Programme Manager

The project “Jointly Advancing Policy Tools for Sustainable SSR” aims to enhance collective outcomes of UN-WBG partnership in the prevention of violent conflicts through building a common understanding of key security-sector related risks to sustaining peace and sustainable development and articulation of joint policy options and programmatic interventions to support people-centered SSR initiatives in FCV settings. By increasing coherence in the UN and WBG analysis and programmatic assistance of SSR, this project is designed to be catalytic, strengthening UN and WBG relations at headquarters and country levels and creating an enabling milieu for the two organizations to more effectively identify and address security-sector-related risks to sustaining peace and sustainable development in FCV settings. 

Moreover, the project focuses on bringing about normative change, not only by creating tools and mechanisms to expand the coordination and collaboration among UN and WBG on SSR and but also by promoting the inclusion of experts, think tanks and civil society organizations in developing policy options on SSR to ensure evidence-based decision-making by the two organizations. The theory of change draws on lessons learnt of the UN and WBG engagement in public expenditure reviews of the security sector and capitalizes on the comparative advantages of each of the organizations and implementing agencies. Interventions are designed to ensure that UN assistance to SSR contributes to the prevention of conflict and to sustaining peace, and to the overall implementation of Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development.

This is a position in UNOPS for supporting the implementation of the project carried out by OROLSI and UNDP with the support of the PBSO. The incumbent of this position will be personnel of UNOPS under its full administrative and financial responsibility.  

Purpose and Scope of Assignment 

The UN and WBG Partnership SSR Programme Manager will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the project “Jointly Advancing Policy Tools for Sustainable SSR”, ensuring that the programme produces the expected results set out in this programme document and subsequent concept notes and terms of reference. In addition, s/he will be responsible for preparing narrative and financial reports to account for resources allocated and results achieved.  

Acting within the project management structure agreed between DPO, UNDP and WB and under the overall supervision of UNOPS Senior Portfolio Manager, the Program Manager has the following duties and responsibilities:

• Provide advisory and liaison support between the UN and the WBG on the implementation of project delivery targets;

• Provide policy guidance in the area of SSR and advise on medium- to longer-term partnership entry points between the UN and the WBG by applying best practices/lessons learnt on SSR; 

• Brief and consult with senior management in the OROLSI SSR Unit and UNDP on project progress and challenges, and provide information and advice, as required;

• Manage day-to-day interaction with HDPP Facility, prepare briefings and bi-annual and other periodic reports to inform HDPP Facility on the implementation;

• Mobilize, foster and strengthen strategic partnerships with UN agencies, and other relevant multilateral and bilateral organizations, financial institutions, civil society, private sector and specific project partners;

• Lead the quality control of project outputs, including by providing substantive advice to consultants and expert organizations on the development of the policy and guidance on political economy analysis and public expenditure reviews of the security sector, considering research methodologies and data collection. 

• Facilitate the consultation on the policy and guidance and organization of events by preparing agenda, presentations, talking points, briefing notes, invitations and reports.

• Guide on ways to incorporate and apply cross-cutting themes such as gender and youth in project activities.

• Monitor, evaluate and report the progress on agreed results framework and performance indicators, including by preparing an after-action review in consultation with all partners.

• Manage and supervise consultants and expert organizations, and support UNOPS financial and administrative tasks such as drafting terms of reference, selection of consultants, expert organizations and vendors, procurement, and payment transactions;

• Use sound judgment in all project communication and ensure that project communication and outreach meet needs of different audiences;

• Establish and maintain usable, auditable and well-communicated records of the project.

Monitoring and Progress Controls

This a full-time temporary position and payment will be processed on a monthly basis for a period of 14 months (25 January 2021 to 25 March 2022).

Qualifications and Experience

Education 

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree)  preferably in political science, social sciences, law, sociology, conflict resolution, international relations or other relevant fields is required.

• Bachelor’s degree may be accepted with additional years of relevant experience and can substitute the requirement of advanced degree

Work Experience 

Required experience 

• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in international relations, law, security, development management, data science or related areas is required. 

• A minimum of two years of work experience in conflict or post-conflict countries within the UN context is required.
   

Desired experience

• A minimum two years of experience in SSR is highly desired.

• A good understanding of the other institutions’ mandates is desired. 

• Experience in promoting/supporting partnership between the UN, WBG or other international organizations on SSR and public expenditure reviews is desired. 

• Experience in undertaking research, analyzing data and developing policy and strategies is required.

• Experience advising senior staff, preparing briefing notes, talking points and events reports, facilitating consultation processes and organizing meetings is desired.

• Experience in managing projects, including in monitoring, evaluating and reporting the progress of projects, drafting terms of reference, selection of consultants, expert organizations and vendors, procurement, and payment transactions is desired. 

• Experience in policy and/or inter-agency coordination across the humanitarian-development-peace space is desired. 

• Experience working on gender and youth issues on SSR is desired.

Language

• Fluency in English is required. Fluency in other UN languages is desirable

• 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
• 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 (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

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.