Operations Specialist

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Position Title: Operations Specialist
Location: Kyiv
Country: Ukraine
Deadline Date: Not specified

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established to lead international efforts to defeat hunger. With a mission to achieve security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security for all, FAO ensures that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. The organization has 195 members, including 194 countries and the European Union, and operates in over 130 countries worldwide. FAO Ukraine focuses on increasing the resilience of livelihoods against threats and crises affecting agriculture, food, and nutrition, emphasizing rural economic development, sustainable agriculture, climate change adaptation, and humanitarian assistance. FAO Ukraine collaborates closely with the government, civil society organizations, the private sector, and other UN agencies to tackle diverse challenges in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and environmental sectors, providing technical assistance, policy advice, and capacity development support to foster sustainable agricultural practices and enhance food security and nutrition across the country.

Job Overview:
The Operations Specialist plays a crucial role in supporting the operational aspects of FAO Ukraine's projects and programs. This position involves a broad range of activities related to program planning and budgeting, requiring in-depth analysis and interpretation of relevant policies and procedures. The Operations Specialist will provide essential support to Project Management Units, ensuring that operational activities align with the organization's requirements and the country's regulations. The role demands effective communication and coordination with various stakeholders, including project coordinators, technical officers, and administrative staff, to facilitate the smooth execution of tasks and maintain updated records. The incumbent will also be responsible for ensuring that financial and human resources are adequately allocated and that procurement processes are efficiently managed to support project implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Operations Specialist will undertake a variety of tasks, including: ensuring effective operational support to FAO field programs and projects in Ukraine; participating in the identification, formulation, and preparation of program and project proposals; ensuring the availability of necessary financial and human resources; coordinating the monitoring and review of project implementation; accompanying field visits to project sites; maintaining and consolidating technical and operational data; providing operational monitoring and quality assurance; preparing and finalizing operational correspondence; reviewing current processes to recommend improvements; initiating and finalizing budget revisions; and performing other related duties as required by FAO.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline such as international relations, political/social sciences, food security, development, business administration, or a related field. Additionally, a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience in administrative, financial, planning, programming, and/or budgeting activities for projects is required. Candidates must also be nationals of Ukraine and demonstrate a working knowledge of Ukrainian and English at Level C.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in disciplines relevant to FAO's mandate. An advanced university degree in the aforementioned areas is considered an asset, indicating a preference for candidates with higher educational qualifications.

Experience:
The position requires at least 3 years of dedicated and relevant experience in administrative, financial, planning, programming, and/or budgeting activities for projects. This experience should demonstrate the candidate's ability to manage operational tasks effectively and contribute to project success.

Languages:
Fluency in Ukrainian (Level C) is mandatory, along with a working knowledge of English (Level C). Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset but is not explicitly required.

Additional Notes:
FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview, or processing. Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted. FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from institutions accredited or recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED). The appointment will be subject to certification of medical fitness, accreditation, residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.