Background Information - Job-specific
UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian, and development projects. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations.
New York Portfolios Office (NYPO) supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management.
The Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. It was formed by combining the following portfolios: Grants Management Services (GMS), UN Technology Support Services (TSS), Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio (DSIP) It provides Services to partners' programmes that are designed, structured, and managed with a global perspective and primarily serving partners that are headquartered in New York. The SDC has a footprint of approximately 125 countries.
UNOPS has signed an agreement with the United Nations to implement the project activities for the Scientific Advisory Board.
Scientific Advisory Board
The Secretary-General’s Scientific Advisory Board was proposed in Our Common Agenda and was constituted in August 2023. The Board and its associated global network of scientific institutions advise UN leaders on breakthroughs in science and technology – how to harness the benefits of these advances and mitigate potential risks. The Board provides independent insights on trends at the intersection of science, technology, ethics, governance and sustainable development to support UN System organizations in anticipating, adapting to and leveraging scientific advancements in their work for people, planet and prosperity.
Composed of UN and non-UN scientists the Board demonstrates agile expertise, legitimate alignment with UN policy and programmes and diverse representation through its global network institutions. The Board’s work is delivered across three areas:
Science Advice: science briefs for leadership, including horizon scanning briefing for Senior Management Group. Science Connection: science x UN networks; briefings to Resident Coordinators; support for UN Science, Technology, and Innovation Forum and other events; support for international scientific panels. Science Communication: products on cross-cutting issues, social media engagement across platforms; local forums; public science repositories; annual surveys; science literacy programmes.In delivering on these workstreams, the Board is supported by a UNOPS project that provides inter-agency Secretariat services. The incumbent of this position will be a staff member of UNOPS, under its full responsibility.
To achieve the project goals of the Secretariat of the Scientific Advisory Board, UNOPS is looking for a Programme Management Advisor. The Programme Management Advisor serves as the connection point between the Board Members, the research partners, and the Executive Office of the Secretary-General. The success and sustainability of the Board is reliant on effective programme and stakeholder management, the primary functions of the Programme Management Advisor. Under the supervision and guidance of the Senior Portfolio Manager and in close coordination with the Strategic Planning and Monitoring Unit (SPMU) of the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, the Programme Management Advisor is responsible for managing project planning, communications, Board retreats and events, donor relations and UN System engagement.
The incumbent will supervise project staff in the Board Secretariat. In addition, the incumbent ensures that any fundraising and related activities are well-integrated into each of the Board’s workstreams and allocated effectively to partner organizations.
The incumbent will execute the following duties:
1. Deliver science advice material to senior UN leadership
The incumbent will be expected to work with senior UN System leadership to identify research priorities, prepare and present advice on emerging scientific topics with relevance to the United Nations. The incumbent will work with research leads in the UN System and beyond in the development of science briefs and their corresponding dissemination plans.
This will also require the incumbent to maintain close communication across all internal UN stakeholders, including UN System science and technology leads that are part of the Board structure as well as with key external stakeholders who are part of the network.
As the Board emerges from its start-up phase, the incumbent will be responsible for developing standard operating procedures and templates for the preparation of long-form and quick briefs as well as the integration of horizon scanning process into science advice processes.
2. Build science connections across stakeholder groups.
The incumbent will be required to develop and implement platforms that will connect the work and expertise of the Board with the broader UN System, including Resident Coordinators. This will include targeted engagement between UN Country Teams and the Board affiliated science network institutions.
It will also require engagement with major international science fora, including the UN Science Technology, and Innovation Forum and other international platforms, where Board Members can engage with audiences and policy decision-makers to urgent and evolving scientific updates.
The incumbent will also support relationship management with UN Member States. This includes close liaison with the leadership of the General Assembly Group of Friends of Science for Action, as well as the broader Member State community.
To ensure connections within the Board and across its network institutions, the incumbent will be responsible for the planning and execution of two annual retreats, one virtual and one in person, where Board Members can exchange ideas and priorities, and engage directly with the Secretary-General.
3. Advance science communication
The incumbent will be responsible for enhancing communications between the Board and the public, the Board and the UN System, and between Board Members themselves.
The incumbent will support and directly contribute to:
Increasing science-based decision making within the United Nations and the broader multilateral system, including through engagement with Member States.
Advancing science-based approaches through external communication with stakeholders and through engagement with Member States.
Contributing to the Science Technology and Innovation Forum as the premier science diplomacy event in the multilateral calendar. Building a reliable and engaged set of science partners within the United Nations, across the broader scientific community, and with funding partners.In the first year, the focus of the role will be heavily weighted to the establishment of practices and processes that can enable the scaling and sustainability of the operationalization that has taken place since the first in-person retreat in September 2024. Future work will build out programmes and networks beyond the pilot stage, solidifying funding and value-add of the Board into the tenure of the next Secretary-General in 2027.
Education/Experience/Language requirements*FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY*
Education:
Competencies
Additional Information
Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request. We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation. 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.Terms and Conditions
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 ( they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.
All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.