Support Services Manager

The Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECR), based in Geneva, is responsible for the effective management, coordination and oversight of UNOPS operations across the region. The ECR region spans the Western Balkans, Ukraine and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, South Caucasus, and Türkiye, where UNOPS works with partners to achieve sustainable impact in health, education, environmental management, housing, rule of law, good governance, economic development, and social inclusion. With a wealth of experience in procurement, infrastructure, project and grant management, UNOPS in the region directly implements projects, provides technical advisory services and capacity building to advance the Sustainable Development Goals in support of national governments.

Uzbekistan Office currently manages a portfolio of USD 414.7 million contributing to Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3) - Good Health and Well-being - implementing the following projects:.

The COVID-19 Emergency Response Project (CERP) – Strengthening pandemic resilience by upgrading over 150 Sanitary-Epidemiological Committee facilities. The project encompasses infrastructure improvements and upgrades across 45 national and regional laboratories, procurement of diagnostic and laboratory equipment, establishment of an ICT-based national epidemiological surveillance system, and comprehensive capacity building for medical personnel. Support to Development of Oncology Services Project – Enhancing access to quality cancer care by equipping the new National Oncology Center in Tashkent and 13 regional hospitals with advanced medical, diagnostic, radiological, and ICT equipment. The project also supports establishing a national Cancer Registry and providing specialized training for healthcare professionals. Kashkadarya Healthcare Infrastructure Project – Advancing healthcare reform through feasibility studies, technical designs, and the construction and equipping of two modern multidisciplinary hospitals in Karshi and Beshkent to meet national and international standards. Procurement of medical equipment for the new Multidisciplinary Medical Center in Tashkent Project - Equipping the New Multidisciplinary Medical Center with modern medical and diagnostic equipment and operationalizing it through trained medical staff. Through these efforts, UNOPS supports Uzbekistan in strengthening its health systems and delivering improved quality of care for its citizens.

Since opening in 2019, the UNOPS Austria Multi-Country Office (AUMCO) in Vienna has served as a hub for operations across 12 countries in the Western-Balkans, Türkiye, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia. AUMCO delivers technical expertise, operational support, and sustainable infrastructure solutions for governments, donors, and international financial institutions. Flagship initiatives include Blueing the Black Sea—a GEF and World Bank partnership to reduce pollution and promote sustainable development—and Türkiye’s post-earthquake recovery programme, enhancing protective services for women and children.

This position operates within the UNOPS Project Office in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. It will play a critical role in ensuring robust financial management and other support services like HR, asset management, logistics, ICT, travel and general administration. This involves independently managing financial processes, adapting existing policies to local needs, and providing authoritative advice to ensure compliance and optimal resource utilization in a dynamic operational environment.

The Support Services Manager (ICS10) acts as a seasoned professional who independently runs projects and programs related to support services, with a main focus on financial management. S/he adapts existing policies and procedures to meet emerging operational needs in Uzbekistan, ensuring the integrity and efficiency of financial processes, procurement, logistics, asset management, ICT, HR and administrative functions. The Support Services Manager provides authoritative advice on policy application, supervises a team, and solves complex problems to ensure seamless project delivery and compliance with UNOPS rules and regulations.

1. Financial Management, Controls and Oversight

• Provide authoritative advice to project teams and stakeholders (in coordination with the Project Managers and Project Management Support Advisor (PMSA) on UNOPS financial policies, including operational directives and instructions, procedures, and compliance requirements.

• Manage advance payments to projects and vendors, ensuring strict oversight, timely reconciliation, and compliance with UNOPS financial guidelines.

• Oversee financial contract management processes, ensuring that financial terms, payment milestones, and contractual obligations are effectively monitored and fulfilled.

• Monitor and mitigate financial risks, specifically assessing and managing risk exposure associated with payments for civil works, infrastructure projects, and high-value procurement.

• Oversee financial reporting, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and adherence to internal and external audit standards.

• Implement and adapt existing financial control mechanisms to safeguard assets and ensure proper utilization of funds.

• Solve complex financial problems and discrepancies by navigating and applying UNOPS regulatory frameworks, operational guidelines, and existing rules and precedents.

• Manage audit activities, including planning, preparation and coordination during the audit engagements and follow up on audit observations/recommendations; Implement necessary changes to strengthen financial controls.

2. Operational Support and Process Optimization

• Lead the implementation and continuous improvement of support service processes, including procurement, logistics, asset management and administration, in line with UNOPS standard operating procedures to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

• Adapt operational policies to address local constraints and project needs in Uzbekistan, ensuring full compliance with UNOPS governance standards.

• Supervise the delivery of comprehensive support services across the office portfolio, ensuring quality, timeliness, and client satisfaction.

• Manage a specific portfolio of support services activities, ensuring seamless integration with UNOPS project delivery mechanisms.

• Liaise with vendors, as required, to maintain strong relationships and ensure reliable service delivery and compliance.

• Represent the support services function in internal and external meetings, including the UN Operational Management Team and working groups, providing expert input and recommendations.

• Ensure effective communication and coordination with the AUMCO support services team, headquarters units, and regional offices to enable other business units to facilitate/enable integrated project support.

3. Team Leadership and Capacity Building

• Supervise a team of support staff and/or junior professional personnel, fostering an accountable and high-performance culture and promoting professional development.

• Provide guidance and mentorship to team members on best practices in financial management and other support services.

• Lead initiatives for knowledge sharing and capacity building within the support services team.

4. Knowledge Management & Innovation

• Contribute to the development and introduction of innovation to ensure UNOPS is continually incorporating best practice approaches in the Office Support Services.

• Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for corporate development planning and knowledge building.

• At the request of the Head of Office and in collaboration with the team, plan, implement and organise strategic capacity building of project personnel, clients and stakeholders.

Required

• PhD OR Master's degree (or equivalent) with 5 years of relevant experience is required OR

• Technical/Professional license with 6 years of relevant experience OR

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any of the above or related fields with 7 years of relevant experience

Desired

• A globally or nationally recognized professional certificate in financial management (e.g. ACCA, CPA, CIMA) is desired.

Required

• Relevant experience is work in financial management, accounting, administrative support services or related areas.

• Experience in managing projects or programs independently within existing frameworks.

• Experience in supervising a team of support staff and/or junior professional personnel.

Desired

• Experience working in an international organization or a complex multi-country environment.

• Experience with ERP systems (e.g. SAP, Oracle).

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
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• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments.
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