Closing date: Saturday, 28 February 2015

Posting Title: Human Settlements Officer, P3

Job Code Title: Programme Management Officer, Human Settlements

Department/ Office

United Nations Human Settlements Programme

Duty Station

BARCELONA

Posting Period

29 January 2015-28 February 2015

Job Opening number

15-PGM-UNHABITAT-39030-R-BARCELONA (E)

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Special Notice

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. This is a project post and is funded for an initial period of one year and may be subject to extension.

1. All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening. On-line applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided.

2. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please resubmit the application, if necessary. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira 'Need Help?' link.

Organizational Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is the United

NationsAgency for Human Settlements and Cities. It is mandated by the UN General

Assembly topromote socially and environmentally sustainable communities, towns, and cities

with thegoal of providing adequate shelter for all. The post is located in the Global Water

Operators' Partnerships Alliance (GWOPA) Secretariat Office, Barcelona duty station. Under the overall guidance of the Senior Adviser to UN-Habitat Executive Drector on Urban Basic Services (UBS) and the direct supervision of the Head, GWOPA Secretariat, the incumbent will perform the following duties

Responsibilities

(1) Assist in developing and implementing the GWOPA Secretariat work programme by

1. Identifying needs and opportunities and advising on new substantive directions and activities to pursue within agreed frameworks;
2. Participating in advisory missions;
3. Overseeing financial, contractual and budgetary aspects;
4. Drafting concepts, proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of background documents and presentations;
5. Developing the GWOPA network by identifying, developing and maintaining partnerships;
6. Providing inputs to the preparation and submission of status reports as required by the GWOPA Steering Committee, donors, other partners and Executive Management.

(2) Assist in Strategic Operational Support to Water Operators' Partnerships (WOPs) by

1. Assisting in developing and monitoring delivery of regional strategies and facilitating inter-regional WOPs and transfer of experience;
2. Participating in scoping missions for potential partnerships;
3. Developing a monitoring mechanism;
4. Documenting best practices and lessons learned and ensuring their dissemination;
5. Liaising with relevant regional partners on issues related to WOPs;
6. Supporting mentorship programmes and developing new programmes in close cooperation with supporting institutions;
7. Mobilizing finance for WOPs and helping to leverage significant follow-up investment from financial institutions for operators;
8. Acting as regional liaison in GWOPA Secretariat for WOPs in Latin America and the Caribbean, and for WOPs stakeholders in North America;
9. Developing, moderating and updating online WOPs information database and communication portal within GWOPA website.

(3) Contributing to the Implementation of UN-Habitat work programme by providing expertise related to water and sanitation.

(4) Performing any other related duties as may be assigned.

Competencies

TEAMWORK

Good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity, including gender balance.

PLANNING & ORGANIZING

Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

PROFESSIONALISM

Shows pride in achievements, demonstrates professional competence, is conscientious in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results

CREATIVITY

Actively seeks to improve programmes or services, takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things, promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas

Education

Advanced University degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in civil engineering, urban and regional planning, physical sciences or related area. A first university degree with combination of two years professional and academic qualifications may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in water and sanitation development, sustainable development, poverty issues, and network support. Experience in Water Operators Partnerships is an asset. Qualifying years of experience are calculated following the receipt of the first level university degree recognized by the United Nations

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of Spanish is required. Knowledge of any other UN langugae is an asset.

Assessment Method

Evaluation of qualified candidates for this position may include a substantive

assessment which may be followed by a competency-based interview.

United Nations Considerations

Job openings posted on the Careers Portal are taken off at midnight (New York time) on the deadline date.

Applications are automatically pre-screened according to the published evaluation criteria of the job opening on the basis of the information provided by applicants. Applications cannot be amended following submission and incomplete applications shall not be considered. The selected candidate will be subject to a reference checking process to verify the information provided in the application.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the At-a-Glance on 'The Application Process' and the Instructional Manual for the Applicants, which can be accessed by clicking on 'Manuals' on the upper right side of the browser on Inspira.

The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.