Senior International Advisors - Energy Policy and Energy Reform – Ukraine, East Europe and Central Asia

Based in Geneva, the Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECR) supports UNOPS offices throughout the region through: management, financial and programmatic oversight of global and country-specific portfolios, clusters and operations centres, including hosting services; fund and management advisory services; project implementation; procuring goods and services; and managing human resources.

ECR ensures that projects are executed to the highest standards, providing a shared knowledge base and ensuring that best practices and lessons learned are disseminated between business units and projects across the entire region.

 ECR strategy is to:

• Strengthen UNOPS role in operationalizing the Sustainable Development Goals with particular emphasis on health, environment and economic development.
• Position UNOPS in the Balkan sub-region, the Caucasus and Central Asia.
• Strengthen the implementation of ECR global and regional programmes, with revitalized partnerships in infrastructure, procurement and project management.

ECR operates global portfolios from offices in Geneva, Brussels and New York, and country-specific programmes from its operations and project centres located in Eastern Europe and Central Asian countries.

Background Information - Ukraine

Following the Maidan revolution of 2013/14, reform has moved to the top of the agenda for the Ukrainian government and its international partners. Within that context, reform of the energy sector has been identified as a key priority. 

The Government of Ukraine identified some specific reform needs and first steps have been initiated to address shortcomings. Reform of the energy sector is driven by Ukraine's obligations under the Treaty on the Establishment of the Energy Community and the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union (EU), and is aimed at the implementation of acts of the Energy Community legislation in the field of energy, namely: Directive 2009/72/EC on common rules for the internal market in electricity  (Third Energy Package), Directive 2005/89/EC concerning measures to ensure security of investment in the electricity supply and infrastructure system and other legislation of the European Union.

UNOPS Ukraine.

The UNOPS Ukraine Office has been established in April 2017. At present UNOPS manages an extensive portfolio of projects in Ukraine and is seeking to expand its delivery.

UNOPS works with multiple partners including the Government of Ukraine, bilateral and multilateral donors, United Nations Agencies, Funds and Programme. In keeping with EU-Ukraine Association Agreement of 27 June 2014 and other Government reform initiatives, UNOPS is particularly interested in strengthening its coordination and liaison capacity with relevant Government institutions, Government led mechanisms and emerging trust fund instruments.

Support to the Energy Market’s Development in Ukraine

Targeted at development of the competitive Energy Market in Ukraine, Programme supports Ukraine in strengthening its energy security agenda. It provides all required technical assistance to energy sector Government of Ukraine (GoU) entities, energy regulator and other stakeholders in implementation of laws and secondary legislation on the electricity market, energy markets and energy regulator; district heating‐related and other areas as needed, focusing on two components:

•           Assistance in Electricity market implementation;

•           Assistance in improving district heating utility services.

Programme works directly with the offices of the Prime Minister of Ukraine and Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine, Coordination Centre for Introduction of a New Electric Energy Market, Office of Reforms under the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, relevant departments of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine, Ministry of Social Protection and Labor of Ukraine, National Energy and Utilities  Regulatory Commission (NEURC), Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and other principal national stakeholders.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment

Under the direct operational supervision and guidance of the Project Manager, and in close collaboration with other personnel, the Senior International Advisors will work from home with visits to Kiev, Ukraine or stay in Kiev, Ukraine (subject of negotiation). They will provide high quality advise and expertise to the national government and other counterparts in such thematic areas as energy legislation, energy finance, district heating, electricity, energy policy, energy reform, energy security, PPP, energy market/business development. Contributes to the scoping of the special measure, conceptualizing the interventions with key counterparts and implementation of the project reflecting the major concrete outcomes, outputs, activities, and allocation of adequate financial resources to various project’s interventions. They will lead and supervise activities and contribute to development of the products and deliverables in abovementioned thematic area(s). They will update and implement plans and strategies, closely monitor and assess the performance of contractors and consultants, where appropriate.

The Senior International Advisors are responsible for the quality assurance of all activities in respect of all project operations. They will develop a QA plan relating to all areas of those project activities and will be the focal point for ensuring communication of that plan.

In particular, they will be expected to work closely with the client and local beneficiaries. They are expected to meet and exceed the organizations performance and delivery goals.

Senior International Advisors are responsible to read the project initiation documents (PID), Legal Agreement and Logical framework and have a thorough understanding of the terms, conditions, and the respective roles and responsibilities of the partners/stakeholders to ensure the project(s) products are capable of meeting the quality requirements for both UNOPS, beneficiaries and the client. Success of the Project(s) and hence the Senior International Advisors will be based on the Success Criteria of UNOPS engagements which are linked to the below responsibilities.

The Senior International Advisors are responsible for the quality assurance of all activities in respect of all project operations. They will develop a QA plan relating to all areas of those project activities and will be the focal point for ensuring communication of that plan.

In particular, they will be expected to work closely with the client and local beneficiaries. They are expected to meet and exceed the organizations performance and delivery goals.

Senior International Advisors are responsible to read the project initiation documents (PID), Legal Agreement and Logical framework and have a thorough understanding of the terms, conditions, and the respective roles and responsibilities of the partners/stakeholders to ensure the project(s) products are capable of meeting the quality requirements for both UNOPS, beneficiaries and the client. Success of the Project(s) and hence the Senior International Advisors will be based on the Success Criteria of UNOPS engagements which are linked to the below responsibilities.

Monitoring and Progress Controls

Stakeholder Management:

• Establish positive and fruitful working relationships with all interlocutors, providing advice and guidance on specific and general issues in such area(s) as energy legislation, energy finance, district heating, electricity, energy policy, energy reform, energy security, PPP, energy market/business development, and where appropriate energy related project support issues.
• Establish solid working relationship with the, clients and key stakeholders.
• Manage and ensure stakeholders are aware of project activities, progress, exceptions and are in an informed position.
• Provide recommendations on policy development, strengthening financial instruments and/or mechanisms, building effective partnerships. improving relevant standards as well as application of the best international practices in the abovementioned thematic areas.

Delivery and Performance:

• Provide strategic advice and technical assistance to the national counterparts and the Project Team.
• Provide expert advice on how the program/ project intervention fits into electricity, district heating, energy legislation, energy finance, energy policy and reform, PPP, energy market/business development and energy security issues of the country.
• Support the Project Team with the development of business cases, situational and political economy analysis, as required.
• Support the Project Team with the design of programs and project interventions related to energy reforms matters.
• Support identification of and engagement with actors and stakeholders involved in the energy sector, under the area of project responsibility, for the purpose of sharing reform initiatives, best practices and lessons learnt. 
• Provide technical assistance to strategic planning, capacity development and performance management components of the relevant project activities.
• As required, provide strategic advice and technical assistance with the design and implementation of monitoring frameworks and conducting evaluations for relevant programs and project interventions.
• Provide feedback to the project activities on the observations of progress of the work on an agreed basis and share issues and concerns that may need executive action and decision.
• Participate and represent UNOPS in national and international forums as directed. 

Procedures:

• Follow the Project Management Cycle Instructions and ensure that all organizational policy is complied with (Organizational Directives and Administrative Instructions).

Knowledge Management:

• If required participate in the relevant Communities of Practice.
• Complete lessons learnt as per reporting format.
• Incorporate lessons learnt from others as per planning format.

Personnel Management:

• If required, support the preparation of Terms of Reference (ToR) for required inputs in the projects (staff, individual and institutional consultancy services, procurement of goods and services, organization of training, seminars, etc.), with expert and/or client support as required.

Core Values and Principles:

• Understand and respect UNOPS’ communications principles.
• Look for ways to embed UNOPS’ communications principles in day to day project management.
• Seek opportunities to champion gender equality through communications in the work place.
• Champion and communicate project’s achievements with key stakeholders.
• Understand and Respect National ownership and capacity.
• Look for ways to build the capacity of local counterparts.

Partnerships and Coordination.

• Understand the UN Development Partnership Framework (UNPAF) and UNOPS, the project’s place in the UN system.
• Strive to build strong partnerships and effective coordination among relevant project actors (e.g. United Nations, governments, and non-governmental organizations or other relevant partners.

Accountability for results and the use of resources.

• The project management processes are designed to deliver maximum accountability, transparency and results. If a project or processes is not in line with this, it is the responsibility of the Senior International Advisors to raise the issue to a supervisor

Excellence.

• Contribute to innovation and the adaptation of best practice standards of communications and quality.

Education.

• Advanced University degree - (Master's or equivalent). OR
• Bachelor degree in related discipline in combination with additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advance university degree. OR
• A relevant combination of academic credentials and/or industry certifications and qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the university education.

Work Experience.

• At least 7 years of relevant international technical working experience engaging with high level stakeholders including senior government counterparts is required.
• 5 years of proven experience in coordinating/supporting complex projects with multiple stakeholders is desirable.
• Experience in evaluation, mentoring and coaching will be an advantage.
• Strong presentation skills, including the ability to write technical reports and prepare and present concise reports in English;
• Experience working in a project-based environment is required.
• Experience of working in Ukraine or Eastern Europe is highly desired.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• MS Office skills required.
• Excellent communication and team network skills.

Language (s)

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required; 
• Working knowledge of additional UN or regional languages is considered an asset. 

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.