Support Services Manager

Support Services Manager | UNOPS - United Nations Office for Project Services

Support Services Manager

UNOPS - United Nations Office for Project Services Bridgetown National ICSC-10 level Speaks English, Spanish

Application deadline: April 06, 2026

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Summary by Impactpool

The Support Services Manager will oversee and manage all operational and support functions for the Barbados Country Office, ensuring compliance with UNOPS rules and regulations. This role is critical for providing effective support services to projects, including HR management, finance, procurement, logistics, administration, and ICT services. The incumbent will lead support teams, contribute to project planning, and ensure efficient service delivery across Caribbean Small Island Developing States. This position offers opportunities for professional growth within a dynamic international organization focused on sustainable development.

Candidate Requirements:

Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Economics, HR or related field

5 years of relevant experience in operations management

Fluent in English and Spanish

Experience in a large international organization

Knowledge of UNOPS rules and regulations

General Information

Position Title

Support Services Manager

Job Category

Support Services

Duty Station(s)

Bridgetown

Seniority Level

Mid Level

ICS Level

ICS 10

Contract Type

ICA - IICA - Regular

Contract Level

IICA 2

Posting Start Date

23-Mar-2026

Posting End Date

06-Apr-2026

Duration

Ongoing contract subject to good performance, availability of funds, and organizational requirements.

Job Highlight

This is an excellent opportunity to lead and manage support services within a dynamic international organization, contributing to the successful implementation of projects in the Caribbean region. The position offers a challenging and rewarding work environment, with opportunities for professional growth and development in operations management, financial oversight, and human resources management.

About the Region

In Latin America and the Caribbean, UNOPS operates across 23 countries, delivering high-impact solutions that drive sustainable development. UNOPS focuses on building and improving resilient infrastructure—including roads, bridges, public facilities, sanitation systems, and housing—to enhance quality of life and foster inclusive growth. UNOPS also supports public health by procuring essential medicines and medical equipment, ensuring broader access to healthcare services. By strengthening institutional capacities, UNOPS promotes transparent, efficient, and equitable public management. As a trusted partner to governments and development stakeholders, UNOPS aligns its interventions with national priorities, helping countries advance the Sustainable Development Goals through practical, results-driven support.

About the Country/Multi-Country Office

The Barbados Country Office (CO) functions as a strategic hub to support Caribbean nations in implementing the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS), helping regional leaders advance a global agenda on climate justice and financing.  The primary mandate of the Barbados Country Office is to Speed Up and Scale Up engagements across 17 Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS), ensuring that partner expectations are met with agility and precision. Through dedicated operational presence, UNOPS Barbados Country Office streamlines complex regional logistics and fosters stronger collaboration with sovereign governments and financial institutions in the Caribbean. The office focuses on delivering high-value solutions aligned with the region’s priorities, including the economy, nature and climate, human capital, infrastructure and capacity development.

Job Specific Context

The Barbados Country Office is designed as a strategic vehicle to support Caribbean nations in the implementation of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS), helping Caribbean leaders drive a global agenda on climate justice and financing.

The region, a complex archipelago of 13 sovereign states and numerous dependent territories, faces disproportionate vulnerabilities to economic shocks, natural disasters, and the accelerating impacts of climate change. In direct response to these challenges, UNOPS has designated operations in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) as a corporate priority for its 2026–2029 Strategic Plan.

The Barbados Country Office’s primary mandate is to Speed Up and Scale Up engagements across 17 Caribbean SIDS, ensuring that partner expectations are met with agility and precision. Through dedicated operational presence, UNOPS Barbados Country Office will streamline complex regional logistics and foster stronger collaboration with sovereign governments and financial institutions in the Caribbean.

The Barbados Country Office will focus on, high-value solutions that address the specific priorities of the Caribbean SIDS, including:

Economy (Economic Resilience, Disaster Risk Reduction, Energy Transition)

Nature and Climate (Climate Action and Support, Biodiversity Action, Ocean Conservation and Sustainable Use)

Human Capital (Secure Safe and healthy societies, Productive populations, Gender equality and women's empowerment)

Infrastructure (Resilient infrastructure in Rule of Law, Health, Transportation, Education, etc.)

Improve countries project management capabilities as well as implementation capacity and project formulation to access just finance.

The Support Services Manager will oversee and manage all operational and support functions for the Barbados Country Office, ensuring compliance with UNOPS rules, regulations, and policies. This role is critical for providing effective and efficient support services to projects and activities, including HR management, finance, procurement, logistics, administration, and ICT services. The incumbent will also support project planning, financial management, and human resources management, contributing to the overall success and efficiency of the office

Role Purpose

The Support Services Manager is responsible for the effective and efficient management of all operational and support functions for the Barbados Country office and associated projects across the Caribbean Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) , ensuring compliance with UNOPS rules, regulations, and policies. The incumbent will provide leadership and guidance to support teams, oversee financial management, procurement, HR, and ICT services, and contribute to the overall success of project delivery.

Functions / Key Results Expected

1. Operations Management

Management of the Operations/Support Services of the Office, namely HR Management, Finance, Procurement, Logistical, Administrative and ICT Services - facilitating effective, efficient and consistent support service provision to projects and all activities under the Office.

Support the Country Manager in establishing the management targets. Monitor their achievement.

Collaborate with relevant colleagues to identify the need, determine cost and pro-actively plan all Office support services.

Monitor and supervise all aspects of operations to ensure compliance with corporate strategies, UNOPS rules, regulations, policies, and standards of accountability, ethics and integrity and achievement of results. Ensure proper implementation of standards and operating procedures.

Monitor effectiveness of support services, to ensure optimum client service and satisfaction. 

Drive timely readjustment and improvements of the operations.

Seek relevant input in support, from e.g. HoSS in place for the Multi Country Office, IPAS, and Practice Groups.

Act as focal point for any internal/external audit exercise.

Supervision of the Security related matters and ensuring full compliance with UNOPS security standards and procedures. Implementation of the Business continuity plan.

2. Project Planning and Coordination Support

Provide assistance and support to the project budget preparation, revisions and work planning.

Provide input into the early stages of project engagements

Provide advice on goal setting, targets and performance standards for projects and recommend tools for monitoring, evaluation and auditing.

Provide advice on project cost sharing, deployment of funds and closure.

Closely liaise with the Head of Support Services for the Multi Country Office, in order to optimize service delivery and address any issues

3. Procurement and Logistics

Supervise the Office procurement processes, including tendering processes and evaluation and supplier selection, to ensure viable procurement solutions that meet operational needs and compliance with UNOPS procurement procedures, regulations and standard of accountability, ethics, integrity and performance.

Establishment of shortlist of suitable contractors/suppliers, and the preparation and issue of local tenders. Evaluation of bids or proposals received and of recommendations for contract awards.

In consultation with relevant colleague, review, administer and issue contracts, agreements/amendments.

Provision of guidance on all logistics, asset management and procurement matters.  Oversee the logistics of goods and equipment on project sites to confirm delivery and safe warehousing.

Establishment and management of a vehicle pool for providing transportation services as required by the Office as well as to meet logistical needs

Development and implementation of a vehicle management and maintenance system in accordance with UNOPS vehicle management policy and procedures;

Repair and maintenance for all equipment including EDP equipment, communications equipment, vehicles and generators, etc.

Building management and maintenance activities.

4. Financial Management

Support the Country Director in preparation of the Office financial plan and budget. Ensure timely revisions and reallocation of funds.

Oversee the Support Services finance unit and ensure compliance with the UNOPS/Financial Rules & Regulations and Finance procedures

Monitor, track and control expenditure to ensure optimum and appropriate use of financial resources.

Ensure the availability of required financial reports and exception reports including investigating anomalies to resolve problems, reporting or recommending any action required to relevant stakeholders.

Supervise the timely review, posting and closure of accounts. Certify/verify accuracy and compliance with standards of accountability framework. Submit/prepare mandated report on financial status.

Supervise all financial services (accounting, cash management, payments etc.) ensuring timeliness and compliance with standards of accountability and performance.

Monitor the Management Budget expenditures for the Office and ensure that LMDC (Locally Managed Direct Cost) is properly recovered, billed and spent in accordance with the applicable procedures.

5. Human Resources Management

Oversee the Support Services HR Unit.

Ensure the Office complies with corporate human resources policies, procedures and that all corporate HR initiatives are correctly implemented

Support the Country Director in planning personnel required for the optimal administration of the office and for the delivery of the Office portfolio

Oversee all human resource services/processes including recruitment, salary administration and compensation, performance review, training and development, ensuring compliance with human resource rules, regulations, procedures and standards of performance and ensuring that hiring managers actively seek to create diverse teams in terms of gender and geography.

Promote and support a learning culture by empowering individuals and teams to identify critical

learning needs and plan/provide easy access to learning opportunities to maintain personnel competency and flexibility. Definition of training plans for personnel involved in the delivery of support services

Foster a positive work environment, respectful of both men and women, and ensure that the highest standards of conduct are observed

6. Administration and Information Technology (ICT)

Manage the timely and efficient delivery of all administrative services, (e.g. centralized project admin, premises and asset management, organizational and personnel security, travel and IT).

Full compliance of operations of the Country with UNOPS rules, regulations and policies, on administrative matters and supervision of the administrative team.

Maintenance of a secure, reliable infrastructure environment for ICT and adequate planning for disasters and recoveries, supervision of the ICT Associate.

In close collaboration with HQ and HoSS for the Multi Country Office, support the maintenance of a secure and reliable ICT environment, including adequate plans for disaster recovery.

Manage the acquisition, maintenance, inventory, recording, verification and protection of project and administrative facilities/assets, including IT infrastructure, equipment and servers.

Identify opportunities for leveraging the use of IT to enhance business operations and efficiency and to facilitate knowledge management, and information sharing.

7. Knowledge management

 

Knowledge building and sharing with regard to management and operations in the Office, synthesis of lessons learnt/best practices, and sound contributions to UNOPS knowledge management initiatives.

Development of tools and platforms for operations and data management, ensuring information and knowledge sharing with colleagues, clients and partners.

Skills

Financial Analysis, Human Resources Management, Operations Management, Problem Solving, Procurement, Effective communication

Competencies

Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organisation. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organisation.

Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organisational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.

Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).

Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.

Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.

Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.

Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Education Requirements

Required

Master’s Degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Economics, HR or related field with 5 years of relevant experience. 

A Bachelor's degree with 7 years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the Master’s degree.

Experience Requirements

Required

A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in operations management in a large international organisation.

Desired

Some experience in the UN system organisations, preferably in a developing country.

Language Requirements

Language Proficiency Level Requirement

English Fluent Required

Spanish Fluent Required

Additional Information

Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 

Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.

Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be

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