Programme Manager

UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian and development projects.  Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations.

The New York Service Cluster (NYSC) supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management

The Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. It was formed by combining the following portfolios: Grants Management Services (GMS), UN Technology Support Services (UNTSS), Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio (DSIP) It provides Services to partners' programmes that are designed, structured, and managed with a global perspective and primarily serving partners that are headquartered in New York.  The SDC has a footprint of approximately 125 countries.

UNOPS in New York supports the implementation of projects signed with the United Nations.

The DOS-led and Office of Information and Communications Technology (OICT) - managed Partnership for Technology in Peacekeeping (PTP) initiative was established in 2014 with an objective to bring greater involvement to peacekeeping through innovative approaches and technologies that have the potential to empower UN global operations.

With technology continuously evolving and expected to play an ever-increasing role in supporting multidimensional mission mandate implementation, the Department of Peace Operations, the Department of Operational Support (DPO-DOS) and Member States are presented with both a challenge and exciting opportunities. The Partnership for Technology in Peacekeeping initiative offers Member States an opportunity for a new kind of relationship with DPO-DOS beyond the traditional troop, police and financial contributions - one that aligns the technological and innovative capacities of the world with the specific needs of the Field Technology Sections in UN  peacekeeping missions.

Outcome of the first PTP international symposium held in 2014, the DOS-led and OICT-managed UN C4ISR [Command, Control, Communications, Computers (C4), Intelligence – Surveillance – Reconnaissance (ISR)] Academy for Peace Operations (former UN Signals Academy) was established in 2015 and is committed to excellence in:

●        Preparing peacekeeping missions personnel, and troop- and police-contributing countries military and police for their roles in UN peace operations and

●        Enhancing their operational readiness and performance by providing training on key C4ISR and camp security technologies.

The incumbent of this position will be part of UNOPS personnel and under its full responsibility.

Under the overall supervision of the UNOPS Senior Programme Manager or designated individual, the incumbent will work directly under the supervision of the Partnership for Technology in Peacekeeping (PTP) and UN C4ISR Academy for Peace Operations (UNCAP) senior programme manager and will be responsible for:

Summary of key functions:

●      Programme/Project management and/or development

●      Strategic and Technical Partnerships development including fundraising

●      Team Management

Programme management and development:

●      Providing direct support to the Partnership for Technology in Peacekeeping Senior Programme Manager and managing PTP-related ongoing programmes and projects;

●      Implementing and maintaining existing Memorandum of Understanding or Technical Agreements in coordination with partners and the Office of Legal Affairs (OLA);

●      Managing at the strategic level the UN C4ISR Academy for Peace Operations (UNCAP) programme; Supervising UNCAP team, objectives and deliverables;

●      Leading the implementation of existing strategic partnerships and managing allocated extra-budgetary funding;

●      Leading the implementation of technical partnerships in direct coordination with technical partners;

●      Leading the planning and execution of any Partnership for Technology in Peacekeeping events i.e. annual international symposium, webinars, workshops or meetings;

Strategic and Technical Partnerships development:

●      Engaging directly with Permanent Mission of Member States, International Organizations or Academia to develop strategic or technical partnerships for technology in UN Peacekeeping;

●      Developing new Memorandum of Understanding or Technical Agreements in coordination with partners and OLA;

●      Coordinating technology project proposals submitted to the approval of any UN Trust Funds or to Member States;

●      Engaging with Member States and negotiating the allocation of extra-budgetary funding in support of programmes and projects;

●      Facilitating collaboration between United Nations C4ISR Academy, the Peacekeeping Field Technology Sections and the Peace Operations uniformed personnel (military and police) community and technical partners at the strategic level;

Team Management:

●      Supervising the UN C4ISR Academy Entebbe cluster personnel in any aspects of the programme. 

Performs other duties as may be reasonably required and in line with the incumbent’s scope of services above.


Impact of Results 

●      Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) preferably in technology, computer science, international relations, military cooperation or in a field related to the post description is required.

●      A first level university degree (Bachelor's degree) with an additional  2 years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Desirable (The following experiences are optional. Candidates who do not have them are welcome to apply)

●        Excellent presentation and strategic communications skills are highly desirable

●        Experience in multinational working environment

●        Experience in serving in a United Nations peacekeeping or multinational or national military operation.

●        Experience in dealing with military technology is highly desirable.

●        Experience in technology training programme is desirable

●        Experience at Armed Forces level is desirable

●        Experience in dealing with metrics/KPI/service level targets.

●        For this assignment fluency in English (read, write, speak) is required.

●        Knowledge of French (both oral and written) is an advantage.

●        Knowledge of another UN official language is an asset. 

Contract type: Staff
Contract level: P3
Contract duration: One year initially, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability

• 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.

Background Information - Sustainable Development Cluster 

Based in New York, the Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations.

The SDC’s services include grants management, development and special initiatives support, and technology support to the UN and UN agencies.

The SDC is part of the New York Service Cluster that supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as a broadening community of other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management.