Project Management Support – Officer (Innovation Scaling)

To achieve its goals, UN Global Pulse is looking for a Project Management Support – Officer (Innovation Scaling). The Innovation Scaling team (‘the team’) in UN Global Pulse Finland was initiated to support the Executive Office of the Secretary-General’s Quintet of Change priorities outlined in the Secretary-General’s report on Our Common Agenda (OCA) for a ‘next-generation UN’. The team initially focused on evolving the UN Global Pulse network’s experimentation portfolio towards one with 1.) Clearly defined, needs-driven experiments which are scalable by UN partners, and 2.) Validated innovations which are sustained within the UN System with clear scaling pathways for sustainable impact and systemic change beyond mandate silos.

The team has now expanded its focus to equip the wider UN System with capabilities to use innovation for improved delivery on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and OCA priorities. A 2022/2023 research exercise (Scaling the Summit) conducted by the team looked at innovation scaling practices within the UN System; it identified significant barriers in the existing support mechanisms for scaling innovations and in facilitating their widespread adoption. In response to this, the team’s activities have been set up to make innovation scaling knowledge and support more available broadly across the UN System. Amongst the team’s activities are the: 

1. UN Global Pulse Scale Accelerator, a structured programme for innovations from across the UN System to develop scale strategies and receive catalytic support to implement the strategies.

2. Innovation capability advisory service, to provide tailored support and advice to any UN agencies, funds and programmes (including other parts of the UN Global Pulse network) seeking to embed capabilities within their entities to enable innovation scaling.

3. UN Innovation Scaling Group, a special interest group co-managed with the UN Innovation Network (UNIN) to serve as the go-to space for UN colleagues to share experiences and knowledge around innovation scaling.

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Analyst (Innovation Scaling), the Project Management Support – Officer (Innovation Scaling) will be responsible for supporting tasks necessary for the successful delivery of the team’s activities. The selected candidate will execute the following duties: 

Strategic planning and needs alignment support

• Support the development of the team’s overall strategy to ensure its activities remain responsive to up-to-date innovation scaling best practices and UN System needs. Where applicable, this may include supporting the reassessment of the UN System’s needs which will contribute to the planning of future activities in line with UN Global Pulse priorities.

• Support the management of the UN Innovation Scaling Group in collaboration with the UNIN coordinator. This may include supporting the development of an engagement plan for the efficient management of the group. The approach should include aligning the recommendations from Scaling the Summit report with the strategic priorities of both UN Global Pulse and UNIN for the sustainable maintenance of the group.

Coordination and activity implementation support

• Support the coordination of the UN Global Pulse Scale Accelerator, including but not limited to providing cohort support, content review, assisting with reporting and drafting partnership agreements.

• Assist with the coordination and provision of technical support within the scope of the innovation capability advisory service to other areas of the UN Global Pulse network or other UN agencies, funds and programmes.

• In cooperation with the UNIN coordinator, support the Innovation Scaling Senior Analyst in the conceptualisation and implementation of activities (virtual, hybrid and/ or in-person where applicable) for the UN Innovation Scaling Group. This may include managing group communication channels, identifying creative ways to stimulate asynchronous discussion, encouraging knowledge sharing and engaging key experts to contribute to content creation.

• Contribute to the development and implementation of the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning framework and support with data collection, analysis, and reporting at both team and project levels.

Partnerships, communication and outreach support

• Contribute to the communications plan developed with the in-house Creative Communications team to strategically and effectively communicate the team’s work both internally and externally to the UN System.

• Support stakeholder mapping and management to contribute to the UN Innovation Scaling Group’s activities as well as to increase visibility of the UN Global Pulse Scale Accelerator and innovation capability advisory service.

• Support the team’s participation in advocacy events and speaking engagements by drafting key participation points which highlight the team’s activities and advocates for innovation scaling.

Monitoring and Progress Controls

In coordination with the Senior Analyst (Innovation Scaling), the Project Management Support – Officer (Innovation Scaling) will report on progress and assure the timely deliverables of the agreed outputs. The selected candidate is expected to exercise flexibility regarding the potential of dynamically adapting working arrangements so that outputs can be delivered. The position may require international travel.  

* FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY
Education:  

• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent) preferably in International Development, Humanitarian Studies, Innovation Management, Social Sciences, International Relations or another relevant discipline is required. 

• An advanced university degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) may substitute for some of the required years of experience. 

Work Experience:

Required Experience:

A minimum of 2 years of experience in one or more of the following: Innovation Management, Project Management, International Development, Humanitarian Context or a related field.

Desired Experience: The following experience is optional. Candidates who do not have it are welcome to apply

• Strong interest in innovation and its role within a development and/ or humanitarian context is highly desirable.

• Experience in facilitation, stakeholder engagement, and establishing online or in-person communities is a strong advantage.

• Data analysis, visualization skills and proficiency in related software applications (e.g. Adobe Illustrator) are a strong advantage.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills are an asset.

• Strong organizational and coordination skills are an asset.

• Experience in monitoring, evaluation and learning processes and/ or research is an asset.

• Experience in working with the United Nations or other  multilateral organizations is desirable.

Language

• Fluency in English (write, read, speak) is required. 

• Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an asset.