Senior Programme Manager (Energy)

New York Portfolios Office (NYPO)  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 the COP 28 in Dubai, there is less than a decade to prevent a climate breakdown. Without deep emissions cuts, the world is heading towards 2.1-2.8-degrees Celsius of warming with catastrophic consequences, based on current Nationally Determined Contributions. 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  ensure climate ambition in line with the 1.5 degrees temperature limit and   deliver climate justice for developing countries at the pace and scale required across adaptation, finance and Loss and Damage.   

The Secretary-General’s Climate Action Team will focus on the following :

• Securing 1.5°C-aligned Nationally Determined Contributions
• Accelerating the 1.5 aligned Energy Transition 
• Ensure all Non-State Actor commitments are 1.5 aligned
• Accelerating adaptation planning implementation and bridging the adaptation finance gap 
• Delivering Climate Finance at scale and ensuring meaningful reform of International Financial Architecture  

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

Under the overall supervision and guidance of the Climate Ambition Team Lead (Director), the incumbent will provide substantive senior-level support on member state engagement. The responsibilities of the Senior Programme Manager, US, China, and Small Islands Developing States include: 

Lead the Energy initiative:  

• Strategic support to the energy related objectives of the Secretary-General’s climate action objectives on mitigation, finance and adaptation and resilience.
• Work in close collaboration with the Secretary-General’s Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals, including the follow-up;  
• Lead and work with colleagues to further the Secretary-General’s priority of building coalitions to support coal phase-out in key countries;
• Design and develop targeted fossil fuel and coal phase-out and related just transition strategies.

Contract type: Fixed Term
Contract level: P5
Contract duration: 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 

• 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.