National Programme Officer (Programme Management Specialist)

Peace and Security Cluster

Background: UNMAS Syria Response 

Operating under the mandate of Security Council resolution 2165 (renewed in 2017 with SCR 2393), UNMAS deployed the Syria Response programme at the request of the Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator in August 2015 and subsequently activated the Mine Action Sub Cluster under the Protection Cluster to address the impact of explosive hazards within Syria. UNMAS is the lead agency for the Mine Action Sub Cluster for the Syria Response. Established in Damascus since 2018, following the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Syrian Arab Republic, UNMAS strives to expand humanitarian mine action in Syria, with the aim to respond to high humanitarian needs. This includes humanitarian mine action activities prioritized in the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) for Syria: risk education, victim assistance, survey and clearance.

The conflict in Syria has been characterized by the extensive use of explosive weapons which resulted in large scale explosive hazard contamination, with the presence of diversified types of ordnances. According to the Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) 2019 for Syria, 10.2 million people live in communities reporting explosive hazard contamination; men, women, and children, are exposed to the threat of grave injuries and death on a daily basis. Millions of people live with a permanent disability and new conflict-related trauma cases lead to thousands of permanent disabilities requiring long-term and multi-dimensional support.

• Coordinate the development and articulation of the Country Programme Strategy (CPS) in line with relevant UN and government and/or national or regional strategies, and review/update at necessary intervals. 
• Ensure CPS reflects in-house capacity, budget, typology of delivery areas and the internal tools and knowledge resources
• Support the management team to translate the Strategy into implementation/results work plans and associated monitoring mechanisms and draft project documents as needed for the implementation of the programme
• Coordinate and collaborate with relevant stakeholders in-country and at HQ, to ensure aligned and coherent planning and implementation processes

• Monitor humanitarian and development trends and needs to identify potential areas of intervention within UN mandates and existing capacity
• Stay abreast of policies on mine action, UN policies, and cross-cutting priorities, such as gender, diversity, conflict sensitivity, sustainability, and environment, to be included in programme design as relevant
• Coordinate the identification, design, and formulation of new activities to meet programme objectives
• Coordinate preparation of programme documents, including concept notes, proposals, and associated budgets
• Draft and/or review funding agreements and other project documents required for the signature and implementation of new projects
• In coordination with headquarters Resource Mobilization personnel, support the review, submission, negotiation, and signature of funding agreements

3. Programme management support

• Analyze funding agreements and develop compliance plans and monitoring frameworks to guide key departments and management team to meet requirements of funding agreements, in coordination with HQ
• In collaboration with relevant personnel, establish monitoring mechanisms to measure delivery against targets outlined in funding agreements
• Provide review/input to scopes of work for procurement processes to ensure the requirements of the relevant funding sources are reflected in agreements with implementing partners
• Review implementing partner reports to ensure requirements are being met
• Track programme results against targets, alert relevant management if delivery is not on track, compile data and draft reports to internal and external stakeholders and support the management team to prepare for internal reviews
• Coordinate information flow between implementation teams, donors, and headquarters, particularly related to any deviations that would require revisions to the relevant legal agreement; when required, Coordinate budget and activity revisions to funding agreements
• Prepare, and provide editing support for, high quality summary and analytical reports including, but not limited to, project reports, annual reports, situation reports, briefing notes, code cables, and UN reports
• Prepare written summaries of meetings/visits and ensure relevant team members implement follow-up actions, as appropriate; research and prepare analytical, and sometimes sensitive, documents for the management team.
• Coordinate communications between the Country Programme office and the headquarters Programme, Portfolio Management, and Risk, Quality and Partnership teams to support compliance to programme documents and funding agreements, and the implementation of policies, processes and methods according to internal standards

4.Stakeholder coordination, representation, and inter-agency collaboration

• Establish and build relationships with UN, international organizations, donors, governments, and mine action stakeholders for the purposes of facilitating activities and improving the quality and relevance of programme implementation
• Participate in, contribute to and report on the relevant inter-agency, UN mission, donor and inter­governmental coordination meetings in consultation with relevant programme technical experts when required
• Support the management team with UN common planning and programming processes, including strategic country analysis, UNSDCF, humanitarian response plans, integrated strategic frameworks, etc
• Coordinate, participate in, or contribute to the Mine Action Area of Responsibility/Sub-Cluster under the Protection Cluster, where relevant, including the formulation of the mine action components for the Humanitarian Needs Overview and Response Plan Response plan, in collaboration with the UNMAS Geneva office
• Support the applications of policies, practices and procedures associated with the overall implementation of the Humanitarian Programme Cycle and associated funding and monitoring mechanisms, where relevant, in collaboration with the UNMAS Geneva office
• Support the development of communication strategies, linked to resource mobilization strategies, where relevant, to maximise communication impact and outreach and build awareness of Country Programme objectives
• Support design, coordination and dissemination of public information products and communication activities as well as gather and draft content for communications products and platforms
• Support preparations for official meetings, events, briefings, and field visits, and prepare talking points, briefing notes, presentations and speeches for the management team and senior UN officials

5.Knowledge management and document management and innovation

• Maintain records of programme files and other necessary programme documents such as documentation of decisions and actions taken on programme issues
• Implement relevant standards, tools and templates to effectively manage programme development and implementation
• Identify, contribute to, record and share the ongoing development and implementation of best practice, lessons identified, and innovative approaches to improve overall programme performance
• Contribute to the management and upkeep of risk management and issue management logs and processes

6.People management 

• Support the SPO, and as member of the Programme/Coordination section
• Ensure the effective planning, recruitment and development of a flexible workforce with the skills and competencies needed to ensure optimum performance, and ensure gender and geographical diversity
• Lead and motivate the programme team
• Foster a positive work environment, respectful of both men and women, and ensure that the highest standards of conduct are observed
• Post may include regular travel to different accessible areas of Syria

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply!
Persons with no UN experience are encouraged to apply!


Education

•  Advanced University Degree (master or equivalent) with five years of relevant experience is required; OR
•  First Level University degree (bachelor degree or equivalent) with seven years of relevant experience is required

Experience

• Relevant experience is defined as progressive experience in programme/project development or management, in either public or private sector organizations    
• Knowledge of Google-suite applications or MS office is required

Language

• Fluency in English (writing, speaking and reading) is required;

• Fluency in Arabic (writing, speaking and reading) 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.

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.