Knowledge Management Advisor

Contract

This is a IICA-3 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 7 years of experience, depending on education. More about IICA-3 contracts.

Background Information - Job-specific

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.

Role of the Change and Transformation Unit

The role of the Change and Transformation Unit (CTU) is to work across UNOPS, to design and implement effective, sustainable solutions, to make a difference where it matters most.

CTU supports new possibilities for UNOPS by helping teams to innovate, finding new ways of working and developing/designing nimble organizational models. Our expertise, tools and processes ensure greater participation in change; we pay as much attention to people and processes, as we do to structures and technology.

Our team brings experience, energy and partnership to a full range of change management and transformation advisory services including: organization design, organizational development, design and implementation of corporate transformation programmes, facilitating changes to behavior and ways of working, human centered design and change leadership

Our team are all experienced change management consultants who can provide support around change leadership, managing change at all levels, coaching people leaders and/or managing change projects.

Role of the Knowledge Management Advisor

As part of the UNOPS Change and Transformation Unit, the Knowledge Management team supports UNOPS to harness the collective knowledge of the organization, leading to better operational efficiencies.

This means embedding knowledge management in our organizational culture and daily tasks. The goals are focused on gathering, communicating and innovating our existing tools in a dynamic and practical manner; always focused on enabling growth, reducing risk and improving the efficiency of UNOPS.

The Knowledge Management Advisor reports to the Head of the Change and Transformation Unit, who provides broad supervision and guidance. The purpose of the position is to ensure:

• The best of UNOPS collective knowledge, lessons learned and results achieved is made available when and where needed, increasingly in forms openly accessible to clients and the public at large.
• Knowledge management technologies and platforms are increasingly integrated, easy-to-access and use, and optimally designed and deployed to deliver demonstrable business value
• Knowledge management activities including knowledge sharing become actionable and integrated into UNOPS work culture through the utilization of a broad set of tested KM tools, models and approaches that all staff are trained to use

The role leads a small team to develop and implement innovative, creative, and effective ways to strategically capture internal knowledge for sharing. It is also responsible for leveraging best practices and change management principles to improve the effectiveness of internal and external knowledge sharing.

Functional Responsibilities

1. Knowledge management strategy - Work with senior stakeholders to define and lead UNOPS knowledge management strategy. - Lead the application of the UNOPS knowledge management approach and methodology to identify potential risks, anticipate points of resistance and develop specific plans to mitigate or address concerns. - Ensure the availability of relevant tools, information and approaches for the organization wide knowledge management programme, through supervision of data collection, research, analysis and presentation of information from diverse sources. - Identify and monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to monitor knowledge management progress. - Manage and lead the identification of risks; highlight impacts and develop mitigation plans associated with the delivery of the knowledge management strategy. - Lead knowledge management contributions to the UNOPS digitization strategy, including contributing to the roll-out and promotion of online knowledge sharing platforms, products, and/or initiatives.

2. Knowledge management implementation - Lead the prioritization of knowledge management projects and initiatives with guidance from the Head of Change and Transformation. - Lead corporate knowledge management programmes to support strategic objectives. - Work with leaders across the organization to streamline knowledge capture. - Curate internal knowledge management networks of UNOPS experts and resources. - Provide advice to UNOPS country offices on issues of people, process, technology and strategy, to maximize the effectiveness of the corporate knowledge management programme. - Provide advice to key stakeholders to drive the implementation of work plans for the projects identified in knowledge management programmes. - Lead the monitoring and reporting of the status of the delivery, dissemination and impact of knowledge products.

3. Communication - Lead the development, quality control and brand management of knowledge management products, assist and provide advice in the preparation of concept notes, knowledge product plans, and strategies for dissemination. - Ensure knowledge management products comply with UNOPS communications standards and branding toolkits, through close collaboration with the Communications Group. - Work with the Communication Group and knowledge management networks to enhance the visibility of knowledge products, encouraging learning and co-creation on internal platforms. - Plan and conduct regular training for knowledge focal points on storing, sharing and managing information. - Work with the Partnerships Group and Communication Group to raise awareness of UNOPS key initiatives and lessons learned.

4. Team leadership - Establish the annual work plan for the knowledge management team, in collaboration with the CTU leadership and stakeholders, set objectives, performance measurements, standards and results expected. - Lead the knowledge management team to deliver specific work items through development, facilitation and consolidation of high quality project deliverables. - Monitor implementation of the team’s annual work plan, oversee progress and ensure the delivery of results as planned and according to expectation. - Promote teamwork and collaboration by providing the team with clear direction, objectives and guidance to enable them to perform their duties responsibly, effectively and efficiently. - Plan, recruit and develop a flexible workforce with the skills and competencies needed to ensure optimum performance, and ensure gender and geographical diversity. - Foster a positive work environment, respectful of individuals of all backgrounds, and ensure that the highest standards of conduct are observed.

• Lead the implementation of best practices in knowledge management and ensure these practices are adopted by the team.

Impact of Results

The effective and successful performance by the Knowledge Management Advisor reinforces the visibility and image of the UNOPS as an effective service provider in project services and management and strengthens its competitive position as a partner of choice in sustainable development and project services.

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.(for levels IICA-2, IICA-3, LICA Specialist- 10, LICA Specialist-11, NOC, NOD, P3, P4 and above) 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.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education: - Master’s degree in Information Science, Knowledge Management, Business, or related field with a focus on information/knowledge management is required. - A combination of Bachelor’s degree with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the education requirements outlined above. - Change Management certification (i.e. PROSCI, IMPG etc) is an asset.

Experience: - A minimum of 7 years of relevant and progressive professional experience in knowledge management is required. - Demonstrated experience developing/managing knowledge management systems, including experience with current KM technologies is required. - Strong computer literacy in particular familiarity with Google Suite is required. - Technical proficiency in project management will be considered an asset. - Experience as a people manager is an asset. - Previous working experience in developing countries in an international environment will be considered an asset.

Language requirements: - Full working knowledge of English is essential. - Full working knowledge of another official UNOPS language (French or Spanish) is an asset.

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.
• 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.

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. 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.