Programme Management Advisor

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.  SDC has a footprint of approximately 125 countries. 

UNOPS has signed an agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to implement the project activities for the Global Programme on Nature for Development.

UNDP’s Global Programme on Nature for Development brings together three different initiatives -- the Equator Initiative, and the National Biodiversity Initiative, and Learning for Nature under one program in order to identify, foster, showcase and celebrate nature-based solutions that help achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at local, national, and international levels. The work of the Global Programme on Nature for Development contributes to UNDP's Strategic Plan 2018-2021 by charting sustainable development pathways through the conservation, restoration and sustainable management of biodiversity and ecosystems; and by promoting inclusive and effective democratic governance in the area of natural resources.

The Equator Initiative brings together the United Nations, governments, civil society, businesses and grassroots organizations to recognize and advance local sustainable development solutions for people, nature and resilient communities. The Equator Initiative seeks to:

• Identify and recognize the success of Indigenous and local initiatives,

• Create opportunities and platforms to share knowledge and good practice,

• Inform policy to foster an enabling environment for Indigenous and local community action, and

• Develop the capacity of Indigenous peoples and local communities to scale-up their impact. 

The National Biodiversity Initiative supports countries to manage their ecosystems and biodiversity to improve national planning and governance of biodiversity, ecosystems, and development, and to promote resilience for sustainable development. The GEF Enabling Activities Project supports developing, middle income, and small island nations in their commitments to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): early action on the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), National Reporting. The use of spatial data for spatial planning is an important cross-cutting theme across these project areas, including through our flagship platform  UN Biodiversity Lab (UNBL) and to map Essential Life Support Areas (ELSAs). The UNBL, created in partnership with UN Environment and the CBD Secretariat provides policymakers with access to 100 of the world’s best spatial datasets on nature, climate, and sustainable development for planning, monitoring, and reporting. Building on this base, our work to map ELSAs brings together the world’s best scientists and governments in 11 pilot countries to use spatial data to identify where nature-based actions to protect, manage, or restore ELSAs can deliver efficiently across national priorities for biodiversity, climate, and sustainable development. A nascent area of work is building the spatial literacy of Indigenous peoples and local communities and ensuring their participation in spatial planning. 

Knowledge Sharing is a main goal of the Equator Initiative, Learning for Nature and the National Biodiversity Initiative. The Equator Initiative has a large series of research papers, books, and other publications focusing on local approaches to poverty reduction and conservation, informed by community-based initiatives.180 case studies in over 30 languages have documented the Equator Prize winners’ innovative practices that deliver the win-win-win solutions that ensure social, economic, and environmental sustainability. The National Biodiversity Initiative share knowledge on the role of spatial data in biodiversity planning, policymaking, and reporting through blogs, case studies, and story maps.

Learning for Nature is a capacity-building offer provided by the Global Programme on Nature for Development, cutting across the three areas of work. This project connects biodiversity policymakers, change-makers, and on-the-ground subject matter experts to facilitate the delivery of the Convention on Biological Diversity’s post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, and the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Access to the global multi-stakeholder networks mobilized by the Equator Initiative and the National Biodiversity Initiative allows Learning for Nature to circulate knowledge while promoting best practices. Building on our learnings on the ground, we seek synergies, build linkages, and engage thousands of course participants on their journey towards sustainable development solutions for people, nature, and resilient communities. Learning for Nature builds capacity to scale up efforts for nature-based sustainable development through Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), webinars, self-paced e-learning modules, podcasts, and private training courses.

Knowledge Sharing is a main goal of the Equator Initiative, the National Biodiversity Initiative, and Learning for Nature. The Equator Initiative has a large series of research papers, books, and other publications focusing on local approaches to poverty reduction and conservation, informed by community-based initiatives. 180 case studies in over 30 languages have documented the Equator Prize winners’ innovative practices that deliver the win-win-win solutions that ensure social, economic, and environmental sustainability. The National Biodiversity Initiative works with partners to share knowledge on the role of spatial data in biodiversity planning, policymaking, and reporting through story maps, blogs, Google Earth stories, articles etc.

For further information please go to: www.equatorinitiative.org, www.nbsapforum.net, www.learningfornature.org, or http://www.unbiodiversitylab.org.

This is a position to support a project which UNOPS is implementing for the United Nations Development Programme. The incumbent of this position will be personnel of UNOPS under its full responsibility.

CBD Parties are currently being mobilized to take early action on the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) by focusing on four components: national biodiversity planning and alignment, policy frameworks, monitoring and reporting frameworks, and biodiversity finance. These components, among others that may emerge, are aimed at ensuring that CBD Parties have the technical and financial support they require to work towards a robust, fully resourced, NBSAP, including a strong monitoring system, that is fully aligned with the GBF. 

Financial and technical support is provided through two pathways: first, grants made to Parties to undertake national actions, and second, a global coordination grant that will make it possible to provide technical services to ensure national actions are effective, efficient, inclusive, and of the highest technical standards. The project’s Technical Support Unit (TSU) is being administered in coordination with SCBD and UNEP across 140. The project is additionally responsible for administrating national work for the 69 countries that receive Global Environment Facility (GEF) funding, which are primarily located in Latin America and Caribbean, Eastern Europe, and Asia.

Responsibilities include the following:

• Manage the project at a global scale by establishing and executing it in collaboration with UNDP and external partners, an as directed by the Supervisor.
• Ensure the accurate and timely completion of project deliverables, including Global Environment Facility (GEF) and UNDP management and administrative requirements (technical, financial, communications, audits, evaluations, integrated work planning, budgeting, procurement, monitoring and evaluation, etc.).
• Set objectives, performance measurements, and standards. 
• Prepare timely and accurate project monitoring reports and communicate results to ensure the delivery of stakeholder-oriented services.
• Provide strategic guidance and management oversight to support the 69 participating countries, reviewing on a regular basis progress reports, deliverables, disbursements, and budgets to ensure implementation is on track, and troubleshooting and adapting management as required.
• Establish and convene meetings of the project boards as specified by projects and manage and monitor the risks and issues they identify, while submitting newly identified risks to the Project Board for consideration and decision as required. 
• Support the supervisor for management and oversight of the National Biodiversity Initiative team and its portfolio. This entails the provision of strategic direction, management oversight, and development of both the project and the team, including staff and consultant supervision. 

• Identify and source necessary technical expertise and support to realize project deliverables. 
• Provide overall technical quality assurance of all project components for technical tools, guidance, and trainings, including review of work plans, draft materials, and consultation processes.
• Plan, execute, and ensured delivery of the Technical Support Unit. 
• Liaise with other relevant UNDP projects, programs, initiatives, and staff including in-country colleagues, including to share information about trends and issues in the thematic area.
• Liaise with the CBD Secretariat staff on all technical issues related to NBSAP alignment.
• Ensure technical excellence of technical outcomes and products by leading the development of all technical products and providing inputs and critical review. 

• Develop key policy initiatives, advice, support and advocacy on ecosystems and biodiversity both within UNDP and with UNDP’s direct partners. This includes the development of complex policy positions at the interface of scientific knowledge and social, political and economic feasibility. 
• Engage in wide-ranging consultation with key partners and the development of strategic partnerships around positions and initiatives, as well as in dialogue and advocacy to effect change. 
• Provide advice, support and policy leadership in different sub-disciplines of ecosystems and biodiversity thematic area, and for development of key integrated initiatives both within UNDP and with UNDP’s direct partners. 

• Plan, recruit, manage and develop project personnel/technical experts with the skills and competencies needed to ensure optimum performance and encourage the formation of diverse teams in terms of gender and geography.
• Supervise partners for assigned projects and activities.
• Promote teamwork, collaboration, and diversity by providing timely guidance and supervision to the team to enable them to perform their duties responsibly, effectively, and efficiently.
• Foster a positive work environment, respectful of both men and women, and ensure that the highest standards of conduct are observed. 
• Mentor and assist implementing staff and partners in planning, execution, and delivery of allocated projects, ensuring incorporation of best practice project management processes. 

• Ensure the financial sustainability of the project and delivery of desired results, ensuring compliance with organizational strategies, rules, regulations, and standards of performance.
• Facilitate the preparation of project documents, monitoring tools, and reports, and submit to the supervisor, donors, partners, and advisors to drive future process improvements.
• Analyze and keep abreast of political and development trends in the project focal areas, to identify and support strategic areas of focus based on country priorities.
• Consult and collaborate with internal and external colleagues and partners to ensure linkages, consistency, and harmonization of approaches and compliance with guidelines, framework and standards of accountability, integrity, and performance.
• Plan and propose project resources for the assigned portfolio in collaboration with supervisor. 
• Manage project resources in accordance with UNOPS standards of ethics, integrity and accountability framework and financial sustainability.

• Represent UNDP in global, regional, and national fora, and liaise with external clients and a broad range of constituencies and UNDP counterparts in government, local and international media, other international organizations, and in civil society. 
• Promote good cooperation and coordination among all technical project and operations staff and between the various units of UNDP, as well as external parties. 
• Build and strengthen partnerships through active networking, advocacy, and effective communication 
• Contribute to current and future growth plans of the project, ensuring alignment with the UNOPS, UNDP, GEF, and CBD strategic plans. 
• Work to maximise and showcase project impacts and to strengthen relationships with stakeholders at all levels.

• Lead development and maintain oversight of project online platforms and products
• Contribute to the development and introduction of innovation to ensure the continual incorporation of best practice approaches.
• Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for corporate development planning and knowledge building
• Plan, implement and organize capacity building of personnel, partners, and stakeholders.
• Work with UNDP staff and partner organisations to feed lessons learned into specific case studies, including for the NBSAP Forum.

• Master’s degree preferably in environmental management, social/political sciences, international relations, political economy, development studies, geography or other related expertise areas is required.
• First level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in combination with 2 additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced university degree.

• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressive international experience in leading/coordinating project implementation in an international and/or corporate organization.
• A minimum of five (5) years experience with National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans and National Reports to the Convention on Biological Diversity, or comparable expertise. 
• At least seven (7) years of experience with thematic areas included in areas of importance of global biodiversity, such as protected areas and their status, the conservation status of biodiversity, and/or threats to biodiversity

• Experience in developing technical support projects related to components of the Convention on Biological Diversity is strongly desirable.
• Experience in the UN system organizations is strongly desired.
• Experience managing people as a direct supervisor is strongly desired.
• Professional experience implementing Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded projects is strongly desired.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English is required. 
• Proficiency in another official UN language is desirable.

Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA) 
Contract level: International Individual Contractor Agreement (I-ICA 3- ICSC11)
Contract duration: Open-ended (renewable subject to funds availability and satisfactory performance)

• 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.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and it is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, or disability.
  
• 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.  
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• 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 – an operational arm of the United Nations – supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by successfully implementing its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management, and human resources.

Working with us

We are proud of our people. With a wealth of knowledge and skills in various disciplines – engineering, finance, human resources, ICT, leadership, project management, procurement, and more – they help tackle some of the biggest challenges of our time. Their work around the world supports progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

At UNOPS, we offer a range of short- and long-term opportunities in various environments and duty stations – from Denmark and Kenya to Mexico, Switzerland, Myanmar, Senegal, Uganda, and many more.

Diversity

With over 5,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,400 personnel recruited on behalf of our partners, spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced and diverse labor force — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs. We continually strive to maintain our gender-balanced workplace. We encourage qualified underrepresented groups as per UNOPS Gender, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy to apply for our vacancies.

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.