Corporate Services Manager (LAC) - Panama City, Panama [Panama, P-4]

Organizational Setting

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an international financial institution and a specialized United Nations agency dedicated to eradicating rural poverty and hunger. It does so by investing in rural people. IFAD finances programmes and projects that increase agricultural productivity and raise rural incomes, and advocates at the local, national and international level for policies that contribute to rural transformation.

The Corporate Services Department (CSD), led by the Associate Vice-President, CSD, provides IFAD with the human resources, administrative services, safety and security, information technology resources and medical support services required to allow IFAD to meet its objectives of enabling rural people overcome poverty. The work of the CSD is undertaken by three divisions: (i) Administrative Services Division (ADM); (ii) Human Resources Division (HRD); and (iii) Information and Communication Technology Division (ICT) and three units: (a) Front Office CSD (FCS); (b) Field Support Unit (FSU); and (c) Medical Services Unit (MSU).

FSU services colleagues and offices in the field, with the ambition of being a strategic, business-oriented and fully trusted professional partner with IFAD managers and staff assigned to IFAD regional, multi-country, country and liaisons offices. The Unit provides a dedicated partnership to IFAD workforce and offices in the field to ensure the efficient delivery of corporate initiatives related to its field activities as well as UN Reform initiatives directly linked to CSD mandate, namely Business Operations Strategy (BOS), Common Back Office (CBO) and Common Premises (CP). To achieve this, FSU is mandated to manage CSD-related field operations and provide coordination and advisory services aimed at strengthening the functionality of IFAD Regional, Multi-Country, Country and Liaison Offices. This includes functions of field-related general administration, administrative support staff pool, CSD-related administrative budget monitoring and analysis for the portion of corporate administrative budget for rent and common services centrally managed by the Unit, coordination of outsourced services with local UN entities or through UN Reform initiatives (BOS and CBO), service level agreements with host agencies, host country agreements, accreditation of offices and staff and privileges and immunities.

The incumbent works under the direct supervision of the Chief, Field Support Unit, in close collaboration with all divisions in CSD, and has a dual reporting line to the respective Regional Director under which the position is mapped. In performing their duties, the incumbent will carefully consider adequate separation of tasks, duties and responsibilities to reduce the risk of real/perceived conflict of interest.

The Corporate Services Manager is in charge of managing the corporate services in the assigned portfolios in the LAC region, including in the Regional Office (RO), Multi-Country Offices (MCOs), Country Director-led Country Offices, and Country Programme Officer-led Country Offices in the assigned portfolio.

Job Role

The Corporate Services Manager will cover all aspects of corporate services management and administration of IFAD offices in the region in line with the Delegation of Authority and in full alignment and consultation with CSD divisions. This includes, but is not limited to, coordination of financial and human resources management related activities, facilitating efficient procurement and logistical services, while ensuring that common services as well as hosted ICT services are provided and consumed in a manner consistent with IFAD rules, regulations and terms of use. They facilitate all corporate services-related actions, ensuring smooth functioning of the IFAD Regional Office as well as other Offices within the region, consistent services delivery and constant evaluation and readjustment thereof to take into account changes in the operating environment as and when needed.

Corporate Services Managers at this level are professionals reflecting complete understanding of general administration and service management in the context of the Fund's mandate, work programme and enhanced decentralization. They may additionally support a wider range of administration-related functions in the Programme Management Department (PMD), the Strategy and Knowledge Department (SKD) and other departments/divisions. Within their areas of responsibility, the Corporate Services Managers exercise a high degree of independence and due diligence in providing reliable corporate services, while taking region and country context into consideration, being close to clients to better identify and address their needs through providing customized, yet corporate solutions. The Corporate Services Managers are expected to perform duties independently and to deliver the expected results through strong coordination with internal and external stakeholders (e.g. CSD divisions/units, other Divisions/Offices, and UN and partner entities on the ground).

The Corporate Services Manager coordinates general administrative support for staff both at the Regional Office and at country offices in the region, fostering collaboration within the local and regional teams, with other UN Agencies and Government officials while promoting a client-oriented approach. The Corporate Services Manager works in close collaboration with business owners within CSD in HQs, operations staff in other UN Agencies in particular the ones in respective local hosting agency, IFAD decentralized staff and Government officials to successfully deliver operations services.

The Corporate Services Manager is empowered through appropriate Delegation of Authority (DoA) to lead the day-to-day activities within their responsibility. This empowerment extends to actions both internally within IFAD and externally with other stakeholders to perform day-to-day operations.

Job Profile Requirements

Organizational Competencies:

Level 2:

• Building relationships and partnerships - Builds and maintains strategic partnerships internally and externally;
• Communicating and negotiating - Acquires & uses a wide range of communication styles & skills;
• Demonstrating leadership - Leads by example; initiates and supports change;
• Focusing on clients - Contributes to a client-focused culture;
• Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating - Challenges, innovates & contributes to learning culture;
• Managing performance and developing staff - Manages wider teams with greater impact on others and on the organization;
• Managing time, resources and information - Coordinates wider use of time, information and/or resources;
• Problem-solving and decision-making - Solves complex problems and makes decisions that have wider corporate impact;
• Strategic thinking and organizational development - Staff in management and/or strategic leadership roles;
• Team working - Fosters a cohesive team environment.

Education:

• Advanced* university degree in any of the following disciplines: Public Administration or Business Administration, Economics, Finance, Management or other related fields.

(*) Note: For internal candidates, this requirement will be assessed in line with the provisions set forth in the IFAD's Human Resources Implementing Procedures.

Experience:

• A minimum of 8 years of relevant work experience
• Experience in preparation and management of contracts and assets, including familiarity with complex Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Proven experience with the management of service providers beyond contract management of one, or more, of the following areas of specialization: Accommodation, Assets (physical equipment), Facilities, Fleet, Protocol, Privileges and Logistics.

Languages:

• Required - Excellent English and Spanish
• Working knowledge of another IFAD official language (French and Arabic) would be an asset.

Click "Apply" to read the full job description and submit your application.​

Deadline for applications: 17 July 2024 (23.59 CET Rome)​

Ref: VA 21403​