Head of Global Shared Services

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Head of Global Shared Services (GSS) is responsible for the leadership, management, and continuous improvement of UNHCR’s Shared Services operations across key enabling functions including HR, Payroll, Finance, Supply, IT, and global support services. The role ensures high-quality, efficient, and client-oriented service delivery by leveraging standardization, automation, and operational excellence centred on cost efficiencies and quality of service.

Reporting to the Deputy High Commissioner, the incumbent leads the service centre supporting global operations from a centralized location supported by regional hubs, ensuring compliance with UNHCR’s rules and procedures while meeting evolving operational demands. The role plays a central part in advancing the organization’s transformation and service delivery model.

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.

Strategic Service Delivery Oversight

• Lead the operational delivery of global shared services across HR, Payroll, Finance, Procurement, Supply, IT, and global support services, ensuring alignment with performance expectations and service level agreements.
• Ensure processes are designed end to end to drive efficiency and service quality.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) across service lines and ensure high-quality, timely and accurate transaction processing.
• Define and implement the GSS operating model, service-delivery and location strategy, and the roadmap for transitioning additional functions and service lines into GSS, including the migration, stabilization and optimization of transferred services.
• Manage the GSS budget and resources; establish and maintain the service costing and cost-recovery model, and benchmark unit costs and service quality against comparable shared services organizations.
• Establish and maintain the GSS service catalogue and service governance with the policy-owning divisions, clearly distinguishing policy ownership from service-delivery accountability.
• Lead the automation and digitalization agenda for transactional services, including self-service, robotic process automation and AI, in close coordination with ITS.
• Ensure business continuity and resilience across the GSS hubs, and the protection of personal and financial data processed by GSS, in line with UNHCR’s data protection and information security policies.
• Lead workforce planning, talent development and succession management across the GSS hubs, fostering an inclusive, high-performance culture.

HR and payroll services

• Oversee personnel administration for locally recruited and internationally assigned staff, ensuring accuracy in contract issuance, leave management, onboarding, and separation processes.
• Ensure consistency in application of policies and regulations globally.
• Ensure robust validation and certification of HR and benefits updates and the integrity of data in corporate systems (e.g., Workday, Oracle Cloud and others), supporting compliance and internal controls.
• Support Contact Center services ensuring escalated queries are resolved efficiently, appropriately, and logged for analytics.

Finance services

• Supervise the execution of core financial processes, including:
• Invoice processing, payment runs, and reconciliation of accounts payable and receivable.
• Donor receivables processing and compliance with multiple financial reporting standards.
• Oversee the preparation of financial reports and dashboards, ensuring data quality and ERP alignment.
• Monitor compliance with the Financial Internal Control Framework and support audit readiness and audit response documentation.
• Support Contact Center services ensuring escalated queries are resolved efficiently, appropriately, and logged for analytics.

Supply Services

• Manage transactional procurement services including purchase requisition processing, contract administration, and vendor master data management.
• Oversee supply chain support activities such as stock reconciliation, relief item tracking, and ERP data entry linked to inventory and sourcing operations.
• Ensure compliance with procurement rules and procedures and support Implementing Partner procurement documentation processes.
• Support Contact Center services ensuring escalated queries are resolved efficiently, appropriately, and logged for analytics.

IT Services

• Supervise IT services including end user device support, IT stockpiles, execution of vulnerability remediation in coordination with ITS, and cost recovery of IT services.
• Oversee the scheduling and logistics of IT equipment shipments and customs clearances.
• Support Contact Center services ensuring escalated queries are resolved efficiently, appropriately, and logged for analytics.

Contact Center

• Supervise a multi-channel contact center responsible for the Service Management platform (ServiceNow) that provides first- and second-line support for the GSS globally.
• Ensure all contact center hubs located in Panama, Dakar, Nairobi, Amman, and Kuala Lumpur are integrated into the GSS service offering, providing a follow-the-sun support model and a consistent end-user experience in multiple languages.
• Ensure SLA metrics and customer satisfaction and complaints are tracked and managed to ensure continuous improvement and adherence to the quality standards.
• Ensure a knowledge base is maintained to enable GSS clients to easily access and solve their queries using a self-service approach.

GSS Operations and Administration

• Oversee the administrative unit responsible for workspace management, workspace allocation, and provision of supplies and utilities for all units and support hubs.
• Support the documentation and monitoring of workplace safety, accessibility, and well-being initiatives.
• Ensure effective internal communication and staff engagement across the GSS hubs, including regular all-staff meetings and staff-management consultation mechanisms.
• Oversee the global administration of official travel services, ensuring the efficient processing of travel authorizations, claims, and related entitlements in compliance with UNHCR’s regulatory framework and operational needs.
• Lead the standardization and centralized oversight of asset management processes, including the registration, tracking, disposal and reporting of UNHCR assets across all locations. Ensure compliance with internal controls, audit requirements and financial reporting standards.
• Ensure centralized oversight in fleet management, including vehicle acquisition, utilization, maintenance, and disposal. Support the development and implementation of fleet performance monitoring tools and advocate for sustainability principles.
• Lead risk assessments and discussions with team(s) to proactively manage risks and seize opportunities impacting objectives. Ensure that risk management principles are integrated in decision-making both at strategic and operational levels. Allocate resources for planned treatments with resource requirements in Strategic Plans. Ensure that risks are managed to acceptable levels and escalate, as needed. If a Risk Owner, designate the Risk Focal Point and certify that the annual risk review is completed and ensure that the risk register is updated during the year, as needed.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Nature of Position:

The Global Shared Services (GSS) provides location-independent transactional services in Finance, Payroll, Human Resources, Supply, and IT, to enable operations to focus on strategic and context-specific priorities globally. The GSS located in Budapest serves as the backbone of the service, which is supported by satellite teams in Panama, Amman, Kuala Lumpur, Dakar, and Nairobi. The GSS also works very closely with all enabling functions, DPM, DRM, DEPS, and ITS, to ensure policies and controls are implemented and delivered in an efficient manner. The Head of Global Shared Services provides strategic leadership and oversight of UNHCR’s global shared services operations, ensuring the delivery of efficient, high-quality, and client-focused services across key enabling functions, including Human Resources, Payroll, Finance, Supply, Information Technology, and other corporate support services.

Reporting directly to the Deputy High Commissioner, the incumbent leads the organization’s centralized service delivery model, driving operational excellence through standardization, process optimization, digitization, and automation. The role is accountable for ensuring the consistent application of policies, procedures, and service standards while enhancing organizational efficiency, service quality, and cost-effectiveness.

The Head of GSS oversees the management and continuous improvement of shared services operations that support UNHCR’s global workforce and field activities. The incumbent ensures that service delivery remains responsive to evolving operational requirements, aligns with organizational priorities, and contributes to the achievement of UNHCR’s strategic objectives. The incumbent will also lead the further expansion of GSS to additional functions and service lines, including the transition, stabilization and optimization of services migrated into GSS.

As a senior leader, the incumbent plays a critical role in advancing organizational transformation initiatives, modernizing service delivery frameworks, strengthening governance and accountability, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and customer service excellence across the shared services environment. The position requires close collaboration with headquarters divisions, regional bureaux, country operations, and external partners to ensure integrated, effective, and sustainable support services worldwide.

Only candidates who are not nationals of the country of assignment are eligible to apply to this position

Years of Experience / Degree Level

For D1 - 17 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 16 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 15 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

Business Administration; Economics; International Law; Finance;

Accounting; Human Resources Management; Supply Chain Management; Information Systems;

Operations Management; Political Science; International Relations; or other relevant field.

Essential

Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible experience in shared services or centralized business-services delivery, of which at least 5 years at senior management level leading a global or regional multi-function shared services centre serving clients in multiple countries. Demonstrated track record of transitioning services into a shared services centre and delivering measurable cost and quality improvements. Experience establishing service-management frameworks (service catalogue, SLAs/KPIs, cost recovery, multi-channel contact centre) in an ERP- and service-management-enabled environment. Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to influence stakeholders, with a proven record of successfully leading negotiations and building consensus among internal and external stakeholders. Demonstrated strategic thinking and understanding of interdependencies between business, operations, and technology needs. Substantial experience in managing and developing large teams working in a range of functions and locations, ensuring effective and efficient achievement of prioritized goals, and a conducive working environment. Demonstrated ability to quickly formulate comprehensive plans to meet the organization’s strategic objectives, identifying and addressing risks and challenges. Experience addressing large and executive-level audiences. Experience in working with governance bodies and senior stakeholders. Experience in providing clear and strong leadership, building a team culture of collaboration and performance, promoting team coherence and interaction based on UNHCR’s values, and coordinating with other agencies. Experience in effective change management.

Functional Skills

*MG-Change Management

MG-Organisational Development

*MG-Strategy Development and Implementation

*MG-Business Process Innovation

MG-People Management

*MG-Business Performance Analysis and Management

MG-Team motivation

MG-Priority Setting

SO-Interpersonal skills

(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 6 core competencies and may also require managerial competencies and/or cross-functional competencies. The 6 core competencies are listed below.

Core Competencies

Accountability

Communication

Organizational Awareness

Teamwork & Collaboration

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies

Empowering & Building Trust

Judgement & Decision Making

Leadership

Managing Performance

Managing Resource

Strategic Planning & Vision

Cross-Functional Competencies

Stakeholder Management

Political Awareness

Change Capability & Adaptability

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

1. Demonstrated senior management experience at senior management level leading global or regional, multifunctional shared-services or comparable large-scale centralized service-delivery operations, with direct accountability for at least three of the following service lines: human resources administration, payroll, finance and accounting, procurement and supply, and IT service support, serving clients across multiple countries.

2. Proven experience managing geographically dispersed and multidisciplinary teams within a multi-location service-delivery model, with accountability for service quality, operational performance and agreed results.

3. Demonstrated experience transitioning, consolidating or expanding services, including the migration, stabilization and continuous improvement of complex service-delivery operations and the delivery of measurable cost and quality improvements.

4. Demonstrated experience leading business-process transformation, including the standardization, redesign, automation or digitalization of high-volume transactional services in an enterprise systems environment, including through self-service, robotic process automation or AI.

5. Proven experience establishing and overseeing service-performance and governance frameworks, including service standards, performance indicators, quality assurance, client satisfaction, and continuous improvement, while engaging senior stakeholders on complex transformation initiatives.

Certificates and/or Licenses

Lean Six Sigma; ITIL; COPC; Professional accounting designation (CPA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent); PMP or PRINCE2.

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

Desirable

Solid understanding of UNHCR’s mandate and modus operandi. Experience in process re-engineering (process redesign, process transformation, or change management). Experience leading shared services in the United Nations system or another international organization. Demonstrated knowledge of UNHCR and interagency policies, standards, programmes and operations. Experience with enterprise platforms such as Workday, Oracle Cloud and ServiceNow. Working knowledge of French and/or Spanish.

Desirable attributes

• Experience leading shared services within the United Nations system, another international organization or a comparably complex multinational environment.
• Experience with enterprise resource-planning and service-management platforms, such as Workday, Oracle Cloud, ServiceNow or comparable systems.
• Experience with service catalogues, service-level agreements, unit costing, cost-recovery models or multi-channel contact-centre operations.
• Knowledge of UNHCR’s mandate, operational model and regulatory framework, or experience in a humanitarian or public-sector environment.
• Relevant professional certification, such as Lean Six Sigma, ITIL, COPC, CPA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent.
• Working knowledge of French and/or Spanish.

Desired languages

French

,

Spanish

,

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Deadline for Applications

November 5, 2026

Target Start Date

2027-01-01