Senior Coordination Officer

Peace and Security Centre

The UNOPS Peace and Security Centre (PSC) is a principal service provider in the field of mine action with the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), UNDP, UNICEF, Governments of mine-affected countries and other mine action partners. The Centre is responsible to administer, provide support and oversight of the day-to-day management of the Project Field offices, both according to the client requirements and in line with UNOPS rules and regulations. It is headed by the Centre Director who has the overall authority and accountability for the performance of the Peace and Security Centre on behalf of its clients.

Background - UNMAS

United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) is a division of the Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions (OROLSI) in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO). UNMAS is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly (RES/68/72) to ensure an effective, proactive and coordinated response to the problem posed by a wide range of explosive hazards. Legislative mandates also recognize UNMAS technical expertise in responding to threats posed by unsecured and unsafe conventional weapons and ammunition stockpiles. As an office within DPKO, UNMAS supports peacekeeping and special political missions in accordance with Security Council mandates. 

Background – UNMAS Iraq

Established in 1997, the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) leads, coordinates and implements mine action globally, and as per the UN Policy on Mine Action and Effective Coordination (A/53/496, 1998) is the established coordinator of mine action within the United Nations system. UNMAS supports the UN's vision of "a world free of the threat of landmines and unexploded ordnance, where individuals and communities live in a safe environment conducive to development, and where mine survivors are fully integrated into their societies."

UNMAS is a unit within the Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions (OROLSI) within the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO). UNMAS operates under UN legislative mandates of both the General Assembly and the Security Council, or at the request of the UN Secretary-General or his designated official. When instructed by the Security Council or called upon by Member States, UNMAS deploys under humanitarian, peace and security mandates. UNMAS main headquarters is in the UN Secretariat, New York with a sub-office in Geneva. UNMAS provides direct support and assistance in the areas of explosive hazard threat mitigation to 18 countries/territories/missions, has a standby rapid response capacity and global technical advisors in the field of IEDs and Weapons and Ammunition Management.

The UNMAS Iraq programme was formally established in June 2015, at the request of the UN Under-Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Iraq, to lead the UN efforts to mitigate explosive threats in the country, as well as to support the enhancement of national and regional mine action capacities. UNMAS is supporting multiple layers of operations under the UNMAS Iraq Strategic Plan which focusses on three main components: 1. Explosive Hazard Management; 2. Capacity Enhancement, and 3. Risk Education. 

The Senior Coordination Officer (SCO) is responsible for the integrated and coherent functioning of UNMAS Iraq in accordance with mandates, plans and strategic documents. Under the supervision and delegated authority of the UNMAS Iraq Senior Programme Manager, the SCO is responsible for:

1. Core coordination and planning mechanisms and processes that enable the integrated delivery of UNMAS Iraq’s mandate, specifically strategic and operational planning within the UN system coordination mechanisms;

2. Strategic policy coordination, and advocacy;

3. Engage with national authorities, key stakeholders and donors;

4. Act as an advisor and sound board for ideas, solve problems, mediate disputes, and deal with issues before they are brought to the Senior Programme Manager.

This position supervisors two national staff Liaison Officers and may be Officer-in-Charge when the Senior Programme Manager is out of country.

Core coordination enabling integrated delivery

• Contribute towards coordinating and ensuring the necessary strategic and managerial support required for the fulfilment of the UNMAS mandate is carried out in a responsible and timely fashion and are in line with UN quality standards, institutional values;
• Represent UNMAS at theUNAMI Senior Management team, UN Country Team, Humanitarian Country Team, Programme Management Team and, as needed, UN working groups. This not only includes attending forums but actively engaging in and responding to requests from UNAMI, UNCT, HCT and PMT.  This also includes strategic engagement with processes such as the Common Country Assessment, UN Development Assistance Framework and UN Integrated Strategic Framework;
• Engage with the Mine Action Sub Cluster as the UNMAS representative;
• Actively engage with UNAMI heads of sections and members of the UNCT and HCT to seek opportunities for ‘delivering as one’.

 Expected result: UNMAS is engaged and well represented in UN planning, policy and implementation frameworks.

Strategic policy coordination and advocacy

• Provide policy advice to the Senior Programme Manager on conceptual strategy development and management of the implementation of overall strategies and mandates;
• Promote and support compliance with technical, safety and quality international standards and guidelines;
• Provide substantive support in identifying broad UNMAS strategies required for the development and implementation of the mission’s work programme;
• Draft and provide input to Government of Iraq policy documents; prepare presentations for and attend Government meetings/conferences/workshops as the UNMAS representative; provide input in the preparation of position papers, and reports for presentation to various Government and international community forums.
• Under delegated authority from the Senior Programme Manager, the SCO will also advocate and provide advice to relevant stakeholders on all mine action issues, and do so in accordance with recognized international standards, and in acknowledgement of the relevant international treaties;
• Provide technical advice and guidance to other UN agencies and partners upon request.

Expected result: Contribute to ensuring the strategic activities of the local government and international stakeholders are in accordance with UN objectives and, aligned, where applicable, to the relevant international mine action treaties, and achievement of obligations made under these treaties.

Stakeholder Engagement Resource Mobilization

• Represent UNMAS to and engage with the Iraqi Kurdistan Mine Action Authority, based in Erbil; coordinate with the UNMAS Iraq Capacity Enhancement Project Manager and UNMAS Iraq Head of Projects to identify possible areas of collaboration and support.
• Support the identification of and building of relationships with national institutions, respective governmental authorities, donors, and international partners, including UN agencies, NGOs and commercial companies engaged in addressing the issue of mine action and its impact on local communities;
• Actively participate in the development and implementation of a resource mobilization strategy targeting in-country funding opportunities: a strategy that includes timely and appropriate acknowledgement at both national and international levels of current and past donors contributions and their impact;
• Actively engage with the donor community, based in Erbil, including ad-hoc meetings and provision of formal briefs.

Expected result:  All stakeholders are regularly informed of the status of the programme in the respective country on a timely basis; Funding opportunities within the programme country are optimized through an active strategy to pursue opportunities, supported by a timely recognition of current and past donor contributions. 

Advisory

• Act as an advisor and sound board for ideas, solve problems, mediate disputes, and deal with issues before they are brought to the Senior Programme Manager;
• Provide programmatic and substantive reviews of drafts prepared by others;
• The incumbent will have responsibilities determined by UNOPS rules and regulations embodied in its regulatory framework - Organizational Directives, Administrative Instructions and other documents as periodically issued and updated by UNOPS. Reporting lines with regards to compliance with UNOPS rules and regulations are ultimately to UNOPS Peace and Security Cluster through the respective Portfolio Manager. In addition, division of responsibilities when it comes to administrative processes in support of the programme objectives will be as determined for each country office and confirmed in writing by UNOPS Director of Peace and Security Cluster;
• This position may also entail safety and security responsibilities within the geographical area of responsibilities of operation to include the protection of all personnel, assets, property and information belonging to UNMAS/UNOPS established offices and programmes; and

Education and relevant years of experience:

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s  or equivalent) in project management, international studies, political science or other related fields with a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience OR
• First Level University Degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in project management, international studies, political science or other related fields with a minimum of 9 years of relevant OR
• Military experience at the Officer level with a minimum of 13 years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced or first level university degrees.

Work Experience:

• Relevant experience is defined as progressively responsible experience in programme management in either public or private sector organizations 
• Experience operating in post-conflict or development context environments is required
• Experience in engaging national authorities is required
• Experience in mine action is desired.

Languages:

• Fluency in English (speaking, reading and writing) is required.
• Working knowledge of Arabic is an asset. 
• Knowledge of another UN official language is desired.

Travel:

• Willingness to travel both within Iraq and internationally as required.

• 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
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• 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.

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.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.