Programme Management Officer - Human Settlements

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.

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, UNOPS vision is to always satisfy partners with management services that meet world-class standards of quality, speed and cost effectiveness.

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is the United Nations agency for cities and human settlements. UN-Habitat’s humanitarian work is guided by its Strategic Policy on Human Settlements in Crisis and the agency is a member of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC).  At the core of UN- Habitat’s work is UN-Habitat People’s Process and New Urban Agenda, which places participatory urban analysis, and planning as a central pillar of humanitarian response, recovery, and the rehabilitation of conflict-affected cities.

UN-Habitat has been active in Iraq since 1996 under the Oil for Food Programme. After 2003, UN-Habitat was largely engaged in early recovery efforts, particularly supporting internally displaced persons (IDPs) through the provision of shelter and reconstruction solutions. Since then, the portfolio of UN-Habitat Iraq has expanded beyond emergency responses to include both humanitarian programmes, such as providing IDPs with shelter and water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure, and promoting urban recovery of areas affected by conflict, and developmental programmes that provide technical support to address durable solutions for IDPs and informal settlers and essential capacity building for relevant government institutions. 

UN-Habitat in Iraq is implementing several urban recovery and development projects. Through the New World Urban Agenda, UN-Habitat’s portfolio in Iraq aims to improve capacity for urban planning and implementation across governorates in Iraq, resulting to effective planning and higher budget execution alongside efficient service delivery. UN-Habitat Iraq also seeks to encourage efficient communication and coordination between central and governorate levels as well as pave the way for the adoption of participatory approaches in local planning and the development of strategies that will respond to the challenges of urbanization in Iraq.

One Human Settlements Officer will be recruited to coordinate urban recovery and development tasks. The duties of the position require programme management expertise; urban planning and development background; and partner liaison and coordination capacity. And will reports to the Head of Programme/ UN-Habitat-Iraq. 

The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS. 

UNOPS is committed to achieving a truly diverse workforce.

Within the delegated authority and under the direct supervision of the Head of UN-Habitat Iraq Programme, the Programme Management Officer – Human Settlements will be assigned to UN-Habitat Erbil Office and be responsible for the following duties:

1. Project Management and Implementation

Ensure effective and efficient execution of UN-Habitat projects and management of the project resources through resource mobilization activities, technical guidance, quality, cost control and ensure support of the project resources as per approved project document and substantive work plan; Coordinate overall work plans and budgets; Prepare relevant documentation and reports related to projects; Initiate recruitment of human resources; Liaise with partners to ensure quality and timely delivery of UN-Habitat’s projects and

programmes.

2. Technical Assistance, Advisory Services and Outreach

Review and analyze issues and trends, preparation of evaluations or other research activities and studies to develop policies; Provide technical assistance and implementation support to the Government of Iraq/Kurdistan Regional Government, project partners and key stakeholders to ensure successful implementation of projects and programmes; Build regional capacity for improved management. Conduct training workshops and seminars; Make presentations to local institutions and government; Provide quality technical input into project activities as well as to national institutions in line with Strategic Framework and the relevant thematic area.

3. Representation and Liaising with Key Stakeholders

Take part in resource mobilization, donor relations, and relevant tasks including development of concept notes and project proposals; Manage, develop and maintain close working relationships with relevant national and international partners, stakeholders, and other UN Agencies in the duty station; Participate in the UN Country Team, Humanitarian Country Team and other inter-agency coordination mechanism to represent UN-Habitat; Promote and coordinate active participation of Project Offices in the relevant Strategic Framework; Coordinate the implementation and monitoring of the UN-Habitat country programme documents; Support/stimulate the inter-divisional cooperation at country level through the enhanced normative operational frameworks.

4. Perform other related duties as may be assigned.

Professionalism: 

Strong conceptual skills. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery in the UN-Habitat focus areas of Urban Recovery, Urban Planning and Design, Housing and Slum Upgrading; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.

Teamwork: 

Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team short comings.

Planning and Organizing: 

Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in engineering, project management, business administration urban planning, architecture or a related field. A first university degree with a combination of two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

• A minimum of seven (7) years of working experience in the areas related to human settlements, project or programme management and/or development, including at least three at the international level is required. 

• Experience in post-conflict areas is an added advantage. 

• Experience in managing a team or an office, resource mobilization and donor coordination is desirable.

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position fluency in oral and written English is required. Fluency in Arabic Language will be an advantage.

• 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.