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.

UN-Habitat is leading the implementation of a 5.5-year EU funded Project: “Quality Urban Development and Sustainable Interventions – Rehabilitation for Revitalization (QUDSI-R4R)” in partnership with local technical and academic entities. The Project aims to improve socio-economic conditions for Palestinians in the Old City of Jerusalem by rehabilitating towards revitalizing historic sites as a catalyst for Palestinian integrated urban regeneration. The activities of the project focus on strengthening the old city’s Palestinian intergovernmental coordination; Rehabilitation and maintenance as well as business development and sustainability of key areas in the Old City; as well as professional capacity building for individuals who work in the Old City’s regeneration, advancing their professional development in several core competencies capable of unlocking new commercial opportunities in the economic sector. In parallel, the project also includes an interconnected track of Technological Empowerment and Innovation directed to Palestinian youth”

Funded by the European Union, UN-Habitat- is seeking a candidate to fill the position of Business Development and Operational Associate under the overall guidance and the direct supervision of the Project Manager.  As this position is related to QUDSI-R4R project in the occupied Palestinian territory with an expected duration of five and half years, the Contract extension will be conditioned to satisfactory performance evaluation as well as availability of funding under the project.

Since 2003 UN-Habitat has supported the government and people of the State of Palestine through the Special Human Settlements Programme for the Palestinian People that was established to improve the human settlements conditions, with focus on spatial planning, land management and housing issues, addressing the urbanization challenges, supporting the building of a Palestinian state, humanitarian action and peace-building, in the areas where there are acute humanitarian and development needs

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the Business Development, and Operational Associate will provide operational and technical support to the implementation of project activities related to business development, and project operations.

The Associate will assist in delivering defined project components and ensure timely follow-up of tasks in accordance with UN-HABITAT rules, procedures, and donor requirements. The role focuses primarily on implementation support, coordination, and documentation, while technical oversight and strategic decision-making remain under the guidance of the Project Manager.

The Associate will support implementation across three areas under the QUDSI-R4R project: 

1. Business Development Support

The Associate will:

• Assist in the preparation of basic business plans and sustainability approaches for project-supported sites.

• Support simple market assessments and data collection for financial and operational analysis.

• Assist in organizing and implementing marketing and outreach activities.

• Coordinate with technical teams to ensure operational requirements are communicated.

• Maintain records related to supported business initiatives.

2. Operations and Project Support

The Associate will:

• Assist in preparation and tracking of workplans, procurement plans, and budgets.

• Support procurement and administrative processes in compliance with UN-HABITAT procedures.

• Assist in drafting Terms of Reference (ToRs) and tracking consultant deliverables under supervision.

• Maintain organized project documentation and filing systems.

• Support preparation of inputs for internal reports and donor updates.

• Assist in organizing meetings, workshops, and stakeholder engagement activities.

 3. Economic Empowerment Support

The Associate will:

• Support implementation of livelihood and economic empowerment activities targeting local beneficiaries, MSMEs, NGOs, and CBOs.

• Assist beneficiaries in following approved income-generating activity plans.

• Support coordination with local stakeholders and service providers.

• Assist in organizing training sessions and basic capacity-building activities.

• Collect and compile data to support monitoring and reporting

Perform other related duties as assigned by the Project Manager to ensure effective project implementation.

Required

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in business administration, economics, engineering or other related field

Desired

• Master’s degree or higher and a strong knowledge of Jerusalem context, especially the old city, its sensitivities and needs.

Required:

• Highly developed verbal and effective written communications skills. 

• A committed, passionate self-starter with creativity and innovative thinking skills

• Has excellent working knowledge on communicating, reaching out and dealing with unique 

Desired:

• Proven analytical capability and strengths in aggregating data from diverse sources into consolidated, synthesized documents.

• Expertise analyzing data using quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods 

• Experience in data analytics, data visualization, and the manipulation of data sets

• Strong organizational skills, effective attention to detail, ability to prioritize and meet deadlines.

• Familiarity with UN procedures; and UN-Habitat in particular is an asset.

• Some experience in the UN system organizations and/or a developing country 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. 
• 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.