Special Assistant

The Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) was established in 1990 and mandated by name in United Nations General Assembly resolution A/RES/45/181.The WSSCC Secretariat is hosted by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and aims to accelerate the achievement of sustainable sanitation, hygiene and water services for all people, with special attention to the unserved poor, by enhancing collaboration and coordination of all sector stakeholders. The WSSCC Secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland. More information on WSSCC (also known as ‘the Council’) can be found on the website at www.wsscc.org. The Council is unique in having members from across the world. These individuals come from a diverse background and have considerable influence in the domain. Governance of the Council is through its Steering Committee. 

For the Chair of the WSSCC Steering Committee (70%)

Key results expected:

• Ensure the effective and efficient management of the Chair function through governance relations, outreach, diplomacy, and communication aspects of the role.
• Ensure the efficient management and compliance of the Steering Committee through collaboration with members, governance-responsible staff, UNOPS Geneva management and portfolio management team.
• Provide timely, high quality strategic and operational advice on opportunities with existing and potential institutional investors and significant stakeholders ensuring appropriate follow-up
• Provide the Chair with strategic advice related to public relations, including bilateral and multilateral meetings and wider representation in the UN and international development community.
• Collaborate and coordinate with the Head of Resource Mobilization and the Head of Corporate Communications and Advocacy on resource mobilization, outreach, communication and advocacy strategy implementation

Main duties and responsibilities

• Oversee and/or coordinate planning, preparation, logistics for Steering Committee, Directorate, and internal and external meetings of the Chair; attend selected meetings on behalf of Chair, as directed.
• Oversee/supervise staff to manage the Chair’s calendar, support coordination of agenda and schedule, and facilitate the flow of information between the Chair and stakeholders.
• Draft and disseminate correspondence and handle sensitive information and communications on behalf of the Chair, with necessary diplomatic communication style and sound judgment for escalating serious issues to the Chair. Handle politically sensitive and confidential information, including in communication with external partners.
• Conduct research, substantive reviews, and critical analyses for the Chair, including those related to resource mobilization in collaboration with the Head of Resource Mobilization
• Organize relevant advocacy and communication activities, synthesize and summarize information and provide strategic position papers to facilitate decision making by the Chair.
• Prepare briefing and advisory papers for the Chair’s meetings, conferences, press appearances, and all other external functions. Organize, coordinate and oversee Chair’s representational activities on behalf of the Council.
• Serve as a liaison and interlocutor between Chair and external stakeholder groups, and filter information to assist the information flow.
• Assist the Chair’s and the organization’s active public relations campaigns with high quality inputs (write ups, conference speeches etc.) in collaboration with the Head of Corporate Communication and Advocacy.
• Develop and maintain a tracking system to advise the Chair and in following up pending issues, and using sound judgement, prioritize actions while ensuring that the Directorate is briefed on a regular basis.

For the Programme Director/ Deputy Executive Director (30%)

Key results expected:

• Provide strategic advice to the Programme Director/Deputy Executive Director to ensure efficient and effective levels of unit managers and staff collaboration within the integrated approach to programming.
• Collaborate with responsible managers to ensure that all programmatic and associated financial monitoring and reporting is of a high standard, compliant with requirements, and completed within given deadlines.
• In collaboration with the Head of Corporate Communications and Advocacy ensure that all material for external representation by the WSSCC management reflect WSSCC’s priorities and direction, and is of the highest possible standard.
• Undertake thematic research to inform the WSSCC executive management of developments in the Council’s intellectual domain.
• Act as an interlocutor with external partners in support of furthering collaboration.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Provide timely, high quality, strategic and operational advice and support to the Programme Director/ Deputy Executive Director and other senior managers
• Provide high quality and timely contribution to all relevant corporate processes, including the annual and mid-year planning and review cycle and organizational reporting.
• Research, advise, lead and/or contribute to the development and implementation of the new strategy, policy processes, and developments.
• Develop and clear briefs, reports, presentations and speeches.
• Act as a credible and reliable interface with all Council staff globally; and with UNOPS Geneva management and portfolio management team.
• Lead the development of systems and processes within the Council and evolve programmatic risk management and assurance approach based on lessons learned and new developments.
• Ensure proactive monitoring and management of programmatic and financial risks.

• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience is required in the areas of international development affairs, diplomacy, outreach, facilitation, analysis, advice and reporting
• A successful track record of interacting with high level officials and intergovernmental bodies working with complex and sensitive issues is required. 
• Experience in the development of strategic and policy directions and design is required. 

• Experience of working with bilateral and multilateral development agencies, including an aptitude for, and knowledge of, current issues in development.
• Strong programme management and managerial expertise

• 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.
• 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
• 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.

APPLICANTS SHOULD SUBMIT A COVER LETTER.

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.