Corporate Strategy Advisor

Corporate Strategy reports to the Chief of Staff as part of the Strategy, Risk and Change Group established in 2023. 

Corporate Strategy is primarily responsible for managing the development of the quadrennial UNOPS strategic plan on behalf of the Executive Director and for managing the development of the quadrennial midterm review of the UNOPS strategic plan in accordance with the policy on strategy setting. As of 2023, the Unit is also responsible for managing the development of the Annual Report of the Executive Director, including the key input via external thematic evaluations. In addition, it is substantively engaged in various UN reporting and engagement with the Executive Board. It is also responsible for providing substantive secretariat to the Audit Advisory Committee; as well as for providing coordination, advice and analysis on strategy and oversight matters, and other substantive executive support.

With the approval in June 2023 of the restated strategic plan, 2022-2025, UNOPS is embarking on a multi-year journey to implement its strategic objectives while maintaining agility in decision-making. CS is expected to support the organization in this regard. Its engagement in strategy deployment will particularly be reinforcing implementation based on review and reporting of performance against the expanded results framework adopted by the Executive Board along with the strategic plan. 

Under the guidance of the Director, Corporate Strategy, the Corporate Strategy Advisor will:

• Advise on and contribute to the development of the UNOPS strategic plan and midterm review, including the expanded results framework with focus for impact and targets for contributions and management results.

• Advise on and contribute to strategy deployment reinforced by the expanded results framework, including design and implementation of biannual contribution reviews and annual impact review, and relevant regional and country-level planning.

• Advise on and manage the preparation of the Annual Report of the Executive Director (AR), including identification of strategic, operational and management risks, challenges and lessons learned, and coordination of relevant annexes.

• Advise on and contribute to relevant United Nations statutory reporting and requests for substantive information, including the potential to leverage reporting, e.g. via UN INFO to substantiate UNOPS contributions to impacts.

• Advise on and implement enhancements of models for quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis, including automation of real-time portfolio information, as well as formats for internal reporting on impact for the most vulnerable people and country-level contributions.

• Plan and coordinate external thematic evaluation with external service providers and internal stakeholders, to further substantiate UNOPS contributions to impacts and inform internal learning.

• Prepare and present relevant information to the Audit Advisory Committee (AAC), e.g. on strategy implementation, results-based management and external thematic evaluation.

• Advise on and manage establishment and refinement of policy and standards for corporate strategy, strategy deployment and strategic evaluation.

• Advise on and contribute to the continuous improvement procedures and IT tools for corporate performance monitoring informing decision-making and relevant internal and external reporting on performance.

• Provide other substantive executive advise within the scope of the role as outlined above as requested

The Corporate Strategy Advisor will be continuously briefed on individual and group activities and performance. Formal monitoring and progress controls on assigned work items will take place in accordance with business needs and timelines for deliverables.

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) preferably in political science, social science, business or public administration, or related field is required.
• Applicants with a bachelor degree with additional two years of relevant working experience may also be considered.

Work Experience

Contract type: Staff, Fixed-term
Contract level: P4
Contract duration: One year initially, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability

• 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.