Job Description
The Programme Director reports to the Deputy Executive Director, Operations and Policy, and works closely with the UNOPS Management Team as key stakeholders and the Digitalisation Subgroup as the governance body to ensure strategic alignment and direct engagement with corporate priorities. The Programme Director will work in close partnership with the Chief Information Officer and field office managers and directors to define the Digital vision for UNOPS and develop appropriate and sustainable solutions that meet UNOPS needs, especially within field operations. The Programme Director will also work closely with the Head of Change & Transformation to structure the transformation effectively. The Programme Manager will also engage effectively across Digital Transformation initiatives led across Practices, to coordinate deliverables and benefits realisation.
The Programme Director provides business driven leadership for and support to UNOPS digital/business transformation. The Programme Director acts as the Architect of the Digital Transformation through deep understanding of the business, both at the strategic as well as the operational levels. The Programme Director acts as the key Integrator, bringing the programmatic and operations side together with a consultative and facilitative approach, including to process re-engineering, development of interfaces and reporting.
The Programme Director will support and monitor execution, learning and transformation across UNOPS; will lead the development of processes that ensure adequate tracking of strategic initiatives and serve as a thought leader for digital strategy development and implementation and ensure timely completion of projects. The Programme Director will identify critical capabilities, project resources, budgets and critical path issues to ensure effective and efficient programme implementation.
This role will lead the Digital Transformation programme, which is expected to last three (3) years.
Functional Responsibilities:
Summary of functions:
Strategic Leadership Stakeholder Management Programme Management Knowledge sharing and knowledge building Leadership:
Strategic Leadership:
Serve as the digital champion and provide strategic guidance to the implementation of UNOPS Digital Transformation to the Management Team. Work closely with the Head of Change & Transformation to ensure that the Digital Transformation is user-centred and addresses change and cultural dimensions of the organisation. Work closely with Executive Office to guide and shape policy and process changes necessary from Practices, to ensure digital systems reflect and enhance improved and streamlined processes Design the programme plan and the programme governance and team structures; develop guiding coalitions; determine benefits and appropriate courses of action; and anchor change management in the transformation process. Provide intellectual leadership, strategic vision and overall guidance and quality assurance for UNOPS Digital Transformation. Partner with the Practices, Regional Directors, Project/ Programme Managers, etc, as well as the Chief Information Officer to develop solutions for current and future business needs and current as well as future / forward-looking business capabilities to relevant products and technologies with a view to deliver the most effective and sustainable technology solutions for UNOPS. Act as trusted advisor to UNOPS managers as they set about digitally transforming their respective areas of work. Collaborate with senior counterparts in the broader UN family to explore opportunities to reuse work done by others as well as offer technology and knowledge products to others for their use. Stakeholder Management:
Manage stakeholder profiles and formulate stakeholder engagement strategies, including stakeholder maps and stakeholder engagement plans that identify the different needs and priorities of HQ groups and regions. Engage with stakeholders and manage stakeholder expectations, including UNOPS Management Team, clients and other key stakeholders. Promote effective collaboration and partnerships with all relevant stakeholders. This includes ensuring that different HQ groups and regions are aware of what is required/expected from them in terms of contributions and active participation in the programme. Manage stakeholder engagement and communication, ensuring effective timing and interdependency management of communications. Ensure stakeholders are aware of project activities, progress, and exceptions, and are in a position to accept handover outputs. Support change management activities and end-to-end understanding of the digital value chain to coach stakeholders on driving enterprise change and internal collaboration. Liaise with counterparts in the broader UN family to build coordinated efforts towards digital transformation, in line with the Secretary General’s Strategy on New Technologies and the Secretary General’s Digital Cooperation Roadmap. Programme Management:
Develop a strategic framework for a business driven digital transformation, which outlines both the opportunities and potential risks of leveraging digital technologies for sustainable development. Oversee the development of implementation plan(s) (including the establishment of milestones) within tolerances agreed by the Management Team. Embed sustainability dimensions including social and gender inclusion, environmental and economic aspects into project life span. Oversee the design and deployment of key projects associated with the Digital Transformation programme, including managing delivery of the programme’s outputs, taking responsibility for overall progress and use of resources and initiating corrective action where necessary. Manage the programme to ensure performance in the areas of finance (budget/cash flow/expenditure), work planning and resource mobilisation, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), programmatic/administrative (including audit results) and procurement operations. Assume accountability for overall progress of the programme and use of resources, ensuring it is achieving the expected benefits for the different HQ groups and regions, and initiating corrective action where necessary. Authorise, monitor and control work packages to be delivered by the UNOPS team or external implementing partners. Identify and manage risks so that maximum benefit to clients and stakeholders is achieved. Advise on mitigating measures to the UNOPS Management Team so that maximum benefit to partner(s) and other stakeholders is achieved. Monitor and evaluate the performance of service providers from a fiduciary and contract management perspective. Monitor progress of the programme at a strategic level and ensure periodic progress and updates are made to the UNOPS Management Team, including escalating relevant risks and issues that may hold up the adequate development of the programme. Knowledge Management:
Build and share knowledge with regards to the development and implementation of the programme, synthesis of lessons learnt/best practices, and sound contributions to UNOPS Communities of Practice and knowledge management initiatives. Provide guidance to ensure work standards are achieved, both in terms of quality and quantity of inputs/outputs processed. Leadership:
Promote teamwork, collaboration and diversity by providing the programme team with clear direction, objectives and guidance to enable them to perform their duties responsibly, effectively and efficiently. Ensure principles of human rights, gender equity, peace, voice and accountability, ‘doing no harm’ and aid effectiveness in all activities. Create, foster and role model a culture of respect and zero tolerance for discrimination, abuse of authority, harrassment, sexual harrassment, sexual exploitation and abuse. Ensure accountability for actions and perform duties in accordance with protection mechanisms and action plans, as expected by UNOPS policies, standards and commitments. Continually assess the performance and effectiveness of the programme implementation, recommending changes and/or corrective actions in the team structure and/or financial operations to enhance and maintain effectiveness in the changing environment. Impact of results:
The Programme Director - Digital Transformation directly impacts on achievement of the programme results by adhering to programme methods and strategies, reducing risks, cutting costs and improving success rates. This consequently reinforces the visibility and image of UNOPS as an effective service provider in project services and management and strengthens its competitive position as a partner of choice in sustainable development and project services. Education/Experience/Language requirements:
Education:
A Master’s Degree is required preferably in Business Management or other relevant disciplines. A Bachelor’s Degree in combination with additional two (2) years of highly relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of a Master's Degree. Experience:
A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience working for a global organization, preferably within the UN or similar contexts, including at least five (5) years of strategically managing various complex programmes and/or projects is required. Leadership experience from leading a UNOPS country office, a complex programme in UNOPS or a large scale project in UNOPS is highly desired. Experience supporting a large-scale Change Management Initiative is required. Strong knowledge of process optimization is required. Excellent interpersonal communication and negotiation skills required. Languages:
Full working knowledge of English is essential. Working knowledge of French and/or Spanish is an asset.