Senior Policy Advisor

The Executive Office provides overall leadership and direction for UNOPS, ensuring strategic alignment, operational integrity, and delivery of the organization’s mandate in support of Member States and the UN system. It drives the development and implementation of the 4-year strategic plan, overseeing organizational transformation and performance, delivery, and financial accountability.  

The Executive Office represents UNOPS to the Executive Board, Member States, UN partners, and key stakeholders, positioning the organization as a trusted partner in advancing the 2030 Agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals, and UN80 related reforms. Through strategic leadership, transparent governance, and effective communications, the Executive Office enhances organizational impact, visibility, and trust, ensuring UNOPS remains fit-for-purpose in a dynamic global environment. 

The Senior Policy Advisor is a strategic role that ensures substantive contributions, representation and co-ordination on priorities set by the Executive Director. The Senior Policy Advisor will support the Executive Director on substantive policy issues across the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

The Senior Policy Advisor will provide thought leadership and support on - and further UNOPS strategic positioning in relation to - high priority events and processes, including those related to the SDGs such as the 2027 SDG Summit, the post-2030 agenda and UN reform (e.g. UN80).

The person will have a solid understanding of the geopolitical, multilateral, policy and finance landscape, combined with empirical research and analytical skills, and well-established networks across member-led intergovernmental and international organisations, diplomatic communities, thinktank and research institutes.

The Senior Policy Advisor will conduct research and analysis to provide high-level political and diplomatic advice through briefings, key messages, and talking points on strategic policy issues to advance implementation of the UNOPS mandate and 4-year strategic plan. 

The Senior Policy Advisor will collaborate closely with the UNOPS UN System and Intergovernmental Affairs Office (based in New York), the Partnerships and Futures Group, and the Communications Group.

1. Policy Analysis and Strategic Advisory

• Provide high-level political analysis to inform executive decision-making and organizational positioning.

• Provide substantive policy advice on development and humanitarian issues, financing for development, multilateral reform processes, including the UN80 reform agenda, and other emerging topics relevant to UNOPS.

• Monitor and analyze global development, geopolitical and multilateral trends relevant to UNOPS missions, priorities and operations.

• Prepare strategic briefs, talking points, analytical papers, and assessments for the Executive Director’s bilateral and multilateral engagements.

2. Multilateral Affairs and External Engagement

• Monitor and analyze key intergovernmental, multilateral and international policy processes relevant to UNOPS, including evolving discussions on UN system reform and the UN80 reform agenda.

• Support UNOPS strategic engagement in UN-wide reform processes, including by providing analysis, coordinating internal inputs, and identifying opportunities and implications for UNOPS within the changing multilateral landscape.

• Support UNOPS participation in major international conferences and development cooperation events.

• Strengthen engagement and collaboration with United Nations entities, international organizations and other multilateral stakeholders.

• Contribute to ensuring consistency and coherence in external messaging and stakeholder engagement.

• Represent UNOPS in high-level meetings and international events, when required.

3. People Leadership

• Create, foster and role model a culture of trust, empowerment and accountability across the Executive Office team and other UNOPS teams.

• Build engagement and foster a diverse and inclusive work environment, respectful of all, and ensure that the highest standards of conduct are observed.

• Create, foster and role model a culture of respect and zero tolerance for discrimination, abuse of authority, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual exploitation and abuse. Ensure accountability for actions and perform duties in accordance with protection mechanisms and action plans, as expected by UNOPS policies, standards and commitments.

4. Knowledge Management and innovation

• Contribute to knowledge management, innovation and institutional learning.

• Support UNOPS thought leadership on sustainable development, development and humanitarian issues, and the future of the multilateral system.

• Contribute to strategic foresight initiatives by identifying emerging global trends, risks and opportunities of relevance to UNOPS.

• Carry out other tasks as required.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in international relations, political science, economics, sustainable development, business administration, or any related discipline with 9 years of relevant experience OR

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in  international relations, political science, economics, sustainable development, business administration, or any related discipline with 7 years of relevant experience is required.

Required

• Extensive experience providing strategic policy advice, engaging with senior level interlocutors in government, multilateral organizations, and bilateral donors. 

• Extensive experience in conducting political and policy analysis, in drafting substantive briefing materials for senior leaders, and in drafting documents that support executive level discussions on international development. 

• Experience of working in inter-governmental, international and/or UN system organizations.

• 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.