Regional Technical Advisor, Multiple positions

“UNOPS plays a critical role in providing management services for our life-saving, peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations.”
-Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General

UNOPS  mission is to expand the capacity of the UN system and its partners to implement peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations that matter for people in need.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to always satisfy partners with management services that meet world-class standards of quality, speed and cost effectiveness.

UNOPS provides services in sustainable infrastructure, sustainable procurement and sustainable project management, with projects ranging from building schools, roads, bridges and hospitals to procuring goods and services and training local personnel.

By assisting UN organizations, international financial institutions, governments and other development partners, UNOPS makes significant, tangible contributions to results on the ground.

We employ more than 6,000 personnel annually and on behalf of our partners create thousands more work opportunities in local communities. Through our headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark and a network of regional and country offices, we oversee activities in more than 80 countries.

UNOPS is committed to achieving a truly diverse workforce.

Development Group Cluster

The UNOPS Development Group Cluster is based in the North America Office and supports a diverse and complex portfolio including partners such as the United Nations Development Programme (the Bureau for Development Policy, the Human Development Report Office, and the Special Unit for South-South Cooperation), the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Capital Development Fund, the United Nations Secretariat and a broadening community of primarily New York-based UN partners in the delivery of project management, implementation and administration services.

• Providing high quality technical policy, programming, implementation support and oversight,
• Collaborating with UN-REDD, FCPF and other REDD+ partners at regional and national levels; and
• Knowledge and capacity development services to UNDP country offices and project/programme teams.

• Work with clients to develop and formulate national Readiness Preparation Proposals (R-PPs) 
• Coordinate the submission and approval of R-PPs, National Programmes and relevant REDD+ interventions 
• Provide timely and quality information and technical advice on sources of funds, policies, priorities and activities; 
• Provide guidance in the process of preparation, design, submission and approval of programme/project concepts and full-fledged proposals for financing; 
• Liaise with potential financing agencies and institutions. 
• Prepare Terms of Reference, identify and evaluate experts, and review reports to source technical expertise and support.
• Identify and suggest to the PTA priorities and entry-points for UNDP assistance; 

• Be accountable for the application of REDD+ guidance, tools, approaches and procedures
• Supervise and contribute to the implementation, monitoring , evaluation and adaptive management of approved programmes and projects in UNDP country offices; 
• Work with clients in the design and development of programmes/projects; establish indicators, benchmarks and work plans; 
• Maintain portfolio and corporate information systems;
• Lead the preparation of semi/annual progress and final reports; 

• Contribute to a strategic understanding of, and engagement with, the substantive technical issues, institutions, and processes within the region; 
• Establish contact and develop strategic partnerships with other agencies, donors, NGO’s, the private sector, scientific institutions and the like; 
• Develop strategic UNDP policy position papers and internal briefing notes; 
• Participate in retreats, regional strategic planning, pipeline management exercises, etc.;

• Contribute to policy development and provide guidance in their implementation. Maintain a trusted leadership role among the countries served; 
• Advise the Regional Practice/Team Leader and Senior RTA in the region of trends and issues with respect to REDD+; 
• Advise the Principal Technical Advisors of trends and issues in the countries served. 

• Apply lessons from best practices to develop resource kits and other knowledge materials.
• Improve the technical quality of projects, policies, practices, guidelines, advisory notes, publications and the like;
• Facilitate the preparation of Community of Practice meetings;  
• Design and organize training courses to facilitate knowledge sharing.

• Strong managerial and coordination skills, including ability to coordinate the development of large, complex programmes
• Ability to apply technical knowledge relating to GHG emission reductions in forests with a solid understanding of the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation, the costs of abatement actions and the social fundamentals necessary for success
• Proven knowledge and detailed understanding of the concept of REDD+
• Demonstrated leadership in overseeing complex programming issues, including the ability to achieve results in multi-faceted processes without relying on traditional hierarchical structures
• Demonstrated ability to programme and develop internationally financed forest conservation/sustainable-use projects in developing countries
• Capacity to work with multiple stakeholders and across a wide range of disciplines
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in a highly complex organizational context
• Proven track record of innovation and business development, preferably in the area of REDD+
• Excellent drafting ability and communication skills, both oral and written; ability to defend and explain difficult and complex issues with respect to key decisions and positions to staff, senior officials and members of legislative and oversight bodies
• Excellent presentation skills.
• Capacity to work with multiple stakeholders and across a wide range of disciplines.

•  Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
•  promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
•  Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability and;
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism.

• Ability to lead strategic planning, change processes, results-based management and reporting;
• Ability to lead formulation, oversight of implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects and;
• Ability to apply development theory to the specific country context to identify creative, practical approaches to overcome challenging situations.

• Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example;
•  In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues;
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills and;
•  Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside of UNDP

• Minimum of 7 years practical working experience in developing countries with environment issues, including climate change, forest carbon and REDD+ .
•  Extensive experience with project development, implementation and management is essential
•  Experience in the policy development processes associated with climate change and REDD+ is desirable;
• An understanding of the REDD agenda in the context of UNFCCC negotiations, the challenges and opportunities is desirable;
• Thorough understanding of the forest and biodiversity conservation issues\environment policies and governance systems in the countries of the region would be an asset;
•  Demonstrated strategic technical and intellectual skills in substantive area;
•  Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain strategic partnerships;
• Demonstrated leadership, facilitation and coordination skills;
• Demonstrated entrepreneurial abilities and demonstrated ability to work in an independent manner;
•  Full computer literacy;
• Working experience in an international organization is an advantage as is in-depth knowledge of UNDP policies, procedures and practices.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time (CET)
• 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.
• For staff positions 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.