Operations Associate

Deadline for ApplicationsFebruary 2, 2026

Hardship LevelC

Family TypeFamily

Family TypeFamily

Residential location (if applicable)

GradeGS6

Staff Member / Affiliate TypeGeneral Service

ReasonRegular > Regular Assignment

Target Start Date2026-02-01

Standard Job Description

Operations Associate

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The incumbent normally works under the supervision of the (Senior) Operations Officer. S/he performs a variety of functions related to the instructions and guidelines for UNHCR in the Regional Bureaux and in the Field about reporting, implementation and Planning for projects within a certain geographical area.

S/he works quite independently on regular assignments with an oversight from the supervisor who provides general guidance and work plans for identifying work priorities and appropriate approaches. Work is controlled for meeting expected results and conformity to policy and procedures.

The Incumbent does not normally have a direct supervisory role. Contacts on administrative/budgetary related issues are mainly with Sections/Units/Offices within the Organization and with local suppliers/services/ partners normally on routine subject matters.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties

• Review operational data, regional and country operations plans and ensure that plans are correctly set up by verifying indicators, budget lines, prioritization and apportioning.

• Create reports; conduct regular regional, operation-specific and comparative analyses of plans through COMPASS, Cloud ERP, Power BI - Results Data Portal and Workday to create appropriate tables for Operations Officers.

• Use tables to detect and quickly show inconsistencies and/or system problems, possible programme shortfalls and advise field operations accordingly.

• Assist in training of staff to build capacity in: COMPASS, Cloud ERP, Power BI - Results Data Portal and Workday.

• Initiate administrative processing of implementing instruments, sub-agreements and closure of projects at the Operations level.

• Provide administrative and operational support across a range of programme activities, including but not limited to processing field requests related to financial transactions, procurement actions, and documentation for internal review and approval processes (e.g., Committee on Contracts, Budget Committee), ensuring compliance with relevant procedures and timelines.

• Contribute to the preparation of plans, reports, project documents and submissions for donor funding by drafting and reviewing text and preparing budgets.

• Prepare background information of use in discussions within the Country Operations, Bureau, Divisional Support and field Offices.

• Follow-up, in close coordination with the field, on the purchase requests with the concerned units at Headquarters and prepare draft memos with field inputs for submission to Committee on Contract.

• Liaise with Donor Relations, maintains records of status of contributions, commitments, availability of funds, compiles data and produces financial reports to be attached to Appeals or reports.

• Keep track of up-dated Fact-Sheets of Country and Regional Operations.

• Gather information from the press and other public sources to facilitate the Operations Officers analysis of political and social developments impacting on UNHCR’s operations.

• Enforce compliance with UNHCR’s global strategies, protocols and guidelines.

• Decide which issues of inconsistency and/or non-compliance with RBM processes and deadlines have to be brought to the attention of Operations Officers, senior management and country/regional operations.

• Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).

• Perform other related duties as required.

  Minimum Qualifications

  Years of Experience / Degree Level

  For G6 - 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

  Field(s) of Education

  Not applicable.

  Certificates and/or Licenses

  Business Administration, Economics, Political Science, Law

  (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

  Relevant Job Experience

  Essential

  In depth knowledge of/previous experience in COMPASS, Cloud ERP and Power BI - Results Data Portal and/or other RBM systems analysis. Understanding of the basics of IPSAS.

  Desirable

  Training in programme design, monitoring & evaluation. Completion of UNHCR learning programmes relevant to the functions (e.g. OMLP). Knowledge of UNHCR's operational rules and procedures. Direct experience as Programme or Operations Associate and in COMPASS development training.

  Functional Skills

  IT-Computer Literacy;

  📚 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯! 🌍🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗡𝗛𝗖𝗥, 𝗪𝗙𝗣, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣𝗔, 𝗜𝗢𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌐

  ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

  DM-Data Management;

  PG-Resource Planning;

  PG-Results-Based Management;

  PG-UNHCR's Programmes;

  IT-Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP);

  (Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

  Language Requirements

  For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.

  For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.

  For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

  
  Competency Requirements

  All jobs at UNHCR require six core competencies and may also require managerial competencies and/or cross-functional competencies. The six core competencies are listed below.

  Core Competencies

  Accountability

  Communication

  Organizational Awareness

  Teamwork & Collaboration

  Commitment to Continuous Learning

  Client & Result Orientation

  Managerial Competencies

  Managing Resources

  Cross-Functional Competencies

  Analytical Thinking

  Planning and Organizing

  All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination, and abuse of power.

  As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

  This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

  Desired Candidate Profile Une expérience en appui aux programmes, notamment les outils du programmes, les etapes de la planification, en coordination avec les partenaires locaux et suivi des résultats, constituera un atout majeur.
  
  Le/la candidat(e) devra faire preuve d’un excellent jugement, d’une grande capacité de gestion multitâche, ainsi que de solides compétences en communication afin d’assurer la bonne liaison entre les différentes équipes ainsi que les partenaires.
  Le/la candidat(e) idéal(e) devra justifier d’une solide expérience au sein du bureau de l’UNHCR à Djibouti, avec une connaissance approfondie des règles financières, des règlements et des procédures administratives propres à l’organisation dans ce contexte. Une connaissance des ressources humaines est egalement essentiel.
  
  Il/elle aura démontré ses capacités à gérer efficacement les fonctions administratives et financières, y compris la tenue des dossiers, le suivi budgétaire, la réconciliation des dépenses, la gestion du Petty Cash, ainsi que la préparation des rapports financiers conformément aux normes du HCR.
  
  Une bonne maitrise des processus d’achat, de la gestion des fournisseurs, de la logistique liée aux déplacements et de la gestion des actifs est indispensable. Il/elle devra également avoir une expérience confirmée en matière de conformité aux audits, contrôles internes et politiques propres au HCR Djibouti.
  
  Des compétences organisationnelles solides, un grand souci du détail, et une aptitude à gérer les fournitures de bureau, les inventaires et la documentation sont attendus.
  
  La maîtrise des systèmes de gestion tels que COMPASS, Cloud ERP, Workday, ainsi que des outils Microsoft Office, notamment Excel pour l’analyse de données et la production de rapports, est requise.
  
  La maîtrise de l’anglais, à l’écrit comme à l’oral, est essentielle.

  Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):

  ,

  ,

  Desired languages

  ,

  ,

  Operational context

  Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

  To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel.

  Nature of Position:

  Living and Working Conditions:

  
  

  Additional Qualifications

  SkillsDM-Data Management, IT-Computer Literacy, IT-Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), PG-Resource planning, PG-Results-Based Management, PG-UNHCR's Programmes

  Education

  CertificationsBusiness Administration - Other, Economics - Other, Law - Other, Political Science - Other

  Work Experience

  CompetenciesAccountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Teamwork & collaboration

  UNHCR Salary Calculator

  https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

  Compendium

  Additional Information

  Functional clearanceThis position doesn't require a functional clearance