Director of Administration, D1

The Director of Administration leads the Division of Administration at ESCAP, managing comprehensive administrative services including procurement, human resources, finance, facilities management, conference services, and IT. The role supports efficient mandate delivery, adherence to UN regulations, and drives administrative reforms and innovations.

Responsibilities

• Provides strategic advice to the Executive Secretary on integrated management of ESCAP’s financial, human, and physical resources aligned with UN Secretariat reform initiatives.
• Supports senior leadership in data-informed administrative decision-making and implementing streamlined service delivery models.
• Leads development and operationalization of resource and asset management frameworks under the UN 2.0 framework.
• Develops strategies, processes and procedures for cost effective management of human resources, financial services, procurement, ICT, conference services, real estate, central support services, travel, transport, and host country relations.
• Prepares major reports for senior management and UN legislative bodies, provides guidance on strategic planning, management policies, enterprise risk management, business continuity, and manages audits.
• Develops cost plans and containment strategies, monitors expenditures, and provides guidance on financial and resource planning.
• Provides supervision and policy advisory services to all areas under the Division and supports Commission's work.
• Promotes organization-wide reform policies and initiatives, supports ongoing reform efforts under UN 80, UN 2.0, and leads results through inter-agency coordination and engagement with Thailand and Regional Operations Management Teams.
• Ensures high quality standards in outputs and services, implements innovative strategies such as environmental management systems, business automation, and service management portfolios.
• Leads, supervises and coordinates work within the Division and with other UN organizations.
• Manages, guides, develops, and trains staff under supervision.
• Fosters teamwork and communication among staff and across organizational boundaries.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in management, business administration, public administration, human resources, finance, or related field is required.
• A relevant first-level university degree in the above fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in various areas of administration, such as financial services and budgeting, human resources, real estate management, information technology services, supply chain management, conference services, central support services or related field is required.
• Experience leading a large, multi-functional administrative service platform in a multi-entity administrative service-provider setting with accountability for service quality, cost-effectiveness, client satisfaction, and reform implementation across multiple administrative functions is required.
• Prior experience working in the UN Common system or other international organizations, with a deep understanding of UN administrative rules, policies, and reform agendas (e.g., UN 2.0, Common Administrative Platform) is required.
• Experience in contributing to and leading UN reform initiatives, including direct involvement in the preparatory work and/or implementation of the Business Operations Strategy (BOS), Common Back Office (CBO), and Common Premises (CP) is required.
• Experience leading business transformation, process simplification, automation, or digitization of administrative services, including the use of ERP systems, service-management platforms, workflow tools, dashboards, or data-driven management tools to improve service quality, transparency, timeliness, and accountability, is required.
• Proven experience in business and client services continuity in a headquarters, regional headquarters, or comparable institutional setting is desirable.
• A minimum of two (2) years of experience in leading UN interagency initiatives related to the provision of administrative services is desirable.
• Demonstrated experience with international standards in financial (IPSAS), procurement, human resources or other administrative areas is desirable.
• Experience of working in the Asia-Pacific region in a regional headquarters, regional commission, international institution, or comparable setting, with responsibility for administrative service delivery to clients across multiple countries or duty stations, is desirable.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Skills

• Financial Services
• Budgeting
• Human Resources Management
• Real Estate Management
• Information Technology Services
• Supply Chain Management
• Conference Services
• Central Support Services
• Administrative Service Leadership
• Service Quality Management
• Cost-effectiveness Analysis
• Client Satisfaction Management
• Reform Implementation
• UN Administrative Rules
• UN Reform Initiatives
• Business Operations
• Common Back Office
• Common Premises
• Business Transformation Projects
• Process Simplification
• Automation
• Digitization of Administrative Services
• ERP Systems
• Service Management Platforms
• Workflow Tools
• Data-driven Management
• Business Continuity
• Client Services Continuity
• UN Interagency Initiatives
• International Financial Reporting Standards
• IPSAS
• Procurement
• Regional Administrative Service Delivery

Languages

English