Senior Operations Officer

Global Roles; New Delhi; On-site; INR 3,600,000 - 4,800,000; Full time

Job summary

World Health Organization in India seeks a Senior Operations Officer to provide authoritative advice and manage operations teams delivering administrative and financial services in alignment with WHO policies. The role spans strategic guidance, financial management, procurement, HR, security and cross‑agency coordination to support the country office’s functions.

The role requires leadership of staff, adherence to donor and organizational rules, and partnership with UN and development actors to

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in finance/management/administration or equivalent.
• Bachelor's degree in HR, accounting, finance or monitoring & evaluation is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide authoritative advice to the head of the WHO Country Office on operations, policies and procedures.
• Lead and manage staff and operations teams across budget, finance, HR, procurement, ICT, security and admin.
• Develop innovative and policy-compliant solutions aligned with organizational needs.
• Contribute to strategic direction as a member of the management team.
• Oversee financial resources management: planning, monitoring, reporting, budgeting and cash management.
• Guide project proposals with external funders ensuring compliance with rules.
• Support national surveillance transition plans including HR, reporting, asset mapping and capacity building.
• Advise on HR plans: recruitment, contracts, engagement, retention, performance, development and gender balance.
• Ensure work-life policies and PAAC compliance; facilitate PRESEAH issues.
• Plan and implement administrative and budgetary policies and oversee workplans, reporting.
• Lead procurement to ensure best value and coordinate security services with UN partners.
• In emergency settings, plan and implement admin, monitoring and control of resources within incident management.
• Advise on internal risks and propose mitigations.
• Introduce innovations to improve efficiency and performance.
• Coordinate with Business Operations network on processes, standards and continuity planning.
• Represent the country office in UN operations management and inter-agency mechanisms.

Education

Advanced university degree in finance, management, economics or business administration

Bachelor's degree in human resources, accounting, finance or monitoring and evaluation (desirable)

Job description

The Senior Operations Officer will provide authoritative advice and manage operations teams to deliver administrative and financial services in compliance with WHO policies. The role includes strategic advice, financial management, procurement, human resources, security, and coordination with UN and development partners to support WHO country office functions in India.

Responsibilities

• Provide authoritative advice to the head of the WHO Country Office and other staff on all aspects of country office operations, interpreting policies, systems and procedures and ensuring compliance, including donor agreements.
• Lead, empower, and manage staff and operations teams delivering services in budget and finance, human resources, procurement, ICT, security and staff safety, and general administration in compliance with organizational policies.
• Provide appropriate solutions grounded in sound policy compliance and creative responsiveness to business needs.
• Provide strategic advice on the overall direction of the WHO country office as a key member of the management team.
• Ensure effective and accurate financial resources management including planning, monitoring, reconciliation, reporting, budget preparation and management, and award and cash management.
• Guide formulation, negotiation, and consultation of project proposals funded by external agencies ensuring adherence to administrative and financial rules.
• Support implementation of critical activities in the National Public Health Surveillance Network transition planning process including administrative and HR operations, reporting, asset mapping, capacity building, resource mobilization, and communication and management strategies.
• Advise and oversee formulation and implementation of the country office Human Resources plans ensuring timely availability through recruitment, contract management, engagement, retention, performance management, development, career management, gender balance and diversity.
• Ensure appropriate work/life conditions and policies including conflict resolution and addressing abusive behaviours through PAAC policies and administrative reviews, and serve as facilitator for PRESEAH issues.
• Guide planning process focusing on administrative/budgetary policies and procedures and manage implementation of WHO country office workplans including reporting.
• Lead procurement of goods and services ensuring best value for money.
• Ensure provision of office and staff security and safety services in coordination with designated security officials and UN Common Services Agreements.
• In emergency settings, plan, recommend and implement systems for administration, monitoring, control and evaluation of resources within the incident management system.
• Advise on internal operational and administrative risks and propose risk-mitigation measures.
• Introduce innovations for improved efficiencies and effectiveness in WHO country office performance responsive to emergencies and changes.
• Coordinate with the Business Operations network to harmonize business processes, workflows, standards, business continuity planning and technical requirements.
• Represent the WHO country office and participate actively in the UN operations management team and other Inter-Agency coordinating Mechanisms, sharing information and ensuring implementation of decisions.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (master's) in finance, management, accountancy, economics, or business administration or equivalent areas.
• A university degree (bachelor's) or training or certification in human resources, accounting, finance, monitoring and evaluation is desirable.
• Minimum of ten years of work experience relevant for the position delivering administrative and managerial services, ensuring compliance with complex rules and procedures in both national and international settings.
• Minimum of four years of experience in managing and leading staff/teams.
• Relevant experience with WHO, United Nations funds and programmes, or equivalent organizations is desirable.
• Experience delivering operational services in a developing country is desirable.
• Experience in managing operations and large teams in an emergency context is desirable.
• Good knowledge of programme management and end-to-end business processes is desirable.
• Good knowledge of enterprise resource planning systems is desirable.
• Thorough knowledge of administrative, financial and management principles, procedures, and policies of large international public-sector organizations.
• Expertise in the principles and practices of administration, programme and project management.
• High-level managerial and analytical skills.
• Demonstrated ability to analyse financial data and develop related business strategies or policies.
• Ability to provide recommendations on key administrative issues.
• Ability to lead, direct and manage an interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to represent the organization, build alliances, and negotiate with government, UN agencies and other development partners.
• Ability to cultivate partnerships and maintain excellent interpersonal working relations.
• Ability to work with competing priorities under pressure.
• Expert knowledge of English.
• Beginners knowledge of Hindi.

Skills

• Finance Management
• Budgeting
• Human Resources Management
• Programme Management
• Project Management
• Administrative Services
• Compliance Management
• Team Leadership
• Staff Management
• Enterprise Resource Planning
• Operational Services
• Financial Data Analysis
• Business Strategy Development
• Policy Development
• Procurement
• Security Coordination
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Inter-agency Coordination
• Negotiation
• Monitoring and Evaluation

Languages

English, Hindi