Programme Management Adviser (Retainer), Multiple positions

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.

1. Country office strategy development
2. Government liaison
3. UN coordination
4. Partnerships development

1.    Country office strategy development

● Stakeholder analysis: The Programme Management Adviser is expected to understand and monitor key UNOPS partners in Nepal, including key ministries and government agencies, provincial governments, donors and implementing agencies.

● Stakeholder engagement strategy: The Programme Management Adviser will propose and implement a plan to engage stakeholders to enhance mutual understanding, coordinate ongoing activities and explore potential partnerships along with envisaging  joint programming opportunities.

● Business development strategy: The Programme Management Adviser will take an active role in the formulation,  revision and implementation of the country office’s business development strategy in close coordination with the Country Manager and Partnerships team.

● Communication Strategy: The Programme Management Adviser will take an active role in the definition and implementation of the Nepal office’s communication strategy. She/he/they will ensure that the communication strategy and stakeholder engagement strategy are aligned.

● Gender action planning: The Programme Management Adviser will take an active participation in the implementation and regular revision of the office-level gender action plan, providing inputs regarding stakeholders and ensuring external coordination is maintained on the matter.

● Knowledge management:  The Programme Management Adviser will make sure that key stakeholder information is well captured, documented, and presented  within the office to facilitate the   work   of  the partnerships, projects, communication and support teams. This includes hosting onboarding sessions for new personnel and orientation sessions for visitors from other UNOPS offices.

2.     Government liaison

● Implementation coordination: The Programme Management Adviser will assume an active role in advising Project Managers on project-level stakeholder engagement and will ensure that all projects liaise regularly with their government counterparts. The incumbent will participate in high-level events involving government entities such as coordination meetings, steering committee meetings, signing ceremonies and inaugurations.

● Policy dialogue:  The Programme Management Adviser will take an active role in policy dialogues organized by the Government of Nepal which might be relevant to UNOPS Nepal, especially in the fields of infrastructure and climate change, procurement and data management. The incumbent will liaise informally with relevant ministries and departments to ensure UNOPS’ participation in such events.

3.        UN coordination

● UNSDCF Engagement:  UNOPS is now a part of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework working group on Governance and Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction. The Programme Management Adviser is expected to lead the inter-agency working group to foster coordination and joint programming. The incumbent will also lead the annual reporting exercise, including financial and narrative reporting.

● Joint programming and advocacy: The Programme Management Adviser will take an active role in other joint programming groups and advocacy platforms to ensure UNOPS’ position is reflected and the organization’s expertise contributes to the UN mandate in the country.

4.     Partnerships development

• Prospective dialogue: The Programme Management Adviser will lead prospective discussions with stakeholders, including Government entities, donors and implementing partners to identify potential implementation opportunities in line with UNOPS’ expertise and mandate.

• Project definition: The Programme Management Adviser will assist technical specialists in  the development of new projects and new business development opportunities, providing detailed and relevant information on the country, federal,  provincial and local level context on the stakeholder landscape. The incumbent will ensure that relevant government entities participate in project design and receive regular information on the progress of project proposals.

• Agreements formalization: The Programme Management Adviser will lead the process to formalize project-specific cooperation agreements with government entities before any new projects start. This involves liaising with UNOPS’ and donors’ legal teams.

• Education: Master or Bachelor Degree in a Business Administration, Public Administration, International Development, Engineering, Political Science, Communications or International Relations or other relevant discipline.

• Experience: Seven (7) years of relevant experience in combination with a Master’s degree or Nine (9) years’ of relevant experience in combination with a Bachelor’s degree in professional experience, leadership and/or programme management.
  

• Language: Excellent knowledge of English Language, both written and verbal, is required.

Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement Specialist Contract level: LICA Specialist - 11
Contract duration: Retainer

• 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.
• The post is open to Nepali Nationals only.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• 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
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• 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.