PROGRAMME MANAGER

Background Information - Job-specific

The Programme manager will handle a number of smaller projects in the domain of climate, circularity and policy. The projects aim to improve the recycling value chains, circular economy, sustainability and promotion of decent work. These initiatives will address both environmental and socio-economic challenges, strengthening the livelihoods and rights of informal waste workers while reducing plastic waste reaching landfills in addition to policy strengthening.

Interventions shall include components on diagnostic mapping, capacity building, stakeholder and policy engagement and systems strengthening. This will include a diverse range of stakeholders including separate donors and partners for projects within the domain of environment. The projects shall include private and government sector engagement promoting policy uptake of Extended Producer Responsibility and other aspects of environmental regulation.

Programme manager (Climate Change portfolio) is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the project(s) and provides services to the different donors, partners and beneficiaries. Programme manager acts on behalf of the Project Board to manage the project on an ongoing basis during the Implementation Stage. The main responsibility of a Programme manager is to ensure that the project outputs are delivered within the specified project tolerances of time, cost, quality, scope, risk and benefits. He/she is expected to meet the organization’s performance and delivery goals.

Functional Responsibilities

Programme Management/Implementation and monitoring.

• Establish and execute the Programme implementation plans in collaboration with the programme team and partners, including setting objectives, performance KPI´s, standards, and results expected to ensure timely delivery and client-oriented services.
• Contribute to creating the strategy to effectively implement the Programme´s objectives in a smooth, timely, and cost-effective fashion.
• Track the implementation of the Programme work plan according to the Programme Objectives and partner expectations, following UNOPS rules and regulations.
• Ensure proactive Programme and project risk identification, assessment, and implementation of mitigation measures.
• Lead, mentor, and assist Programme Officers in planning, executing, and delivering projects, ensuring incorporation of best practice project management processes.
• Facilitate timely and accurate project tracking, analysis of outputs, and reporting.
• Create an efficient framework for Programme´s performance tracking and reporting.
• Manage and oversee the preparation of Programme documents (including business cases/strategies, policy briefs, Programme plans, and risk assessments.
• Support the monitoring and impact analysis for environmental projects.
• Develop baselines, indicators, results frameworks/KPIs & benefits tracking.
• Maintain risk/issue/assumption/dependency logs.
• Lead & support stage boundary/end‑stage/closure reviews and related reports.
• Establish QA/QC plans, stage gates, technical/design reviews and readiness checks.
• Ensure compliance with UNOPS quality management systems, HSSE and applicable national/international standards.
• Implement corrective actions stemming from audits/reviews.

Team Leadership and Resource Management

• Manage Programme resources following UNOPS standards of ethics, integrity and accountability framework, and financial sustainability.
• Understand and map the Programme´s needs to recruit the most suitable talent to comply with the Donor's expectations.
• Actively participate/lead regular capacity-building sessions to continuously update and upskill the team´s competencies and to ensure scaling performance as a regular practice.
• Foster a positive work environment, respectful of every individual, and ensure that the highest standards of ethics and behaviors are observed within the team.
• Ensure a quality and comprehensive execution of the performance management processes (PER´s, Feedbacks, etc).
• Manage and track resource management (Budget/People/tools), ensuring respect and follow UNOPS processes.
• Workload planning, task allocation and day‑to‑day supervision spelled out.
• Onboarding, mentoring, wellbeing/duty of care included.
• Oversight of timesheets, leave plans and individual capacity development plans

Partnerships & networking

• Build a solid working relationship with the Programme´s key stakeholders.
• Lead communications with stakeholders to ensure they are aware of the Programme´s activities, progress, and news.
• Advise its stakeholders on issues that may impact achieving the expected outcomes.
• Support business development by identifying and developing new business and partnership opportunities.
• Convene/participate in technical working groups in addition to the Project Board.
• Manage expectations, resolve conflicts and ensure transparent escalation.
• Align engagement with resilience, digitalization and sustainability agendas.

Knowledge Management & Innovation

• Identify, capture, synthesize, and share lessons learned to develop knowledge and build stakeholders' capacity.
• Apply innovative approaches to support the implementation and delivery of effective and efficient initiatives.
• Participate in capacity-building sessions to enhance the stakeholder´s capacity development.
• Participate in the relevant Communities of Practice.
• Provide feedback to Practice Groups on policy, supporting guidance with an aim towards continuous improvement of UNOPS policies.
• Promote digital tools, data use and innovation to enhance efficiency/transparency.
• Embed continuous improvement loops (plan–do–check–act) across projects/partners

REQUIRED SKILLS

TOTAL POSITIONS

1

POSTED ON

August 26, 2025

EXPIRY DATE

September 7, 2025

BUSINESS

UNOPS

CATEGORY

Project Management

JOB TYPE

Full Time/Permanent

MINIMUM EDUCATION

Bachelors

CAREER LEVEL

LICA-10 (equivalent to NO-C)

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE

5 Years