Special Assistant to the CEO and UN SRSG

The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) brings together diverse expertise to help partners deliver impact worldwide. With hubs in New York, Geneva, and Vienna, and expert teams operating globally, GPO leads multi-regional initiatives that advance sustainable development, climate action, and peacebuilding - including in some of the world’s most challenging environments. By leveraging our collective expertise and global networks, GPO supports UNOPS’ strategic priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals across more than 130 countries. We work closely with major global partners - including governments, international financial institutions, and UN agencies - to deliver a wide range of services, such as project management, fund management, hosting services, and HR support.

From Geneva, UNOPS facilitates the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), working with governments, other United Nations (UN) agencies and partners by providing quality services, integrated solutions and management support through strategic, cost-effective and results-oriented approaches. This includes supporting platforms and hosting high-profile, flagship initiatives and funds focusing on health, nutrition, water and sanitation, sustainable cities, environment, energy, climate 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.

Sustainable Energy for All has a global mandate to accelerate progress on the energy transition in emerging and developing countries. Hosted by UNOPS, we work at the intersection of energy, climate and development, partnering with governments and organizations worldwide to end energy poverty, double energy efficiency, significantly expand renewable energy and combat climate change.

Our vision is a world where everyone, everywhere, can lead a dignified life on a healthy planet, powered by sustainable energy. We promote this vision by pushing for higher ambitions, stronger policies, greater finance flows, increased localization and green jobs, and faster results toward an energy transition that leaves no one behind. 

Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched the Sustainable Energy for All initiative in 2011. Since then, our CEO has served as the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of UN-Energy.

From Geneva, UNOPS facilitates the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), working with governments, other United Nations (UN) agencies and partners by providing quality servces, integrated solutions and management support through strategic, cost-effective and results-oriented approches. This includes supporting platforms and hosting high-profile, flagship initiatives and funds focusing on health, nutrition, water and sanitation, sustainable cities, environment, energy, climate 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.

This position is located within the Executive Office Team. The main objective of the Executive Office is to provide support to the CEO/SRSG, the leadership team and the Governance Board to ensure efficient and effective leadership, implementation of organization's strategic direction and collaboration across the organization and teams.

Under the overall guidance of the CEO and UN SRSG  and direct supervision of the Chief of Staff, the Special Assistant takes operational responsibility for managing executive workflows, coordinating high-level stakeholder relations, synthesizing analytical briefings, and supporting special projects initiated by the CEO/SRSG. The role ensures that the CEO/SRSG is thoroughly prepared for high-level engagements, international summits, and UN-Energy proceedings, while driving systematic follow-up across internal teams and external partner networks. 

In duty stations where the National Professional Officer (NPO) category has been established by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), the contract modality (Local ICA or International ICA) may be evaluated based on the nationality and/or permanent residency status of the preferred candidate.

Executive Support & Workflow Coordination:

• Coordinate the day-to-day execution of core workflows, outputs, and strategic priorities for the CEO/SRSG, ensuring the CEO/SRSG is thoroughly prepared for all high-level engagements, UN summits, and international missions.
• Draft and synthesize comprehensive briefing materials, speaking points, analytical notes, and detailed presentations for internal leadership and external engagements.
• Oversee and organize the CEO/SRSG’s daily schedule, evaluating incoming engagement requests, establishing priority alignment, and ensuring effective time allocation.
• Support in taking minutes, tracking decisions and follow-up processes from meetings and interactions, guiding the flow of communication and direction from the CEO/SRSG to the Executive Management Committee (EMC) and ensuring actions are logged in Salesforce.

Mission Management & High-Level Partner Coordination:

• Accompany and support the CEO/SRSG, as and when required, on official international missions, global summits (COP, UN General Assembly etc), and high-level partner meetings, addressing real-time workload priorities while traveling.
• Coordinate mission reporting workflows, leading the drafting, finalization, and distribution of official Back-to-Office Notes (BTONs), meeting summary notes, and executive action logs.
• Serve as operational liaison with counterpart Special Assistants in key stakeholder organizations across UN agencies, government ministries, development banks, and corporate partners.

Research, Analytics & Special Projects:

• Conduct research and analytical tasks on behalf of the CEO/SRSG, gathering data and synthesizing policy on emerging energy transition issues, climate finance trends, and international development frameworks.
• Contribute to executive knowledge-sharing across SEforALL programme teams, ensuring integration and dissemination of data, strategic contacts, and mission outcomes.

Required

• A First Level University Degree (Bachelor’s Degree) in International Relations, Public Policy, Sustainable Development, Energy, Environment, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field is required.

Desired

• An Advanced degree (Master's Degree or equivalent) in International Relations, Public Policy, Sustainable Development, Energy, Environment, Business Administration, Economics or a related field is an asset and may compensate for some years of experience.

Required

• Minimum 2 years of professional work experience at the national or international level in executive management support, administration, partnerships, protocol coordination or diplomatic support.

• Proven experience supporting senior/executive leaders (Directors, CEOs, SRSGs, Ministers, Ambassadors) within international organizations, government, or public sector entities.

  
  

Desired

• Demonstrated experience preparing executive briefing notes, drafting high-level talking points, and organizing international missions or summits.

• Familiarity with energy transition, Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7), climate change, or international development frameworks.

  
  

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• 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. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
  

• 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.