Head of Secretariat, GPA

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development. UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

UNOPS Global Portfolios bring together a range of expertise to help partners deliver impact worldwide.

With hubs in New York, Geneva and Vienna, and expert teams operating across regions, we lead complex, multi-regional initiatives that advance sustainable development, peacebuilding and climate action.

We work in close collaboration with the UN family, governments and other local and international partners. Our work ranges from supporting mine action in some of the world’s most fragile and conflict-affected contexts, to expanding access to healthcare and clean water, to helping protect the environment.

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 Global Platform for Action on Sustainable Energy in Displacement Settings (GPA) is the leading global multi-stakeholder initiative enabling and accelerating increased access to sustainable energy solutions in forced displacement and fragile settings. Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goal 7, the GPA is guided by the vision that: “every person affected by conflict or natural disaster has access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy services by 2030.” The GPA Secretariat facilitates the GPA by working with 200+ partners toward collective outcomes that systematically address barriers to achieving access to sustainable energy for displaced people. 

The GPA’s key focus areas including 

1) creating supportive implementation ecosystems for long-term sustainable energy systems, 

2) mobilizing resources, 

3) advocating for displacement-inclusive energy policies and programmes.

The GPA is guided by a Board and Advisory Group of key energy, climate, humanitarian and development partners guiding its work. 

The main objective of the GPA Secretariat is to coordinate the GPA network to drive action which impacts local social, environmental and economic development through sustainable energy for displaced and hosting communities. 

The GPA secretariat is hosted by UNOPS

UNOPS Global Portfolios bring together a range of expertise to help partners deliver impact worldwide.

With hubs in New York, Geneva and Vienna, and expert teams operating across regions, we lead complex, multi-regional initiatives that advance sustainable development, peacebuilding and climate action.

We work in close collaboration with the UN family, governments and other local and international partners. Our work ranges from supporting mine action in some of the world’s most fragile and conflict-affected contexts, to expanding access to healthcare and clean water, to helping protect the environment.

The Global Platform for Action on Sustainable Energy in Displacement Settings (GPA) is the leading global multi-stakeholder initiative enabling and accelerating increased access to sustainable energy solutions in forced displacement and fragile settings. Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goal 7, the GPA is guided by the vision that: “every person affected by conflict or natural disaster has access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy services by 2030.” The GPA Secretariat facilitates the GPA by working with 200+ partners toward collective outcomes that systematically address barriers to achieving access to sustainable energy for displaced people. The GPA’s key focus areas including 1) creating supportive implementation ecosystems for long-term sustainable energy systems, 2) mobilizing resources, 3) advocating for displacement-inclusive energy policies and programmes. The GPA is guided by a Board and Advisory Group of key energy, climate, humanitarian and development partners guiding its work.  

The main objective of the GPA Secretariat is to coordinate the GPA network to drive action which impacts local social, environmental and economic development through sustainable energy for displaced and hosting communities. 

This position leads on the GPA’s strategy and management toward the collective Platform mission and goals. . The  role reports to the UNOPS Geneva Director.

The purpose of this role is to provide strategic leadership, coordination, and management of the Global Platform for Action (GPA) Secretariat to advance sustainable energy access in displacement and fragile settings.

The Head of the GPA Secretariat will be responsible for the following duties:

1) Head of GPA Secretariat

• Lead the development, implementation and evaluation of the GPA Secretariat’s strategy, workplan and budget. 
• Coordinate activities related to budget and funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and ensure preparation of related documents/reports. 
• Fostering the GPA Support Structure as a key mechanism of engagement for practitioners and policy makers working on energy activities in displacement settings.
• Liaising with members of the GPA Board and Advisory Group as well as with broader community members to lead, monitor and assess the cohesion of sector activities to foster collaboration rather than duplication of ongoing activities by GPA partners.
• Identifying potential areas for further development and incubating new initiatives and methodologies with the goal of enhancing the diversity and effectiveness of energy in displacement settings. 
• Serve as an effective spokesperson for sustainable energy in fragile and displacement settings, and establish collaboration and partnerships with key officials at all levels outside the organisation. 
• Direct substantive support to; and, where relevant, participate and/or attend; consultative meetings, conferences, workshops, etc. 
• Identify and guide inputs to policy developments and opportunities to include energy in displacement settings to relevant policies, plans and programmes at the international, regional, national and local level. 
• Supervise preparation of various written outputs, e.g. reports, analysis, substantial sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc. 
• Review all relevant documents and reports produced by the GPA prior to publication. 
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2) Supporting GPA Board and Advisory Group

• Reports to the Chair of the GPA Board with regard to all substantive matters relating to the work of the GPA.
• Reports on progress to Chair of the GPA Board and wider GPA Advisory Group. 
• Serves as Secretary of the GPA Board and wider GPA Advisory Group.
• Ensures support to the GPA Board and wider Advisory Group in preparing and organising its meetings and implement activities. 
• Discharges any additional duties assigned by the Chair of the GPA Board. 

3) GPA Secretariat Oversight 

• Provides day-to-day management and supervision of the GPA Team.
• Manages the GPA Secretariat budget and authorises payments, leave and mission requests, etc.
• Reports to UNOPS with regard to all administrative issues.
• Act as the Program Executive (PE) within the UNOPS program management quality assurance practice and processes.
• Direct GPA Team in programme / project development, implementation, monitoring and assessment.
• Identify priorities, problems, risks, and issues to be addressed for the GPA Team and propose corrective actions; liaise with relevant parties; identify and initiate follow-up actions. 
• Direct and review field missions, including provision of guidance to the team, external consultants, government officials and other parties, etc. 
• Ensure effective utilisation, supervision and development of the GPA Team.
• Guide, evaluate and mentor members of the GPA Team.

Key Results Expected

• Strategic Framework (Strategy, Workplan and Budget) developed and approved by the Chair and Steering Group and updated/revised annually, when applicable.

• Workplan implemented and progress reported to Chair and Steering Group. 

• Program management and budget overview exercised according to financial rules and regulations and expenditure according to budget.

• All staff supervised completed the annual performance appraisal process.

• Timely recruitment of new staff and interns ensured.

• Communication strategy implemented.    

• Core deliverables of activities managed, and associated impacts, are analysed and recorded on a yearly basis as part of GPA Secretariat Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning process.

Required

• An advanced university degree (Masters degree or equivalent) preferably in energy, environment, climate, sustainability or other relevant discipline is required. OR

• A bachelor's degree preferably in energy, environment, climate, sustainability or related field with a combination of two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the master's degree.

Required

• A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience, in team management, energy access in displacement settings, environment, climate, or sustainable development is required

• Strong understanding of the humanitarian–development–peace nexus and sustainable energy access challenges in displacement and fragile contexts. 

• Proven team leadership and ability to manage staff in diverse locations. 

• Excellent organizational and project management skills

• Experience in results-based planning and monitoring. 

Desired

• Experience working with multi-stakeholder partnerships (UN, NGOs, private sector, governments, or donors) .
• Familiarity with global energy access frameworks (e.g., SDG7, SEforALL, Global Compact on Refugees, Humanitarian Energy Compact). 

• Ability to work effectively across cultures and time zones, demonstrating adaptability and initiative in a fast-paced environment. 

• Experience in development or humanitarian contexts is desired.

• 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. 
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience requirements outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to considering all candidates in a fair and transparent manner, and we value diverse perspectives and experiences, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals with diverse 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.