Senior Programme Officer

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 position focuses on the day-to-day management of the ongoing project activities, development of new projects and programmes, as well as the provision of technical assistance and policy advice to national and local stakeholders. These activities are carried out in alignment with UN-Habitat’s mandate, strategic objectives, and thematic focus areas, including housing, urban resilience, land governance, and inclusive urban planning. Special attention is given to the response in the Gaza Strip and supporting communities in Area C of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, where development is particularly constrained due to political, administrative, and legal barriers. UN-Habitat works to enable housing, planning and land-related work through partnerships with relevant Palestinian authorities, international donors, and civil society organizations, aiming to safeguard the rights of Palestinian communities and to enhance the spatial and socio-economic integration of marginalized populations.

Achieving the key results will directly impact the successful implementation of the country programme across targeted areas of cooperation, while enhancing the overall efficiency, effectiveness, and quality assurance of projects delivery. Moreover, these outcomes will contribute to the strategic design and execution of activities, the development of impactful partnerships, and the achievement of resource mobilization objectives.,

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Office, the incumbent’s responsibilities will be as

follows:

1. Project/Programme Implementation: Ensure timely and qualitative implementation of the full Project/Programme portfolio focusing on the achievement of the following results:

- Provide technical assistance and support to the governmental counterparts (MoPIC, MoLG, MoPWH, PLA, etc), project partners, and key stakeholders to ensure efficient delivery and alignment with project objectives.

- Facilitate the participation of Habitat agenda partners in developing strategic policy interventions addressing key housing, land and planning challenges.

- Build institutional capacity for improved performance through the design of tailored training, provision of tools, and implementation of practical mechanisms to enhance performance and ensure sustainability of interventions.

- Monitor the financial performance of the projects and advise on necessary corrective measures to ensure alignment with planned budgets and objectives.

- Ensure overall quality, consistency, and coherence of the respective programme implementation, based on results achieved and strategic targets.

- Draw lessons learned and best practices and ensure proper knowledge management and dissemination with regards to urban planning issues in oPt.

2. Project/ Programme Management: Ensure effective management and timely execution of

Project/Programme focusing on the achievement of the following results:

- Provide management support through delivering technical guidance and ensuring quality assurance and cost efficiency throughout the project implementation. 

- Coordinate comprehensive workplans and maintain close liaison with all implementing partners to ensure high quality and timely implementation of Agreements of Cooperation. 

- Ensure effective and efficient management of financial and administrative issues related to project implementation, including the preparation of necessary documentation and reports in compliance with internal procedures and donor requirements.

 - Prepare project procurement plans and ensure timely procurement of goods and services, and initiate recruitment processes for all required project personnel. - Manage and supervise the performance of assigned staff and provide technical guidance and support when needed to maintain high standards of implementation.

 - Conduct periodic field visits to monitor progress of all project activities as per the project’s logframe.

- Assume full accountability for the effective management of the project and the implementation of its activities.

 - Promote UN-Habitat’s standards, methodologies and tools and strengthen information sharing with partners and stakeholders.

3. Project/Programme Development: Support the formulation and advancement of new Projects/Programmes focusing on the following results:

- Lead in the development and review of new project documents, with a strong focus on the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem and Area C of the West Bank

- Negotiate with multi-lateral/bilateral partners and donors to mobilize resources and promote collaborative and joint initiatives to ensure a healthy project portfolio

- Ensure the development and revision of UN-Habitat Programme Document for the occupied Palestinian territory in line with the changing context

- Identify key areas for interventions in the human settlements sector within the framework of the UN- Habitat New Urban Agenda, UN-Habitat Country Programme Document, Palestinian National Development Plan, UNSDCF and relevant sectoral assessments, and in line with the incumbent’s technical specialization.

4. Advisory services:

- Provide expert-level input and representation in the UN Clusters and the UN Project Management Team (PMT).

- Ensure all advisory support reflects UN-Habitat’s normative frameworks, including the New Urban Agenda and SDG 11, with a focus on inclusive, participatory, and climate-resilient planning.

- Support planning and development interventions, addressing spatial, legal, and institutional challenges through integrated and contextualized planning strategies.

- Collaborate with national government, local authorities, and civil society organizations to promote local ownership, institutional collaboration, and strengthen technical capacities.

- Contribute to the preparation of spatial development frameworks, urban policy documents, technical guidelines, and capacity-building materials tailored to the Palestinian context.

- Perform other related tasks as required to ensure effective coordination, quality assurance, and successful implementation of UN-Habitat’s urban planning and development initiatives.

Required

• Advanced university degree (Master degree or equivalent) in spatial planning, architecture, urban management, environmental engineering or other relevant social sciences field (development studies, international relations, urban studies)

Required

• At least 5 years of relevant field experience in the implementation of urban development projects

• 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. 
• For more details about the contract types, please click 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.