Operations Officer (Passenger and Cargo Control Programme)

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Regional Office for South-Eastern Europe (ROSEE) – Passenger and Cargo Control Programme (PCCP) with duty station in Istanbul, Türkiye, Division for Operations (DO), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The PCCP operates under the Border Management Branch (BMB)/DO and the incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the PCCP Programme Officer, ROSEE, as well as the overall supervision of the Regional Representative, ROSEE. For more information on UNODC, please visit the following website: www.unodc.org

Responsibilities

Within assigned authority, the incumbent will be responsible for supporting the monitoring, evaluation, coordination and timely implementation of operations including administrative and financial management as well as human resources related actions for PCCP activities at the Headquarters (HQ) and in the field. The incumbent will perform the following specific duties: • According to programme requirements and activities, provide support in monitoring and reviewing operations, including administrative and financial management and human resources actions, ensuring compliance with approved donor funding agreements, agreements with implementing partners, administrative instructions, UN policies and financial rules and regulations, UN staff rules; identify bottlenecks, inconsistencies and take/propose corrective action in consultation with senior management. • Provide support in the preparation, coordination, monitoring and reporting on the global programme budget under the supervision of the PCCP management; prepare financial statements, project budget reports and revisions, relevant documentation for donors according to donor requirements and other documentation with respect to budget performance submissions and financial overviews; analyse and present information and data. • Provide support to the PCCP management with respect to the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions; review and analyse data with respect to the finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, including in terms of staff and non-staff requirements; elaborate budget estimates for new proposals. • Administer and monitor resources, including the review of agreements and cost plans, status of implementation, utilization of funds, validity of contributions/grant agreements and related issues, ensuring compliance with regulations and rules and established policies and procedures. • Prepare, analyse and monitor budget forecast and implementation and determine/recommend reallocation of funds when necessary; support development of costed workplans; make appropriate recommendations with respect to the finalization of budget performance reports, analysing variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures; monitor expenditures to ensure that they remain within authorized levels. • Liaise with implementing partners on concluding and extending relevant financial agreements, monitor and verify expenditures of executing agencies, such as the World Customs Organization (WCO), the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and other partners by pledges and according to activities in different regions; monitor workplans and ensure that all activities in UNODC and the implementing partners are charged to the correct donor and correct budget line; review and approve reconciliations; verify accounts, monitor transfer and cross check transactions in accordance with reporting requirements. • Contribute to the oversight of all PCCP human resources actions including recruitment, contract extensions and terminations, maintaining up-to-date staffing table and allocating necessary resources for personnel needs. • Provide administrative and financial guidance to the team on existing resources, future challenges and long-term funding implications; provide guidance to programme staff in the development of budgets and human resources actions. • Keep up-to-date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to operations, financial management and human resources, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations and decisions as well as with United Nations policies and procedures. • Ensure that legislative mandates are accurately translated into operations, financial management and human resources actions. • Coordinate, review and guide the work of administrative and financial staff of the programme at HQ and in the field. • Participate in field missions, including the provision of guidance, assistance and training to project staff; Identify bottlenecks and work collaboratively with field staff to find solutions. • Collect and analyse data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. • Conduct administrative, finance, human resources and Umoja training to PCCP HQ and field office staff. • Participate in the recruitment of PCCP administrative and finance staff. • Act as certifying officer for PCCP. • Perform other work-related duties, as assigned.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Has knowledge of financial and human resources related principles and practices in general, and in particular the United Nations Financial Regulations and Rules. Is able to independently conduct research and analysis, formulate options and present conclusions and recommendations. Has knowledge, skills and ability to extract, interpret, analyse and format data across the full range of operations functions, including finance and budget, human resources, programme development and database management. Has ability to analyse and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Is able to identify and resolve data discrepancies and operational problems. 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 and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work. • Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. • Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honors 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.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, finance, management, law, international relations, or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in similar fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Job – Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional work experience in finance, administration, business administration, human resources, programme management or a related area, is required. Of the minimum years of work experience, at least three years in an international context is required. Experience in providing administrative, financial and/or human resources support to projects in the areas of drug control, crime prevention, criminal justice or a similar field is required. Experience with SAP based applications, such as Umoja, is desirable. Work experience in managing financial agreements with implementing partners, including expenditure monitoring, recording and reconciliation is desirable. Experience within the United Nations System or similar international organization is desirable. Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. Turkish is desirable. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).

Required Languages

LanguageReadingWritingListeningSpeaking

English

UN Level III

UN Level III

UN Level III

UN Level III

Desirable Languages

LanguageReadingWritingListeningSpeaking

Turkish

UN Level I

UN Level I

UN Level I

UN Level I

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise and a competency-based interview.

Special Notice

This is a project post. Filling of this position is subject to funding availability, and the initial appointment will be for a period of one year. Extension of the appointment will be subject to extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. Applicants, who successfully go through a competitive recruitment process and are recommended for selection and/or inclusion in the roster of pre-approved candidates for subsequent job openings at the same level and with similar functions, may have their application information and roster status shared with other UN Organizations. Such applicants may be contacted by other UN Organizations for similar job openings, subject to the confirmation of their interest. Placement on the roster is no guarantee of a future selection. 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 and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Istanbul is classified in the A category (family duty station).

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. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. 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.

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