Project Management Support Specialist - Climate and Energy

Job categories Energy, Project Management, Climate

Vacancy code VA/2025/B5002/29918

Level ICS-10

Department/office GPO, GVA, Water, Environment & Climate (WEC)

Duty station Vienna, Austria

Contract type International ICA

Contract level IICA-2

Duration Open ended contract subject to availability of funds and satisfactory performance

Application period 20-Mar-2025 to 04-Apr-2025

Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement.

Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.

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Background Information - Job-specific

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. 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 organisations. With over 6,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, where they need it. By implementing around 1,000 projects for our partners at any given time, UNOPS makes significant contributions to results on the ground, often in the most challenging environments.

Background information - WEC

The Water, Environment, and Climate (WEC) portfolio, based in Vienna with offices worldwide, is part of the UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO). Over the past 15 years, WEC has built strong partnerships and effectively managed a portfolio exceeding 500 million USD, supporting key initiatives through fund management, project implementation, and administrative support.

WEC translates partners' agendas into action through global, regional, and country-specific initiatives focused on climate action, environmental protection, and conservation. Partners benefit from WEC’s ability to implement and scale their strategic priorities, including support for key multilateral environmental and climate agreements such as the Paris Agreement, the Cartagena Convention, and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Role of Project Management Support Specialist - Climate and Energy

The Project Management Support Specialist - Climate and Energy will play a key role in ensuring portfolio coordination and delivery effectiveness. This involves monitoring global climate action trends and commitments, and translating them into practical, actionable strategies and operational solutions. While analyzing the climate and energy portfolio performance against partner agreements in relation to international climate goals, the Project Management Support Specialist - Climate and Energy will develop and propose refined implementation mechanisms for greater impact.

Key responsibilities include identifying collaboration opportunities between partners and initiatives and enhancing engagement at regional, country, and local levels. The Project Management Support Specialist - Climate and Energy will also be instrumental in synthesizing lessons, advising on trends in climate, energy and related areas, and supporting strategic positioning and knowledge dissemination, including tailored communication, within and outside of the portfolio.

Additionally, the Project Management Support Specialist - Climate and Energy will contribute to effective coordination and development of a systematic approach in GPO and its positioning where relevant.

Functional Responsibilities

Summary of functions: Portfolio co...

Summary of functions:

Portfolio coordination and delivery effectiveness
Stakeholder engagement
Knowledge management and innovation

1. Portfolio coordination and delivery effectiveness

Identify and monitor climate action and environmental activities of partners, and cross-cutting priorities, such as gender equality, social inclusion, youth engagement, economic justice and others, to be included in portfolio coordination and delivery effectiveness as relevant.
Monitor and support portfolio delivery in line with UN and multilateral agreements, national climate strategies and regional implementation frameworks.
Contribute to effectively translating the portfolio development strategy into impactful service packages, and into coherent portfolio implementation and monitoring mechanisms for enhanced delivery effectiveness.
Coordinate and collaborate with relevant stakeholders at global, regional and in-country level, to ensure aligned and coherent portfolio and project planning and implementation processes.
Contribute to development and review of portfolio/programme/project documents, initiation plans, work plans, reports etc. as relevant.
Analyze project and portfolio performance against key indicators, identify bottlenecks and recommend solutions to optimize results.
Identify and develop collaborative opportunities across projects, countries and regions for enhanced impact.
Coordinate information flow between projects, within and outside of the climate and energy portfolio, to maximise collaboration and impact.

2. Stakeholder Engagement

Contribute to building and strengthening relationships with global climate partners - international organizations, donors, governments, and implementing partners - to drive climate action and enhance portfolio implementation quality and relevance.
Participate in, contribute to, and report on relevant inter-agency coordination meetings, as well as partner, donor, and government meetings. Support the management team with common planning and programming processes, including strategic country analysis and integrated strategic frameworks to enhance portfolio delivery and impact.
Contribute to development of programme, stakeholder, and communications management strategies to maximize partner and delivery impact, outreach, and awareness of climate action and related objectives.
Design, coordinate, and disseminate public information products and communications activities, and develop content for communications products and platforms.
Support preparations for official meetings, events, briefings, and field visits, and prepare talking points, briefing notes, presentations, and speeches for the management team and senior officials.

3. Knowledge management and innovation

Lead on the development and implementation of climate and energy portfolio knowledge management activities.
Develop and implement standardized tools and templates for clear and efficient internal and external communication of project and portfolio performance.
Identify, contribute to, record and share the ongoing development and implementation of best practices, lessons identified, and innovative approaches to improve overall portfolio performance.
Support Head of Portfolio and WEC Portfolio Management Team in ensuring effective internal knowledge information sharing.
Support onboarding and capacity building of new project managers and project teams.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education ...

Competencies

Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and ex...

Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization.(for levels IICA-2, IICA-3, LICA Specialist- 10, LICA Specialist-11, NOC, NOD, P3, P4 and above)

Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.

Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).

Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.

Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.

Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.

Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA) Contract level: IICA2/I...

Additional Information

Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. Applic...

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.

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TOGETHER, WE BUILD THE FUTURE

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.

We are proud of our people. The UNOPS family brings together approximately 160 nationalities, represented by over 5,000 UNOPS personnel as well as some 7,800 personnel recruited on behalf on our partners. Spread across 80 countries, our workforce is rich in diversity and culture – with inclusion at its core.

We understand the importance of balancing professional and personal demands and offer several flexible working options.

Explore what we offer here.