Senior Director-Infrastructure(Water/Energy)

The UNOPS Middle East Region (MR) provides strategic leadership, performance oversight, and support to UNOPS operations across Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and the State of Palestine. MR is responsible for positioning UNOPS as a key development partner in the region through high-level engagement with regional bodies, UN coordination mechanisms, development banks, donors, and intergovernmental organisations. By fostering strategic partnerships and promoting operational excellence, the region supports country teams in delivering sustainable solutions to complex development, peace, and humanitarian challenges

UNOPS supports both humanitarian response and early recovery in Gaza. Currently, UNOPS support in Gaza focuses on key humanitarian enablers, including on access, via the Security Council-mandated UN 2720 Mechanism and the Access Support Unit (ASU), humanitarian fuel and energy, and mine action. Operations are envisaged to continue in the coming period with a focus in line with the UNOPS mandate: (i) infrastructure construction and rehabilitation, (ii) procurement and (iii) project management.

The Israeli – Palestinian conflict remains a protracted and complex conflict. While political efforts are pursued at various levels to bring the wider conflict to an end, it is essential that progress be made on the ground in a manner that will create a more conducive environment for final status negotiations.

The mandate of the Office of the Quartet is to increase Palestinian institutional and economic development and empowerment, as a support towards achieving a two-state solution. In the event of a resumption of final status negotiations, the OQ would support Quartet members in their efforts to realize a successful outcome. 

The OQ works to deliver its mandate by supporting sustainable policy change through working with the international community, the Palestinian Authority and the Government of Israel. This allows the OQ to facilitate engagement between the parties, encouraging agreement and progress at the political level, while also drawing on its sectoral expertise to support the technical-level work. A key focus of working with the international community is to strengthen the engagement with the parties. This is achieved through facilitating and supporting international community discussions at various levels towards tangible action and ownership as well as providing technical expertise for a collective international community wide approach.

The OQ is a fast paced and dynamic office operating in the areas of infrastructure, governance and economic development. The following strategic principles guide the OQ’s work to support the parties while also ensuring alignment with the strategic objectives of the Quartet members and donors to the OQ.

• Bridging between the parties and providing creative solutions that enable progress on the ground;

• Playing a catalytic role in working towards sectoral solutions in partnership with other actors, while taking on direct responsibility for specific elements of those solutions when the Office is well positioned and requested to do so;

• Focusing on policies and projects that have a multiplier effect – that is, an outcome that extends beyond the direct output of the policy or project;

• Focusing on the implementation of agreements reached and announcements made by the parties to ensure that they are translated as quickly as possible into results that have a positive impact on people’s lives;

• Maintaining the vertical depth of our work from the granular, technical level to the strategic and political level while engaging the broad array of actors required to make progress, including the parties, members of the international community and others;

• Ensuring complementarity of the OQ’s work with that of other key actors, including those which also play a convening role;

• Continuing support to Quartet members

The OQ’s infrastructure program’s objective is to support secure, affordable and sustainable Palestinian energy and water sectors. We address structural needs, ensuring sustainability and economic viability, both at the policy and practical levels. Energy, water and wastewater apply a nexus approach across supply and transmission networks. The work is based on close collaboration with a range of stakeholders and actors to identify challenges and opportunities and converge around common targets, approaches and strategic initiatives. 

The role of Senior Director – Infrastructure (SD-I) represents a senior and central leadership position within the OQ. The SD-I will lead development of infrastructure strategies across the two sectors of energy and water. The SD-I will identify and capitalize on synergies across the sectors, looking to deliver high quality and value adding work in the sectors. The SD-I will also lead high-level engagement with a wide range of stakeholders in the political, technical and diplomatic communities, including Ministers, Ambassadors, and senior government officials, ensuring a program central to the advancement of Palestinian economic and institutional development and empowerment, working within a challenging and rewarding environment.

SD-I reports to the OQ Head of Mission (HoM). Under the overall supervision of HoM and close collaboration with the Deputy Head of Mission (DHoM), the SD-I will lead the strategy across the two sectors, work-streams and partnerships, also ensuring wider OQ program / team collaboration. The SD-I is responsible and accountable for the overall management of a multidisciplinary team, with Senior Advisor – Infrastructure, Associate Advisor – Infrastructure, Unit Coordinator and two Senior Analysts reporting to him/her. The SD-I will also ensure timely implementation of initiatives and other deliverables undertaken by the OQ

Working under the supervision of the HoM, and in close collaboration with the DHoM, other directors & the wider OQ team, the SD-I, is responsible for achieving OQ strategy through the following deliverables. 

Strategic Leadership

• Shape and lead OQ’s infrastructure program in alignment with OQ objectives 

• Develop the OQ’s infrastructure strategy, across the sectors of energy and water, including development of relevant and innovative initiatives 

• Advise the HoM on measures to support the Palestinian economy considering technical, economic, and political factors in the Palestinian, Israeli, and regional contexts

• Lead implementation of Infrastructure strategy through prioritizing and planning of resources

•Lead implementation of Infrastructure initiatives ensuring integration and sustainability

• Ensure right value proposition and program positioning for OQ Infrastructure Program among sector stakeholders

• Contribute towards OQ funding proposals 

Sectoral Policy and Strategic Focus 

• Maintain a strong policy and strategic focus on the energy and water sectors as well as their impact on wider economic sectors such as trade and industry.

• Monitor and analyze key developments, including policy developments, using relevant analytics and economic metrics.

• Lead the development of policy papers and strategic documents 

• Provide strategic insights and recommendations based on comprehensive data analysis

• Keep abreast of relevant local and regional developments as well as related developments in other sectors so as to provide comprehensive insights and recommendations.

• Identify, prioritize and decide the OQ Infrastructure workstreams in consultation with HoM/DHoM

• Develop and facilitate the implementation of Infrastructure workstreams and initiatives that foster economic growth and stability

• Identify and prepare transition plans for workstreams as they develop sufficiently to be led by other stakeholders

• Ensure Infrastructure’s program, products and outputs are of highest quality 

Stakeholder engagement, coordination and communication 

• Develop OQ infrastructure stakeholder engagement strategy and maintain effective partnership with Palestinian Authority, the Government of Israel, the international community, and the private sector

• Identify, develop and maintain a strong network of stakeholders across the infrastructure portfolio with identified roles for the infrastructure team

• Lead or support high-level stakeholder coordination and collaboration, enabling OQ infrastructure program delivery

• Lead and support high level coordination and collaboration, including at international forums, representing all sectors of the OQ and enabling cross-sectoral program delivery

• Lead and support media engagements, at the request of HoM, on OQ infrastructure efforts 

• Responsible for timely and effective production of communication material (such as AHLC and other reports, funding proposals, briefing notes and presentations) for internal and external purposes

• Provide regular updates and presentations to stakeholders at relevant local, regional and international forums

Cross Program / Team Collaboration

• Contribute to integrated planning, action, and strategy development across different teams

• Work closely with other teams within the OQ to ensure a comprehensive and coordinated approach to addressing multi-sector issues.

• Effective utilization of OQs office-wide resources to build and leverage on common knowledge 

Resources Management  

• Lead the OQ’s infrastructure team, including planning, implementing, guidance and oversight

• Establish team performance standards and carry out performance evaluations

• Establish skills & competencies required to deliver the infrastructure program; meet the needs through learning 

• Foster a productive and positive team environment that encourages innovation and excellence

• Develop the Infrastructure Team’s budget ensuring risks are adequately covered

• Ensure effective management of financial resources allocated to the infrastructure program

Required

• Advanced degree (Masters or PhD) is required, preferably energy management, water management, public administration, international relations, political science or other related field. 

• A Bachelor’s degree in combination with two additional years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of a Master’s degree

Required

• At least 10 years of relevant work experience in a leading capacity in the areas of Energy management OR Water Management, or Public Administration.

• Demonstrated experience in Energy and/or Water management is required, preferably with both the public and private sector.

• Strong knowledge and understanding of international community led development programming is required

• Excellent communication skills, including a demonstrated ability to both write, and present high-quality written documents/presentations and key concepts is required

Desired

• Knowledge and understanding of the intricacies of international relations and diplomacy is desirable

• Strong knowledge of the political and economic arrangements between the Palestinian Authority and Israel is desirable

• Relevant management experience including experience managing and motivating teams is desirable

• Experience in the region and/or regarding the Israeli/Palestinian conflict is desirable

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. 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.

• 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. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
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• 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.