Senior Urban Specialist, Slum Upgrading and Basic Services

The incumbent will be responsible for the below functional responsibilities:

Programme governance, implementation and monitoring

• Assume overall responsibility for the oversight of assigned programmatic activities of the Secretariat related to social housing and slum upgrading, basic services provision in informal settlements, and urban poverty in fragility contexts. Geographically assume responsibility to be the focal point for the Sub-Saharan Africa region and other regions and sub-regions as needed.

• Perform day-to-day programme oversight for the assigned portfolio and related personnel to ensure implementation and delivery and that project management policies, processes and methods are followed and practiced according to UNOPS standards and requirements.

Programme development and planning

• Seek and identify additional funding opportunities, and oversee the preparation of funding proposals, donor briefings and presentations in support of the programme’s goals and more broadly Cities Alliance’s mission and vision;

• Leads in the development of new programmes and projects on social housing and slum upgrading, basic services provision in informal settlements, and urban poverty in fragility contexts in line with the priorities of the post-Habitat III global agenda.

• Ensures that all normative activities advance the role of cities in the international development agenda, and highlights the importance of pro-poor urban development;

• Analyses international trends on programmes to identify strategic areas and comparative advantage for the Cities Alliance by providing substantive orientation, positioning for normative and country-level operations, and areas of business growth.

Normative coherence in programming

• Provides expertise in the development of member-driven regional and sub-regional activities, with special focus on the strengthening of regional and country activities in Sub Saharan Africa.

• Develop and implement the assigned programmes and projects governance framework and foster synergies on key urban issues between the normative work and country operations.

Networking and Partnerships

• Support the secretariat in the overall development of a global network of member and partner institutions. Specifically, lead the development of a Sub-Saharan Africa regional network as well as develop and manage the newly established Nairobi hub.

• Acts as focal point for selected CA members, such as UN Habitat, and supports outreach to partners such as the European Commission, and facilitates inter-institutional cooperation.

Advocacy

• Represent the secretariat and the Cities Alliance at conferences, panels and meetings, as requested.

• Institutionalize and share best practices and lessons learned for corporate development planning and knowledge building.

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) preferably in housing, architecture, civil engineering, urban and regional planning or a relevant discipline is required. 

• A first Level University Degree (Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent) with additional 2 years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of a masters degree.

Experience

• A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in international cooperation and urban development is required. 

• Experience in project and programme management and implementation of interventions related to slum upgrading and basic services provision in informal settlements is required. 

• Multi-country field experience in development projects is required. 

• Experience in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) is required.  

• Previous work experience in managing teams, building partnerships, and establishing and maintaining donor relations is an asset.

• Experience in a UN system organization and/or UNOPS is an asset.

• Previous work experience with communities, local authorities and national ministries in the field of urban development and in fragile contexts is an advantage.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is considered as an asset.