Muhammad Farman

This is a multifaceted role encompassing strategic management support, operational efficiency involving oversight of administrative processes, lease management, travel arrangements, ICT support, team management, recruitment, asset and inventory management, and procurement, all aimed at enhancing strategic positioning and impact while ensuring operational compliance and efficiency.

Achievements

• Strengthened relations with Ministry of Foreign Affairs to push process for Host Country Agreement of UNOPS.
• Developed & implemented cost recovery system in Karachi office for leasing office space to UNIDO & UNWOMEN.
• Drafted, implemented SOPs for asset management ensuring policy compliance.
• Implemented PO based payments in travel management and independently handled more than POs in 3 months
• Planned & supervised logistics & storage of 24 containers with bridges equipment ensuring safety.
• Customs clearance of over 10 shipments annually contributing to successful project delivery
• Resolved vehicle safety concerns of official and personal vehicles by initiating and supervising procurement for construction of parking space resulting into space for 12 vehicles.
• Implemented energy efficient measures by supervising procurement for installation of LED bulbs in Islamabad office and installation of smart meters for real time energy consumption and monitoring 9
• Resolved office space concerns due to increasing number of staff by initiating and supervising procurement for restructuring of project office resulting into 6 additional workstations and 2 additional meeting rooms for staff

This role involved contribution to strategic management initiatives by representing UNOPS in UN administrative forums, maintaining government relations for visa processing and host country agreements, managing personnel, ensuring financial compliance, overseeing office operations and procurement of admin goods/services, coordinating asset management, and supporting ICT and security functions

Achievements

• Established admin-logistics department, drafting SOPs, capacity building, and fostering relationships.
• Developed and implemented cost recovery system for leasing vehicles to internal projects and external UN agencies.
• Established offices in Peshawar, Karachi & Swat, sourcing UN-compliant premises and managing lease agreements.
• Led Pakistan office as COVID-19 coordinator, implementing SOPs and organizing medevac simulation.
• Supported HR with SOP development for office timings and overtime management.
• Received "Annual Executive Award" for aiding Afghan colleagues during Afghan crisis.

This role involved coordination with donors & government ministries for meetings to foster partnerships; oversee office operations, including mainly logistics and procurement; manage financial transactions and report environmental inventory

Achievements

• Transitioned successful & smooth operational support (Procurement, Communications, Finance, Security & HR) for 3 years to over 30 personnel in absence of formal functional structure in Islamabad office.
• Saved approximately $3000 annually for UNOPS by reducing reliance on other UN agencies for visa, NOC, and police escort requests through building external network and extensive coordination
• Successful operational coordination (logistics, travel, security, and procurement) for various events including "Asia Region Retreat" and inauguration ceremonies, handling approx 30 visas annually and multiple travel NOCs.
• Initiated and implemented construction of daycare facility in ISB office to promote a gender-conducive environment for working mothers.
• Implemented petty cash internal controls

In the role based in Islamabad, I managed procurement activities for multiple IFRC projects, including sourcing suppliers, handling requisitions, evaluations, contracts, supplier verifications, coordination with stakeholders, and finance-related tasks

Achievements

• Digitized and organized procurement records for over 100 cases, enhancing accessibility.
• Drafted TORs and contracts for fire alarm maintenance, nationwide transport and ocean freight services and multiple other goods achieving acceptance without material amendments.

Based in Hyderabad, this role encompassed operational support for implementing the programme in Sindh, Pakistan involving construction of 700 houses and latrines in Dadu and providing community based mother and child health care services

Achievements

• Implemented SRC internal controls in Logistics/Procurement/Fleet/Inventory Management
• Procured Hygiene Kits, services for installation of water hand pumps worth PKR 4 mn.
• Successfully managed closing SRC Delegation at Dadu and Hyderabad simultaneously by developing a timeline based system of disposing SRC assets, preparing asset catalog, receiving sale bids and preparing an analytical database of sold assets, shipping all important records to HQ in Bern and terminating insurance and rental agreements.
• Archived and shipped project records (2011-2013) of Swiss Red Cross to Bern Headquarters

This role comprised support to Logistics Delegate based in Islamabad with logistics planning, budgeting and financial reporting for the Flood Relief Camp in Charsadda, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The key elements of this role were coordination, logistics management, budgeting and bookkeeping.

Achievements

• Developed and implemented financial reporting format for flood relief camp in Charsadda.
• Mobilized logistics and supervised closing of Charsadda flood relief camp within 30 days.
• Resolved bottlenecks in establishing sub delegation office in Hyderabad Sindh in less than 15 days through intensive coordination with suppliers and estate agents and mobilizing resources.
• Supervised team of three drivers for arrangement of more than 10 official missions and coordinated for their security clearance.