Senior Analyst (Innovation Scaling)

UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian and development projects.  Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations.

The New York Service Cluster (NYSC) supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as 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.

The Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. It was formed by combining the following portfolios: Grants Management Services (GMS), UN Technology Support Services (UNTSS), Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio (DSIP) It provides Services to partners' programmes that are designed, structured, and managed with a global perspective and primarily serving partners that are headquartered in New York.  The SDC has a footprint of approximately 125 countries.

UNOPS has signed an agreement with the United Nations to implement the project activities for UN Global Pulse.

UN Global Pulse (UNGP) is an initiative of the Executive Office of Secretary-General (EOSG) founded in 2009.  UNGP works in support of the Secretary-General’s priorities, in advancement of the UN Charter.  It serves as a cross-pillar lead and hub for experimentation and digital innovation with globally distributed Network in the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia.

UNGP works with digital innovation, strategic foresight, real-time data and artificial intelligence to further sustainable development, humanitarian and peace outcomes.  UNGP’s vision is ‘A world in which responsible and inclusive digital innovation serves to empower people and protect the planet’.  UNGP’s mission is to work at the intersection of digital innovation and science to inform, inspire and support the entire UN and those it serves, to anticipate and respond to the challenges of today and tomorrow.

The goals of the UNGP Network are: i) to generate knowledge, capabilities and approaches that support the transformation of the United Nations into a more agile and resilient ‘next-generation’ institution; ii) to create and accelerate the development of globally accessible approaches that help communities and partners anticipate and address emerging global challenges; and iii) to advocate for the global transformation of policies, practices and culture required to maximize the impact of digital innovation, minimize its risk of harm, and ensure pathways to scale and sustainability.

The incumbent of this position will be personnel of UNOPS, under its full responsibility.

To achieve its goals, Global Pulse is recruiting a ‘Senior Analyst - Innovation Scaling’, to be based in UN Global Pulse Finland (Helsinki).

Helping to shape a ‘next-generation UN’, the Innovation Scaling team at UNGP Finland was established to explore pathways and frameworks to take innovations to scale.  As UNGP’s innovation agenda gradually takes form, there is an urgent need to develop key internal capacities and processes which will ‘prime’ UN innovation to achieve scale and thereby, greater impact.

Starting with a primarily ‘experimentation-only’ portfolio, UNGP now wishes to develop:

1. Working across UN agencies, needs-driven and clearly outlined experiments which are scalable by UN partners for sustainable impact and systemic change; and

2.  To accelerate the delivery of the Secretary-General´s ‘Our Common Agenda’ commitments, tested innovations with clear scaling pathways which support UN priorities.  This is achieved through framing the concept of optimal scaling through evidence-based learning, literature reviews, best practice, interviews and observations.

The role will work with contributors and collaborators from within and from outside the UN.  The incumbent will elicit research questions from stakeholders and contribute to the planning and implementation of sensing and scanning activities.  Using wide data sets and working with a a diverse range of people and organisations, the role will identify trends and patterns from which it will develop insights and products which support decision making.  This role will complement capacity building efforts to develop a cross UNGP network approach to scaling innovations.

The incumbent will drive forward the innovation scaling work portfolio and solicit and channel sound and customized technical advice to a wide range of projects and work portfolios within the UNGP network and beyond. The role will promote learning and knowledge management across the UN and its development partners.  It will support the design of the innovation scaling offer for the wider UNGP network and the UN system, in line Our Common Agenda commitments and ‘UN 2.0’.  

Occasional travel and field missions may be required, as conditions allow.

Under the direct supervision of the Innovation Scaling Lead, the incumbent will execute the following duties:

1. Management support and coordination.

2. Technical support, research, analysis and knowledge creation.

3. Capacity development and partnership mobilization.

4. Monitoring, reporting and communication.

1.      Management support and coordination:

• Support the management and coordination of UNGP´s innovation scaling offer.
• Assist in the strategic positioning of UNGP’s innovation scaling offer, to the UNGP network and to the wider UN system.
• Elaboration of concepts and tools with internal and external partners.
• Planning and facilitating co-creation sessions with associated follow ups.

2.      Technical support, research, analysis and knowledge creation

• Provide substantive inputs and technical expertise across the innovation scaling journeys.
• Contextualize scaling frameworks and pathways.  Identify gaps and support needs in meeting key pre-requisites for scaling.
• Carry out research to monitor needs, trends and developments within a broader innovation scaling ecosystem, to further evolve the workstream.
• Develop knowledge assets around innovation scaling from analysing lessons learnt and good practices.

●     Advanced university degree (Master´s or equivalent) preferably in international development, social sciences, or another relevant discipline is required.

●    A first-level university degree (Bachelor´s degree) and an additional two (2) years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

●     At least two (2) years of relevant work experience in project, or programme or product management, particularly in one or more of the following areas: innovation or international development or research, or other related fields.

Desirable:

The following experience is desirable. Candidates who do not have experience in these areas are welcome to apply:

• Experience working in the humanitarian or development sectors, including experience in international organisations or government contexts or sub-government entities, such as think tanks or innovation accelerators.
• Experience in coordination and management across multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience in working with UN organizations.
• Understanding of project management and coordination practices in a UN context.
• Experience in delivering high-quality research, analysis preferably in both quantitative and qualitative approaches.
• Experience in communicating research insights through accessible multimedia formats.
• Ability to coordinate multi-stakeholder projects, including with government, universities, UN organisations, NGOs, and the private sector.
• Experience working with agile project management and portfolio management.

Language Requirements:

●      Fluency in English (speak, write, read) is required.

●      Knowledge of another United Nations official language is an asset.

• 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
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• 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.

Background Information - Sustainable Development Cluster 

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.