Operations Specialist, NO-3, Temporary Position

Job no: 594622
Contract type: Temporary Appointment
Duty Station: Baidoa (Baydhabo)
Level: NO-3
Location: Somalia
Categories: Operations

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to a future.

How can you make a difference?

As an Operations Specialist, the incumbent will be accountable for operations functions, facilitate change, provide risk informed, solution-focused analysis, advice and services and contribute to programme and management decisions for delivering results for children in specific operational contexts.

The incumbent will accomplish this by:

• Facilitating services in the functional areas of operations support: budget, financial management and reporting, facilities management, administration, supply and logistics management, information and communications technology, human resources, and safety and security;
• Supporting the line manager to implement career development, opportunities for staff;
• Acting as a member of the Country and Senior Management Teams, representing the organizational risks, governance systems and policies, and promoting results-based management.
• Understanding business needs for the office, to anticipate challenges, propose viable/creative solutions aimed at value for money.
• Providing key contribution to CPD, CPMP, AMP and support to Results Based Management and implementation using Value for Money criteria.
• Promoting the fundamentals of ICT management, information security and controls;
• Supporting supply and logistics strategies and interventions to meet programmatic needs while ensuring Value for Money (VfM), including procurement of fit for purpose products and services, and providing advisory support to governments, national systems and partners on supply chain management;
• Supporting the country office during external and internal audit reviews and responding to
audit observations and monitoring implementation of recommendations.
• Providing regular feedback on risks and achievements of operations functions in the office;
• Leading on facility management with a specific focus on inclusive accessibility, eco sustainability and common premises;
• Monitoring business transactions processed by GSSC from a perspective of Efficiency, Performance, Risk Management and Fraud prevention
• Supporting the management of PSFR operations and promoting efficiency across systems and processes, where applicable.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  Operations Specialist JD.pdf

Minimum requirements

• Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in one of the following areas is required: Business management, Financial management, Accounting, Public Finance, and related operations function (Supply Chain, Human Resources, Information Technology, International Business, Project management).
• Work Experience: At least 5 years of relevant work experience in one or more areas of operations management, including budget management, financial management and reporting, facilities management, administration, supply and logistics management, information and communication technology, and human resources.
• Skills: Risk Management, Reporting, Resource Planning, ERPs, SAP, Strategic thinking.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.
  •  

Desirables:

• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) is an asset.
• Knowledge of the local language is an asset.
• A full professional accounting designation (CA, ACA, ACCA, CPA, CIMA, CPFA, Expert Comptable) from an internationally recognized institute/body of accountancy with valid membership in good standing is an asset.
• Experience in Audit, Investigations, Grant Management, Risk Management, or Fundraising is desirable.
• Relevant country-level experience, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts is desirable.
• Demonstrated leadership skills are desirable.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Advertised: 21 Jul 2026 E. Africa Standard Time
Deadline: 28 Jul 2026 E. Africa Standard Time