Programme Specialist, Multiple positions

Peace and Security Cluster

The UNOPS Peace and Security Cluster (PSC) is a principal service provider in the field of mine action with the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), UNDP, UNICEF, Governments of mine-affected countries and other mine action partners. The Head of Cluster is responsible to administer, provide support and oversight of the day-to-day management of the Project Field offices, both according to the client requirements and in line with UNOPS rules and regulations. It is headed by the Head of Cluster who has the overall authority and accountability for the performance of the Peace and Security Cluster on behalf of its clients.

One of the main objectives of the Peace and Security Cluster is to rapidly deploy project personnel to the field. To accomplish this, it has established a Pool of Experts, from which it deploys and re-deploys personnel in order to fulfil personnel vacancies.  A Pool of Experts is a roster of specialists whose technical knowledge and personal suitability has been evaluated and approved in advance, allowing them to be deployed on short notice and in short order.   Pool members can be deployed on any of UNOPS contract modalities: FTA, TA, or I-ICA (International Individual Contractor Agreement). 

There is a problem of weapons and explosive contamination in Mali, following historical and recent conflict. There is clear evidence of the presence of unexploded ordnance (UXO), improvised explosive devices (IED) and insecure stockpiles of weapons and ammunition (abandoned or neglected).

UNMAS deployed to Mali in January 2013 to conduct an emergency assessment of the situation with regard to explosive threats and in support of United Nations Security Council resolution 2085 (2012). In June 2013 the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) was established under Security Council Resolution 2100 and is currently operating under Security Council Resolution 2227 (2015). In accordance with these mandates, the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) has engaged UNOPS to implement a mine action programme in Mali. The UNMAS mine action programme is seeking to:

• Reduce the explosive threat to MINUSMA and United Nations personnel;
• Enhance national capacity to mitigate explosive threats;
• Improve the protection of civilians.

Under the supervision of the Senior Programme Officer, the Programme Officer is responsible for supporting the UNMAS Mali Management Team with quality assurance and mandate compliance of planned project and programme expenditures, periodic reviews and overall programme section tasks. This requires good and accurate communication for close liaison with all relevant stakeholders in the UNMAS Mali Programme and with UN partners. Key functional responsibilities of the Programme Officer include but are not limited to the following:

• Prepare and review periodic and ad hoc substantive reports against donor contributions, projects and activities;
• Prepare and review written communications and external relations documents for the programme, including highlight reports, articles and social media posts;
• Review technical training materials for branding and consistency;
• Prepare presentations and minutes for weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual programme reviews;
• Participate in regular reviews of project budgets and the programme budget to advise on compliance of planned expenditure with the MINUSMA and UNMAS mandates and respective financial agreements.
• Provide logistical and substantive support for visits of donors and other delegations;
• Assist the Programme Manager during donor visits, visits to embassies and presentations and visits to/by Mine Action stakeholders in country;
• Liaise with MINUSMA and other UN counterparts on broader programmatic issues and strategic planning, such as UNDAF+ and ISF; as well as on results-based budgeting and other reporting requirements.
• Provide programme information to partner agencies, non-governmental organizations and contractors and UN agencies as required.
• Maintain high quality standards in the preparation and review of all written communications and information products;
• Maintain documentation of decisions and actions taken on strategic, programmatic and budget-related issues.
• Keep up-to-date with developments in UN Secretariat results-based budgeting and related guidance as well as donor guidelines for the management of financial contributions;
• Any other related duties as requested and tasked by the Senior Programme Officer.

a. Education

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) in International Relations, Project Management, Business Administration, Social Sciences or related field with a minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience; or
• A first level University degree (Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent) with minimum of seven (7) years of experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

b. Work Experience

• Relevant experience is defined as experience in Programme, Project Management or Support, Partner Liaison, Communications or Business Administration.
• Experience in writing project proposal and reporting is required

c. Language

• Fluency in English is required (speaking, reading and writing)
• Intermediate French is required (speaking, reading and writing)

• Contract type: International Individual Contractor Agreement
• Contract level: I-ICA 2 (ICS10)
• Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds 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.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• 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
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.   
• Mali is non-family duty station

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 is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

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

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.