Banking Project Implementation Manager

Based in Geneva, the Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECR) supports UNOPS offices throughout the region through: management, financial and programmatic oversight of global and country-specific portfolios, clusters and operations centres, including hosting services; fund and management advisory services; project implementation; procuring goods and services; and managing human resources.

ECR ensures that projects are executed to the highest standards, providing a shared knowledge base and ensuring that best practices and lessons learned are disseminated between business units and projects across the entire region.

 ECR strategy is to:

• Strengthen UNOPS role in operationalizing the Sustainable Development Goals with particular emphasis on health, environment and economic development.
• Position UNOPS in the Balkan sub-region, the Caucasus and Central Asia.
• Strengthen the implementation of ECR global and regional programmes, with revitalized partnerships in infrastructure, procurement and project management.

ECR operates global portfolios from offices in Geneva, Brussels and New York, and country-specific programmes from its operations and project centres located in Eastern Europe and Central Asian countries.

The United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) is a strategic public-private partnership between UNEP and the global financial sector. UNEP FI works with over 200 financial institutions, signatories to the UNEP Statement of Commitment by Financial Institutions on Sustainable Development, and a range of partners and organizations, to embed environmental, social and governance considerations in financial decision-making. Through its industry, thematic and regional activities, UNEP FI promotes the adoption of sustainability practices by financial institutions and the finance sector at large.

On 22nd September 2019, UNEP FI member banks representing USD 47 trillion and with that over a third of the global banking industry officially signed and launched the Principles for Responsible Banking together with UN Secretary General Guterres. The Principles for Responsible Banking guide the change towards a new, sustainable global banking industry that takes on a key role in helping society to achieve its goals for a sustainable future. With these Principles, banks commit to strategically align their business with and scale up their contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals and the objectives of the Paris Agreement on Climate. The Principles are supported by a strong implementation framework that defines clear accountabilities and requires each bank to set, publish and work towards ambitious targets and report publicly on their positive and negative impacts and progress in implementing their commitments. Banks that are not in line with their commitments can be removed from the list of signatories.

UNEP FI provides support to and closely works with the Signatories in their implementation of the Principles for Responsible Banking. As the framework has just been launched, this includes foundational work with the banks and relevant internal and external experts to jointly develop detailed guidance and tools for key mechanisms of the Principles for Responsible Banking including impact analysis, target setting and reporting. One important aspect of supporting successful implementation of the Principles will furthermore be setting up the structures for and supporting peer learning as well as documenting emerging good practices and case studies and updating the guidance materials over time. Finally, UNEP FI is looking to start developing a capacity building program/approach once the first year of implementation is completed.

The consultant will work closely with the Signatories of the Principles for Responsible Banking, in working groups, to develop guidance and tools, facilitate peer learning, and support the effective and successful implementation of the Principles around the world.

In line with the work programme agreed at the UNEP FI Annual General Meeting and approved by UNEP, and under the direction of Simone Dettling, UNEP FI Banking Team Lead, the Consultant will support the implementation of the UNEP FI annual work plan through the following project tasks.

The Consultant will work with the UNEP FI Banking Team, as well as other colleagues within the UNEP FI team, to provide implementation support to the Signatories of the Principles for Responsible Banking. This function will include planning, delivery, monitoring and communication of the activities and outputs of the working groups that the consultant is responsible for.

Specifically, the Consultant will perform the following tasks:

●        Working with Signatory banks and internal/external experts to develop detailed guidance on / tools for conducting portfolio impact analysis.

●        Working with Signatory banks and internal/external experts to develop detailed guidance and potentially common metrics/approaches for target setting in various impact areas.

●        Working with Signatory banks and internal/external experts to address common challenges in fulfilling the reporting & self-assessment requirements.

●        Planning and facilitating webinars as a platform for knowledge sharing and learning amongst Signatory banks.

●        Working with the Sustainable Banking Expert that conducts the annual review & feedback meetings with all Signatory Banks to identify & document emerging good practices and case studies.

●        In collaboration with UNEP FI’s regional coordinators, setting up the structures for and facilitating peer learning across and within regions.

●        Developing and conducting full-day in-person workshops attached to key UNEP FI events. These should serve to provide deep-dives into implementation guidance, tools and good practices /case studies as well as provide a space for structured peer learning, exchange of experiences and joint discussion of challenges.

●        Working with Signatory banks and internal/external experts on addressing further needs relevant to the successful implementation of the Principles for Responsible Banking.

●        Clear and agreed-on (between Secretariat and Signatory banks) implementation plans, project timelines, and concept and description of deliverables for each working group the consultant is responsible for

●        Work is undertaken in accordance with the agreed upon schedule / timeline

●        Regular updates are provided to the Banking Team on the progress of each working group

●        Project deliverables are delivered in line with their previously agreed-on description and in line with the project timeline

Advanced University degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in one or several of the following areas: law, public policy, economics, with focus on sustainable development.

Minimum of five years’ experience working in a commercial bank. It is envisaged that the candidate would have worked in the risk, policy, business and/or legal departments of a bank.

Minimum of 18 months experience working with diverse banks from different regions on environmental and social matters.

Fluency in written and spoken English is required.

Contract type: ICA

• 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.


This position is based in Switzerland and the contract fee is not exempt from Swiss laws, including but not limited to laws regarding taxation, social security, accident and health insurance.

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.