Business Efficiency and Innovation Officer

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device
The length of appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established in accordance with applicable policies pertaining to the extension of appointments.

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• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

Organizational Setting

The Shared Services Centre (SSC) is responsible for the effective execution and continuous improvement of process management and service delivery in HR, Finance, Payroll, Travel, Contact Centre, and ERP troubleshooting. The SSC ensures quality assurance, drives customer satisfaction, and pursues a continuous improvement agenda to enhance service excellence and reduce costs through process standardization, automation, and self-service capabilities.

As a key user and stakeholder of the organizational Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system—including Oracle eBusiness Suite, Business Intelligence platforms, and satellite systems—the SSC manages a wide range of ERP processes and contributes to the evolution and alignment of these systems with FAO’s business needs. In addition, the SSC leverages new technologies such as ServiceNow (SNOW) for workflow automation, as well as robotics and artificial intelligence, to drive innovation, enhance service delivery, and support continuous improvement across all areas of operation.

The post is located in the Shared Services Centre (SSC) in Budapest, Hungary.

Reporting Lines

The Business Efficiency and Innovation Officer reports to the Director of the Shared Services Centre (SSC) and works in close collaboration with the Digital FAO and Agro-Informatics Division (CSI) at FAO Headquarters in Rome.

Technical Focus
Evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of internal processes and services, managing internal projects, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and regulations. Deliver process innovation and continuous improvement initiatives to support organizational transformation. Collaborate with CSI and policy owners to define future functional needs, guide functional analysts in implementing process improvements, and oversee SSC-led enabling services - including process and system improvement, emerging technologies, knowledge and change management - across all SSC-assigned processes. Identification and implementation of business improvements leading to increased effectiveness and efficiency in the delivery of administrative services of the Organization.

Key Results

Identification and implementation of business improvements leading to increased effectiveness and efficiency in the delivery of administrative services of the Organization.

Key Functions

• Identify opportunities to improve and increase the efficiency of business processes; recommend prioritized solutions in collaboration with process owners and subject matter experts.
• Prepare work plans and monitor progress to ensure timely delivery of process and system improvement initiatives.
• Develop proposals and recommendations to inform senior management decisions on strategies, projects, and investments in change initiatives.
• Seek opportunities to enhance organizational effectiveness and customer satisfaction across shared services.
• Coordinate quality-improvement efforts and the adoption of best practices to ensure sustained improvement benefits.
• Coordinate the rollout of process and system changes, including deployment and communication plans, training materials, and capacity-building activities.
• Identify and evaluate opportunities to leverage artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation technologies to enhance process efficiency, reduce manual effort, and improve service delivery across SSC operations.
• Ensure process changes are documented and communicated in line with change management best practices.
• Supervise and develop team members, set objectives, delegate tasks, and provide coaching and feedback.
• Report on the status of design activities and projects and develop integrated plans and documentation.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Specific Functions

• Drives client-oriented process excellence by designing, implementing and evaluating improvements to business processes in Finance, HR, Payroll and Travel; reviews and analyses stakeholder-prioritized solutions with process owners and other subject matter experts to define process scope, business requirements and success criteria.
• Drive client-oriented process excellence by designing, implementing, and evaluating improvements to business processes in Finance, HR, Payroll, and Travel.
• Perform data analysis utilizing qualitative and quantitative methods, including surveys and data from the process execution to track performance against indicators and generate reports for SSC Management.
• Assess the feasibility and business case for AI and automation solutions in administrative processes and work with technical teams to pilot, implement, and scale AI-driven improvements.
• Ensure alignment of business, process and functional requirements with technology solutions.
• Collect business and functional requirements for system-based improvements and collaborate with technical teams in gap analysis, solution feasibility assessment, design, user acceptance testing, and deployment support.
• Evaluate and validate proposed modifications and enhancements to ensure quality, stability, and maintainability.

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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Human Resources or related field.
• Seven years of relevant experience in administration and project management or implementing business transformation initiatives related to ERP environments.
• Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency- level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to lead diverse teams in international and multicultural settings.
• Relevant experience with ERP environments based on Oracle eBusiness Suite or similar technologies (e.g., SAP), preferably in the public sector or international organizations.
• Knowledge of the UN Common System, especially HR, Finance, and Travel policies and procedures, is an asset.
• Strong customer relationship management, negotiation, and communication skills.

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FAO staff are expected to adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

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GENERAL INFORMATION

• Extension of fixed term appointments is based on certification of performance and availability of funds
• FAO reserves the right not to make an appointment.
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, click on the following link: https://commonsystem.org/cp/default.asp
Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include:
• Dependency allowances
• Rental subsidy
• Education grant for children
• Home leave travel
• 30 working days of annual leave per year
• Pension fund entitlements under the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund
• International health insurance; optional life insurance
• Disability protection

FAO encourages a positive workplace culture to increase inclusivity and diversity within its workforce. FAO applies measures in which all staff members contribute equally and in full to the work and development of the Organization. This includes:
• elements of family-friendly policies
• flexible working arrangements
• standards of conduct.
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HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/. These qualifications should be in alignment with the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) mappings.
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/csp

FAO IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT