Operations Specialist- Global Programme [Open to tier 0, 1 and 2 applicants]

Better Than Cash
Better Than Cash

Operations · Full-time

Netherlands

Posted on Oct 21, 2026
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Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

  • Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
  • Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
  • Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
  • Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.

Within the GPN, the Crisis Bureau, under the Governance, Rule of Law and Peacebuilding Hub, guides UNDP’s corporate strategies around the various aspects of peacebuilding, governance, justice, rule of law and human rights. Crisis Bureau staff provide global strategic advice to UNDP management and technical advice to regional hubs and Country Offices; advocate for UNDP corporate messages, represent UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora, and engage in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. As part of the Global Policy Network (GPN, the Crisis Bureau works in an integrated manner with UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) ensuring that issues are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes.

The Crisis Bureau (CB) is galvanizing UNDP’s efforts to support countries to build strong public institutions, promote governance and rule of law while working fully through the peacebuilding cycle from prevention to response. UNDP seeks to ensure that development perspectives are introduced as early as possible in response and recovery cycles, including approaching recovery as an opportunity to reset development practices onto more resilient, green, and equitable pathways.

UNDP’s corporate Crisis Offer seeks to consolidate and upgrade UNDP’s crisis mechanisms to break the cycle of protracted crisis and fragility; to get ahead of the crisis curve through anticipating and preventing crises; and to sustain development throughout crisis by investing in hope – from jobs to justice. These efforts seek to mitigate potential shocks and disruptions, protect hard-won development gains, and to provide sustained accompaniment throughout crises, and to pursue pathways out of crisis and build longer-term resilience. The CB supports Regional Bureaux (RBx) and Country Offices (COs) to ensure risk-informed and preventive approaches are integrated into development plans, priorities, and programmes. Bureau guides UNDP’s corporate crisis-related strategies and vision for crisis prevention, response, and recovery.

Part of the Crisis Bureau, the Operations Specialist, under the Global Programme for Strengthening the Rule of Law, Human Rights, Justice and Security for Sustainable Peace and Development, Phase V (2026-2029) within the Governance, Rule of Law and Peacebuilding Hub is responsible for the financial, administrative, and operational oversight of the Global Programme and will support UNDP Country Offices receiving and managing Global Programme resources at the regional and country level.

The Global Programme is guided by and aligned to UNDP’s 2026-2029 Strategic Plan and its successor plan and is widely recognized for its ability to mobilize funds, provide technical and strategic expertise, and collaborate and coordinate across UN entities to enable more holistic, coherent, people centered, and comprehensive responses to rule of law, justice, and human rights challenges.

The Operations Specialist will report to the Programme Manager, and work in close collaboration with the Crisis Bureau Operations Team as well as thew broader Global Programme Team and operations colleagues.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

This position is based in The Hague, Netherlands.

Position Purpose

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Manager for Rule of Law and Human Rights Global Programme, the Operations Specialist is responsible for the financial, administrative, and operational oversight of the Global Programme and will support UNDP Country Offices receiving and managing Global Programme resources at the country level.

The Operations Specialist is responsible to lead the design and implementation of the Global Programme's operational strategy, ensuring effective coordination and prioritization of operational activities across headquarters and country programmes. Oversee and monitor the operational and financial implementation of Global Programme resources and allocations, providing strategic financial and operational management to ensure efficient delivery of programme objectives. Coordinate workload distribution and operational priorities, while supporting human resources management, logistics, and knowledge-sharing initiatives to strengthen overall programme performance and collaboration.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities

Lead the design and implementation of the operational strategy for the Global Programme

  • Carry out budget and operations management in full compliance with UNDP regulations, rules and policies;
  • Design and implement corporate operational strategies, including the setting of and reporting against corporate targets for the Global Programme team, as well as monitoring of achievements and results;
  • Continuously improve processes, including contributing to business process mapping, and establishing/ updating the Global Programme’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for financial and human resource management, procurement, and logistics, in compliance with UNDP’s Internal Control Framework (ICF);
  • Design and develop operational mechanisms and systems to enhance the efficiency of the implementation of the Global Programme;
  • Provide constant monitoring and analysis of the operating environment, advise on legal, operational, and financial risks, as well as opportunities, and adjust operations accordingly;
  • Provide advisory and support services to the Global Programme teams in New York, Geneva, Nairobi and The Hague based on operational needs and informed by the strategies and policies in place;
  • Provide advisory support and troubleshooting to various Global Programme operational needs and challenges;
  • Interface with GPN Operations and Bureau for Management Services (BMS) on service provision and for ad-hoc transactional support.

Manage and monitor the operational and financial implementation of Global Programme country allocations

  • Oversee the contributions management process and accounting for contributions to ensure that the money due to the Global Programme is properly identified and received. Ensure the tracking of the available funds based on delivery and reserving
  • Plan, prepare and lead on the sending of two to three rounds of country allocations to selected UNDP Country Offices;
  • Provide advisory, technical and support services to regional hubs and country offices recipient (or in the process of receiving) Global Programme resources;
  • Regular monitoring of the financial delivery of the Country Offices implementing Global Programme allocations and flag inconsistencies;
  • Provide at minimum quarterly consolidated financial delivery information of the Global Programme based on the requested indicators. Provide ad-hoc donor reports if necessary;
  • Ensure the establishment and update of systems, mechanisms and trackers for Global Programme colleagues to follow the implementation of Global Programme funds in-country, per region as well as at the global level.

Lead the financial and operational management and oversight of the Global Programme project resources and delivery

  • In coordination with the Global Programme Manager, draft annual workplans based on the input received from the five Global Programme teams;
  • Coordinate corporate exercises of projections on resource mobilization, delivery and GMS revenue targets;
  • Support the Global Programme management unit in taking informed and adequate decisions by providing up-to-date and accessible analyses on the financial and operational health of the Global Programme;
  • Monitor financial/budget data including seed funding expenditures, identify issues and signal to the Programme Manager potential risks;
  • In liaison with GPN Operations, BMS, Global Shared Services Centre (GSSC), and legal support office, lead on the operational and financial aspects of Global Programme-related agreements (donor agreements, UN to UN agreements, etc);
  • Lead quarter-end and year-end closures;
  • Ensure timely operational and financial closure of projects and agreements;
  • Conduct exceptions/compliance reviews on the use of the project budget. Mitigate risks, identify issues and recommend solutions and system improvements;
  • Assist data preparation and coordination on the internal and external audits and evaluations of the Global Programme;
  • Provide financial review and clearance on proposal submissions.

Coordinate the operational workload and priorities of the Global Programme

  • Chair the weekly Operational Coordination Meeting between the Programme Manager and the Global Programme Operations colleagues;
  • Follow the ongoing operational tasks undertaken by operations colleagues, mark completion and proactively identify and highlight present and future issues and delays to the Programme Manager;
  • Continuously assess the workload of the Operations colleagues. Highlight inadequate workloads and, whenever possible, clarify roles and redirect tasks between colleagues to ensure optimal workload repartition between Operational colleagues;
  • Support performance management compliance in coordination with the Global Programme Operations colleagues managers.

Ensure Human Resources management, logistics, and facilitate knowledge sharing

  • Monitor Global Programme contract cycles and time-in-post, ensure timely communication with the managers, and issuance of financial authorizations to facilitate contract extensions;
  • Provide operational support to Global Programme staff including equipment, office space and related project costs. Lead the Global Programme HQ-based procurement processes;
  • Lead the operational organization, logistics, procurement, travel needs of Global Programme events;
  • Lead knowledge-sharing efforts on operational/finance business processes with Global Programme colleagues, UNDP Country Offices receiving Global Programme funding, and other relevant stakeholders;
  • Organize and facilitate Global Programme operations briefing/training and meetings as required;
  • Act as the first entry point for the interpretation of all operational matters and sharing with other staff in the Programme.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: None

Competencies

  • Core Competencies:

Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.

Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

People Management

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

  • Cross Functional and Technical Competencies:

Business Management - Operations Management:

  • Ability to effectively plan, organize and oversee different parts of corporate operations, simultaneously and in an integrated way, in order to convert the organization’s assets into the best results in the most efficient way.
  • Knowledge of relevant concepts and mechanisms.

Business Direction and Strategy - System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Business Management - Communication:

  • Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. ‡
  • Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.

Business Management - Portfolio Management:

  • Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization's programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity.
  • Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment.
  • Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management.

Business Management - Knowledge Facilitation:

  • Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas..
  • Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange.

Finance - Budget management: Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets.

Finance - Financial and process innovation: Financial and business process engineering expertise required to innovate, design, change and implement new financial business models, financial instruments, financing opportunities, business processes, policies and procedures, and technological solutions.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Public/Business Administration, Finance/Accounting or related fields are required. Or
  • A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

  • Minimum of five (5) years (with master’s degree) or seven (7) years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible professional experience in operations management, including at least three years in a major national/international organization is required.
  • Experience in operational and financial management in the fields of development, rule of law, peace, justice, security and/or human rights is desired.
  • Demonstrated experience and advanced knowledge of UNDP financial and operational systems (including Quantum) is desired.
  • Demonstrated experience in managing operations and financial oversight for high-delivery team in a multicultural environment is desired.
  • Experience in coordination and logistics support to activities and events is desirable.
  • Demonstrated experience in human resources management, project management, and/or procurement management is desired.

Language:

  • Fluency in English is required.
  • Fluency in French or Spanish is desirable.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Probation

For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.

Data Privacy

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