/design and provide advice/interpretation of operational guidelines.

Work relations with Internal partners include the Sudan Country Office, UNFPA sub offices teams (initially 3 Sub-Offices covering Darfur, East Sudan and the two areas) and UNFPA field other presence. The Chief of Field Operations also works in close collaboration with the programme team and operations team to resolve procedural and administrative issues. The Head, Field Operations unit, is expected to manage and directly supervise a team of 3 staff in the Field Operations Unit. External partners include project implementation partners of the Humanitarian Programme, NGOs, INGOs, local authorities and other agencies including UNHCR, OCHA, UNICEF, WHO, WFP, etc.

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• Coordinates with UNFPA Field Offices staff/program team to ensure the flow of supply in the covered areas, including prepositioning of emergency supply in the framework of contingency planning.
• Liaise between the field/sub office and the Country Office.
• Supports the development and implementation of commodity contingency planning and promote emergency preparedness and response.
• Liaise with program team to identify key humanitarian partners, in order to increase coverage of distribution of humanitarian aid and access to UNFPA’s services.
• Participate in interagency coordination (national and international NGOs & international organizations active in the field) and liaise with national authorities and local structures.
• Carryout commodity distribution capacity mapping of all current and potential actors, such as: government, national and international organizations as well as national institutions, the private sector and market access to materials and services.
• Follow up the process of implementation with partner agencies and organizations.
• Support the development and use of assessment and monitoring tools that are suitable for the projects assisted by UNFPA.
• Provides strategic recommendations and decisions on situation analysis, programme planning, implementation and evaluation, knowledge management, as well as administrative decision making on the use of humanitarian supplies funds.
• S/He provides coordination and guidance for field level distribution of emergency supplies in close coordination with program units.
• Responsible for the effective functioning and coordination of UNFPA Sudan Sub-Offices, including monitoring of compliance, supply & inventory responsibility and staff development (e.g. training, learning, etc.) especially in overall supply management.
• Promote and support the training of personnel and capacity building of partners, based on mapping and understanding of available capacities.
• Supports proposal development and seeks public-private partnerships opportunities for commodities and supplies.
• Contribute to UNFPA sub-offices in effective work planning, implementation of activities, office organization, regional operations and supply/logistics activities.

Partnerships and Coordination:

• Conducts an inventory of humanitarian/development partners in the area, including national and international NGOs, and in cooperation with Khartoum program units ensures that required actions are taken for the delivery of UNFPA humanitarian- and/or development-oriented assistance to the affected population.
• Works closely and systematically with key UN and other international stakeholders, to take into account reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, youth and gender/ GBV issues in their plans, programmes and projects.
• Maintains solid working relationship and constantly shares information with UN agencies/partners, especially with WFP (on supply and inventory management) and OCHA (on inter-sector and access matters) and foster an environment of collaboration with all agencies at the field level.

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Advanced University degree in any of the following fields: Business Administration, International Relations, Law, or a related technical field.

Knowledge and Experience:

• At least five (5) of progressive experience in field operations, or field operations support with proven experience in complex humanitarian operations.
• Concrete experience in UN field operations, knowledge of emergency response & field coordination is a must.
• Proven managerial experience in decentralized operations.
• Experience in supporting logistics/supply operations with emergency pre-positioning and last mile delivery a critical added value.
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills;Computer literacy - Word, Excel, Power-point, etc., and good knowledge of Atlas/PeopleSoft would be an asset;
• Advanced analytical, writing and communication skills.

Languages:

Fluency in both written and spoken English. Knowledge of other official UN language  is an asset.

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• Exemplifying integrity,
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
• Embracing cultural diversity,
• Embracing change

Core Competencies:

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
• Communicating for impact

Managerial competencies :

• Providing strategic focus, Engaging internal/external partners and stakeholders,
• Leading, developing and empowering people/creating a culture of performance,
• Making decisions and exercising sound judgment)

Functional Competencies:

• Emergency preparedness
• Managing data, documents, correspondence and reports
• Managing information and workflow
• Planning, organizing and multi-tasking
• Deciding, initiating & analyzing

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Notice to applicants: In accordance with the rules of the United Nations, persons applying to posts in the international Professional category, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, are required to renounce such status upon their appointment.  Exceptions to this rule are very limited and can be made only for: (a) stateless persons; (b) newly appointed staff members who have applied for citizenship by naturalization, when such citizenship will be granted imminently; (c) acting staff members in the General Service and related categories with permanent residency status, on promotion to the Professional category; (d) staff members appointed under a temporary appointment. Please understand that UNFPA is not in a position to provide advice on or assistance in applying for any citizenship.