Principal Administrative Officer

The Principal Administrative Officer will lead the Operational Planning Service’s cross-cutting support for United Nations entities in crisis, start-up, surge, transition and liquidation phases. The post directs service work programmes, policy and budget outputs, operational planning and advisory support, while managing staff and representing the Division with headquarters and field counterparts.

• Formulate and implement the Operational Planning Service work programme
• Lead cross-cutting operational planning and support for headquarters and field entities
• Oversee policy papers, manuals, guidance, SOPs and leadership reports
• Manage budgets, programme performance reporting and results-based budgeting inputs
• Lead coordination across headquarters departments, field entities and other stakeholders
• Recruit, manage, develop and train Service staff
• Represent the Division in international, regional and national meetings

• Advanced university degree in business or public administration, finance, accounting, law, engineering, social sciences or a related area
• A first-level university degree with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree
• At least 15 years of progressively responsible experience in human resources management, logistics, financial management, budget or a related field
• Experience leading cross-cutting operational planning and advisory or coordination support during start-up, surge, transition, drawdown, liquidation or crisis preparedness and response
• Experience responding to crises or emergencies in an international organisation or not-for-profit setting
• Experience preparing policy papers, analytical reports, manuals, SOPs and high-level statements
• At least 2 years in a country or field-based organisation in operational support or senior leadership advisory work
• English

• At least 2 years of headquarters experience coordinating across stakeholders
• Experience liaising with government counterparts or regional or subregional organisations

• Operational Planning
• Crisis Management
• Policy Development
• Budget Management
• Programme Management
• Organisational Leadership
• Stakeholder Coordination
• Performance Management

• Standard Operating Procedures

• Temporary appointment until 30 June 2027 with possible extension
• Appointee must submit a financial disclosure statement on appointment and annually