Chief of Service, Programme Management

This position is located in the Strategic Heritage Plan at the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG). The Chief of Service reports to the Project Director of the Strategic Heritage Plan project. The project is expected to be concluded by the end of 2028.

Within delegated authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:

• Formulates and implements the substantive work programme of the Strategic Heritage Plan (SHP), determining priorities and allocating resources to ensure that the project is carried out in an efficient and timely manner. Leads a team of approximately 16 staff, plus contractors.
• Oversees the management of activities undertaken by the SHP, ensures that programmed activities are carried out in a timely fashion and co-ordinates work in the different areas both within the project, and with other organizations of the United Nations System, as appropriate.
• Leads, supervises and carries out the work programme of the project under his/her responsibility. Co-ordinates the work carried out by different work units under SHP and by other agencies and bodies of the United Nations system; provides programmatic/ substantive reviews of the drafts prepared by others.
• Formulates and implements the substantive work programme of the Service entailing the maintenance and optimization of programme management, financial control and support arrangements, including an appropriate communications and contracting strategy, aiming to ensure that the SHP project progresses on time and budget, while mitigating key project risks by applying relevant expert knowledge of UN regulations and project management methodologies.
• Undertakes or oversees the programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the project. Co-ordinates and oversees the preparation of reports for presentation to intergovernmental bodies such as the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budget Questions, the General Assembly and other policy-making organs, as appropriate.
• Represents the SHP to intergovernmental bodies on budget/programme performance or on programmatic/ substantive issues, as appropriate, particularly those presented in biannual and/or annual reports.
• Manages the coordination of information and responses to external and internal audits.
• Ensures that the outputs produced by the SHP maintain high-quality standards; that reports are clear, objective and based on comprehensive data. Ensures that all outputs produced by the Sections under his/her supervision meet required standards before completion to ensure they comply with the relevant mandates.
• Undertakes or oversees the programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the SHP, including preparation of budgets, reporting on budget/ programme performance, evaluation of staff performance, interviews of candidates for job openings, evaluation of candidates and preparation of inputs for results-based budgeting.
• Provides strategic leadership and advice on the planning and execution of project closure activities, ensuring the orderly completion of deliverables, effective risk management, resource optimization, proper handover of assets and responsibilities, documentation of lessons learned, and compliance with organizational policies and accountability requirements.
• Recruits staff, taking due account of geographical balance.
• Manages, guides, develops and trains staff under his/her supervision.
• Fosters teamwork and communication among staff in the SHP and across organizational boundaries.
• Coordinates and liaises with counterparts at UN Geneva, Headquarters in New York and UN Common system organizations on issues related to the implementation of the project with a view to finding efficiencies and best value for money, as well as sharing lessons learned.
• Leads and supervises the organization of meetings, seminars, etc. on substantive issues. Manages the substantive preparation and organization of such meetings or seminars.
• Participates in international, regional or national meetings and provides programmatic/substantive expertise on an issue, or holds programmatic/substantive and organizational discussions with representatives of other institutions.
• Represents the SHP at international, regional or national meetings.

• Professionalism: Knowledge of contracting and project management methodologies and construction management issues. Ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues and to review and edit the work of others. Ability to apply UN rules, regulations, policies and guidelines in work situations. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.
• 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.
• Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.
• Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.
• Judgement/Decision-making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business or public administration, finance, accounting, law, social sciences or related area is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

A minimum of fifteen years of progressively responsible experience in human resources management, administration, logistics, procurement, financial management, budget or related field is required. At least seven years of experience in programme or project management, including experience in planning and implementing large scale projects at the international level is required. Senior level responsibility for resource planning, contract management and project management and experience in cost control or monitoring is required. Experience in overseeing and leading the preparation of complex reports for submission to intergovernmental bodies is desirable. Work experience within a European contracting and legal environment is desirable. Experience in using relevant IT systems, such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Project Management software, is desirable.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English and French are required. Either Arabic or Spanish or Chinese (Mandarin) or Russian is desirable.

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.