Senior Change and Communications Manager

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

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects worldwide. 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.

UNOPS has operated as a self-financing entity within the UN system since 1994. Throughout this time, UNOPS has successfully delivered services to other UN entities as well as a variety of partners. UNOPS has, over the years, undertaken the delivery of increasingly complex engagements such as project implementation services for large physical infrastructure projects, multifaceted public health projects, and highly complex procurement assignments.

Recent years have seen a transformational shift within UNOPS in all areas. Together with the steadily increasing size of the UNOPS portfolio, UNOPS leadership structures, management practices, oversight mechanisms, and UNOPS ability to collaborate and manage knowledge have all made giant strides forward.

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.

Business Transformation and Digitalization **(BTD) Programme**

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is embarking on a Business Transformation and Digitalization journey to enhance its operational efficiency, effectiveness, and agility. The Business Transformation and Digitalization Programme aims to overhaul processes, systems, and the capacity of personnel so the organization can leverage innovative digital technologies and solutions. To support the Business Transformation and Digitalization Director with implementing this ambitious program, UNOPS is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Change and Communications Manager.

A programme team is being established to provide business-driven leadership for and support to UNOPS digital/business transformation. This requires a deep understanding of the organization, its tools, and processes, both at the strategic and operational levels, as well as a consultative and facilitative approach, to process re-engineering, development of digital systems, and reporting.

The Business Transformation and Digitalization programme is expected to last four (4) years.

Role of the Senior Change and Communications Manager

The Senior Change and Communications Manager reports to the Business Transformation and Digitalization Programme Director and supports the organization in adopting new ways of working through how we work, embracing digital technology, and embedding innovation.

The Senior Change and Communications Manager is responsible for developing and delivering on the UNOPS Business Transformation and Digitalization Change Management approach utilizing the UNOPS change management framework and relevant practices. They will oversee and coordinate the implementation of the Programme Strategy, advising different projects on adopting new ways of working. This will ensure that personnel are aware, willing to engage and have the necessary knowledge, ability, and environment to reinforce upskilling to 'think digitally' and to embrace and leverage new digital technologies. By doing so, UNOPS will increase its positive impact for our beneficiaries and enhance its support for partners.

The successful candidate will have strong experience leading organizational change, change management and communications strategies, and employee enablement. They should demonstrate an ability to develop standards, tailor approaches and tools, and have strong stakeholder management skills to coordinate and oversee the implementation of these approaches across a portfolio of different projects.

The key functions of the role include

1. Strategy Development
2. Change and Transformation Visioning and Stakeholder Management
3. Advise, coach, and ensure change management across all projects
4. Change Implementation
5. Team Leadership
6. Knowledge management

This recruitment aims to fill an ongoing, full-time position based in Copenhagen, Denmark. Depending on actual needs, BTD Programme may decide to recruit endorsed qualified professionals for contracts with different working conditions (short/long term, part/full-time, retainer, regular or ongoing positions).

Functional Responsibilities

1. Strategy Development Programme Strategy

• Review and provide recommendations and inputs from stakeholders to ensure logical consistency and coherence internally (on the Programme level) and externally (on the practice level) as well as alignment with corporate strategy

Change and Communications Strategy

• Develop and implement a comprehensive change management and communications strategy for the Business Transformation and Digitalization Programme. Collaborate closely with the Programme Manager to ensure alignment with Programme objectives and organizational goals.
• Lead the development and implementation of a communication plan at the programme level in close collaboration with the Programme Manager to ensure timely and effective dissemination of Programme updates, objectives, and benefits to all stakeholders.
• Lead the application of the UNOPS change 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 knowledge for the change programme, through supervision of data collection, research, analysis, and presentation of information from diverse sources.

  2. Change and Transformation Visioning and Stakeholder Management

• Articulate how the Business Transformation and Digitalization Programme connects and enables the wider UNOPS transformation agenda and how different projects contribute to the programme goals.
• Assess change drivers and work with the Programme Manager to translate them into viable programmes/ projects with clear vision and objectives.
• Work with senior stakeholders to define and build organizational awareness around the rationale and goals for Programme. Collaborate with project sponsors/stakeholders to ensure the business case for change is clearly defined and documented.
• Develop tailored engagement plans to foster stakeholder buy-in, support, and active participation in the Business Transformation and Digitalization initiatives.
• Lead the creation and delivery of communication materials, including newsletters, presentations, and targeted messages, to support awareness and engagement with the Business Transformation and Digitalization Programme.

• Keep sensing and responding to key stakeholders' concerns, needs, reactions, and feedback and iteratively refine and reinforce the Business Transformation and Digitalization vision and narrative.

  3. Advise, coach, and ensure change management across all projects

• Coach and support sponsors, project managers/ teams in understanding their role in managing change and what good change management looks like in practice. Advise on building the change capability of people leaders as a key people-facing role in delivering effective and sustained change.
• Ensure the development of actionable and targeted change management plans, including communication plan, sponsor roadmap, training plan, stakeholder engagement strategies, and resistance management plan.
• Advise change management practitioners at the project level, as required, on the development, planning, and implementation of key change management activities such as the definition of the case for change; stakeholder analysis; change impact assessment; change readiness assessment; knowledge and capacity gap analysis (skills and behaviors); training programmes; workshops; learning resources; establishment of change champion networks; interventions to prevent disruptions and address people-related adoption issues.
• Monitor change progress, implementation and reinforcement of change management activities, and revise change management strategies as necessary.
• Advise internal clients on issues that may impact the achievement of the desired change outcomes, including establishing solid working relationships with the key stakeholders
• Provide support and advice to senior leaders and other key stakeholders to increase understanding of how people experience change and the process of transition.

• Provide information and advice to key stakeholders to keep them up to date with progress, issues and developments in the change programme, providing appropriate briefings to enable informed decision making regarding the planned approach.

  4. Change Implementation
• Manage and oversee change management projects (incl. project stakeholder management, project management, project documentation, workshops, and post-implementation follow-up as needed).
• Identify and assess the impact of Business Transformation and Digitalization on various stakeholders, including employees, teams, and business processes.
• Lead the development of actionable and targeted change management plans in collaboration with Programme Manager, including communication plan, sponsor roadmap, training plan, stakeholder engagement strategies, and resistance management plan.
• Advise change management practitioner, as required, on the development, planning, and implementation of key change management activities such as: of stakeholder analysis, change impact assessment, and change readiness.
• Collaborate with Programme teams and project managers to ensure effective stakeholder communication and engagement throughout the Programme lifecycle.
• Lead the creation and delivery of communication materials, including newsletters, presentations, and targeted messages, to support change management initiatives.
• Develop mitigation strategies and action plans to address identified risks and minimize disruption during the transition period.

• Monitor change progress, evaluate change readiness, and revise change management strategies as necessary.

  5. Team Leadership

• Establish team priorities, and supervise the implementation of work plans.
• Set team objectives, performance measurements, standards, and results expected to ensure timely and client-focused services. Monitor implementation and oversee progress.
• Plan and allocate resources (human, financial, and administrative) to achieve goals and ensure the cost-effective and appropriate use of resources
• 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 gender and geographical diversity.

• Foster a positive work environment, respectful of diversity, and ensure that the highest standards of conduct are observed.

  6. Knowledge management

• Contribute to the ongoing update of UNOPS Change Management framework and body of knowledge
• Lead the capture of lessons learned from change management activities.
• Collaborate with other change management professionals and industry experts to stay updated on best practices and emerging trends.
• Lead training events and design/set training agenda to build the capacity of stakeholders on Change Management in collaboration with UNOPS Change and Transformation Unit. Determine and make available sufficient expert resources for training events.
• Foster a culture of transparency, collaboration, and knowledge sharing within the organization.

Impact of Results The effective and successful performance by the Senior Change and Communications Manager 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: - A Master’s degree is required, preferably in a relevant field. - 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. - Professional Change Management Practitioner certification (i.e. PROSCI or APMG) is an asset. - Project and Programme management certification (PRINCE2, PMP, MSP) is an asset.

Experience: - A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience working in change management, management consulting, organizational development or business transformation. - This would ideally include at least 3 years of experience managing transformation and change programmes, in an international context. - Experience working with Business Transformation and Digitalization and adapting to digital trends such as automation / new technologies and cloud-based solutions is an asset. - Experience in leading and overseeing the work of change management practitioners is an asset. Strong stakeholder engagement and management skills and the ability to advise stakeholders at different functions and levels is an asset. - Operational field experience within UNOPS or within a similar international organizational environment is an asset.

Language Requirements: - Full working knowledge of English is essential. - Knowledge of another official UNOPS language 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.