Consultant, Strategic Events and Partnerships/Projects

In 2020, the UN Global Compact will mark the 20th anniversary of its founding. In recognition of the important progress made in the corporate sustainability space over the past two decades, a comprehensive communications campaign will be developed throughout the remainder of this year, in preparation for a year-long awareness and advocacy campaign beginning next January. There are simultaneously plans to develop and convene strategic events in the lead up to the next Leaders Summit in June 2020 — the UN Global Compact’s largest flagship convening, which intends to bring together over 1,000 sustainability professionals from around the world. 

The Consultant will report to the project manager and will provide substantive support to the strategic events outlined below by delivering high quality programmatic and research deliverables to the Global Compact Office. The Consultant will ensure that the expected deliverables build value for the initiative, and advance the Global Compact’s goal to mobilize a global movement of responsible companies and organizations and strengthen UNGC value proposition globally and locally. 

The UN Global Compact Office (“GCO”) has developed a new events strategy to better position itself as the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative and provide enhanced support its more than seventy local networks globally. The events strategy seeks to strengthen GCO’s events offerings during the UN General Assembly, enhance its positioning at 20th Anniversary of the UN Global Compact, and ensure its programmatic and flagship events continue to advance its thematic priorities of human rights (gender), finance and climate. The Consultant will support the implementation of this strategy by successful organization of key UN Global Compact events, specifically:

• The 20th Anniversary of the UN Global Compact (June 2020, New York)
• SDG Business Forum (September 2019, New York)
• SG’s Climate Conference during UN General Assembly (September 2019, New York)

The following activities will have to be carried out under this position:

Stakeholder Management:

• Contribute to final event report to be distributed to stakeholders.
• In coordination with the project manager, advise the client on issues that may impact the achievement of their outcomes (including issues of sustainability and post project requirements such as maintenance).

Delivery and Performance:

• Works with key stakeholders to develop themes for events and agenda items. Suggest speakers ensuring close alignment with the thematic priorities and in close consultation with the Executive Director and the Executive Management Team.
• Uphold the integrity of the Global Compact and the UN and mitigate any risks to the same by conducting due diligence screenings on speakers and organizations being considered for high-level events. Ensure that any potential misrepresentation is prevented by ensuring strict adherence to the integrity guidelines. Provide advisory internal briefings to colleagues on the same.
• Carries out research on programmatic themes including but not limited to Financing the SDGs, Climate Change, Gender, Anti-Corruption, Governance, Human Rights and Technology as applicable to the events and contribute / prepare talking points for GCO leadership speaking engagements in each event and expert group meetings leading up to the event.  

Procedures:

• Provide substantive inputs to assist the Project Manager in the preparation of project reports and documents, ensure compliance with contractual obligations and UNOPS policies, processes and procedures.
• Maintain records of project files and other supporting documents.

Knowledge Management:

• Prepare lesson learned reports and at the end of each event, as well as how-to SOPs for future use.
• Participate in the relevant Communities of Practice.
• Contribute to expertise in tools and techniques.
• Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for planning and knowledge building.

 Monitoring and Progress Controls

• Establish a system to monitor strict adherence to the integrity guidelines and to mitigate potential misrepresentation.
• Standard KPIs set monitored and performance against KPIs reviewed.
• Managing quality of service as agreed with partner.

Education:

• Advanced University Degree in Law, International Affairs, Governance, Management, Public Administration, International Business or a related field.
• University Degree (bachelor’s degree / first level) with a combination of 2 additional years of relevant professional experience  in Law, International Affairs, Governance, Management, Public Administration, International Business or a related field may be accepted in lieu of the advance university degree.

Work Experience:

• Minimum two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in project management, law, administration, governance, international relations or international business required.
• Solid experience and understanding of corporate citizenship especially as it relates to UN-business collaboration is desirable.
• Prior experience working in government and/or in the UN is an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Proficiency in English is essential (full command on both spoken and written). Knowledge of other UN official languages would be desirable.

Contract type: International Individual Contractor Agreement - IICA
Contract level: IICA 1/ICSC 9
Contract duration: Ongoing ICA – Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance

• 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.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• 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.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC)

Based in New York, the Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations.

The SDC’s services include grants management, development and special initiatives support, and technology support to the UN and UN agencies.

The SDC is part of the New York Service Cluster that supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as a broadening community of other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management.