Portfolio Senior Advisor – Mine Action

Background Information – Job-specific

Country-Specific Information – Ukraine

On 24 February 2022, the military of the Russian Federation invaded Ukraine, with strikes across the territory of Ukraine. Since then, Russia’s invasion imposes a severe humanitarian and socio-economic toll, global energy and food crisis, large-scale destruction of the country’s infrastructure, and disruptions in the provision of critical services as well as degradation of social fabrics and communities’ ties, triggering one of the world’s most significant forced displacements. 

• Severe attacks on energy and critical infrastructure facilities leave millions of people without electricity, water or heating supply, struggling to access water, food, health services, materials to repair homes, among others. The continued attacks cause substantial damage to the country’s economy and agricultural production, and also affect the poorest countries worldwide. In addition, the war caused a level of contamination with explosive hazards not witnessed since World War Two.
• UNOPS support to partners spans the humanitarian-development nexus from emergency response to building back better, across the housing, health, education, transport, energy and mine action sectors, through infrastructure, procurement and technical assistance / project management interventions, with the ultimate aims of addressing immediate needs, supporting the country on its EU accession and in its achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Project-Specific Information

• The Ukraine Mine Action Portfolio of Projects operates as an integral part of the Ukraine Multi-Country Office (UAMCO). The Portfolio Senior Advisor is overall responsible for the planning, implementation, monitoring, supervision and closing of all Mine Action projects in the country in order to support substantive partners in delivering its mandate.

Functional Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the UAMCO Head of Programme and under secondary supervision of the PSC Senior Advisor – Ukraine, the Portfolio Senior Advisor will be overall responsible for strategic planning and implementation and the following responsibilities: 

• Portfolio Strategy, Planning and Resource Mobilization
• Project Implementation Delivery
• Mine Action Leadership and Management
• Stakeholder Management
• Knowledge Building and Knowledge Sharing

Portfolio Strategy, Planning and Resource Mobilization

From the standpoint of being accountable and responsible on UNOPS’ behalf to implement Mine Action project(s), lead the development of portfolio and project design documents such as:

• Portfolio Strategy (e.g. vision, mission, strategic results framework; stakeholder analysis, risk analysis; etc.).
• Portfolio Workplan and Budget (e.g. nature of threat; logical framework; required personnel and equipment; risk management; etc.).
• Resource mobilization Strategy (e.g. monitor trends humanitarian and development needs to identify potential areas of intervention within UN mandates and existing capacity.

Project proposals to donors.

• Support the HoP in applications of policies, practices and procedures associated with the overall implementation of the Humanitarian Programme Cycle and associated funding and monitoring mechanisms, where relevant.

Ensure that implementation plans have viable timelines, are assigned appropriate resources, and that implementation options reflect the knowledge of the context, as well as UNOPS’ mechanisms and policies; key implementation documents include:

• UNOPS/donor Project Agreements.
• Solicitation documents used to contract third-parties (i.e. contractors and grantees).
• Human resources plans.

Actively participate in the development and implementation of a portfolio resource mobilization strategy, targeting in-country funding opportunities; such a strategy would include timely and appropriate acknowledgement at both national and international levels of current and past donors contributions and their impact.

Project Implementation Delivery

• In accordance with project agreements, establish and maintain appropriate arrangements and plans for delivery of the Mine Action projects, including leveraging regional or corporate support facilities whenever available.
• Oversee project implementation (including implementation through third-party contractors and grantees), review progress, assess constraints and take corrective action, ensuring early warning of risks to the UAMCO Senior Management Team and PSC New York Office, for action and/or intervention.

Ensure projects are implemented in accordance with UNOPS policies and standards, such as:

• Financial and procurement rules
• Contract and grant management policies
• Project management standards
• Health, safety, social and environmental standards
• Gender parity and mainstreaming policies
• Information management systems and standards
• Organizational design standards and human resources policies
• Mine action technical standards
• Draft and/or review high quality reports including, but not limited to, project reports, annual reports, situation reports, briefing notes, code cables, and UN reports.
• Supervise preparation of written summaries of meetings/visits and ensure relevant team members implement follow-up actions, as appropriate;
• Research and prepare analytical, and sometimes sensitive, documents.
• Take responsibility for financial decisions/exercise financial control to ensure the financial health/sustainability of the Mine Action portfolio.

Mine Action Leadership and Management

• Build and strengthen strategic partnership of UNOPS Mine Action in the country through active networking, advocacy and effective communication of UNOPS competencies in project service delivery and management, to maintain and enhance project engagements.
• Provide technical advice and guidance to other UN agencies and partners when requested.
• Keep the HoP and PSC Senior Advisor – Ukraine informed/advised on opportunities and/or challenges to strengthen UNOPS capacity for programme/project management.
• Plan, recruit, manage and develop a flexible Mine Action workforce with the skills and competencies needed to ensure optimum performance, and ensure gender and geographical diversity.
• Promote teamwork, collaboration and diversity by providing timely guidance and supervision to the team to enable them to perform their duties responsibly, effectively and efficiently.
• Foster a positive work environment, respectful of both men and women, and ensure that the highest standards of conduct are observed.
• Create, foster and role-model a culture of respect and zero tolerance for discrimination, abuse of authority, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual exploitation and abuse.
• Ensure accountability for actions and perform duties in accordance with protection mechanisms and action plans, as expected by UNOPS policies, standards and commitments.
• Oversee, monitor and direct appropriate measures to maintain the safety and security of UNOPS, assets, property, information and personnel and their eligible dependents within the respective area of responsibility.
• Support design, coordination and dissemination of public information products and communication activities as well as gather and draft content for communications products and platforms.
• Support preparations for official meetings, events, briefings, and field visits, and prepare talking points, briefing notes, presentations and speeches for the management team and senior UN officials.

Stakeholder Management

• Liaise, negotiate and develop relationships with national authorities with respect to developing projects, including capacity strengthening, with a focus on community driven mine action.
• In addition, manage relationships with: UN country teams (upon request by the UAMCO Country Director) and donors, including reporting to donors and intergovernmental bodies on budget / portfolio performance and programmatic / substantive issues.
• Upon request of the UAMCO Country Director participate in any relevant UN country team meetings to contribute to discussions and initiatives to strengthen coherence, inclusiveness, aid effectiveness and security measures.
• Representing the UAMCO Director, participate in international, regional or national meetings and provide programmatic / substantive expertise on an issue, or hold programmatic / substantive and organizational discussions with representatives of other institutions.
• Identify and build relationships with other direct UNOPS stakeholders.

Knowledge Building and Knowledge Sharing

• Keep abreast of and incorporate best practices, approaches and technology to enhance the project delivery and results; continuous review of approaches/methodology to ensure relevance or enact new ones.
• Initiate and undertake lessons learned exercises, including the sharing, effective filing, and incorporation into future plans the lessons learned by the project(s) and others.
• Leverage lessons learned to improve future delivery and quality, and to strengthen the knowledge and information sharing mechanisms internally, as well as with clients and other key stakeholders.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

• Advanced University Degree (master Degree or equivalent) is required with ten (10) years of relevant experience.
• First Level University Degree (bachelor degree or equivalent) with twelve(12) years of relevant experience.

Experience

Required:

• Relevant experience is defined as experience in project management in military, humanitarian, conflict, post-conflict, development contexts, or relevant fields.
• Within relevant experience, a minimum of two (2) years of leadership experience, including supervising teams, managing complex projects, and budgets is required.
• Experience in writing and reviewing reports is required.

Desirable:

• Experience working in a developing country is desirable.
• Experience working in mine action is desirable.

Language

• Fluency in English (reading, writing and speaking) is required.

Source: https://jobs.unops.org/Pages/ViewVacancy/VADetails.aspx?id=28742