Programme Management Advisor

Position description

To achieve the project goals of the Secretariat of the Scientific Advisory Board, UNOPS is looking for a Programme Management Advisor. The Programme Management Advisor serves as the connection point between the Board Members, the research partners, and the Executive Office of the Secretary-General. The success and sustainability of the Board is reliant on effective programme and stakeholder management, the primary functions of the Programme Management Advisor.

Under the supervision and guidance of the Senior Portfolio Manager and in close coordination with the Strategic Planning and Monitoring Unit (SPMU) of the Executive Office of theSecretary-General, the Programme Management Advisor is responsible for managing project planning, communications, Board retreats and events, donor relations and UN System engagement.

The incumbent will supervise project staff in the Board Secretariat. In addition, the incumbent ensures that any fundraising and related activities are well-integrated into each of the Board’s workstreams and allocated effectively to partner organizations.

The incumbent will execute the following duties:

1. Deliver science advice material to senior UN leadership

The incumbent will be expected to work with senior UN System leadership to identify research priorities, prepare and present advice on emerging scientific topics with relevance to the United Nations. The incumbent will work with research leads in the UN System and beyond in the development of science briefs and their corresponding dissemination plans.

This will also require the incumbent to maintain close communication across all internal UN stakeholders, including UN System science and technology leads that are part of the Board structure as well as with key external stakeholders who are part of the network.

As the Board emerges from its start-up phase, the incumbent will be responsible for developing standard operating procedures and templates for the preparation of long-form and quick briefs as well as the integration of horizon scanning process into science advice processes.

2. Build science connections across stakeholder groups.

The incumbent will be required to develop and implement platforms that will connect the work and expertise of the Board with the broader UN System, including Resident Coordinators. This will include targeted engagement between UN Country Teams and the Board affiliated science network institutions.

It will also require engagement with major international science fora, including the UN Science Technology, and Innovation Forum and other international platforms, where Board Members can engage with audiences and policy decision-makers to urgent and evolving scientific updates.

The incumbent will also support relationship management with UN Member States. This includes close liaison with the leadership of the General Assembly Group of Friends of Science for Action, as well as the broader Member State community.

To ensure connections within the Board and across its network institutions, the incumbent will be responsible for the planning and execution of two annual retreats, one virtual and one in person, where Board Members can exchange ideas and priorities, and engage directly with the Secretary-General.

3. Advance science communication

The incumbent will be responsible for enhancing communications between the Board and the public, the Board and the UN System, and between Board Members themselves.

• To advance communication with the general public about the work of the Board, the incumbent will be responsible for the development and execution of a social media strategy encompassing large and evolving platforms and mediums of engagement, including images, stories, and video.
• To advance communication with the general public on issues of science, the incumbent will work with Board Members, UN System leads, and network institutions to deliver pilot projects in at least five countries per year.
• The incumbent will work with the broader scientific community to advance public surveys on issues of science literacy, trust, and ethics, engaging closely with experts.

4. Administration and donor relations

The incumbent will be required to manage a small team of project leads as well as work with leads on fundraising, partner relations and associated administration:

• Managing the selection, onboarding, work-planning, and evaluation of staff.
• Working with the partnerships team that supports UN System leaders, to maintain close relations and engagement with existing governments, foundations, corporations, and science institutions.
• Tracking contractual agreements with vendors related to the work of the Board and ensuring that they are paid on time for services rendered.
• On a bi-annual basis, the incumbent will be responsible for facilitating the search and selection process for new Board Members and any changes in the list of network institutions.

Impact of Results

The result of this role will be a fully operational Scientific Advisory Board that provides timely and effective analysis for the Secretary-General, effectively connects the Board Members with each other, with the UN System and with the broader public, and regulatory communicates the work of the Board to key constituents.

The incumbent will support and directly contribute to:

1. Increasing science-based decision making within the United Nations and the broader multilateral system, including through engagement with Member States.
2. Advancing science-based approaches through external communication with stakeholders and through engagement with Member States.
3. Contributing to the Science Technology and Innovation Forum as the premier science diplomacy event in the multilateral calendar.
4. Building a reliable and engaged set of science partners within the United Nations, across the broader scientific community, and with funding partners.

In the first year, the focus of the role will be heavily weighted to the establishment of practices and processes that can enable the scaling and sustainability of the operationalization that has taken place since the first in-person retreat in September 2024. Future work will build out programmes and networks beyond the pilot stage, solidifying funding and value-add of the Board into the tenure of the next Secretary-General in 2027.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

*FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY*

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) preferably in International Relations, Business Administration, or related fields with ten (10) years of relevant experience is required or,
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor's degree or equivalent) in the above- mentioned fields of study, with twelve (12) years of relevant work experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

Required:

• Relevant experience is defined as experience inprogramme and policy coordination, and stakeholder engagement in an international organization.
• Experience in science advice and policy in inter-governmental contexts.
• Experience in policy and strategy development on emerging global issues, including frontier technologies.
• Experience in advising high-level stakeholders, including in multilateral, inter-governmental, or diplomatic settings.

Desirable:(The following experienceisoptional.Candidates who do not have it are welcome to apply)

• Experience in managing the implementation of frameworks on science, technology, and innovation.
• Experience leading and executing events, board meetings, or retreats for high-profile stakeholders.
• Demonstrated understanding of frontier technologies, in particular artificial intelligence.
• Experience in resource mobilization and stakeholder management in UN organizations.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English (read, write, speak) is required.
• Knowledge of another United Nations official language is an advantage.

Application instructions

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