Head of Strategy & Performance

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.

From Geneva, UNOPS strives to facilitate the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), by working with governments, other United Nations (UN) agencies and partners. This includes supporting platforms and hosting high-profile, flagship initiatives and funds focusing on health, nutrition, water and sanitation, sustainable cities, environment, and trade.

UNOPS is a recognized resource for the UN system in Geneva – from fund management and oversight and advisory services, to providing hosting solutions to a range of global initiatives, as well as operational support to partner organizations.

UNOPS provides quality services, integrated solutions and management support to UN agencies, initiatives and partners in a strategic, cohesive, cost-effective and results-oriented manner. Geneva is also home to UNOPS Europe and Central Asia Regional Office.

The Sanitation and Hygiene Fund.

The Sanitation and Hygiene Fund is a UNOPS Trust Fund committed to saving lives and improving the wellbeing of people by improving access to sanitation, hygiene and menstrual health hygiene. The Fund will invest in country led programmes to accelerate progress and sustainable impact toward the achievement of SDG 6.2. 

The Fund will maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of international development assistance and national investment. Staff at the Fund manage grants, coordinate with partners, support countries, monitor and evaluate results, report on progress, manage donor relations and raise funds.

At the core of the new architecture is a country funding model designed to be an efficient and effective mechanism that can operate at scale and deliver impact and supported by a suite of policies that define how funding is to be invested.  The SHF uses innovative finance mechanisms, including co-financing by recipient countries, to secure sustainable funding and the long term sustainability of its programs.

As part of the Global Portfolio Office, UNOPS Geneva provides comprehensive solutions in secretariat hosting, operational support, and fund management. We manage global programmes, including the Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) Portfolio, offering project management, procurement, HR, and financial services. Geneva hosts the secretariats of eight global partnerships focused on health (RBM, Stop TB, ATscale), nutrition (SUN), water/sanitation (SHF), humanitarian leadership (GELI), urban development (Cities Alliance), and disaster displacement (PDD). We also provide fund management for EIF and UN Water, and operational support to Geneva-based partners like the Global Fund and UNHCR. The EU-UNOPS Lives in Dignity (LiD) Grant Facility is also based here.

The Sanitation and Hygiene Fund.

The Sanitation and Hygiene Fund is a UNOPS Trust Fund committed to saving lives and improving the wellbeing of people by improving access to sanitation, hygiene and menstrual health hygiene. The Fund will invest in country led programmes to accelerate progress and sustainable impact toward the achievement of SDG 6.2. 

The Fund will maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of international development assistance and national investment. Staff at the Fund manage grants, coordinate with partners,support countries, monitor and evaluate results, report on progress, manage donor relations and raise funds.

At the core of the new architecture is a country funding model designed to be an efficient and effective mechanism that can operate at scale and deliver impact and supported by a suite of policies that define how funding is to be invested.  The SHF uses innovative finance mechanisms, including co-financing by recipient countries, to secure sustainable funding and the long term sustainability of its programs.

The role oversees core functions including Operations, HR finance, procurement,  resource mobilization, monitoring & evaluation (M&E), risk management and donor relations..The role may be asked to serve as Deputy to the Executive Director or Officer-in-Charge (OIC) when required by organizational needs.

Reporting directly to the Executive Director, the role plays a critical part in supporting strategic decision-making and representing SHF in high-level partnerships and donor engagements.  This role serves as SHF’s senior lead for strategy, finance and donor engagement, complementing the technical team to ensure SHF delivers its mission effectively and sustainably

1. Strategic Planning and Organizational Performance

• Lead the development and implementation of SHF’s strategic and annual workplans, ensuring alignment with SHF strategy and implementation.

• Design and oversee results-based management frameworks to track and report on impact, leverage and effectiveness.

• Advise senior leadership on operational priorities, risk and resource allocation.

• Advise and assist the Executive Director, from an operational perspective, in developing strategies, policies, processes, and opportunities for ensuring coherence amongst the various work streams and priorities of SHF; 

• Leads the preparation of high-quality information for the Board, including reports, analyses, and strategic information ensuring evidence-based decision-making, transparency, and accountability.

2. Operational leadership and advisory

• Provide oversight of budgeting, financial management, and forecasting for SHF, in line with UNOPS policies and procedures, and support financial analysis to inform strategic and programmatic decisions and course corrections.

• Ensure high quality donor and stakeholder reporting and impact alignment with a range of stakeholders including bi-lateral governments and development finance institutions.

• Lead risk management processes and compliance related to finance, operations and donor accountability in collaboration with UNOPS Geneva Office, and UNOPS headquarters.

• Oversee and coordinate the effective management of the Secretariat for the SHF-hosted Multi-Partner Trust Fund for Catalytic Finance in Sanitation, Hygiene, and Wastewater, ensuring its smooth and efficient operation

• Support the Executive Director with the development and implementation of the Secretariat’s work plan and collaborate with colleagues to identify the needs, determine cost, and plan all support services, including human resources, procurement, finance, travel, human resources and administrative services;

3. Donor Relations and Resource Mobilization

• Lead strategic efforts to advance SHF’s  resource mobilization by actively managing existing donor relationships, cultivating and sustaining partnerships, and driving the diversification of funding streams.

• Lead donor engagement and stewardship, ensuring proactive communication and reporting.

• Coordinate proposal development and resource mobilization strategies with the Global Lead – Sanitation and Menstrual Health Markets and technical teams.

• Leverage SHF’s experience and reputation and consolidate the organisational niche, specialities and unique value for stakeholders and beneficiaries

• Represent SHF in donor meetings and external partnerships.

4. Monitoring, Evaluation, Impact and Learning (MEL)

• Provide thought leadership for impact, sustainability and transformational approaches to accelerate results 

• Design and oversee MEL systems to track programmatic and organizational performance.

• Ensure that diagnostics and data inform strategic decision-making and demonstrate impact.

• Establish goals and metrics to motivate and assess performance and monitor strategy and plans implementation

5. Leadership and Team Management

• Manage, coach and mentor a multidisciplinary team covering operations, finance, M&E and donor relations.

• Foster a team culture of accountability, learning and collaboration.

• Work closely with technical leadership to align operational and programmatic strategies.

• Coordinate and provide oversight for the services provided to SHF by UNOPS globally, ensuring best value, efficiency and effectiveness for SHF operations.

• Facilitate the engagement and provision of high-quality results and services of the team supervised through effective recruitment, work planning, performance management and promotion of learning and development.

• Act as the general focal point between UNOPS and SHF on HR related matters and compliance to ensure smooth planning, performance management, recruitment, workforce planning, learning, culture, HR distribution costs and other HR related matters.

Required

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) preferably in public health, international development, economics, business, public administration, or related field.

• A bachelor’s degree preferably in public health, international development, economics, business, public administration, or related field combined with two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree

Required

• A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in strategy, operations, finance, monitoring & evaluation, and/or donor relations within international organizations is required, 

• Demonstrated experience leading high-performing, multi-disciplinary teams and delivering results in complex, multi-stakeholder environments is required

• Proven experience in impact pathways, results-based management, and Monitoring,Evaluation & Learning (MEL)

• Proven ability to meet the expectations of donors, governments, and development finance institutions, with a strong record of achieving strategic objectives and ensuring stakeholder confidence.

• Proven experience in stakeholder engagement, strong advocacy skills, and the ability to represent international organizations such as UNOPS/SHF in external engagements are required.

• Strong understanding of new approaches to development finance, public-private partnerships, inclusive markets, and gender-transformative approaches is required

• Experience working within or alongside international organizations, global funds, or large-scale donor-funded programs is required

Desired

• Demonstrated commitment to human rights, gender equality, and sustainable development is an  asset

• Understanding of market systems development and technical programming in sanitation and/or menstrual health, is an advantage.