Senior Urban Specialist (Internal Candidates Only)

Overview

Lead urban development initiatives and partnerships.

You have:

• PhD in a relevant field is an asset.
• Master’s degree in Urban Studies, Business Administration, Development Studies, Economics, Finance, Social Sciences, Political Science or related fields required.
• At least seven (7) years of work experience in the international development sector on urbanisation issues is required.
• At least two (2) years of work experience on Gender Mainstreaming Issues is required.
• Fluency in English is required.
• Intermediate level in French language is required.
• Working knowledge of Spanish and/or Arabic would be considered an asset.

Contract

This is a P-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 90,970 USD and 117,287 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

Background Information - Job-specific

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. 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.

Cities Alliance, which is hosted by UNOPS, is the global partnership promoting the role of cities in poverty reduction and sustainable development. Headquartered in Brussels and supported by a Secretariat, it is a unique partnership with a diverse membership which has come together to strengthen both impacts and coherence in urban development. Cities Alliance is a global leader, with a strong track record in grant-making to support strategic citywide planning, slum upgrading strategies and national policies designed to make cities more inclusive and sustainable. Through UNOPS, the Cities Alliance operates a Multi-Donor Fund supported by an efficient, flexible grant-making mechanism with global reach.

The senior urban specialist, reports to the Head of Strategy, who provides direction and general supervision. S/he is responsible for achieving the ambition as set out in the Cities Alliance Strategic Plan 2022-25 to advocate and mainstream new thinking on key urban development issues.

The incumbent is responsible for the substantive oversight, quality assurance and the day-to-day operations of an assigned programmes and projects on urban development. The incumbent serves as a geographic focal point within the Secretariat on the MENA and ECA regions. Additionally, the incumbent acts as a thematic focal point for gender equality and inclusive urban planning, especially as these themes connect with other strategic priorities like climate change and migration. The incumbent represents the organization in global discussions on these topics, aiming to expand funding opportunities and build strategic partnerships for the Cities Alliance.

The incumbent will be responsible for the below functional responsibilities:

Functional Responsibilities

The incumbent will be responsible for the below functional responsibilities:

1. Programme identification and development

• Seek and identify additional funding opportunities, and, when requested, lead the negotiations and preparation of funding proposals, donor briefings and presentations in support of Cities Alliance’s mission and vision.
• Lead in the development of new programmes and projects on inclusive urban development in line with the priorities of the Cities Alliance mission, vision and Strategic Plan.
• Analyse international programmatic and sectoral trends to identify strategic areas and comparative advantage for the Cities Alliance by providing substantive orientation, positioning for normative and country level operations, and areas of business growth.

2. Programme governance, implementation and monitoring

• Assume overall responsibility for the management and planning of an assigned portfolio of programmatic activities within the Cities Alliance, focusing on the MENA and ECA regions while also providing support for other countries and regions as needed.
• Perform day-to-day programme oversight to ensure successful implementation and delivery of the assigned portfolio.
• Ensure that project management policies, processes and methods are followed for the assigned portfolio and that there is operational, fiduciary and quality compliance with Cities Alliance and UNOPS rules and procedures.
• Recruit, manage, and motivate a team of international consultants and local personnel to successfully implement projects and achieve the goals within the assigned portfolio.

3. Technical expertise and cross-support

• Provide thematic expertise, advice, and cross-support to the Secretariat on inclusive urban development and urban poverty, as well as across the thematic priorities of the Strategic Plan, with specific attention to gender, climate change, and migration.
• Ensure that assigned normative and operational activities of the Cities Alliance advance the role of cities in the international development agenda, and highlights the importance of pro-poor and inclusive urban development;
• Foster synergies and alignment on key urban issues between normative work and country operations, as well as with projects, programmes, and portfolios under the purview of other urban specialists.
• Support regional, national, and local policy initiatives and dialogues, enhancing the institutional capacities of policymakers and local authorities in urban planning.
• Provide analytical and sector-specific technical inputs in project outputs, knowledge and communications materials, keynotes and other relevant substantive documents to be delivered by the Cities Alliance Secretariat, members, and partners.
• Share and insitutionalise best practices and lessons learned for corporate development planning and knowledge building.

4. Networking, Partnerships and Advocacy

• Establish effective relationships with Cities Alliance partners for the assigned portfolio, building a resource network that includes political leadership at national, sub-national, and community levels, as well as key stakeholders in academia and the private sector.
• Serve as a focal point for select Cities Alliance members, supporting outreach to new partners, facilitating inter-institutional cooperation, and identifying new membership opportunities. Encourage the development of member-driven activities at global, regional, and sub-regional levels.
• Represent the Secretariat and Cities Alliance at conferences, panels, and meetings, as needed.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education: - PhD (Doctorate) in any of these fields would be an asset.

• Master’s degree preferably in Urban Studies, Business Administration, Development Studies, Economics, Finance, Social Sciences, Political Science or related fields required;

• Bachelor’s degree preferably in Urban Studies, Business Administration, Development Studies, Economics, Finance, Social Sciences, Political Science or related fields with additional 2 years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of a Master’s degree.

Experience: - At least seven (7) years of work experience in the international development sector on urbanisation issues is required.

• Within the seven (7) years, at least two (2) years of work experience on Gender Mainstreaming Issues is required.

• Previous experience in developing countries and/or prior work experience with UNOPS or UN Agencies would be an asset.

• Previous experience in Monitoring & Evaluation activities would be an asset.

Language Requirements: - Fluency in English is required.

• Intermediate level in French language is required.

• Working knowledge of Spanish and/or Arabic would be considered an asset.

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.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Staff Contract level: P4 Contract duration: Fixed-term staff contracts - 'One year initially, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability'

For more details about United Nations staff contracts, please follow this link: https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/UN-Staff-Contracts.aspx

Additional Information

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• This position is open to INTERNAL CANDIDATES ONLY.
• 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.

Potential interview questions