A UNOPS recruiter shares what the agency looks for in top candidates

From experts in marine plastics to national NDC coordinators, translators, and partnerships specialists, UNOPS is currently hiring for more than 80 positions around the world on the Devex job board. The U.N. agency works to provide infrastructure, procurement, and project management services to respond to partner needs and support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. And, with 2023 marking the halfway point for achieving the SGDs, more hiring can be expected in roles related to climate action, health, renewable energies, and gender equality and inclusion, explained Satomi Ogata-Knutsen, HR specialist for talent outreach with the agency. This means there will continue to be opportunities for professionals looking to transition from other sectors and with experience in the areas that UNOPS works, said Ogata-Knutsen, who herself came from the private sector. And, in addition to in-country expertise, the agency is looking to hire for remote roles and retainer contracts. Asked what candidates can do to stand out in the competitive application process, Ogata-Knutsen stressed the importance of reading the job description carefully and making use of the cover letter, which is optional but something that recruiters lean on when two candidates are closely matched during the recruitment process. Devex finds out more about the profiles the agency is looking for and what experiences candidates should highlight. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity. What level of experience, generally, is UNOPS looking for right now? Where we are actively hiring is more of the mid-level positions, so generally that's ICSC-6 - ICSC-10. UNOPS contracts follow the International Civil Service Commission's grade and, generally, in terms of positions, our recruitment focuses on the two main groups — the first one covers management support functions such as finance, human resources, logistics, information technology, communications, and legal. The second group would be more core to the UNOPS mission, covering project management, sustainable infrastructure, and procurement. Within these fields, we recruit civil engineers, certified project program managers, procurement specialists, and supply chain management specialists. Are there any particular regions or countries that are seeing a lot of hiring right now? This year there has been significant recruitment happening in Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Ethiopia. Also, there are an increasing number of retainer positions, whether that’s short-term consulting positions or home-based opportunities that give some professional flexibility for the individual while also allowing us to access specialized expertise in areas such as climate action, environment, ICT, health and safety, and also the different range of engineering professionals. What skill sets are in demand now, or might be more in demand in the future? In terms of technical skills, that would be knowledge and practical experience in the areas of data, science and analysis, climate action, environmental engineering, and infrastructure — there is definitely increasing demand for these skills in order to help address the wide range of global challenges that we see today. On soft skills, we look at the individual’s ability to think critically, collaborate across teams, and act with agility. These are the skills described in the competency framework that can be found in each vacancy announcement, so it's really important for candidates to get familiarized with these and prepare a related example prior to the interview. What type of experiences are particularly valuable for an applicant to have? We highly value experience that will demonstrate a commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals and, given that we work in such a diverse context, people with an understanding of what it's like to be working in diverse cultures and environments — that is absolutely important. Volunteering, overseas experience, or interning related to project infrastructure, sustainability, or humanitarian efforts can definitely strengthen an application profile. It’s also worth noting that in terms of interning, we recognize those experiences within the number of years of professional experience. So especially for young professionals, it’s important to state your relevant interning experience because we do calculate that as a professional experience. Where might there be opportunities for people looking to transition from other sectors? For those transitioning from other sectors, we offer a lot of positions, and we’ve successfully hired many professionals with diverse backgrounds from the private and public sectors and INGOs and those are for positions in project management, engineering, IT, finance, health care, and procurement. The skills, experience, and expertise that are gained from one sector can be incredibly valuable in another, and we truly believe that diverse perspectives and experience can elevate our work, provided that the minimum requirements outlined in the vacancy announcement are also met. We're looking for individuals who share our passion to help build a more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive future. For those transitioning from other sectors and looking to demonstrate this, my advice is to use the cover letter, which is not mandatory but highly recommended. Do you have any other tips on the application process? A candidate’s UNOPS profile is your chance to make a first impression. My biggest advice is to invest time in reading the job description and work to highlight, in that profile, the relevant skills and experience you have, while also highlighting in the cover letter why you are excited about the position and how your previous experience is relevant to it.