Infrastructure and Project Management Specialist (Sustainability and Resilience Specialist), Strategic Initiatives

Contract

This is a IICA-2 contract. This kind of contract is known as International Individual Contractor Agreements. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's an external contract. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education. More about IICA-2 contracts.

Background Information - UNOPS

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.

Background information - Implementation Practices and Standards (IPS)

Within UNOPS, Implementation Practices and Standards (IPS) is responsible for the UNOPS delivery practices. IPS provides thought leadership, standards and oversight as support to the successful delivery of programmes and projects within UNOPS service lines (infrastructure, procurement, project management, human resources and financial management services).

IPS is comprised of the Infrastructure and Project Management Group (IPMG) and the Procurement Group (PG) which aims to reduce organizational risks, improve project performance, and promote excellence across UNOPS projects through the Standards Management Framework; and provides organisational oversight on the application of standards. These Groups also support the positioning of UNOPS in the UN system and development sector in Infrastructure, Project Management and Procurement. In addition, the Portfolio Support (PS) unit aims at building up and managing aspects of the organisational readiness of UNOPS.

Background information - IPMG

UNOPS strategic focus places increased emphasis on national capacity development and sustainable approaches to project management, procurement and infrastructure services. A key objective is to be recognized as an organization that delivers world-class infrastructure and project management, which is both economically and socially sustainable, even in the most challenging environments. To achieve this goal, UNOPS has established the Infrastructure and Project Management Group (IPMG).

Within UNOPS, it is IPMG’s objective to serve the organization’s personnel and partners by broadening their infrastructure and project management capabilities, while disseminating best practices in both of these areas. Through this work, the group helps facilitate the successful delivery of programs and projects around the world.

To achieve its objectives, IPMG has established three interrelated and interdependent work streams, namely, Strategic Initiatives, Standards, and Engagement Assurance. IPMG is managed overall by the Deputy Director of IPMG.

The Strategic Initiatives (SI) team works to develop methodologies and tools to improve development outcomes as well as assist in the positioning of UNOPS at the highest levels in related fields, including various global agenda focus areas, such as resilience and sustainability.

Functional Responsibilities

Purpose and Scope of Assignment

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the IPMG Head of Strategic Initiatives, the Sustainability and Resilience Specialist will be based in Copenhagen; however, the incumbent may be required to travel to support Strategic Initiatives in the field. Specifically, the Sustainability and Resilience Specialist will support the development of thought leadership, tools, and other resources within UNOPS infrastructure and project management operations, with colleagues at all levels and across offices of the organization.

The Sustainability and Resilience Specialist may be required to provide technical inputs related to:

1. Thought Leadership

• Support in establishing UNOPS thought leadership and credibility in infrastructure through leading research and the creation of new knowledge and service lines through position papers, guidance etc;
• Support in identification and development of new services lines and tools in infrastructure to increase UNOPS ability to practically support governments and partners achieve sustainable and resilient development outcomes;
• Develop infrastructure related technical input, advice and guidance to internal and external partners on sustainability and resilience;

• Contribute to the development and piloting of frameworks, tools and methodologies for building sustainability, resilience and inclusiveness, focused primarily on infrastructure systems;

• Provide technical inputs to IPMG Standards publications, especially in sustainable and resilient infrastructure and infrastructure in development.

2. Liaison and Partnerships

• Support the process in positioning UNOPS (and IPMG) as a leading partner for Infrastructure and Project Management (IPM) Services amongst UNOPS development partners;
• Support Partnerships and Liaison Group and Country Offices in the strengthening of strategic partnerships with key stakeholder groups including UN Agencies, Private Sector and Donor Agencies;
• Support UNOPS participation in selected events including strategy, application and production of event materials and presentations.
• Nurture relationships with key institutions around thought leadership, by working on joint publications and pilot projects, etc.

3. Capacity Development and Technical Assistance

• Support the development of manuals and other capacity-building tools for increasing knowledge and developing an applied understanding of quality infrastructure;
• Develop and deliver guidance and training in support of building knowledge, skills and competencies around quality infrastructure at UNOPS HQ, Regional and Country levels;
• Provide support and advice on Resilience, Sustainability and Inclusiveness in infrastructure, including advice on operational implementation and building delivery capacity;
• Contribute to the design and implementation of pilot projects around the quality infrastructure tools;
• Contribute to the development of corporate knowledge management system by capturing case studies and best practice examples throughout UNOPS (especially of monitoring forms), making recommendations on policy and tools, as well as contributing to the development of guidance material and tools;
• Be responsive to ad hoc requests for technical guidance on issues related to the SDGs, climate change and other global policy agendas, with a technical and Strategic Positioning approach.

4. Project and Team Management

• Manage direct reports and task based retainers;
• Management of tasks within work plan;
• Contribute to monthly and quarterly reporting.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

• A Master’s Degree (MSc) or equivalent in engineering, economics, geography or other relevant field is required.
• A Doctorate (DPhil/PhD) or equivalent in engineering, economics, geography or other relevant field would be desirable and may substitute for some years of relevant work experience.

Certifications

• PRINCE2® Practitioner would be considered an asset;
• PMP Certification would be considered an asset.

Work Experience

• 5 years of experience working in infrastructure and the built environment is required;
• Track record of leading thought leadership publications or strategic reports is required;
• Experience working with a variety of institutions; including UN, government/public institutions, private sector, and or research/academia in the field of infrastructure and the built environment is desired;
• Relevant experience working in developing countries is desired;
• Experience working with the global policy frameworks around sustainable and resilient infrastructure is considered an asset;
• Experience developing analytical frameworks is considered an asset;
• Experience developing software-based tools is considered an asset.

• Experience in development and/or post-conflict related contexts is considered an asset;

• Technical Leadership and expertise in Project Management is considered an asset;

• Knowledge of Disaster Risk Recovery and Resilience is considered an asset.

Languages

• Fluency in English required;
• Fluency in French and/or Spanish is highly desirable.

Competencies

Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization. Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles. Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role). Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries. Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements. Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving. Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: ICA Contract level: I-ICA2 Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link: https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

Additional Considerations

• 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 and qualified candidates from the Global South 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.