Operations Manager, NO-3, Fixed Term Position, Colombo, Sri Lanka, #00113920

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?

The Operations function is a strategic Business Partner role, ensuring the effective and efficient use of UNICEF resources in line with sound management practices, office priorities and organizational goals, to deliver results for children and strong value for money.

The position is a member of the senior management team and will lead and integrate UNICEF’s core operations functions, including finance, supply/procurement, information technology, and administrative services, to enable programme delivery. The role requires strong leadership of teams across locations, with a focus on responsiveness, quality and service.

The incumbent is expected to drive practical, cost-effective solutions to operational challenges, applying risk-informed judgement to support delivery. The role also requires confident negotiation and influencing skills to work across UN agencies, government counterparts and partners to resolve constraints and secure coordinated operational support.

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

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements

Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in business, accounting, public finance, supply chain, human resources, information technology, international business, project management, operations management, is required or 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 required

Work Experience: A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in operations management, including oversight of finance, supply/procurement, ICT and administration.

• Demonstrated experience leading teams, including across multiple locations, with a track record of driving performance.
• Proven experience managing integrated operations functions, with the ability to translate programme needs into practical operational solutions.
• Experience supporting or leading organizational change, including restructuring or setting up common services/back-office approaches, and operating effectively in evolving environments.
• Experience in improving efficiency and value for money, including streamlining processes and strengthening controls, and familiarity with safety and security operations.
• Experience working across agencies and partners, with strong negotiation skills to resolve operational constraints.
• Experience in risk management and audit follow-up, ensuring compliance while maintaining a delivery focus.

Skills

• Leadership and performance management: Ability to set direction, actively manage teams and hold staff accountable for results.
• Change and agility: Ability to lead through change and establish new ways of working, including for a new Multi-Country Office or in common operations contexts.
• Operational integration: Strong understanding of finance, supply, ICT and administrative functions, and how they support programme delivery.
• Efficiency and value for money: Ability to simplify processes, optimize resources and improve cost-effectiveness.
• Problem-solving and judgement: Ability to identify bottlenecks and implement workable, risk-informed solutions.
• Negotiation and influencing: Ability to navigate inter-agency dynamics and secure coordinated outcomes.
• Partnership and service orientation: Builds trusted relationships and maintains a clear focus on enabling programme impact.

Language Requirements: Proficiency in English is required.

Desirables

• Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.
• Experience in audit, investigations, or internal oversight functions.
• Experience in a UN system agency, large private or public company, or experience working in a developing country and/or humanitarian/ emergency context is an asset.
• Previous involvement in private sector engagement or fundraising operations (especially PSFR environments)
• Experience in grant management and donor-funded programmes, including financial reporting.
• Familiarity with safety and security operations, especially in complex or emergency contexts.
• Proven experience in working with corporate ERPs (Enterprise Resource Planning) and IPSAS (International Public Sector Accounting Standards) is desirable.
• Experience in complex country contexts, including developing or emergency settings.
• Experience managing integrated operations functions (HR, admin, ICT, facilities).

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

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others

(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children.

The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities.

UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities.

UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history.

Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.

Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates from targeted underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants' bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

Visa residence requirements: i.e. UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

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.