Senior Programme Officer - Peace and Security Cluster (ICS-11)

The UNOPS Peace and Security Centre (PSC) is a principal service provider in the field of mine action with the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), UNDP, UNICEF, Governments of mine-affected countries and other mine action partners. The Centre is responsible to administer, provide support and oversight of the day-to-day management of the Project Field offices, both according to the client requirements and in line with UNOPS rules and regulations.

It is headed by the Centre Director who has the overall authority and accountability for the performance of the Peace and Security Centre on behalf of its clients.

One of the main objectives of the Peace and Security Centre is to rapidly deploy project personnel to the field. To accomplish this, it has established a Pool of Experts, from which it deploys and re-deploys personnel in order to fulfil personnel vacancies.  A Pool of Experts is a roster of specialists whose technical knowledge and personal suitability has been evaluated and approved in advance, allowing them to be deployed on short notice and in short order.   Pool members can be deployed on any of UNOPS contract modalities: FTA, TA, or I-ICA (International Individual Contractor Agreement).

• Manage the MAC Programme Department;
• Manage the programme systems and procedures to enable accountable control of all MA projects/contracts funded by numerous modalities for the Mine Action Programme;
• Manage the overall programme budget that may consist several funding sources and financial agreements;
• Costing of the annual work plan portfolio and/or specific formulation;
• Preparation of the VTF Annualized Budget submission for Implementing Partners activities;
• Preparation of the RBB submission for peacekeeping missions;
• Liaise with implementing partners for VTF versus activities tracking purpose, ensuring that donor contributions match appropriately activities on the ground; identify/communicate gaps/shortfalls for additional resource mobilization;
• Liaise with senior management and budget section of peacekeeping missions regarding the implementation of assessed budgets
• Monitor the funding and financial information of the programme (UN and bilateral);
• Oversee the preparation of the financial reports to the local Government and UN with regard to the implementation of the mine action programme;
• Oversee the appraisal and review of sub-project proposals and subcontract documents to ensure accuracy and consistency and conformity with programme criteria and procedures and the appropriate regulations and rules;
• Oversee that implementing partners reports are in compliance with the contractual and financial requirements;
• Ensure high professional standards of project design, proposal writing, monitoring and reporting;
• Oversee the preparation of project reports and briefs, in particular financial aspects including, Monthly and Annual Reports, Semi-Annual Progress Reports, Project Proposals and Monthly Summary of the Programme Financial Status;
• Develop strategies for public information campaigns on mines and ERW and UN Mine Action activities, ensuring these strategies are transferred into action plans and continue to support the Programme’s overall strategies;
• Depending on the role this position will be assigned to within the project administration setup in a specific country/programme (i.e. office structure, DOAs, ATLAS functions, segregation of duties, etc.), the incumbent will have responsibilities determined by UNOPS rules and regulations embodied in its regulatory framework - Organizational Directives, Administrative Instructions and other documents as periodically issued and updated by UNOPS. Reporting lines with regards to compliance with UNOPS rules and regulations are ultimately to UNOPS Peace and Security Centre through Portfolio Manager. In addition, division of responsibilities when it comes to administrative processes in support of the programme objectives will be as determined for each country office and confirmed in writing by UNOPS Director of Peace and Security Centre;
• Train project national and international staff concerning media relations;
• Responsible for capacity building of national staff within the Programme Section;
• Participate in relevant coordination meetings;
• Act as OIC when the D1 Programme Director and P5 Programme Manager are away;
• Other tasks as requested by the D1 Programme Director and P5 Programme Manager.

• Leadership – Proven supervisory ability and/or technical leadership. Ability to maintain effective working relations both as a team member and team leader.
• Teamwork Skills – Strong interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations with people in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
• Organising and Quality Orientation – Ability to manage, organize, plan and implement work assignments, juggle competing demands and work under pressure of frequent and tight deadlines.
• Decision Making – Demonstrated ability to apply good judgment and decision making skills.
• Communication Skill – Strong spoken and written communication skills.
• Creativity and Innovation – Strong analytical and problem solving skills and ability to handle a range of management and coordination issues.
• Ability to Learn – Willingness to keep abreast of new developments.
• Lives and Breathes UNOPS Values – Takes ownership for all responsibilities and honours commitments.

• Advanced University Degree (Masters Degree or equivalent) in business administration, project management, social science or related field with a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience; or a first level University degree (Bachelors Degree or equivalent) in a related field with an additional 2 years of relevant experience (minimum of 9 years in total) may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree;
• At least 7 years experience in programme, project management and/or business administration, a minimum of 2 years of which must have been in complex humanitarian and/or development programmes, in one or more countries at an operational level;
• Good knowledge of the roles and activities of the United Nations within complex humanitarian emergency or developmental environments highly desirable;
• Knowledge of Mine Action an asset;
• Previous experience in Peacekeeping Operations desirable;
• Proven ability to produce reports and papers on substantive issues with strict attention to deadlines;
• Ability to review and edit the work of others;
• Excellent drafting ability and communication skills, both oral and written, and good computer skills;
• Proven ability to communicate complex concepts orally, & an ability to prepare written reports that are clear, concise and meaningful;
• Good interpersonal skills and abilities to gain assistance of others in a team endeavor;
• Ability to effectively work in a multicultural environment;
• Knowledge of the UN system and familiarity with UNOPS procedures is highly desirable;

• Fluency in spoken and written English;

  or fluency in spoken and written French and intermediate fluency in English;

  or  fluency in spoken and written Spanish and intermediate fluency in English;

  or fluency in spoken and written Arabic and intermediate fluency in English