Deputy Programme Director

The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) unites the New York Portfolios, including the Peace and Security team (PSC); the Geneva Office; and the Vienna-based Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) teams, to maximize global impact, foster efficiencies and streamline global programmes. Leveraging our collective expertise and networks, GPO supports UNOPS' strategic priorities and the SDGs across over 130 countries. We deliver project management, fund management, advisory services, project implementation, and HR services, working closely with major global partners. Our thematic focus includes sustainable development, climate action, health, peace & security, and humanitarian action.

New York Portfolio 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 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 headquartered in New York. The SDC has a footprint of approximately 125 countries.

UNOPS DSIP has been requested to support The Forest & Climate Leaders’ Partnership (FCLP). This is a hosted entity.

To achieve its mission the FCLP members intend to:

1. Maintain high-level political attention on forests and climate;

2. Provide their combined political support to accelerate and scale implementation of a prioritized number of Policy Action Areas;

3. Support implementation of the participating countries' self-determined national goals and encourage all countries to be even more ambitious over time; and

4. Demonstrate impact and be answerable for commitments made.

The FCLP is supported by a Secretariat, managed by a Director and two Deputy Directors. The Deputy Programme Director, to whom this Terms of Reference refers, is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Secretariat’s internal operations and the governance of the Partnership. The other Deputy Director is responsible for policy and substantive Coordination. 

Leadership

• Represent the FCLP and FCLP Secretariat on behalf of the Programme Director in meetings and to external partners, including internationally and at senior levels, as determined by the Programme Director. 

• Provide vision and inspiring leadership to Secretariat sub-teams, as part of Senior Management Team. 

• Lead and manage the FCLP Secretariat sub-teams, ensuring that the agreed work plan is delivered to a high quality and within budget.

• Lead and manage a diverse FCLP sub-teams including staff, consultants and secondees, ensuring effective division of labor and managing the teams to deliver high impact results.

• Report to the Programme Director regularly, and as required, on progress and strategy, thereby supporting transparency and accountability of the FCLP Secretariat to its members.

• As required by the Programme Director, report directly to members on progress and strategy on areas of responsibility. 

• Create an environment that promotes diversity and inclusion and a culture of respect towards colleagues at all levels.

• Take part in regular Senior Management Team meetings, contributing to the creation and development of a healthy working environment for all team members. 

Programme Delivery & Political Engagement

• Coordinate operational delivery of the two-year (2025 and 2026) FCLP Strategy leading up to COP31 in Australia, which includes key milestones for COP30 in Belém, approved by the Steering Committee.

• Ensure day to day management of the Secretariat, allocating resources effectively and working in partnership with relevant international organizations to support delivery and ambition of members. 

• Facilitate the delivery of specific initiatives, supporting co-leads of the respective pillars and workstreams to ensure smooth execution and operational impact. 

• Monitor activities of the Secretariat to ensure work aligns with the approved work plan and strategy, addressing operational challenges as they arise.   

• Plan and manage events at UN Climate Change Conferences and other events as needed (e.g. CBD COPs, UNGA, etc.), overseeing logistics and coordination.

• Provide advice to the Programme Director on operational and management matters related to the delivery of strategy.

Partnership Management and Governance

• Ensure quality and integrity of Secretariat services

• Ensure that the FCLP governance and procedures (e.g. on transparency and decision-making) are fit for purpose, facilitating updates as needed by the Steering Committee, and ensure that these procedures are followed.

• Oversee and direct the Secretariat sub-teams in their reporting to FCLP Steering Committee and co-chairs, ensuring that they are convened regularly with a clear agenda and high-quality papers, to enable effective decision-making. 

• Organize meetings of the Steering Committee, the Secretariat Board and member countries at the sherpa and ministerial level. 

• Ensure that the FCLP member countries remain engaged in and informed about the work of the partnership and are actively involved in delivery and decision-making. Ensure that voices from FCLP members both from the Global North and the Global South are included in the FCLP agenda and priorities. 

• Establish effective consultation arrangements with partners and non-state actors about the work of the FCLP, including indigenous peoples and local community representation organizations, the scientific community and other stakeholders.

Secretariat Operations Management

• Coordinate development and delivery of the Secretariat Workplan and Budget, including resources managed by financial delivery partners, for approval by the Steering Committee, and ensure quarterly reporting.

• Develop and implement an internal operations manual and internal control framework, including rules and procedures for staff, decision-making, financial management.

• Lead oversight of the budget and ensure transparency and alignment with FCLP objectives and compliance with UNOPS requirements, following agreed procedures for financial decision-making and reporting, including to donors. 

• Develop and deliver the resource mobilization strategy to ensure the Secretariat has the financial resources needed to deliver its work plan, based on an approved resource mobilization plan, mobilizing resources from governmental and philanthropic donors and other sources of funds as appropriate.

Required

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) with seven (7) years of relevant experience is required ; OR

• First level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) with nine (9) years of relevant experience.

Required

• Relevant experience is defined as experience in operations, team and programme management, organizational governance, and stakeholder or government engagement, particularly in international and politically complex environments.

• Within the above relevant  experience:

  • At least five (5) years of experience in a leadership role.

  • At least five (5) years of experience working with developing countries. 

  • Experience in more than one geographical region is a distinct asset.

Desired

• Experience and understanding of complex international processes, such as for instance UNFCCC climate COPs and other high-profile climate and nature processes.
• Long-term professional experience providing policy advice and support to governments, including in developing countries.
• Experience working with senior stakeholders (i.e. Ministers, CEOs)
  
  

Additional competencies

• Experience leading and managing multi-disciplinary teams to deliver high-stakes workplans and achieve results in resource-constrained and politically sensitive environments, ensuring accountability, clear priorities, and high performance across all activities.
• Experience coordinating, facilitating, and managing complex governance arrangements and establishing collaborative ways of working and transparent processes that build trust and credibility between institutions.
• Experience working collaboratively across an organization with international counterparts and in diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environments, navigating complex political dynamics and building strong relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage complex projects and multiple simultaneous processes and communicate consistently with a wide range of audiences, including at Ministerial level.

Others:

• It is required to regularly travel internationally and to work outside of typical work hours (i.e. early mornings and/or late evenings) when required to accommodate various time zones.