Senior Programme Manager (International Waters)

The Austria Multi-Country Office (AUMCO) is part of the UNOPS Europe and Central Asia Region (ECR). Specifically, AUMCO aims to enable achievement of Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement through global programmes and tailored interventions in the Balkans, South Caucasus, and Central Asia, focused on:

• Infrastructure
• Procurement 
• Project Management (full service, back on track)
• HR and Transactional Services
• Grants Management 
• Technical and Advisory Services

Blueing the Black Sea GEF Regional Project

Blueing the Black Sea GEF Regional Project (BBSEA) aims to strengthen the preparedness of governments and the private sector in the Project Focus Countries (Georgia, Moldova, Türkiye, and Ukraine) to take actions to reduce pollution in the Black Sea with a focus on four countries. It has two main components: Strengthening the regional understanding of the economic impact of pollution and promoting eco-innovation through investments. 

economic analysis to support the development of the Blue Economy and recommendations for national and regional policy reforms. 

Component 2 aims to strengthen the public and private sector’s access in the four project countries to financial investment, innovation and technologies for pollution reduction and management. It focuses on green and innovative financing, including the Eco-Innovation Challenge, which will promote new technologies and business models to reduce pollution in the Black Sea. This component will be implemented in phases, with Türkiye and Georgia being the initial focus, followed by Moldova. Ukraine will receive support for pollution clean-up interventions once the security situation allows. The project will also emphasize gender equality, climate change mitigation, and citizen engagement, ensuring that the benefits of the project are inclusive and sustainable.

Job Specific

The Senior Programme Manager will be responsible for managing the project in line with the GEF endorsed package, including the Project Document, as well as the overall World Bank-UNOPS legal agreement and as per UNOPS’ project management standards and rules.

Therefore, under the direct supervision of the UNOPS AUMCO Head of Programme, and operational guidance from the World Bank and Steering Committee, the incumbent will be responsible for coordinating the delivery of the required outputs in a timely manner and on budget, in close coordination with the relevant stakeholders and partners. The incumbent is expected to review and update the work plan for effective implementation of the project, work with stakeholders and partners to ensure efficient project execution, conduct monitoring and evaluation of project activities, and facilitate quarterly reviews and reporting until project closure.

1. Management of Substantive Activities
2. Regional Cooperation & Collaboration
3. Management of the Project Implementation Unit
4. Liaison with Project Stakeholders
5. Knowledge Management and Innovation

As per the above functions, the Senior Programme Manager will perform the following duties and responsibilities:

1. Management of Substantive Activities:

• Facilitates the implementation and delivery of outputs and activities in line with the national priorities of the participating countries.
• Leads the establishment and ensures the maintenance of implementation arrangements and associated legal agreements in collaboration with the relevant UNOPS and the World Bank, as per the approved project plan(s).
• Provides oversight and guidance, and manages the execution of project activities through day-to-day coordination and monitoring of progress under project activities, based on the established agreements, as required.
• Provides technical advice and support, both directly and indirectly, to implementation partners to ensure the execution of their respective contracts.
• Coordinates closely with beneficiary governments and respective line ministries regarding their inputs and the implementation of components and activities.
• Provides oversight and guidance for the preparation of relevant technical training materials.
• Provides oversight and monitoring of progress in all project components and activities to ensure effective implementation, while coordinating with other relevant project partners.
• Manages the organization and convening of regional and sub-regional meetings periodically, as per project work plan(s).
• Ensures the monitoring of overall project implementation, facilitating reviews and evaluations, and completing reporting requirements as appropriate.
• Ensures alignment with the appropriate Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

1. Regional Cooperation & Collaboration:

• Acts as Secretary to the Steering Committee, including the convening of meetings, preparation and distribution of relevant background documents in advance, and dissemination of official meeting reports.
• Liaises regularly with designated government officials, national focal points, and other relevant bodies and stakeholders in the two participating countries regarding project execution and progress.
• Develops and supports networks of participating individuals and institutions involved in implementation activities at all levels.
• Initiates collaborative arrangements with relevant projects in the region, following UNOPS standards, and as agreed by the Steering Committee.
• Oversees the publication and distribution of all substantive and technical reports resulting from project activities, following GEF, World Bank, and UNOPS publication protocols.
• Organizes and supervises peer reviews of project outputs.
• Facilitates the identification of opportunities to expand project outcomes and outputs through new partnerships and additional contributions.

1. Management of the Project Implementation Unit (PIU):

• Supervises and guides PIU personnel in the execution of their duties, as per UNOPS’ HR requirements.
• Manages the learning, development, and performance of project personnel assigned by UNOPS.
• Monitors and evaluates the performance of personnel assigned to the PIU by UNOPS in line with UNOPS HR requirements, and in coordination with the World Bank and Steering Committee on technical and substantive elements.
• The Senior Programme Manager will act as the Project Manager in the UNOPS ERP system.

1. Liaison with Project Stakeholders:

• Liaises regularly with project partners, including the World Bank as the implementing agency, government counterparts, and line ministries to ensure the effective implementation of the project, in line with the project agreement between UNOPS and the World Bank, and as per UNOPS project management standards and rules.
• Liaises with project partners to solicit inputs in the preparation of project monitoring documents, such as annual work plans, progress reports, and reports on risks and challenges, in line with UNOPS, World Bank, and GEF requirements.
• The Senior Programme Manager will act as the Project Manager in the UNOPS ERP system.

1. Knowledge Management and Innovation:

• Encourages routine and effective capacity-building activities for the long-term and sustainable development of staff.
• Actively interacts with other Project Managers and the wider PM community to share case studies, lessons learned, and best practices.
• Contributes to the oversight of lessons learned procedures, ensuring that lessons are shared in a timely and appropriate manner. Participates in relevant Communities of Practice.
• Conducts research and logs lessons learned throughout the project lifecycle.
• Provides feedback to UNOPS internal Practice Groups on policy and supporting guidance with the aim of continuously improving UNOPS policies.

Education

• A master’s degree preferably in marine biology, ecology, coastal habitats and marine fisheries, water or natural resource management, environmental engineering, environmental economics, or another relevant field is required.
• A combination of Bachelor’s degree preferably in the abovementioned fields with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience is also considered as equivalent.

Experience

Required:

• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in managing environment-related programmes/projects is required.
• Five years of this experience must involve managing and/or formulating projects, including components such as financial/budget management, monitoring and evaluation, and stakeholder management.

Asset:

• Demonstrated experience in regional and intergovernmental negotiations, networking, and managing project activities in the Black Sea region is preferred.
• Knowledge of comprehensive management of water resources and marine-coastal ecosystems is desirable.
• Demonstrated competence in managing large multi-country and multi-disciplinary projects, such as GEF-funded projects, is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience in the region, with familiarity with its geopolitical, cultural, social, and economic settings, including international treaties and environmental agreements, is highly preferred.
• Expertise in managing multiple high-level stakeholders and government partners, including the production and dissemination of public awareness materials, would be considered an asset.
• Knowledge of the United Nations system and/or the Global Environment Facility, including their administrative processes, is an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
• Working knowledge of other official United Nations languages and/or regional languages is an asset.

1. Contract type: International Individual Contract Agreement
2. Contract level: IICA-3
3. Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

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

• 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. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. 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.