Project Management Support - Specialist [Gaming and PCVE Expert]

UNOPS Development and Special Initiatives team works with UN partners and Member States. This portfolio offers support for various initiatives and priorities of the UN Secretary-General in pursuit of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. Additionally, it helps the UN Secretariat in implementing global programs in areas such as political affairs, climate, counterterrorism and peacebuilding, among others.

Not Required - part of GPO/NYPO

The United Nations Office of Counter Terrorism (UNOCT) was established by the General Assembly in June 2017. UNOCT has five mandated functions: (1) Provide leadership on the General Assembly counter-terrorism mandates entrusted to the Secretary-General from across the United Nations system; (2) Enhance coordination and coherence across the Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact entities to ensure the balanced implementation of the four pillars of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy; (3) Strengthen the delivery of United Nations counter-terrorism capacity-building assistance to Member States; (4) Improve visibility, advocacy and resource mobilization for United Nations counter-terrorism efforts; and (5) Ensure that due priority is given to counterterrorism across the United Nations system and that the important work on preventing violent extremism is firmly rooted in the Strategy.

The Project Management Support - Specialist [Gaming and PCVE Expert] will provide substantive technical expertise and programme support to design, implement, and translate research and engagement activities related to the use of gaming platforms in preventing and countering violent extremism (PCVE).

The role supports:

• evidence generation (research, surveys, analysis)

• programme delivery (trainings, events, stakeholder engagement, overseeing the development of gaming prototypes)

• policy and practice outputs (reports, recommendations, guidance)

The Project Management Support - Specialist [Gaming and PCVE Expert]  will ensure outputs are methodologically rigorous, policy-relevant, and operationally actionable, while aligned with UNOCT priorities, human rights standards, and partner expectations.

Expected functions may include the following: 

1. Development and Planning 

• Provide technical input into the design and implementation of activities related to gaming and PCVE, ensuring alignment with project objectives and UNOCT priorities.

• Develop research frameworks, methodologies, and workplans for analyzing risks, trends, and opportunities in gaming ecosystems.

• Contribute to project planning, including timelines, deliverables, and stakeholder mapping as it relates to gaming across Southeast Asia and globally.

• Identify emerging risks, trends, and innovation opportunities related to extremist exploitation of digital platforms, including gaming and gaming-adjacent spaces.

2. Project Set-Up and Closure

• Facilitate coordination with partners including Member States, tech companies, civil society, gamers, gaming developers, youth representatives, and research institutions.

• Contribute to the preparation and organization of project milestones, including report development, validation processes, and dissemination.

• Support the closure of project outputs, ensuring final deliverables meet quality and reporting standards.

3. Monitoring and Reporting

• Conduct qualitative and quantitative analysis of data collected through surveys, interviews, and stakeholder consultations.

• Develop analytical reports, policy briefs, and presentations on gaming and violent extremism trends.

• Translate research findings into actionable recommendations for policymakers, practitioners, and industry stakeholders.

• Support reporting to donors and internal stakeholders, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and alignment with results frameworks.

4. Quality Assurance 

• Ensure that all research outputs and deliverables meet high standards of analytical rigor, methodological soundness, and policy relevance.

• Apply ethical, human rights-based, and conflict-sensitive approaches to all research and engagement activities.

• Review and refine project outputs, including reports, presentations, and knowledge products.

• Ensure consistency with UN standards and best practices in PCVE, digital governance, and online safety.

5. Knowledge Building and Sharing

• Contribute to global knowledge development on gaming and violent extremism through publications, presentations, and participation in expert forums.

• Support the design and delivery of gaming prototypes, trainings, workshops, and stakeholder dialogues.

• Engage with global networks, including researchers, tech platforms, and policy communities, to share lessons learned and emerging practices.

• Strengthen UNOCT’s thought leadership in the field of gaming, digital ecosystems, and PCVE.

Required

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in international relations, political science, security studies, social sciences, technology policy, or related field with five (5) years of relevant experience is required. OR;

• First level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) preferably in international relations, political science, security studies, social sciences, technology policy, or related fields with seven (7) years of relevant experience is desired.

Required

• Relevant experience is considered  progressively responsible experience in preventing and countering violent extremism, counter-terrorism, digital harms, or related fields.

• Experience in research design, data collection, and analytical report writing.

• Experience working on digital platforms, online ecosystems, or emerging technologies, including gaming or gaming-adjacent environments.

• Experience engaging with multi-stakeholder environments, including governments, tech companies, civil society, and international organizations.

Desired

• Experience in programme design, implementation, or advisory roles.

• Experience working on gaming ecosystems and extremism or online harms.

• Experience in Southeast Asia or comparable regional contexts.

• Experience working with the United Nations or international organizations.

• Experience designing and delivering training, workshops, or capacity building initiatives.

• Experience engaging with youth audiences or digital communities.

• 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.