Country Programme Manager

Cities Alliance, which is legally hosted and administered by UNOPS, is a global partnership for the promotion of the role of cities in poverty reduction and sustainable development. Headquartered in Brussels and supported by a Secretariat, it is a unique partnership with a diverse membership including – global organisations of local authorities, national governments, international non-governmental organisations, foundations, knowledge networks and multilateral organisations – which have come together to strengthen both impacts and coherence in urban development. Cities Alliance is a global leader, with a strong track record in grant making, that supports strategic city planning, slum upgrading strategies and national policies designed to make cities more inclusive and sustainable. Members promote longer-term and integrated work programmes, while actively promoting gender equality throughout all activities.

Cities Alliance is managing a six-year programme in Liberia (2016-2021) to support local authorities in Greater Monrovia by strengthening their capacities to make the city and the metropolitan region work for the urban poor, through an enabling national environment and empowered citizenship. The Ministry of Internal Affairs (Department of Urban Affairs) and the two cities (Monrovia City Corporation and Paynesville City Corporation) act as the lead partner agencies for the Programme while working directly with civil society. The Liberia Country Programme is now in its second year of implementation and has an established Monrovia-based Project Office located within the Monrovia City Corporation. The Project Office has two staff members – the Project Manager (International specialist) and a Monitoring and Evaluation Analyst (local specialist). The Country Programme Manager is accountable to the Head of Programme via an appointed Task Manager in the Cities Alliance Secretariat.

Cities Alliance is seeking a highly motivated, experienced and skilled professional to lead and manage the implementation of its Liberia Country Programme. This will require a deep understanding of urban issues across multiple dimensions and strong project management, negotiation, and relationship building skills.

Programme Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Partnership Building  

In consultation with the Cities Alliance Secretariat and under the overall guidance of the Programme Steering Committee, the Country Programme Manager will guide and support the implementation and management of the Programme:

• Lead, manage and motivate a team of international consultants and long term national personnel.
• Prepare annual work plans with activities, performance targets, human resource allocations and budgets, ensuring alignment with programme goals and objectives. 
• Provide management support for all aspects of programme implementation according to the Programme grant agreement and annual work plan ensuring timely delivery of activities and outputs.
• Ensure the Programme's Steering Committee has a functioning Terms of Reference and meets regularly to assess progress and risks.
• Represent the Cities Alliance and its Programme within the country and engage with a wide range of national, local government, international development, private sector and civil society actors. Most specifically, ensure that the Programme is fully integrated with the programming of Cities Alliance members and partners  in Liberia. 
• Analyse and map in-country donor funding patterns and practices and identify opportunities to leverage additional funding. Oversee the preparation of funding proposals, donor briefings and presentations in support of the programme’s goals and more broadly Cities Alliance’s mission and vision.
• Actively engage the Development Banks and private sector linking them to the activities planned in the programme with the view of promoting follow-up investment in the projects identified during the programme planning processes. 
• Develop a network of contacts and scope out potential opportunities for a Country Programme or other related CA activities within countries immediately contiguous to Liberia.  

• Ability to work collaboratively and operate effectively across thematic areas including technical experience in any of the following issues: gender mainstreaming, urban planning, city governance, housing policy, slum upgrading, land management and tenure, and climate resilient development. Experience in business development is also desirable.

• Experience in leading, managing and motivating teams to deliver results on time, within budget, and against results-based performance indicators.

• Understanding of the work of Cities Alliance and other multilateral, bilateral and civil society development partners in urban development.

• Experience of promoting constructive dialogue between diverse stakeholders and of communicating clearly and respectfully at the highest levels of government and with civil society. 

• Minimum 7 years of professional programme management and reporting experience is required, including work experience acquired in Sub-Saharan Africa (minimum one year), on sustainable and inclusive urban development.

• Experience in leading and managing complex multi-partner technical assistance grant processes and projects. Previous field experience working in country with UN agencies and/or other multilateral development banks and institutions desirable.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

APPLICANTS SHOULD INCLUDE A COVER MOTIVATION LETTER

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale. 

Based in Geneva, the Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECR) supports UNOPS offices throughout the region through: management, financial and programmatic oversight of global and country-specific portfolios, clusters and operations centres, including hosting services; fund and management advisory services; project implementation; procuring goods and services; and managing human resources.

ECR ensures that projects are executed to the highest standards, providing a shared knowledge base and ensuring that best practices and lessons learned are disseminated between business units and projects across the entire region.

 ECR strategy is to:

• Strengthen UNOPS role in operationalizing the Sustainable Development Goals with particular emphasis on health, environment and economic development.
• Position UNOPS in the Balkan sub-region, the Caucasus and Central Asia.
• Strengthen the implementation of ECR global and regional programmes, with revitalized partnerships in infrastructure, procurement and project management.

ECR operates global portfolios from offices in Geneva, Brussels and New York, and country-specific programmes from its operations and project centres located in Eastern Europe and Central Asian countries.