Director – Operation and Support Services at the African Union (AU)

The African Union (AU) is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African Continent. It was officially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU, 1963-1999).  We are an Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Director – Operation and Support Services

Requisition ID: 404
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Reports to: Deputy Chairperson
Directorate: Operation and Support Services
Number of Direct Reports: 5
Number of Indirect Reports: 56
Job Grade: D1

Purpose of Job

• Provide strategic direction and leadership in managing the operation of both the Administration and Facilities Management and the Supply Chain Management in order to achieve the AU Strategic objectives and goals aiming to ensure sustainable quality and timely service delivery and value-for-money towards customers/stakeholder satisfaction and trust.

Main Functions

• Develops and executes the overall strategy for the Directorate and ensures alignment with overall organizational strategy;
• Manages and supervises employees within the Directorate, ensures the timely delivery of the Directorate’s goals and effective staff performance evaluation;
• Drives the development, implementation and monitoring of policies, strategies and programs contributing towards the effective implementation of relevant AU Policy Organs Decisions;
• Ensures the delivery of quality service of the Directorate’s annual targets in line with the organization’s overall strategy and goals and maintains robust departmental monitoring and evaluation systems;
• Provides technical leadership and ensures efficient functioning of all Divisions within the Directorate;
• Develops and executes the overall strategy for the Directorate and ensures alignment with overall organizational strategy;
• Manages and supervises employees within the Directorate, ensures the timely delivery of the Directorate’s goals and effective staff performance evaluation;
• Drives the implementation and monitoring of policies, strategies and programs to contribute to the effective implementation of relevant AU Policy Organs Decisions;
• Ensures the delivery of the Directorate’s annual targets in line with the organization’s overall goals and maintains robust departmental monitoring and evaluation systems;
• Provides technical leadership and ensures efficient functioning of all Divisions within the Directorate;
• Manages the work of the Directorate and supervises direct reports to ensure their effective performance in line with the organization’s performance management policy and system;
• Leads the Directorate and ensures effective management of personnel, budget, performance, program quality, employee relations matters and training in conformity with relevant rules, policies and procedures;
• Builds and maintains good working relations and collaboration with other directorates/departments;
• Develops and maintains regular working relations with senior stakeholders in Member State and partner institution;
• Coordinates meetings between the organization and relevant partners;
• Ensures the preparation of periodic financial and budget execution reports and other reports;
• Ensures the effective management of funds contributed to the organization.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Plan and monitor the day-to-day running of all support operations for a sustainable facilities , fleet and supply chain management so as to ensure compliance with all applicable standards;
• Regularly evaluate the efficiency of all operational procedures related to facilities, fleets and supply chain management in accordance to the organizational objectives, rules, regulations and policies and apply improvement towards risk management;
• Optimize all procurement processes and workflows and coordinate materials, services, and resources allocation aiming to ensure cost-effectiveness and value-for-money;
• Manage all existing facilities, office spaces and assets of the organization with appropriate corrective and preventative maintenance plan with the view to ensure 24/7 availability and quality service delivery to all customers /stakeholders;
• Coordinate all constructions and renovations projects of the Union;
• Develop and manage the budget for facilities, fleets and supply chain management, review budgetary cost estimates for the operation of the directorate and examine long-term operational needs against the organizational strategies and goals;
• Lead periodic inspections and verifications of all facilities and assets of the organization for conformance to established standards of the organizational rules, regulations, policies and manuals; and oversee the areas of improvement as well as disposal of obsolete assets;
• Oversee customers support processes and organize them to enhance customer satisfaction;
• Revise and/or formulate policies and promote their implementation;
• Evaluate overall performance by gathering, analyzing and interpreting data and metric for facilities and supply chain management.
• Any other related assignments as may be assigned by supervisors.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• A University Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Administrative Management, Organizational Development, Engineering, Facilities Management, Operations Management, Supply Chain Management or related fields from a recognized academic institution.
• Minimum of fifteen (15) relevant work experience of which eight (8) years must be at managerial level and five (5) years at supervisory level.
• Experience in facilities management, engineering, and supply chain management
• Experience in managing multi-disciplinary teams in a diversified multicultural environment.
• Proven track record of management and technical leadership in delivering operational support services.
• Exposure to international organizations and Public sector is a plus.
• Certification in project management, supply chain, facilities management and strategic organizational development would be an added advantage.

Required Skills:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French, Portuguese and Spanish) and Working knowledge in another AU Languages will be an added advantage.
• Ability to initiate and identify key strategic opportunities and risks.
• Excellent planning and organizational skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
• Capacity to work under pressure and multi task within tight time constraints.
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and relate well with a broad array of individuals both within and outside of the AU.
• Problem solving skills: with an excellent solution orientation and ability to draw on experiences for providing a sound basis for decision making.
• Creative thinking, innovation and rational decision-making capabilities
• Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to build good working relationships and to work flexibly and collaboratively with colleagues of different Department and institutions to achieve organizational goals.
• Strategic thinking: structured and efficient approach to project implementation with a proven track record of leading cross-functional projects teams as well as the ability to guide the team on journey for continual improvement of performance and knowledge;
• Excellent drafting, reporting and presentation skills
• Competence in the use of standard software such as Ms Word, Excel, PowerPoint.

Leadership Competencies:

• Strategic Perspective
• Developing Others
• Driving Change
• Managing Risk.

Core Competencies:

• Building Relationships
• Responsibility
• Learning Orientation
• Communicating with impact
• Functional Competencies
• Conceptual Thinking and Problem Solving
• Job Knowledge
• Drive for Results
• Innovation and taking initiative.

Tenure Of Appointment

• The appointment will be made on a regular term contract for a period of three (3) years, of which the first twelve months shall be considered as a probationary period.
• Thereafter, the contract will be for a period of two years renewable, subject to satisfactory performance and deliverables.

Remuneration

• Indicative basic salary of US$ 78,138.00 (D1 Step1) per annum plus other related entitlements e.g. Post adjustment (46% of basic salary), Housing allowance US$ 26,208.00 (per annum), and education allowance (100% of tuition and other education-related expenses for every eligible dependent up to a maximum of US$ 10,000.00 per child per annum), for internationally recruited staff and a maximum of $3,300 per child per annum for locally recruited staff.

Application Closing Date
30th July, 2021.