Programme Management Specialist (Experts for UNOCT’s Parliamentary Engagement (PE) Programme) - Retainer, Multiple positions

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. 

New York Service Cluster (NYSC) supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as other New York-based United Nations organizations and bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management. 

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), and 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. 

The Office of Counter-Terrorism (OCT) was established by the General Assembly in June 2017. The Office has five main functions: (a) provide leadership on the General Assembly counter-terrorism mandates across the United Nations System; (b) enhance coordination and coherence across the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact Task Force entities to ensure the balanced implementation of the four pillars of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Strategy; (c) strengthen the delivery of United Nations counter-terrorism capacity-building assistance to Member States; (d) improve visibility, advocacy and resource mobilization for United Nations counter-terrorism efforts; and (e) ensure that due priority is given to counter-terrorism across the United Nations System and that the important work on preventing violent extremism is firmly rooted in the Strategy.

The UNOCT Programme Office on Parliamentary Engagement in Preventing and Countering Terrorism, based in Doha, State of Qatar, aims to strengthen the parliamentary contribution to international efforts against terrorism and violent extremism. It seeks to promote a whole-of-society approach to terrorism, address conditions conducive to terrorism, and support parliamentarians in facilitating the implementation of international obligations and instruments related to terrorism, including the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and relevant resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council. The office operates through the following three functions: conducting research, analysis, and normative work in support of counter-terrorism and prevention of violent extremism; providing technical assistance and provision of consultative services; and promoting and facilitating collaboration and coordination among parliamentary assemblies, as well as national parliaments on countering terrorism and preventing violent extremism.

These expert positions are located within the UNOCT Programme Office in Doha, the State of Qatar, established in support of the UNOCT “Programme on Parliamentary Engagement in Preventing and Countering Terrorism”. Under the overall guidance of the UNOCT Office in UN Headquarters and the Chief of the UNOCT Programme Office in Doha, these positions are expected to provide technical support to the implementation of the programme activities. 

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

• Draft reports, develop training materials, and facilitate stakeholder engagement to enhance the impact and reach of the programme’s initiatives.
• Provide expert guidance and feedback to participating parliamentarians on applying the approach to their legislative P/CVE programs, including through group exercises and individual consultations.
• Attend UNOCT events and activities in person as needed, ensuring availability for the required number of days at various global locations where the activities will be delivered.
• Support the programme office by conducting research, offering legislative expertise, coordinating initiatives, and contributing to the development and implementation of strategic activities.
• Prepare presentations and materials for core content delivery, including thematic courses, workshops, specialized sessions, and keynote addresses.
• Develop resources for elective sessions on advanced topics in the areas of P/CVE and provide consultation with relevant parliamentarians from different parliamentary assemblies.
• Ensure comprehensive coverage of key concepts, including introductions, challenges, methods, practical recommendations, and case studies.
• Collaborate with other experts and supervisory staff as needed to align and integrate technical support materials.
• Conduct peer review of research materials produced by other consultants in the programme, ensuring consideration of the above-mentioned training modules and tools developed by the Programme Office, including the Parliamentary Guide for the implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, and the Compendium of Good Practices and Recommended Legal Provisions on Data Protection to Prevent and Counter Terrorism.
• Develop and implement training modules, methodology, and implementation agendas for capacity-building programmes to enhance parliamentary capacities on CT and P/CVE-related aspects.
• Develop tailored project proposals on CT and P/CVE, enhancing capacities of staff of national parliaments and other national entities on the role of parliaments in CT and P/CVE.
• Support the implementation of the capacity-building programmes and legislative assistance initiatives of the Programme Office.
• Support the programme office in developing tools for monitoring and evaluation to measure the increase in knowledge and skills of the legislators, in addition to collecting feedback on participant satisfaction and assessing the impact of the activity.

Monitoring and Progress Controls

• Timely delivery of outputs as outlined in the Terms of Reference. Quality of materials produced and approval of all products/deliverables/outputs by the Senior Portfolio Manager.
• Engagement is professional, team-oriented, and positive.
• Demonstrates commitment to an interdisciplinary approach, i.e., one that inclusively utilizes findings from a diverse range of fields 
• Demonstrates the core values of the UN (Professionalism, Integrity, and Respect for Diversity) and the core competencies described below in the discharge of their duties.

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) preferably in international relations, peace and conflict studies, terrorism, criminology, human rights, gender studies, or other related fields.
• A first-level university degree, in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience:

• At least five (5) years of professional experience in researching, designing, implementing, and/or evaluating capacity-building programmes on CT and P/CVE or related disciplines with any of the following dimensions is required:

  • High-level government engagement 

  • Gender

  • Human rights/ethics

  • Legislations

  • Policy Development 

  • Counter Terrorism

  • P/CVE

• Demonstrated facilitation and communication skills with senior government officials. 
• Knowledge and understanding of current debates, trends, and challenges in the field of P/CVE, as well as familiarity with relevant international and regional frameworks and standards, are required.

Language:

• Fluency in English (write, read, talk) is required.

Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA) Retainer - A retainer contract is issued for a period of time during which the services of the individual contractor are required intermittently. The individual contractor agreement on retainer basis will specify a “unit price” per day worked. For budgetary purposes, a monetary cap will be determined when the contract is awarded and issued. Please note that the retainer contract will not provide for a minimum, and payment will be made only after the completion of the work. 

Contract level: International Individual Contractor Agreement (ICSC 10) IICA 2 or Local Individual Contractor Agreement (LICA-10)

Even if the level of the position is indicated as IICA-2 depending on the incumbent's personal situation (candidate with national ID or resident permit), a local fee scale (LICA-10) might be applied in determining the contractor's fee.

Contract duration: One (1) year with the possibility of extension based on organizational needs, availability of funds, and/or satisfactory performance. 

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses ( they take around 4 hours to complete)  in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.