Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Support Partnerships Service (SPS) within the Division for Special Activities (DSA) in the Department of Operational Support (DOS). DOS was established to provide end-to-end operational support advisory services and other solutions to operating entities across the Secretariat, including other departments, offices away-from headquarters, field missions, and regional commissions. DSA oversees a range of specialized or cross-cutting operational capacities. A large part of its responsibilities is to support start-up, surge, transition and liquidation requirements and to exercise authority on behalf of entities to which authority has not been granted owing to a lack of capacity or from which authority has been temporarily withdrawn. SPS is a dedicated support partnerships capacity to coordinate and maintain bilateral and trilateral relationships with key partners, such as regional organizations, other United Nations actors and governments, for the receipt or provision of operational support from or to Secretariat entities. The Senior Programme Management Officer reports to the Chief of Service.

Responsibilities

Under the guidance of the Chief of Service, the Senior Programme Management Officer, Support Partnerships, will be responsible for the timely completion of outputs related to the work of the Service. • Takes the lead to develop, implement and evaluate assigned programmes/projects, and directs subordinates in programme/project development, implementation, monitoring and assessment; directs review of relevant and reports; identifies priorities, problems and issues to be addressed and proposes corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; identifies and initiates follow-up actions. • Coordinates and strengthens cooperation on major partnership-based operational support initiatives with key partners outside the United Nations Secretariat, including regional organizations, other United Nations actors and governments, for the receipt or provision of operational support from or to Secretariat entities. • Ensures implementation of gender mainstreaming guidelines by assessing the implications for men and women of any planned action, including legislation, policies or programmes, in all areas and at all levels. • Directs research and programme evaluation and presents information gathered from diverse sources. • Acts as coordinator for complex coordination of operational support issues and supports efforts to build specialized or cross-cutting operational capacities of key partners outside the United Nations Secretariat. • Participates in policy development; prepares guidelines and standard operating procedures; reviews the assessments of issues and trends, preparation of evaluations or research activities and studies. • Undertakes survey initiatives; guides design of data collection instruments; reviews, analyzes and interprets responses, identifies problems/issues and prepares conclusions. • Supervises preparation of various written outputs, including background papers, analysis, substantial sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, statements, and speeches, in coordination with the relevant Divisions and in consultation with relevant UN system partners as appropriate. • Directs substantive support to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of and presentations, etc. • Manages outreach activities; designs and conducts training workshops, seminars, etc., makes presentations on assigned topics/activities. • Leads field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting mission summaries, etc. • Coordinates activities related to budget and funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and ensures preparation of related /reports. • Serves as an effective spokesperson and establishes collaboration and partnerships with key officials at all levels inside and outside the organization. • Ensures effective utilization, supervision and development of staff; Guides, evaluates and mentors staff. • May perform other duties as required.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Ability to identify key strategic and operational issues opportunities, and risks. Ability to coordinate and strengthen cooperation on partnership-based initiatives. Ability to produce reports and papers on operational support issues and to review and edit the work of others. Ability to apply UN rules, regulations, policies, and guidelines in work situations. Ability to generate and communicate broad and compelling organizational direction. Ability to communicate clearly links between the Organization's strategy and the work unit's goals. Demonstrated ability to provide innovative technical leadership by performing and/or overseeing the planning, development, and management of operation. Demonstrated ability to negotiate and apply good judgment. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. • Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable. • Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client. • Building Trust: Provides an environment in which others can talk and act without fear of repercussion; manages in a deliberate and predictable way; operates with transparency; has no hidden agenda; places confidences in colleagues, staff members and clients; gives proper credit to theirs; follows through on agreed upon actions; treats sensitive or confidential information appropriately. • Judgement/Decision-making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

An Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in public administration, management, economics, law, political or social sciences or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification
Not available.

Work Experience

• A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in project or programme management, administration or related area is required. • Experience managing institutional and operational support partnership related programmes in or with an international organization, regional or sub regional organizations is required. • Experience in providing administrative or programmatic support to or in a field operation of an international organization is required. • Experience in contributing to the UN's, or a comparable international organization, systemwide response to crisis or emergency situations is required. • Experience in negotiating and facilitating institutional and operational support partnership multi-stakeholder arrangements in or with an international organization, regional or sub regional organizations is required. • Experience in liaising with Permanent Missions to the UN or regional or sub organizations in a field location is required. • Experience in drafting and overseeing the preparation of policy briefings, analytical reports and papers, as well as high level speeches or statements is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).


Required Languages
Language Reading Writing Listening Speaking
English UN Level III UN Level III UN Level III UN Level III

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

• Appointment or assignment against this position is for an initial period of one year. The appointment or assignment and renewal thereof are subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate. • Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfil the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover letter. • The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. • Applicants, who successfully go through a competitive recruitment process and are recommended for selection and/or inclusion in the roster of pre-approved candidates for subsequent job openings at the same level and with similar functions, may have their application information and roster status shared with other UN Organizations. Such applicants may be contacted by other UN Organizations for similar job openings, subject to the confirmation of their interest. Placement on the roster is no guarantee of a future selection. • At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.