Senior Programme Manager [Human Rights Advisor] - Retainer, Multiple positions

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.

New York Portfolios Office (NYPO) 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.

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 has signed an agreement with the United Nations Office for Counter Terrorism (UNOCT) to implement the activities for the EU-UN Global Terrorism Threats Facility project. 

UNOCT was established by the General Assembly in June 2017. The Office has five main functions: (a) provide leadership on the General Assembly counter-terrorism mandate across the United Nations System; (b) enhance coordination and coherence across the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact to ensure the balanced implementation of the four pillars of the Strategy; (c) strengthen the delivery of United Nations counter-terrorism capacity-building assistance to Member States; (d) improve visibility, advocacy and resource mobilization for United Nations counter-terrorism efforts; and ensure that due priority is given to counter-terrorism across the United Nations System and that the important work on preventing violent extremism is firmly rooted in the Strategy. 

In April 2022, UNOCT and the European Union launched the EU-UN Global Terrorism Threats Facility (the Facility), with the overall objective to provide rapid and flexible support to Member States in building their capacities to detect, prevent, counter, investigate and respond to evolving terrorist threat, while ensuring respect for international law, including international human rights law, international humanitarian law and refugee law as well as the rule of law. The Facility delivers three types of activities: a) advisory and mentoring support through the deployment of experts, in a number of thematic areas determined by Member States’ requests; b) training activities or workshops; and c) limited provision of light, non-lethal equipment. It operates according to the following principles: 1) it is demand-driven, based on official requests from a Member State; and 2) it is complementary to other UN and EU support. Support delivered by the Facility takes in consideration the recommendations from the assessment visits conducted by the Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee, through its Executive Directorate (CTED). 

To support the Facility, UNOPS is developing a roster of specialists  (the Roster), members of which will deliver assistance across the four pillars of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, depending on the specific need and context of the requesting Member States or regional organizations. Duration of the assignment depends on the tasks and deliverables assigned. 

These are positions in UNOPS for supporting activities of the Facility. The incumbents of these positions will be personnel of UNOPS under its full responsibility. The incumbents will become members of the Roster for the duration of the Facility, under a UNOPS retainer contract. He or she will be offered short term assignments, with possible field deployments, depending on the needs of the Facility or of the requesting Member States.

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

Under the supervision of the Senior Portfolio Manager and in coordination with the Senior Programme Management Officer of the EU-UN Global Terrorism Threats Facility, the Senior Programme Manager [Human Rights Advisor]  will be expected to perform various activities including: 

• Draft United Nations Human Rights Due Diligence Policy (HRDDP) risk assessments regarding support envisaged for non-UN security forces envisaged  and propose relevant mitigation measures;
• Provide strategic guidance and practical advice on integrating human rights considerations in the design and implementation of technical assistance support packages for requesting Member States;
• Review and conduct human rights analysis of relevant legal frameworks and policy documentations of requesting Member States and provide high level advice to improve compliance with international human rights, humanitarian and refugee law; 
• Provide high level mentoring and advisory support, and deliver highly specialized training to beneficiary Member States on ensuring compliance with international human rights, humanitarian and refugee law in preventing and countering terrorism; 
• Provide strategic guidance on monitoring and evaluating the integration of, and impact on human rights in project activities, and recommend adjustments based on monitoring and evaluation findings.
• Prepare a variety of high-quality, written substantive outputs, including analyses, presentations, training materials, summary reports, related to their assignments.

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) preferably in International Law, International Relations, Public Administration, Criminal Justice, or other relevant field with ten (10) years of relevant experience is required; Or
• First Level University Degree (Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent) with  twelve (12) years of relevant experience is required.

• Relevant experience is defined as experience in the field of international human rights, humanitarian and/or refugee law; 
• Experience in the implementation of the United Nations Human Rights Due Diligence Policy (HRDDP) is required;
• Experience related to promoting and protecting human rights while preventing and countering terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism is required. 

• Experience running capacity-building workshops in the field of international human rights, humanitarian and refugee law, designing and providing technical assistance on human rights to a range of audiences, in particular in the security sector and including to senior government officials, would be an asset;
• Experience working in diverse country contexts would be an asset;
• A minimum of two years working experience with multilateral organizations is desired.

• Fluency in English (both oral and written), is a requirement;
• Fluency in French, Arabic, or Russian, is highly desirable.

• Contract type: International Individual Contractor Agreement (IICA) - Retainer modality
• Contract level:  IICA-4 - ICS-12
• Contract duration: Until December 2025 with the possibility of an extension based on performance and funds availability
• Duty station: Home based, with deployments to the field

• 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. 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.