National Operations Officer

Organizational Setting

FAO's commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

FAO's Subregional Office for Eastern Africa (SFE) is responsible for developing, promoting, overseeing and implementing agreed strategies for addressing subregional food, agriculture and rural development priorities. It develops and maintains relations with subregion-wide institutions including Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs).

The Subregional Office for Eastern Africa is a subsidiary of FAO's Regional Office for Africa (RAF). It supports subregional policy dialogue on food security, agriculture and rural development issues, facilitates the emergence of subregional partnerships, and supports capacity development and resource mobilization for food security, agriculture and rural development in the subregion.

SFE also serves as the official FAO Representation to the African Union (AU) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

This post is located in the FAO Subregional Office for Eastern Africa (SFE) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Reporting Lines

The National Operations Officer reports to the SFE Natural Resources Officer and works under the overall supervision of the Subregional Coordinator and in close collaboration with the Field Programme Support and Monitoring Officer FPSMO.

Technical Focus

Programme development, coordination and operational assistance based on the knowledge of the local conditions, culture, language and institutions of the country of assignment. Assistance to Lead Technical Officers by ensuring smooth project operations, consistent service delivery, and continuous evaluation and readjustment/improvement of the operational environment to reflect the subregion's and country's evolving needs.

Key Results

Effective and efficient provision of operational support to the programme and project technical coordination at the Subregional Office.

Key Functions

•     Acts as a focal point for all matters related to the daily operation of the field project(s) assigned.
•     Contributes to the preparation and/or assessment of new programme and project proposals, and reviews them for the purpose of operational clearance, with a view to assessing their operational feasibility.
•     Plans and prepares project task force consultations on behalf of the FAOR/Budget Holder and ensures proper secretarial support for such meetings.
•     Ensures timely provision of inputs for personnel, technical support services, sub-contracts, training, equipment/supplies and other needs related to project operations.
•     Participates in the preparation of project work plans, monitors progress and, where, necessary, identifies corrective measures to overcome operational constraints.
•     Manages the' project budget and prepares revisions as required.
•     Coordinates the timely preparation and submission of project progress and terminal reports required (as specified in the project agreement) as well as preparing analytical reports on the Representation's portfolio as a whole.
•     Coordinates actions concerning the timely completion/closure of field projects, including identification of project follow-up requirements.
•     Ensures the quality of data/documentation in the Field Programme Management Information System (FPMIS) for all pipeline and operational field projects in the country.

Specific Functions

•     Provides guidance and advice to project staff in operations and administrative matters in particular to the Budget Holder (BH), Lead Technical Officer (LTO) and project manager (PM).
•     Contributes to project task force meetings and provide secretariat support to BH, LTO and PM.
•     Supports project proponents with the Operational Partners Implementation Modality (OPIM) package preparation.
•     Supports project proponents with the OPIM package approval from RAF and the Project Support Division (PSS).
•     Assists project proponents with the signature and operationalization of the Operational Partners Agreement (OPA).
•     Provides support and guidance to Operational Partners (OP) as needed.
•     Monitors OPA disbursements and OP delivery including reviews of OP disbursement requests, financial and narrative reports.
•     Monitors and advises project teams on OPA follow up actions such as Annex 9, audits and spot checks and, where necessary, identifies corrective measures to overcome operational constraints.
•     Reviews and closely monitors the project budget expenditures and resources.
•     Supports the preparation and delivery of training and other learning events (e.g., OPIM training etc.).
•     Participates in regular regional meetings with RAF and other subregions to ensure effective knowledge sharing and coordination.
•     Performs any other related duties as may be required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•     National of the country of assignment.
•     Advanced university degree in a field related to business or public administration.
•     Three years of relevant experience in office management, administration, accounting and/or audit, budget or finance.
•     Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English language and the local language.

Competencies

•     Results Focus
•     Teamwork
•     Communication
•     Building effective relationships
•     Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

•     Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is desirable.
•     Extent and relevance of experience in programme/project management.
•     Extent and relevance of experience in public administration.
•     Demonstrated understanding of the purpose and functions of technical programmes, operational guidelines and programme/project management procedures, preferably those adopted by the United Nations or FAO would be considered an asset.