Project Management Support - Senior Analyst (Special Assistant)

Job Description

Background Information - Job-specific

New York Service Cluster (NYSC) supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management.

Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. It was formed by combining the following portfolios: Grants Management Services (GMS), UN Technology Support Services (UNTSS), Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio (DSIP) It provides Services to partners’ programmes that are designed, structured, and managed with a global perspective and primarily serving partners that are headquartered in New York. The SDC has a footprint of approximately 125 countries.

UNOPS has signed an agreement with the Executive Office of the Secretary General (EOSG) of the United Nations to implement the activities of the Climate Action Team (CAT) Project.

Following COP26 in Glasgow, there is less than a decade to prevent a climate breakdown. Without deep emissions cuts, the world is heading towards 2.4-degrees Celsius of warming with catastrophic consequences. At current levels of warming the world is experiencing unprecedented climate impacts. An increase in global average temperature above 1.5 degrees would mean extreme weather and climate disasters increasing in frequency and intensity, putting billions of people at immediate risk with significant parts of Africa becoming unlivable and whole countries ceasing to exist. The Secretary-General’s call to all countries, cities, companies and institutions to go into emergency mode on climate is needed more than ever.

While climate change risks undermining the 2030 Agenda, as well as the social, economic, and environmental pillars of sustainable development, climate action also presents an opportunity. Green investments boost growth and jobs; just transitions are inclusive and help to eradicate poverty; and enhancing carbon sinks strengthen biodiversity and resilience. It will be essential to ensure that the transformation of economies and societies takes place to enable accelerated climate action in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) during this decade of action.

The objective of the Secretary-General’s climate action strategy throughout his second term will be to accelerate the pathway towards a resilient, low carbon world, that keeps the 1.5 degrees goal alive, and to secure the alignment of public and private finance to enable the necessary transitions to take place while leaving no one behind. COP26 made progress on mitigation, adaptation and finance.

It will be critical to build on progress made at COP26. The two-year period from Glasgow in November 2021 to the Global Stocktake in November 2023 will be essential to meeting this goal and is aligned with the complementary push for accelerated efforts during the Decade of Action to deliver the SDGs by 2030. This will require enhanced coordination and collaboration across the UN System especially at the country level.

The incumbent of this position will be a staff member of UNOPS under its full responsibility.

Functional Responsibilities Under the guidance of the Senior Programme Officer (Chief of Staff) the incumbent will carry out the follow functions: 1. Provide Substantive Support to the Assistant Secretary-General and Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Climate Action and Ambition for a Green Transition (ASG):

• Assists with the compilation of documents to support the daily schedule of the ASG, including managing his engagements at events, tasking KM, BN as appropriate, preparing a daily pack of issues that need ASG attention and review.
• Act as first line ‘information filter’, managing information flow to and from the ASG and Directors, including synthesizing and summarizing information for the ASG and Directors to facilitate decision making;
• Provides substantive and practical support to the ASG in the implementation of the offices objectives, Keeps the ASG informed on all matters requiring her/his personal attention; Assists in formulating options as to how those matters might be handled, and ensures appropriate follow-up and coordination, as directed by the ASG
• Conduct research, substantive reviews and critical analysis, report inputs, memos, presentations and talking points etc.
• Support the ASG and Director in daily administrative matters including the planning and organization of missions (travel and hotel bookings, visa applications, processing expense claims and follow-up actions) and the management of profile in oneUNOPS;

2. Internal Communications to Support the ASG in Information Dissemination

• Liaise and coordinate closely with counterparts in Front Offices and Climate Directorates/Teams across the UN system.
• Assist in knowledge management of team documentation and SharePoint systems
• Assist in managing and collaborating with team members working on partnerships and UN system engagement, constituent database, including adding and revising contacts and updating fundraising notes.
• Assists the SMT meetings: scheduling, agenda draft, minutes writing;
• Under the guidance of the supervisor supports the internal communications in order to disseminate information and messages on behalf of the ASG and Directors;
• Facilitate the flow of communication between teams, colleagues and also external partners;
• Maintain an up to date plan/calendar of official missions, absences, key events, trainings and meetings for the entire Secretariat;
• Establish and maintain effective records management, structured document retrieval and workflow management system;
• Attend various internal meetings organised by teams/colleagues. Communicate with managers, team leads, personnel and partners to ensure initiatives are on track and co-ordinates realignment if necessary.

3. Support to Initiatives & Internal Coordination

• In collaboration with the Chief of Staff, contribute to aligning business processes and make suggestions for rationalization of workflows where needed;
• Collaborates in the organization of workshops and retreats, developing objectives and agendas;
• Provide backup assistance to other administrative staff, as necessary;
• Performs other duties as may be reasonably required and in line with the incumbent’s scope of services above.

Education/Experience/Language requirements
Female Candidates are strongly encouraged to apply

Education Requirements:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree), preferably in International Relations or Diplomacy, International Environment, Climate or related areas is required.
• Two (2) additional years of relevant work experience, in combination with a relevant first-level university (bachelor’s degree or equivalent), may substitute for the requirement of a master’s degree

Required Work Experience

• At least two (2) years of relevant experience in general administrative, procurement, logistics, operations or support services in national or international public or corporate sector are required.
• Experience working in the field of climate change and United Nations is required.

Desirable experience (the following experience is optional candidates who do not have it are welcome to apply)

• Experience of delivering events with senior principals in attendance is desired.
• Experience working in Front Office is desired.
• Experience in record briefing and advising senior principles is desired.
• Experience working for Member States, especially developing country / Asia is desired.
• Experience in NGO ecosystem and context is desired.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in oral and written English is required.
• Knowledge of another official UN language is an advantage.

About the Organization

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.