Policy Manager

UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of peacebuilding, 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 Portfolio Office (NYPO) 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 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 headquartered in New York. The SDC has a footprint of approximately 125 countries.

UNOPS DSIP has been requested to support The Forest & Climate Leaders’ Partnership (FCLP).

The Forest & Climate Leaders’ Partnership (FCLP) was launched by world leaders at COP27 and aims to accelerate global progress to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030 while delivering sustainable development and promoting an inclusive rural transformation, through a voluntary and focused partnership of countries that are making a strong contribution to this agenda through national action and international collaboration. The importance of the target in the Glasgow Leaders Declaration on Forests and Land Use of halting and reversing forest loss by 2030 has now been emphasized by the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement in the outcome of the first global stocktake under the Paris Agreement.

To achieve its mission the FCLP members intend to:

1. Maintain high-level political attention on forests and climate;
2. Provide their combined political support to accelerate and scale implementation of a prioritised number of Policy Action Areas;
3. Support implementation of the participating countries' self-determined national goals and encourage all countries to be even more ambitious over time; and
4. Demonstrate impact and be answerable for commitments made.

The FCLP’s strategic direction is determined by the Steering Committee, composed of ministers from FCLP member countries, on behalf of their leader. The initial Steering Committee comprises Colombia, Costa Rica, DRC, France, Germany, Ghana, Guyana, Kenya, Norway, UK and USA, and is Chaired by the United Kingdom and Guyana. 32 countries are now members of the FCLP, which together make up 35% of the world’s forests and over 60% of GDP.

The FCLP is supported by the Secretariat, which is managed and operates under the oversight of the Secretariat Board. Personnel work remotely. 

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

The role of a Policy Manager in the FCLP Secretariat is to provide support for different FCLP workstreams led by members. Generally, each policy advisor will support at least 2 workstreams. Specifically, this means working alongside a technical expert and the Deputy Director of Policy to support a well-managed process and to engage with key governments and partners to support delivery. 

FCLP members are working together to support ambition across a number of different policy workstreams. These include (1) greening construction with sustainable timber, (2) supporting deforestation-free commodity trade, (3) increasing use of debt-related financial instruments for nature, (4) strengthening and scaling forest carbon credits and results, (5) supporting Indigenous Peoples, and local communities initiatives, and (6) supporting the development of the Tropical Forests Forever Facility. Each workstream is led by different government members and is in the process of developing COP30 deliverables, and a longer-term strategy as members work towards 2030. 

To support members to deliver, the FCLP Secretariat provides support staff in the form of one “Policy Lead”, an individual with significant technical experience in that area, as well as a “Policy Manager”. The Policy Manager will be responsible for the following under each workstream: 

• Organise meetings and workshops ensuring that all convenings meet FCLP Secretariat standards, coordinating input papers and materials, and providing summaries of meetings and next steps. 
• Coordinate stakeholder engagement and communication including being available and helpful to members.
• Support the drafting and coordination of papers and reports to progress objectives of the workstream.
• Support event delivery at relevant international forums (Climate Weeks, COPs etc.)
• Lead project management, tracking and monitoring workstream planning and delivery, maintaining information management, core documents, managing revisions/member input and supporting in long term planning. 
• Provide administrative support and manage administrative processes to support the workstream e.g. procuring short-term resources to support delivery.
• Support the Policy Lead to identify opportunities to advance the workplan.
• Support Policy Lead in ensuring effective collaboration and information-sharing across FCLP workstreams as appropriate.
• Contribute effectively to the FCLP Secretariat as a whole, actively participating in meetings and workplanning, and providing other core support to the Secretariat as needed.
• Perform other duties as may be reasonably required and in line with the incumbent’s scope of services above.

The personnel will be part of a matrix management system. The personnel will be line managed by the Deputy Director for Policy and tasks managed by the relevant Policy Leads for each workstream they advise on. 

This role will support the Indigenous Peoples, and local communities workstream. A multi-stakeholder platform has been launched which brings together governments, philanthropies and indigenous leaders. Collectively, participants have agreed to prioritise delivering a global commitment on land tenure at COP30 and the personnel will project manage the operation of this platform and therefore support the delivery of this target. 

FCLP members will have a strategy meeting in early 2025 to decide where resources should be prioritized. The personnel second workstream will be allocated based on this discussion.  

A work plan will be developed based on the UNOPS PER cycle and serve as the overarching document to monitor progress and record performance. 

*FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) preferably in environment, policy, law, international relations, economics or related fields with two (2) years of relevant experience is required; OR
• First level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) preferably in environment, policy, law, international relations, economics or related fields with four (4) years of relevant experience.

• Relevant experience is defined as professional experience working on forests and land-use, climate change, REDD+, Indigenous Peoples, and Local Communities rights. 
• Experience drafting high-level documents is required.
• Experience working with government systems and understanding different dynamics in a diverse range of governments is required.
• Experience of managing complex projects/processes, demonstrating an ability to be agile and work with a number of different stakeholders is required. 

• Experience of working on climate and nature finance issues is desirable. 
• Experience working with a diverse range of countries on policy related to forests and land-use is an advantage.
• Experience and understanding of all aspects of UNFCCC climate COPs and other high-profile climate and nature processes.

• Fluency in English (read, write, speak) is required.
• Proficiency in one of the following languages is an advantage: Spanish, French or Portuguese.

• It is required to regularly travel internationally and to work outside of typical work hours (i.e. early mornings and/or late evenings) when required to accommodate various time zones.

• 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 

• 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.