Risk Management Advisor

UNOPS is in the process of establishing a Sustainable Infrastructure Impact Investments (S3I) Office in Helsinki, Finland. The S3I Office is a dedicated and integrated subsidiary within UNOPS with a significant degree of operational independence. The S3I Office bolsters UNOPS’ current business model by enhancing UNOPS’ brand as an innovative player in inclusive infrastructure, providing forward-looking strategic advisory services to UNOPS’ existing clients, and drawing new partners from the private sector to expand UNOPS’ portfolio of initial investments while catalyzing resources to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  

The S3I Office activities focus on enhancing private sector engagement in target markets, crowding in commercial investment into regions of the world that historically have had trouble attracting capital. These activities help S3I develop a strong track record of commercially viable projects, build a new set of inclusive investment capabilities, and secure project implementation roles. Through this endeavor, S3I will also convene a broad range of investment partners, including donors, development finance institutions (DFIs), multilateral development banks (MDBs), and private institutional investors to drive progress toward the SDGs.  

The goal of S3I is to catalyze investments in inclusive infrastructure by developing, brokering, managing, and investing in high-quality, socially and environmentally responsible, and commercially viable transactions, in the domains of affordable housing, renewable energy and health infrastructure. 

In the short-term, S3I makes minority investments in infrastructure projects best aligned with UNOPS’ mission and serves as a pipeline for UNOPS-led deal management services. Deal management, in this context, is the fee-based provision of project management and procurement services toward inclusive infrastructure projects. By engaging with the private sector, UNOPS uses its investing activities to address the lack of bankable infrastructure projects, while diversifying and expanding its deal management portfolio.   

In the long-term, the S3I Office could bolster its self-sustainability by developing and scaling other revenue streams that would complement its investing and deal management functions. These could include fund management, development impact advisory, and due diligence advisory work, and would enable S3I to operate more broadly with private sector participants and projects in a way that UNOPS cannot currently.  

S3I is fully committed to equal opportunity employment, including gender parity, and lack of bias in relation to candidates’ national, religious, sexual and other backgrounds.

The responsibilities will include: 

• Acts as a subject matter expert on all key Portfolio Risk metrics and practices while designing and developing relevant risk procedures; 

• Leads the execution of governance, risk assessment, process review and validation, monitoring and reporting and technology strategy;

• Opines on the financial due diligence process including providing oversight on modeling, valuation and analysis;

• Provides guidance, oversight and technical input to confirm that independent validations performed are appropriate and of a high quality and consistency in line with relevant regulations and interpretation thereof;

• Coordinates testing observations to contribute to improving the team’s validation methodology and execution capabilities;

• Working with legal, tax and other internal teams, to develop a unified Model Risk Management and Regulatory Reporting Quality Assurance validation program end-to-end;

• Day to day risk oversight of the portfolio and preparation materials and reporting as needed;

• Interface with key/senior stakeholders, governing bodies and business partners to discuss the status of the validation work, results of test work, and quarterly reporting, working alongside the Senior Partnerships & Social Investments Manager;

• Works in a flexible, dynamic, and team-oriented working culture that fosters collaboration, personal development and mentoring and skills development; 

• Conducts special projects as required.

• Holds at least seven years of relevant experience with a strong technical understanding of the financial services regulatory environment, with a focus on Market, Credit, Liquidity and/or Operational Risk practices.

• Knowledge of the renewable energy and affordable housing sectors is an asset.

• Strong track record and substantial knowledge and expertise in all aspects of managing risks in infrastructure, debt, and equity investments. 

• Strong risk, process and control validation and/or assessment skills -a prior role within consulting, finance or internal audit covering risk processes is desirable.

• High level of proficiency in Excel/google sheets and superior financial modelling skills. 

• In-depth knowledge of equity investment risks, equity and mezzanine investment structuring, value addition opportunities and assessing upside potential in equities as well as challenging situations and trends in equity portfolios in emerging markets.  

• Strong communication, analytic, risk management, program management, and interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to collaborate with and oversee diverse and senior teams.

• Strong stakeholder experience with negotiation and relationship management skills.

• Exceptional quality standards and an ongoing desire to push for new approaches and insights.

• Self-motivated and proactive, with respect to both managing workload and professional development.        

• Experience in working with international organizations is highly desirable. 

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:

• 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.  
• Due to the COVID19 outbreak, starting dates may be extended.

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.