Senior Programme Manager

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, 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. This project will be implemented under the Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio (DSIP) which 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.  

UNOPS implements the Global Center for Climate Mobility (GCCM), a global hub advancing the implementation of regional climate mobility initiatives including the Africa Climate Mobility Initiative (ACMI) and the Caribbean Climate Mobility Initiative (CCMI). 

ACMI

The ACMI is a joint undertaking of the African Union Commission (AUC), the United Nations, and the World Bank to support the African continent in addressing climate-forced displacement and migration while harnessing climate mobility to advance its development agenda and political & economic integration. The ACMI’s people-centered & evidence-based approach aims to generate political momentum, a common policy agenda, and resources to advance comprehensive and locally anchored solutions for climate mobility. 

CCMI

In parallel with the ACMI and capitalizing on shared efficiencies, the CCMI is a joint effort of the Association of Caribbean States and the wider UN system that aims to generate political momentum, policy agendas and resources for action on climate mobility in the Greater Caribbean region. The work of CCMI intends to enhance primary data collection and develop region-specific state-of-the-art forecast models to predict climate change and anticipate climate-forced mobility. The data-driven models are intended to subsequently inform the preparation of a comprehensive report and agendas to promote action.

This position is based in New York City, NY, USA and may require international travel. The incumbent of this position will be a personnel of UNOPS under its full responsibility. The Project Coordinator will closely coordinate activities with the SDC Head of Cluster and DSI Senior Portfolio Manager. 

1. Strategic Leadership and Coordination of Substantive Project Work:

• Responsible for the overall leadership and management of the GCCM project both the ACMI, CCMI, and other related initiatives
• Provides direct support to the ACMI and CCMI and complementary initiatives’ support structures and coordinates with all project stakeholders to advance the objectives of the initiatives
• Coordinates partners communications ensuring all stakeholders are aware of the status of project activities and acceptance of project outputs

2. Project Management:

• Provides strategic guidance and oversees the overall management of the project team and manage the project activities - including personnel recruitment, procurement, budget management, and stakeholder communications - to ensure adherence to UNOPS policies and procedures
• Organizes participation at high-level events (e.g. COP 27, 28, and 29) throughout the duration of the project. 
• Establishes annual work plans and sets objectives, supports performance management, defines standards and expected results in collaboration with project team

3. Expert Approach:

• Provides expert advice on achieving project outputs 
• Ensures the appropriate technical and subject-matter expertise is incorporated in project activities
• Represents UNOPS and the GCCM initiatives externally to donors, partners, and in other high-level engagements to facilitate visibility of the initiatives
• Guides the donor engagement process from proposal to implementation to successful project closure
• Prepares regular reports to donors and ensures the timely delivery of all project deliverables

4. Learning and Knowledge Management:

• Develops mechanisms to document and disseminate the knowledge products of the initiative throughout the initiative

Positioning: Stronger position of UNOPS, and the Sustainable Development Cluster, as an evidence-based organization in the climate space, including data on climate risk exposure, vulnerability, and mobility trends, patterns and outcomes to raise public awareness and inform policy making and programme design at all levels of governance. 

Knowledge and Partnerships: Stronger institutional partnerships and networks of change agents in a self-sustained ecosystem that will increase momentum for collaboration across localities and countries, including knowledge partnerships, to help mitigate the potential for climate pressures to increase the risk of conflict.

Advocacy and High Level Representation: UNOPS will support the presence of the Global Initiative at UN Climate Change Conferences (e.g. COP 27, 28, and 29) through the duration of the project implementation. Representation at high-level conferences will facilitate relationships for advocacy and representation of UNOPS in new fora. 

Education:

Contract type:  Fixed-term staff contact 
Contract level: P4 
Contract duration: One year initially, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability

For more details about United Nations staff contracts, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/UN-Staff-Contracts.aspx

• 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.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• 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
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• 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.

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.

Background Information - Sustainable Development Cluster 

Based in New York, the Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations.

The SDC’s services include grants management, development and special initiatives support, and technology support to the UN and UN agencies.

The SDC is part of the New York Service Cluster that supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as a broadening community of 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.