Senior Programme Manager (Youth Engagement -Public Mobilization and Communication)

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 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 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 Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG) of the United Nations to implement the activities of the Climate Action Team (CAT) Project.

There is less than a decade to prevent climate breakdown. Without deep emissions cuts, the world is heading towards close to a 3 degrees Celsius of warming with catastrophic consequences. At current levels of warming the world is experiencing unprecedented climate impacts.  An increase in global average temperature above 1.5 degrees would mean extreme weather and climate disasters increasing in frequency and intensity, putting billions of people at immediate risk with significant parts of Africa becoming unlivable and whole countries ceasing to exist. The Secretary-General’s call to all countries, cities, companies and institutions to go into emergency mode on climate is needed more than ever. 

2025 marks a pivotal milestone — a decade has passed since the international community adopted the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals. While some progress has been made, the world remains far off track from reaching global net-zero by 2050 and keeping the 1.5-degree goal of the Paris Agreement within reach. Last year, for the first time, the annual average global temperature was 1.5 degrees higher than pre-industrial times. All around the world, climate shocks are intensifying in frequency and ferocity, inflating costs of living, triggering supply-chain disruptions, and devastating lives and livelihoods.

The unprecedented mobilization of civil society groups and young people around the world over recent years, manifested in diverse forms of activism including protests, school strikes, and online and offline campaigns, with increased media reporting. This shows the significant power of mobilization to hold decision-makers in government and business to account for their role in the climate crisis and delivering climate justice.

Against this backdrop, the Secretary-General has called for redoubling of efforts to drive a renewables revolution, as the only way to achieve energy security, climate justice, and keep the world’s 1.5 Celsius goal within reach. The United Nations calls on countries to submit well in advance of COP 30, a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) that is aligned with the 1.5°C limit, as agreed at COP28, covering all emissions and the whole economy.

In light of COP 29 outcomes and the collaboration with Brazil, CAT strategy on public mobilization and communication will focus on engaging citizens, the private sector, media and civil society, with the full support of the UN system and a special focus on specific and tailored national narratives’ that can support greater ambition on NDCs, especially in G35 countries.

The Senior Programme Manager will support the Secretary-General’s Climate Action Strategy around public mobilization and communication, working in close coordination with the Department of Global Communications.

The responsibilities of the Senior Programme Manager, Mobilization and Communication include: 

Public Mobilization Strategy: 

• Develop and implement an outreach and mobilization strategy to engage key civil society groups and youth communities and networks (e.g., CAN International, 350.org), and faith-based organizations, in collaboration with UNOP and DGC.

  • Provide external mobilization support at specific meetings and events, including managing, coordinating, and facilitating participation, amplification of key messages in towards achieving targeted objectives.

  • Cultivate relationships with youth movements and liaise with external partners such as civil society groups, student movements, and indigenous communities, to position the Secretary-General’s climate priorities among their agendas.

  • Ensure country strategies leverage public mobilization opportunities (where needed) to advance the Secretary-General’s 2025-26 climate action strategy.

  • Acquire and analyze information and perspectives from civil society groups and youth movements on operational matters, creating relationships of trust and understanding that underpin effective coordination and collaboration.

Communication Strategy: 

• Support the development and implementation of a global, cross-sector climate change communications strategy to raise awareness and elevate the  Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General’s messages on climate change. 

• Develop speeches and support speechwriters with high-impact climate and sustainability content for Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-General, and Assistant Secretary-General speeches. 

• Provide support for external communication and press engagement for events at key milestone events during UNGA and COP

• In collaboration with the Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary General, media teams, DGC, and UNOP 

  • Provide content that DGC can use to draft press releases, factsheets, talking points, and video messages as needed. 

  • Work with DGC, UNOP, and other Executive Office of the Secretary-General units to develop content (blogs, multimedia stories, videos, graphics, and social media updates). 

  • Lead the generation of online content that engages audience segments and leads to measurable action. Decide who, where, and when to disseminate. 

• Support contributions to the Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-General and Assistant Secretary-General’s social media accounts, lead on climate, media, and news monitoring and support internal communication efforts around Secretary-General’s climate priorities  

Programme Management

• Lead on Secretary-General’s Youth Advisory Group, developing concepts to increase their effectiveness and maintain engagement.

• Support the development of recommendations, briefing notes, key messages, and inputs into speeches for the Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-General, and Assistant Secretary-General’s engagements with civil society groups and young people with a focus on delivering climate justice and effective NDC mobilization on the ground.

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent), preferably in communications and media, journalism, public relations, any other social science field  with seven (7) years of relevant experience. OR 
• First level university degree (bachelor or equivalent) preferably in communications and media, journalism, public relations, any other social science field  with nine (9) years of relevant experience.

Work Experience 

• Relevant experience is defined as professional experience working with different types of media and communications tools. 

• Minimum three (3) years of experience working on youth programmes and initiatives

• Fluency in English (read, write, speak) is required. 
• Knowledge of another official UN language (Spanish, French, Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin) and Russian) is an advantage.

• 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 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 ( 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.