Programme Management Officer – Human Settlements

UNOPS mission is to expand the capacity of the UN system and its partners to implement peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations that matter for people in need.  Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, UNOPS vision is to always satisfy partners with management services that meet world-class standards of quality, speed and cost effectiveness.

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is the United Nations agency for cities and human settlements. UN-Habitat’s humanitarian work is guided by its Strategic Policy on Human Settlements in Crisis and the agency is a member of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC).  At the core of UN- Habitat’s work is UN-Habitat People’s Process and New Urban Agenda, which places participatory urban analysis, and planning as a central pillar of humanitarian response, recovery, and the rehabilitation of conflict-affected cities.

These positions are located in organizational units throughout the Secretariat both at Headquarters and UN Offices away from Headquarters.  The Programme Officer typically reports to the head of a unit or to a senior Programme Officer.  The focus of these jobs is the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programmes, operations and other activities in an assigned functional area.

In the past few years, the agency has refocused its attention towards community-based reconstruction, rehabilitation of housing and basic services in urban settlements affected by the conflict, participatory design and creation of public open spaces, construction of low-cost housing units to support the return of vulnerable IDPs to their areas of origin, delivery of vocational training, and implementation of informal settlement upgrading projects, while continuing to provide technical assistance to local and national authorities in urban policy-making and city planning, urban heritage conservation, advocacy, data analysis, GIS mapping, climate change adaptation, and the protection of Housing, Land, and Property (HLP) rights of minorities and vulnerable groups. UN-Habitat remains steadfast in its commitment to strengthening further the long-standing partnership with the Government of Iraq to achieve its goals for improving the lives of citizens. 

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Head of the UN-Habitat Iraq Programme, the Programme Management Officer– Human Settlements will be assigned to UN-Habitat Baghdad Office and will perform the following functions: 

1. Project Management and Implementation: 

Ensure effective and efficient execution of UN-Habitat projects and management of the project resources through resource mobilisation activities, technical guidance, quality, and cost control and ensure support of the project resources as per approved project document and substantive work plan; Coordinate overall work plans and budgets; Prepare relevant documentation and reports related to projects; Initiate recruitment of human resources; Liaise with partners to ensure quality and timely delivery of UN-Habitat's projects and programmes. 

2. Technical Assistance, Advisory Services and Outreach: 

Review and analyse issues and trends, preparation of evaluations or other research activities and studies to develop policies; Technical Assistance: Provide technical assistance and implementation support to the government of Iraq, project partners and key stakeholders to ensure successful implementation of projects and programmes; Build regional capacity for improved management. Conduct training workshops and seminars; make presentations to local institutions and government; Provide quality technical input into project activities as well as to national institutions in line with Strategic Framework and the relevant thematic area. 

3. Representation and Liaising with key stakeholders:

Take part in resource mobilisation, donor relations, and relevant tasks, including the development of concept notes and project proposals; Manage, develop and maintain close working relationships with relevant national and international partners, stakeholders, and other UN Agencies in the duty station; Participate in the UN Country Team, Humanitarian Country Team and another inter-agency coordination mechanism to represent UN-Habitat; Promote and coordinate active participation of Project Offices in the relevant Strategic Framework; Coordinate the implementation and monitoring of the UN-Habitat country programme documents; Support/stimulate the inter-divisional cooperation at country level through the enhanced normative operational frameworks.

4. Perform other related duties as may be assigned.

Work implies frequent interaction with the following: Counterparts, officers and technical staff in the relevant Secretariat Units and UN funds and programmes and other UN specialised agencies, representatives and officials in national and local governments, non-governmental organisations and consultants.

Professionalism: 

Strong conceptual skills. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery in the UN-Habitat focus areas of Urban Recovery, Urban Planning and Design, Housing and Slum Upgrading; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.

Teamwork: 

Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team short comings.

Planning and Organizing: 

Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in engineering, project management, business administration, urban planning, architecture or a related field. 
• A first university degree with a combination of two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. 
• A minimum of seven (7) years of working experience in the areas related to project or programme management and/or development, administration ore related area. 
• Proven experience in coordination and management of programmes/projects or activities on policy dialogue, housing, land and property rights with the UN or other international agencies is desirable. 
• Experience in post-conflict areas is an added advantage. 
• Experience in managing a team or an office, resource mobilisation and donor coordination are desirable. 
• Experience in post-conflict areas is an added advantage 
• Fluency in one of the working languages of the UN Secretariat, English or French, (both oral and written) is required; knowledge of the other is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

• 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.