Background Information - UNOPS
'UNOPS plays a critical role in providing management services for our life-saving, peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. I have seen many examples of how these activities help suffering people in troubled parts of the world.'
- Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General
UNOPS mission is to expand the capacity of the UN system and its partners to implement peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations that matter for people in need.
Working in some of the world's most challenging environments, UNOPS vision is to always satisfy partners with management services that meet world-class standards of quality, speed and cost effectiveness.
By assisting UN organizations, international financial institutions, governments and other development partners, UNOPS makes significant, tangible contributions to results on the ground.
UNOPS employs more than 6000 personnel and on behalf of its partners creates thousands more work opportunities in local communities. With its headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark, a network of five regional offices and a further 20 operations and project centres, UNOPS oversees activities in more than 80 countries.
UNOPS is committed to achieving a truly diverse workforce.
Background Information - MAC
Mine Action Cluster
Based in New York, the UNOPS Mine Action Cluster provides a range of mine action services in emergency and post-conflict settings, on behalf of the United Nations, governments and other partners. Established in 1997 and part of the UNOPS Global Partner Services Office, the Mine Action Cluster has helped partners significantly improve the lives of people in more than 30 countries around the world.
It delivers fast and efficient procurement, recruitment and management services to facilitate humanitarian aid and launch emergency mine clearance. The cluster is also responsible for the administrative oversight of its field offices, in line with partner requirements and UNOPS rules and regulations.
One of the objectives of the Mine Action Cluster is to rapidly deploy mine action personnel to the field. To accomplish this, the cluster has established a Pool of Experts for the above mentioned position, from which it can deploy and re-deploy personnel in order to meet partner demands. Through the Global Personnel Recruitment System, the Mine Action Cluster completes the time-consuming aspects of the recruitment process in advance, and thereafter manages and maintains a pool of pre-approved personnel that can be deployed much more efficiently to Fixed Term Appointment (FTA), Temporary Appointment (TA) or Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA) positions in the field.
Background Information - Job-specific
Depending on the setting, the title 'Senior Programme Manager' may be replaced by either one of the following titles: 'Deputy Programme Director', 'Chief of Staff', 'Programme Manager', or 'Deputy Programme Manager'.
The duties and responsibilities of the Senior Programme Manager (ICS-12) are similar to that of the Programme Manager (ICS-11), with the difference in grades being determined by the complexity and level of responsibility of the specific position.
Functional Responsibilities
The Senior Programme Manager will provide leadership on policy, technical matters, institutional development, and capacity development as determined in the Mine Action strategy. Working with UNMAS, UNOPS and specifically the national mine action and ERW institutions, the Senior Programme Manager is responsible for the following:
- Responsible for developing and maintaining a mine action concept of operations and a mine action plan under the guidance of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) or the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (DSRSG) and in cooperation with peacekeeping and political missions, UN agencies, local authorities and other relevant partners. The Senior Programme Manager will advise DPKO, and other UN agencies and the local authorities on all aspects of a comprehensive mine action programme, including coordination, institutional arrangements, information management, quality management, clearance, survey, marking, risk reduction education and resource mobilisation. When required, in consultation with UNMAS, he/she may advise and assist local authorities in establishing and/or supporting national mine action programmes;
- Provide advice to the mine action and ERW institutions in developing priorities, work programmes, quarterly reports, annual accounts and annual reports of the mine action and ERW institutions to the respective authorities, donors and other international partners, and UN Agencies;
- Advise the national mine action and ERW institutions on co-ordination mechanisms and maintenance of relationships with local administrations and organisations charged with mine action and ERW related issues;
- Provide mine action technical advice to Peace Keeping and/or Political missions (SRSG, DSRSG, RC and/or Force Commander) and the country team, and will work closely with the Peace Keeping and/or Political missions and the country team, SRSG, DSRSG and/or RC in determining priority tasks for mine action in the country;
- Provide technical advice and guidance to other UN agencies and partners when requested;
- Responsible for establishing and maintaining a database of landmine and ERW-related information, and a master map of mine-affected areas. DMAS/PM actively seeks the information necessary to update and refine this database. He/she will act as the point of contact for, UN agencies, nongovernmental organizations and other organizations seeking information on the mine/ERW situation;
- Manage the overall implementation of the mine action and ERW component, as outlined in the current Strategy Document, and amend the document, as may be necessary, for approval by the relevant parties;
- Ensure that all mine action and ERW activities are implemented in accordance with the current UN InterAgency Mine Action Strategy, and the International Mine Action Standards (IMAS);
- Advise on the development of national institutions (including the; selection, organization, training and equipping of appropriately-sized capacities) that enable them to manage, coordinate and implement appropriate responses to the current and residual landmine and ERW threat;
- Participate in the integration and co-ordination of bilateral projects and support in the overall framework of the mine action and ERW component of the Programme that support the achievements of capacity building;
- Monitor and report on the establishment, maintenance and operating of Mine Action Information Management Systems (IMSMA);
- Design and draft project documents including; proposals, Letters of Agreements (LOA) and Memorandums of Understanding (MOU);
- Approve draft Statements of Work (SOW) for inclusion in Requests for Proposals (RFP) issued by UNOPS for proposed mine action and ERW activities in the projects target country;
- Approve technical, safety and quality standards for mine clearance and ERW operations, in accordance with accepted international standards for humanitarian and emergency assistance;
- Provide monitoring and management support to project financial, HR, logistics and administration activities in conjunction with UNOPS;
- Depending on the role this position will be assigned to within the project administration setup in a specific country/programme (i.e. office structure, DOAs, ATLAS functions, segregation of duties, etc.), 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 Chief Mine Action Cluster through 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 Chief of Mine Action Cluster;
- Establish the donor support arrangements for the mine action and ERW component of the Programme and assist in the formulation resource mobilization strategies;
- Provide input to the Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP) and the annual Portfolio of Mine Action Projects;
- Provide (UNOPS, UNDP and/or UNMAS) with monthly, biannual, and annual reports on progress, project status, resource requirements, and future plans as required;
- The Senior Programme Manager is responsible for the reporting on external assistance provided to the project;
- The Senior Programme Manager will report directly to the (UNDP or UNMAS) on policy and general project issues as well as to the UNOPS concerning implementation of the project and on technical matters of mine action and ERW;
- The Senior Programme Manager will report to the senior management of the peacekeeping and political missions, where relevant, on in-country peacekeeping strategy and policy issues;
- This position may also entail safety and security responsibilities within the region of operation to include the protection of all UNOPS personnel, assets, property and information belonging to UNOPS and/or UN.
Competencies
- Leadership – Proven supervisory ability and/or technical leadership. Ability to maintain effective working relations both as a team member and team leader.
- Teamwork Skills – Strong interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations with people in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
- Organising and Quality Orientation – Ability to manage, organize, plan and implement work assignments, juggle competing demands and work under pressure of frequent and tight deadlines.
- Decision Making – Demonstrated ability to apply good judgment and decision making skills.
- Communication Skills – Strong spoken and written communication skills.
- Creativity and Innovation – Strong analytical and problem solving skills and ability to handle a range of management and coordination issues.
- Ability to Learn – Willingness to keep abreast of new developments.
- Change Orientation - Understands the role of technology and business processes and constantly strives to better utilise these for achieving organisational / departmental goals.
- Lives and Breathes UNOPS Values – Takes ownership for all responsibilities and honours commitments.
Education/Experience/Language requirements
- Advanced University Degree (Masters Degree or equivalent) with a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience; or a First Level University Degree (Bachelors Degree or equivalent) with a minimum of 12 years of relevant experience (equivalent Military Staff College qualification also accepted); or Military Experience at the Officer level with a minimum of 16 years of relevant experience;
- At least 10 years work experience in management (including programme management, operations, planning, administration, financial management and implementation);
- A minimum of two years experience in mine action or humanitarian programmes, in one or more countries, at strategic and management level;
- A proven record in management and administration as well as in public relations at a senior level;
- Knowledge of mine action and the international mine action standards is highly desirable;
- Fluency in English, both oral and written;
- Knowledge/Fluency of other UN Official Languages is highly desirable;
- Demonstrated ability to live in hardship condition.
Contract type, level and duration
Contract type: Fixed Term Appointment (FTA) / Temporary Appointment (TA) / International Individual Contractor Agreement (I-ICA)
Contract level: ICS-12: P5 FTA / P5 TA / I-ICA 3
Contract duration: Length of contract will depend on contract modality and funding availability.
For more details about United Nations staff contracts, please follow this link:
http://www.unops.org/english/whoweneed/contract-types/Pages/United-Nations-staff-contracts.aspx
For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
http://www.unops.org/ENGLISH/WHOWENEED/CONTRACT-TYPES/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements-ICAs.aspx
Additional Considerations
UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a level below the advertised level of the job.
Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply
Based on organizational needs at the time of recruitment, applicants accepted into this UNOPS roster pool may be considered for job at the advertised job level or its equivalent. The successful candidate(s) may be offered a contract governed by the United Nations Staff Regulations and Rules or UNOPS individual contractor agreement.
