Field Support Specialist (CO Transition), P-3, CMO, New York

Purpose of the Position:

In November 2013, the UNICEF Executive Director announced his decision to launch a process that will lead to the formation of a single Global Shared Service Centre (GSSC). This GSSC is expected to carry out transactions including: invoices, payments, payroll, some HR administrative services and global IT support. Based on the current project plan, transactions for offices will begin to be phased into the newly established GSSC from early 2015 onwards in order for the Centre to be fully operational and carry out transactions for all offices by mid-2016.

In relation and under the supervision of the Team Lead for the CO Transition cluster of the Global Shared Services Centre (GSSC) project the incumbent of this post will contribute to the design, implementation and monitoring of activities related to the transition of field offices to the GSSC.
Key Expected Results:

1. Contribute to the planning and implementation of the GSSC project by developing the framework, strategy, methodology and related activities for transitioning of field offices in line with the project's overall goal, objectives, deliverables and milestones.
2. Compile data and analyze the operational profile, requirements and restrictions of each field office location and make, recommendations on how these would impact the strategy, methodology, timing and other elements for transitioning offices to the GSSC, including mitigation measures to address potential and/or actual risks related to the transition of offices. Support the preparation of reports and presentations for a variety of internal recipients (e. g. project team, steering Committee, RO/CO management, etc.) on the strategy, plan, methodology, timing and status of transitioning offices to the GSSC.
3. Provide advice, guidance, and support to the Field Implementation Group in each region in the design, testing, implementation and monitoring of their transition plans for the GSSC.
4. Contribute to ensuring that the work and activities related to the transitioning of field offices to the GSSC are coordinated and aligned with the other clusters (working groups) of the project. Provide, quality assurance check on the proposed business processes for the GSSC to ensure alignment with the activities on transitioning of field offices prior to their roll-out.

Qualifications of Successful Candidate:

• An advanced university degree (Master's) in Accounting, Business Administration, Financial Management, Economics, International Relations or a directly-related technical field(s) is required. * A valid professional certification (CA; CPA; etc.) from an accredited chartered accountancy institution, in conjunction with a relevant (as per areas identified above) first-level university degree (Bachelor's), may be taken in lieu of an advanced university degree.

* A first level university degree (Bachelor's) in a relevant technical field, (as identified above), in conjunction with seven years of relevant work experience, at the national and international levels, in operations management, change management, finance, budget, accounting, audit, office management and/or other directly-related technical fields, may be taken in lieu of an advanced university degree (Master's).

• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience, at the national and international levels, in operations management, change management, finance, budget, accounting, audit, office management and/or other directly related technical fields is required.
• Previous experience in field office locations is considered highly desirable.
• Previous hands on experience and knowledge of ERP Systems (i.e. SAP) is considered an asset.
• Previous hands on experience in a supervisory/managerial capacity is highly desirable.
• Prior work experience with an international organization is highly desirable.
• Previous experience of shared services/business support center is an asset.
• Prior knowledge and hands-on work experience of UNICEF's programme and management processes is considered an asset.
• Prior knowledge and hands-on work experience in business processes and workflow simplification is considered highly desirable.
• Fluency in English (verbal and written) is required. Knowledge of an additional UN Language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) is considered an asset.

Competencies of Successful Candidate:

• Communicates effectively to varied audiences, including during formal public speaking.
• Sets high standards for quality of work and consistently achieves project goals.
• Able to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment.
• Analyzes and integrates potentially conflicting numerical, verbal and other data from a number of sources.
• Demonstrates, applies and shares expert technical knowledge across the organization.
• Translates strategic direction into plans and objectives.
• Has good leadership and supervisory skills; co-ordinates group activities, ensuring that roles within the team are clear.
• Sets clearly defined objectives and plans activities for self, own team or department.
• Ability to coordinate, interpret, prioritize, monitor and follow-up on multiple user access-related ERP requests.
  UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization.

How to apply:

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.

If you want a challenging career while improving the lives of children around the world UNICEF, the leading children’s rights organization, would like to hear from you.

Visit us at www.unicef.org/about/employ to register in our new e-Recruitment system and apply to this and other vacancies. Applications must be received by 23 April 2014.

Vacancy position link:
https://careers.unicef.org/sap/bc/webdynpro/sap/hrrcf_a_posting_apply?PA...

Please note that only candidates who are under serious consideration will be contacted.

In the selection of its staff, UNICEF is committed to gender balance and diversity without distinction as to race, sex or religion, and without discrimination of persons with disabilities: well qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.