Senior Advisor in Public-Private Partnerships and Infrastructure Finance (Retainer), Multiple positions

In Latin America and the Caribbean, UNOPS adapts its approach to local context, providing a broad range of strategic solutions to improve member countries efforts in achieving the priorities of the Agenda 2030. Beyond its regular activities, it works in order to preserve and value the wealth of natural, cultural and human resources and to reduce gaps as inequality.

UNOPS has been recently offering PPP Advisory Services in order to strengthen public sector capabilities in the development of Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiatives.

Through its PPP portfolio, UNOPS is developing advisory services in infrastructure finance with private sector funding and operations. This includes public-private partnerships, concessions, management contracts, loans and other partnerships to support the national and local governments to address the challenge on how to prioritize and finance the infrastructure investment needed. 

Therefore, UNOPS is now recruiting Senior Advisors in PPP & IF for is regional team that have relevant experience in: 1) Development of a pipeline of PPP projects and its successful implementation. 2) Developing financial structures and advising on debt and equity areas of infrastructure finance. 3) Building an extensive network of contacts, and build an own solid reputation as an expert in PPPs on in financing of infrastructure.

The PPP Senior Advisor will be part of the Regional PPP and Infrastructure Finance Advisory Services team, team that will be covering all of Latin America and the Caribbean countries. As part of the team, the projects may be in any country in the region, depending on the team’s expansion strategy, each senior advisor’s own network and sector specialization and opportunities.

A Senior Advisor at this level would be expected to lead complex projects and at times also support in actual writing or reports and analysis as specialist, being flexible and working with all the team to ensure delivery of quality results for our partners and customers. The Senior Advisor will be a lead contributor of the PPP & IF Advisory Services team for one or more UNOPS Level 3 project(s).

This position is home-based and depending on the projects portfolio development in LCR the selected candidate will be required to travel at least 1/3 of his/her service time and may have responsibilities in multiple countries.

This position will initially work in projects in Central America, Mexico, Brazil or Argentina, and depending on PPP portfolio development may also work on other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. 

This is a homebased positon and idially the Senior Advisor should be located in any country in Central America, Mexico, Brazil or Argentina.

The PPP Senior Advisor will be part of the PPP and Infrastructure Finance Advisory Services team, and based on project requirements and individual background and profile s/he will work in one or more areas described below:

To obtain detailed information on specific functions, please review attached Terms of Reference.

• A third level education degree (master’s degree or equivalent) is required. Preferably in the fields of Finance, Economics, Business Administration (MBA), Infrastructure or related areas.
• A second level education degree (bachelor´s degree or equivalent) plus additional years of experience on top of minimum years required may be accepted in lieu of the Master´s degree;
• Formal certifications in financial modeling applied to Infrastructure, project finance, portfolio management, accounting or in PPPs is an advantage.

A minimum of seven years (or more depending on academic credentials) of relevant experience in the field of public private partnerships or infrastructure finance.

Experience in one or more of the following areas will be considered an advantage:

1. Experience leading teams of experts in PPP or financing advisory projects (projects awarded or financial close reached).
2. Experience in PPP AS or in infrastructure finance in Latin America.
3. Experience developing an extensive network of contacts in either PPP AS or in Infrastructure Finance in Latin America.
4. Experience on legal implications of infrastructure financing, concession and PPP legislation, financial services regulation, etc.
5. Experience in leading deals in asset management or in private equity

• Fluency in any of the following languages: Portuguese or Spanish
• Fluency in English is required.

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is the central resource for the United Nations system in procurement and contract management, as well as in civil works and physical infrastructure development. It focuses its action on the areas of its mandate established by the General Assembly and its Executive Council, while collaborating with other United Nations agencies, funds and programs on joint projects.

UNOPS supports local and national governments to maximize the efficiency of public investment, promote transparency, fight corruption and adapt to each country the best practices available worldwide in order to strengthen national capacities in the areas of procurement, public infrastructure and project management.

With over 8,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, where they need it.  By implementing around 1,000 projects for our partners at any given time, UNOPS makes significant contributions to results on the ground, often in the most challenging environments.