Governance Advisor (INTERNAL VACANCY)

Since 2010, the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement has inspired a new way of working collaboratively to end malnutrition, in all its forms. With the governments of SUN Countries in the lead, it unites people—from civil society, the United Nations, donors, businesses and researchers—in a collective effort to improve nutrition. The SUN Strategy 2021–2025 (SUN 3.0) prioritises country leadership and focuses on supporting systemic change at the country level. It seeks to capture the ambition of SUN countries and guide the work of all actors at all levels aligning concerted action behind and responding to commonly agreed national priorities set out by governments in SUN countries. 

SUN 3.0 is committed to fundamental, non-negotiable aspects of effective nutrition action, including equity and the principle of leaving no one behind. For its third phase, the SUN Movement will drive forward gender equality and enshrine youth leadership across the Movement.  SUN 3.0 will strengthen partnerships to achieve greater impact on nutrition through food systems, health systems, social protection systems, actions by the private sector and humanitarian and development actors, and through education, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and climate change adaptation.

The SUN Movement Secretariat plays a central role in enabling the multiple members and structures of the Movement to work together to advance progress on country-level priorities and the global positioning of nutrition.  

The SUN Movement Secretariat comprises approximately 35 personnel, based in Geneva and in various regions globally.  All parts of the Movement – member governments, the four SUN networks (Civil Society, United Nations, Business, Donors), the SUN Movement Coordinator and the SUN Movement Secretariat work together to align and focus efforts on priorities within countries.

The SUN Movement Secretariat is hosted by UNOPS.

Role of the Governance adviser

The SUN Strategy 3.0 envisages strengthened governance of SUN that promotes leadership by national governments, and inclusiveness and accountability of all the members of the Movement to people at risk of malnutrition, and to each other, ensuring all voices are heard, country action plans are implemented, and value for money is promoted at all levels.

To drive and facilitate country-level impact further, the need is recognised to tighten accountability and ensure that the governance and support system have the capacities required and are more clearly aligned to country priorities.

The Governance Advisor reports to the Director, SUN Movement Secretariat. The role will facilitate the governance activities of the SUN Movement, to ensure that the Lead Group, and the Executive Committee and its associated working groups have the advice and resources they need to perform their responsibilities, and that the records of their actions reflect that they have done so.

The role will ensure that the members of the Executive Committee are fully updated on the breadth and pace of developments across the Movement so that the Executive Committee members can fulfil their responsibilities to support and guide SUN Movement Countries, the SUN Movement Coordinator and the Global Support System (GSS) to oversee alignment efforts.

• Support the development and implementation of the related policies, processes and procedures that facilitate the operations of the relevant governance mechanisms of the SUN Movement.

• Oversee and/or coordinate the planning, preparation and logistics for Lead Group, Executive Committee and working group meetings.

• Provide substantive support to governance-related meetings, including proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc.

• Liaise with the relevant Chair(s) to ensure smooth running of Lead Group, Executive Committee and its working group meetings to facilitate strategic decision making that furthers the organisation’s purpose and strategy based on quality information and documents.

• Liaise with Lead Group and Executive Committee members to fulfil requests for information.

• Ensure appropriate record keeping of Lead Group and Executive Committee decisions and how they have been implemented; facilitating flow of information between Lead Group, Executive Committee, Coordinator, Director, Global Support System and Secretariat.

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in public administration, economics, law, political sciences, social sciences or related field is required.
• A bachelor's degree with a combination of two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted  in lieu of the master's degree.

• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience is required in the areas of international relations and development, diplomacy, outreach, facilitation, analysis, or advice and reporting is required.

• A successful track record of interacting with high level officials and intergovernmental bodies working with complex and sensitive issues is required.

• Experience of working with bilateral and multilateral development agencies, including an aptitude for, and knowledge of, current issues in nutrition and development is desirable.

•  Fluency in English Language ( Writing, Reading and Speaking) is required.
• Knowledge of another official UNOPS language, particularly French is an asset.

Contract type: Fixed-term Staff Contract
Contract level: ICS 11/ P4
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.  
• Please note that this is an Internal Vacancy Announcement
• This role is open to SUN Movement Secretariat (SMS) and Pooled Fund team members ONLY

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.