Senior Urban Specialist (Internal Candidates Only)

The incumbent will be responsible for the below functional responsibilities: 

1. Programme identification and development

• Seek and identify additional funding opportunities, and, when requested, lead the negotiations and preparation of funding proposals, donor briefings and presentations in support of Cities Alliance’s mission and vision.

• Lead in the development of new programmes and projects on inclusive urban development in line with the priorities of the Cities Alliance mission, vision and Strategic Plan.

•  Analyse international programmatic and sectoral trends to identify strategic areas and comparative advantage for the Cities Alliance by providing substantive orientation, positioning for normative and country level operations, and areas of business growth.

2. Programme governance, implementation and monitoring

• Assume overall responsibility for the management and planning of an assigned portfolio of programmatic activities within the Cities Alliance, focusing on the MENA and ECA regions while also providing support for other countries and regions as needed.

• Perform day-to-day programme oversight to ensure successful implementation and delivery of the assigned portfolio.

• Ensure that project management policies, processes and methods are followed for the assigned portfolio and that there is operational, fiduciary and quality compliance with Cities Alliance and UNOPS rules and procedures.

• Recruit, manage, and motivate a team of international consultants and local personnel to successfully implement projects and achieve the goals within the assigned portfolio.

3. Technical expertise and cross-support

• Provide thematic expertise, advice, and cross-support to the Secretariat on inclusive urban development and urban poverty, as well as across the thematic priorities of the Strategic Plan, with specific attention to gender, climate change, and migration.

•  Ensure that assigned normative and operational activities of the Cities Alliance advance the role of cities in the international development agenda, and highlights the importance of pro-poor and inclusive urban development;

• Foster synergies and alignment on key urban issues between normative work and country operations, as well as with projects, programmes, and portfolios under the purview of other urban specialists.

• Support regional, national, and local policy initiatives and dialogues, enhancing the institutional capacities of policymakers and local authorities in urban planning.

• Provide analytical and sector-specific technical inputs in project outputs, knowledge and communications materials, keynotes and other relevant substantive documents to be delivered by the Cities Alliance Secretariat, members, and partners.

• Share and insitutionalise best practices and lessons learned for corporate development planning and knowledge building.

4. Networking, Partnerships and Advocacy

•  Establish effective relationships with Cities Alliance partners for the assigned portfolio, building a resource network that includes political leadership at national, sub-national, and community levels, as well as key stakeholders in academia and the private sector.

• Serve as a focal point for select Cities Alliance members, supporting outreach to new partners, facilitating inter-institutional cooperation, and identifying new membership opportunities. Encourage the development of member-driven activities at global, regional, and sub-regional levels.

• Represent the Secretariat and Cities Alliance at conferences, panels, and meetings, as needed.

• PhD (Doctorate) in any of these fields would be an asset.

• Master’s degree preferably in Urban Studies, Business Administration, Development Studies, Economics, Finance, Social Sciences, Political Science or related fields required; 

• Bachelor’s degree preferably in Urban Studies, Business Administration, Development Studies, Economics, Finance, Social Sciences, Political Science or related fields with additional 2 years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of a Master’s degree.

• At least seven (7) years of work experience in the international development sector on urbanisation issues is required. 

• Within the seven (7) years, at least two (2) years of work experience on Gender Mainstreaming Issues is required.

• Previous experience in developing countries and/or prior work experience with UNOPS or UN Agencies would be an asset.

• Previous experience in Monitoring & Evaluation activities would be an asset.

• Fluency in English is required. 

• Intermediate level in French language is required.

• Working knowledge of Spanish and/or Arabic would be considered an asset.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• This position is open to INTERNAL CANDIDATES ONLY.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• 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 (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and 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 personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.