Overview

Support Services Manager Jobs in Juba, Central Equatoria, South Sudan at UNOPS

Title: Support Services Manager

Company: UNOPS

Location: Juba, Central Equatoria, South Sudan

Job Highlight

Provide efficient and reliable support services as Support Services Manager, ensuring seamless delivery of logistics, administration, finance, HR, and procurement functions to enable safe, compliant, and effective mine action and humanitarian operations in challenging environments.

Role Purpose

To provide integrated leadership and coordination of programme support services, ensuring effective management of HR, procurement, finance, administration, ICT, and compliance functions in line with UNOPS rules and standards, while enabling efficient delivery of programme objectives in a complex operational environment.

Functions / Key Results Expected

  • Operational leadership, advisory and technical support
  • Project planning and coordination support
  • Procurement & grant management
  • Financial and compliance management
  • Human resource management
  • Administration and Information Technology
  • Knowledge management and innovation

The effective and successful achievement of results by the Support Services Manager for the Office directly impact on the development and performance of the projects, visibility and image of the UNOPS as an effective service provider in project services and management and consequently strengthen its competitive position as a partner of choice in sustainable development and project services in the country served.

Operational Leadership, advisory and technical support

  • Monitor and supervise teams as well as all aspects of operations (Finance, HR, Procurement, Health, Safety, Security and Environmental (HSSE), Information Technology(ICT) and Administration) to ensure achievement of results, in compliance UNOPS rules, regulations, policies, and standards of accountability, ethics and integrity.
  • Monitor support services to ensure continuously improving client service and satisfaction, including escalating unresolved issues to the appropriate Headquarters Practice Groups.
  • Provide technical inputs and operational advice on innovative approaches to project financing, including risk assessment and mitigation.
  • Collaborate with colleagues to identify the need, determine cost and plan Programme support services, including procurement, finance, human resources and administrative services.
  • Assist the Programme Head of Project Unit in setting goals, targets and performance standards for projects, and facilitate the implementation of tools for monitoring, evaluation and auditing
  • At the request of the Programme Head of Project Unit, participate in UN forum discussions to support UNOPS position, interests and priorities are fully considered, including on DEI, GESI and PSEAH matters where relevant.
  • Ensure that diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), and PSEAH commitments are integrated into Programme strategies, quarterly business reviews, and operational planning, in line with the UNOPS corporate strategies, accountability/action plans and PSC GEDSI Strategy 2026-2029.
  • Foster a respectful workplace culture and zero tolerance for discrimination, abuse of authority, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual exploitation and abuse. Demonstrate visible and accountable leadership on PSEAH, ensuring prevention and response mechanisms are embedded in programme management and implementing partner oversight structures. Ensure accountability for actions and perform duties in accordance with protection mechanisms and action plans, as expected by UNOPS policies, standards and commitments.

Project planning and coordination support

  • Provide assistance and support to programme and project budget preparation, revisions and work planning, in close collaboration with the Project & Budget Officer and the Programme Unit
  • Provide input into project engagement and acceptance documents including assisting with contract negotiations.
  • Assist in setting performance standards for projects and recommend tools for monitoring, evaluation and auditing.
  • Monitor project financial projections, escalate critical issues to the Programme Head of Project Unit and/or other stakeholders for action.
  • Provide inputs on programme and project cost sharing, deployment of funds and closure.
  • Constantly monitor and analyze the operating environment to identify potential risks and take action/refer critical issues for intervention to ensure delivery of results.
  • Closely liaise with the other programme Offices (within the Programme) in order to troubleshoot any issues that might cause interruption in the support services management.

Procurement & Grant Management

  • Manage South Sudan Programme procurement and Grant Issuance processes, providing advice to Support Services team members as needed and serving as Chair of procurement processes as assigned to ensure results contribute to programme objectives
  • Review contractual arrangements and legal commitments/risks for appropriate action.
  • Assist the Support Unit on their review, administration and issuance of contracts, agreements/amendments with institutions and UN agencies.
  • Ensure that Programme procurement processes promote equitable access for diverse suppliers, including women-owned and locally-rooted businesses, in line with UNOPS corporate commitments. Ensure that RFPs and procurement documents use inclusive language and that UNOPS DEI, GESI and PSEAH standards are communicated to suppliers and implementing partners.

Financial and compliance management

  • Manage finance activities and ensure compliance with the UNOPS/Financial Rules & Regulations and Finance procedures
  • Manage cash, review financial management practices, advise, and help the team to improve its monitoring tools.
  • Support the development of GLJEs as needed for financial reconciliation of budget and expenditures
  • Act as a focal point for any internal/external audit exercise.

Human resource management

  • Support the development and implementation of the recruitment plan of the Programme, ensuring DEI considerations (gender parity, Global South representation etc) are embedded from the outset of each recruitment process and documented in quarterly reporting.
  • Manage human resource services/processes including recruitment, salary administration and compensation, performance review, training and development, ensuring compliance with UNOPS human resource rules, regulations, procedures and standards of performance. Ensure that: all vacancy announcements include an equal opportunities statement and use inclusive, gender-neutral language; recruitment panels are diverse; shortlists and selection decisions comply with UNOPS Special Measures for DEI; hiring managers actively seek to create diverse teams in terms of gender, geography, and other dimensions of diversity; and DEI recruitment metrics are tracked and reported to programme leadership on a quarterly basis.
  • Support capacity building of the existing Support Unit personnel to effectively and efficiently run recruitments for the programme team, ensuring that capacity building plans include inclusive leadership training and that DEI objectives are embedded in PER/PRAs for all personnel within the Support Unit.
  • Contribute to a safe, inclusive, and enabling work environment that upholds dignity and respect for all personnel regardless of gender identity, nationality, background, ability, or age. Uphold the highest standards of conduct and take decisive action to address behaviors that undermine inclusion, equity, or psychological safety. Ensure that all personnel are aware of and have equitable access to reporting channels and support mechanisms.
  • Manage staff issues within the Programme as required by the project’s demands, including recruitment, training, staff performance review, ensuring that performance review processes are applied equitably across all personnel regardless of gender, nationality, or background, and that barriers to full participation for underrepresented team members are proactively identified and addressed.

Administration and Information Technology (ICT)

  • Manage the timely and efficient delivery of all administrative services, (e.g. centralized project admin, premises and asset management, organizational and personnel security, travel and IT).
  • Full compliance of operations of the Country with UNOPS rules, regulations and policies, on administrative matters and supervision of the administrative team.
  • Maintenance of a secure, reliable infrastructure environment for ICT and adequate planning for disasters and recoveries, supervision of the ICT Associate.
  • In close collaboration with HQ and HoSS for the Multi Country Office, support the maintenance of a secure and reliable ICT environment, including adequate plans for disaster recovery.
  • Manage the acquisition, maintenance, inventory, recording, verification and protection of project and administrative facilities/assets, including IT infrastructure, equipment and servers.
  • Identify opportunities for leveraging the use of IT to enhance business operations and efficiency and to facilitate knowledge management, and information sharing.

Knowledge management and innovation

  • Contribute to introducing best practice approaches in the Programme Support Services.
  • Share of best practices and lessons learned for corporate development planning and knowledge building including lessons related to PSEAH, DEI, GESI, and personnel wellbeing in hardship duty station contexts.
  • At the request of the Head of Project Unit and in collaboration with the team, assist in planning, implementing and organizing strategic capacity building of project personnel, clients and stakeholders.

Education Requirements

Required

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) with 5 years of relevant experience; or

First Level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) with 7 years of relevant experience

Required

Experience Requirements

  • Relevant experience is experience working in managerial leadership of personnel and operational systems across at least 2 of the following functions: procurement, finance, logistics/asset management, HR, or related areas.
  • Recent 3 years of experience in managing staff and operational systems is required.
  • Willingness to work in hardship duty stations and to travel to postcrisis locations is required.

Desired

  • Experience in UN system organizations, preferably in a country/ field office context in the Global South,is desirable.
  • Experience dealing with UN regulations, rules ,and policies in the areas of contracting, procurement ,and human resources is desirable.
  • Experience integrating DEI, GESI, and PSEAH/safeguarding standards into human resource management, procurement, or implementing partner oversight is desirable.

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