Senior Advisor - Innovation

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 - 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 - Job-specific

This position is based in UNOPS Headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark. The successful incumbent will report to the Director of the Implementation Practices and Standards (IPS) to setup a corporate innovation approach.

The incumbent will focus on immediate innovation opportunities presented through better linkage of S3i Innovation Centres and the broader UNOPS business related to development challenges presented in UNOPS countries of operation, a reformed Up-Forum and UNWEBUY+, as well as looking for innovation opportunities in broader service offerings.

Functional Responsibilities

1. Develop a corporate Innovation approach
2. Pilot opportunities
3. Representation and inter-agency partnership
4. Knowledge management and innovation

1. Develop a corporate Innovation approach - Develop a comprehensive innovation mechanism and plan to integrate innovation into UNOPS service offerings, in line with UNOPS Strategic Plan and Regional Strategies. This includes identification of main internal and external partners, strategic positioning of UNOPS in the potential niches identified. Ensure the mechanism and plan reflects in-house capacity, typology of projects and the internal tools and knowledge resources. - Examine risks and opportunities for UNOPS in advancing a corporate innovation mechanism and propose appropriate responses to ensure success. - Coordinate and collaborate with relevant personnel at HQ and regional level, including but not limited to the Regional and Country Office teams, S3I Innovation team, Partnership and Liaison Group, UNWEBUY+ Team, Procurement Group, Infrastructure and Project Management Group, Communications Group and the Knowledge Management team.

2. Pilot opportunities - Pilot the mechanism by working with UNOPS S3I, country offices and other internal stakeholders to identify areas of collaboration to apply the mechanism within UNOPS mandate and existing capacity. - Research events, publications and announcements, to track and screen opportunities for possible UNOPS interventions and identify trends that will drive partnership opportunities. - Provide advice and feedback to the IPS Director on the partnership agreements that can increase opportunities. - Support country offices and the S3I innovation Centers by contributing to the identification, design, formulation and negotiation of new opportunities and provide input to concept notes and project document briefs for discussion with partners. - In coordination with Communications and Partnerships personnel, lead the gathering of content for communications and outreach materials.

3. Representation and inter-agency partnership - Establish and develop partnerships with UN agencies, international organisations, governments, foundations, international NGOs and private sector organisations to collaborate on innovation opportunities. - Undertake advocacy, public information and communication activities in collaboration with the Communications Group and the Partnerships and Liaison Group. - On behalf of the Director of Implementation Practices and Standards, participate in and report on relevant external meetings and events, including addressing project development issues in consultation with technical experts when required. Take part in common planning and programming processes, including strategic analysis. - Build a network of key partners, keeping abreast of evolving trends (social, economic, and political), including the application of innovation to project and partnership development.

4. Knowledge management and innovation - Contribute to the ongoing research, development and implementation of best practice and innovative approaches to maximise performance and sustain achievements in project and partnership development. - Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for innovation in UNOPS service lines.

Impacts of results: The effective and successful achievement of results by the Senior Advisor - Innovation impacts on the performance and value proposition of UNOPS by mainstreaming innovation into UNOPS business and creating opportunity to bring innovation to UNOPS service offerings, which leads to sustainable growth of the UNOPS’ presence and strengthens the achievements of UNOPS management and contribution goals and and the fulfilment of its mandate.

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.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education: - A Master’s degree in a relevant field such as Business Administration, Public Administration, International Development, Engineering, Political Science, Communications or International Relations. - 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.

Experience:

• At least 10 years of experience in an international development position including demonstrated combined experience in:

1. Experience from the Innovation ecosystem, either as investor, founder, of incubator/accelerator manager; and
2. at least two of the following areas: - Developing and executing partnership and programme development plans;
   • Project development and proposal writing;
   • Acquisition of projects;
   • Project and programme management experience is an asset
   • Establishing partnerships with UN agencies, international development organisations, governments, foundations, international NGOs or private sector organisations.

• Prior experience working in international organisations, international development, post-disaster and/or emergency contexts would also be an advantage.

Language Requirements:

• Full working knowledge of English is essential.
  • Fluency in one or more additional official UNOPS languages is an advantage.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: ICA Contract level: I-ICA3 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 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/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

Work environment

IPS offers a unique work environment in UNOPS headquarters, in Copenhagen, Denmark, located in the UN City building, one of Copenhagen’s landmarks. UNOPS HQ offers a safe, family-friendly lifestyle environment with multiple opportunities for networking and active lifestyle, in a city known for its excellent urban design and planning.

The IPS team is a diverse team in terms of age, nationalities and family situations. IPS is keen on strengthening diversity in the team with a current focus on gender equality and geographic diversity. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. IPS is very dynamic and welcomes agility, autonomy and self-drive. The work of IPS is oriented towards exciting opportunities which have a corporate, global impact and is in touch with the whole of UNOPS.

UNOPS has a host country agreement with the Government of Denmark, and as such both national and international candidates are eligible for HQ-based positions. UNOPS officials are exempt from Danish taxes on UN incomes. EU citizens may opt to be registered with the Danish State Administration as EU migrant worker and keep the rights associated with that status or register through UNOPS with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. EU Citizens may apply for the public Danish health insurance or special health card depending on their choice of registration, while the non-EU citizens will be registered by UNOPS under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.