Senior Programme Manager – Impact and Scaling Lead, Home based

UNOPS South East Asia Multi-Country Office (EAPMCO)

The South East Asia and Pacific Multi Country Office (EAPMCO) supports, develops and oversees the UNOPS portfolio of projects in South East Asia and the Pacific. EAPMCO was established in January 2023 following the merger of the Thailand Multi-Country Office, which covered 20 countries across North East Asia, South East Asia and the Pacific, and the Cambodia Multi-Country Office, which covered 4 countries South East Asia – 3 countries in the Mekong Sub-region (Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam) and the Philippines. EAPMCO currently covers 24 countries across North East Asia, South East Asia and the Pacific. With its head office in Bangkok, the Multi-Country Office comprises nine business units: SEMCO Thailand, EAPMCO Indonesia, EAPMCO Pacific Operations Cluster, EAPMCO Papua New Guinea, EAPMCO China, EAPMCO Vietnam, EAPMCO Lao PDR, EAPMCO Philippines and EAPMCO Cambodia.

In 2023, the UNOPS EAPMCO implemented projects worth more than USD 75 million, in the areas of Energy Transition, Digital Transformations, Sustainable Environmental Management, Climate Change, Waste Management, Rule of Law and Access to Justice, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Post Conflict Reintegration, Emergency Relief, Post COVID19 Economic Transformations, and Health, through HR, procurement, construction, contract management, fund and program management services.

The Multi Country Office head office in Bangkok provides strategic direction, operational support, delivery oversight and assurance of the excellence of business processes and quality standards across all of the entire Multi Country Office locations. It is also responsible for developing, delivering and managing the portfolio of engagements in the country of the MCO location itself.

Project Background:

UN Global Pulse (UNGP) is an initiative of the Executive Office of Secretary-General (EOSG) founded in 2009. We work in support of the Secretary-General’s priorities, in advancement of the UN Charter. UNGP serves as a cross-pillar lead and hub for experimentation and digital innovation. We have a globally distributed team in the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia. The teams work with digital innovation, strategic foresight, real-time data and artificial intelligence to further sustainable development, humanitarian and peace outcomes. Our vision is ‘A world in which responsible and inclusive digital innovation serves to empower people and protect the planet’. Our mission is to work at the intersection of digital innovation and science to inform, inspire and support the entire UN and those it serves, to anticipate and respond to the challenges of today and tomorrow.

The goals of the UN Global Pulse Network are: i) to generate knowledge, capabilities and approaches that support the transformation of the United Nations into a more agile and resilient ‘next-generation’ institution; ii) to create and accelerate the development of globally accessible approaches that help communities and partners anticipate and address emerging global challenges; and iii) to advocate for the global transformation of policies, practices and culture required to maximize the impact of digital innovation, minimize its risk of harm, and ensure pathways to scale and sustainability.

UNOPS has signed an agreement to operationally support the implementation of the UN Global Pulse’s Data Insights for Social and Humanitarian Action (DISHA) project.

The incumbent of this position will be personnel of UNOPS under its full responsibility.

UNOPS is seeking a Senior Programme Manager – Impact and Scaling Lead for UN Global Pulse’s Data Insights for Social & Humanitarian Action (DISHA) project.

Disha (https://disha.unglobalpulse.org/) aims to accelerate ethical and responsible access to data and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions to unlock social impact at scale. By facilitating the availability of reusable data through reliable models, standardized approaches and frameworks, Disha enables the creation and expansion of actionable insights. These insights are designed to support more effective and inclusive efforts in humanitarian work, peacebuilding and development.

The Impact and Scaling guides the development of DISHA’s long-term scaling model, impact vision and strategy, product development pipeline, as well as processes and protocols that ensure adequate management of risks arising from using data and AI techniques in humanitarian contexts.

The Impact and Scaling lead will work closely with the Head of DISHA to increase DISHA’s reach, relevance, and impact; ensure sustainable funding and operating model; grow DISHA’s partnership base, and perform other duties corresponding to the rapidly evolving nature of a scrappy and ambitious innovation project.

The Impact and Scaling lead will work closely with and may supervise as applicable DISHA’s partnerships, product, customer success and monitoring and evaluation colleagues.

The day to day management and supervision of this position is under the responsibility of the Head of DISHA. The Impact and Scaling Lead is expected to meet the organization’s overall performance and delivery goals across projects as set out by the UN Global Pulse Leadership Team.

The person in this position will need to work across time zones from East Asia (Jakarta) to East US (New York) in a balanced working pattern across the week.

Functional Responsibilities

Summary of functions:

1. Grow the adoption and relevance of existing DISHA products
2. Develop and maintain systems for identifying and measuring DISHA’s impact
3. Identify and prioritize pathways for scaling DISHA’s impact, lead new partner recruitment efforts
4. Package and communicate the story of DISHA’s impact for various stakeholders
5. Support DISHA’s stakeholder engagement, strategy planning and fundraising efforts
6. Support the efforts to build and maintain a well-aligned and high-functioning DISHA team

1. Grow the adoption and relevance of existing DISHA products

• Identifies DISHA’s target user groups based from the impact POV
• Formalizes relationships with key user groups to understand and capture the evolving user needs for the strategic focus within the area of data insights for social and humanitarian action
• Leads outreach efforts to key user groups to increase the uptake of DISHA products.

2. Develop and maintain systems for identifying and measuring DISHA’s impact

• In collaboration with users, develops a system of meaningful metrics to capture DISHA’s impact and implements their regular monitoring.
• Coordinates (or delegates) regular dialogue with key user groups to test the success or failure of meeting prioritized needs during the development of products through user testing, qualitative and quantitative monitoring following continuous delivery principles.
• Maintains and develops relationships with social and humanitarian partner agencies to monitor whether the overall objectives of DISHA products and ecosystem stay mutually beneficial with partners’ objectives.
• Works closely with DISHA’s product and policy colleagues to ensure strict adherence to UN Principles for the Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence, starting with Do No Harm. This includes but is not limited to making sure product limitations are clearly spelled out and understood by the users; users and beneficiary communities are not exposed to any undisclosed risks as a result of using DISHA.
• Ensure maintenance of the project files and lessons learned are recorded.

3. Identify and prioritize pathways for scaling DISHA’s impact, lead new partner recruitment efforts

• Designs a cohesive ecosystem of DISHA products that resonate with DISHA’s target users in collaboration with Product and Partnerships Managers, and the Tech Lead.
• Identifies opportunities to expand DISHA’s geographic reach and product portfolio reach; systematically assesses them in terms of relative investment-to-impact ratios.
• Designs and executes mechanisms for sourcing new use cases through targeted user outreach, open challenges, etc.
• Plan resource requirements for use cases in consultation with the Head of DISHA, tech and product teams.
• Lead DISHA’s outreach to new data and technology partners.

4. Package and communicate the story of DISHA’s impact for various stakeholders

• Prepare materials to report on project progress and impact for the UN leadership, funders, partners, and the general public.
• Coordinate stakeholder engagement and communication, ensuring effective timing and interdependency management of communications. Ensure stakeholders are aware of project activities, progress, and challenges.
• As applicable, represent DISHA at relevant external events and fora.

5. Support DISHA’s stakeholder engagement, strategy planning and fundraising efforts

• Support Head of DISHA is planning and following-up on regular engagements with DISHA’s stakeholder groups, such as the Steering Committee, Strategy Working group;
• Support Head of DISHA on regular progress and impact reporting for internal and external stakeholders.
• As applicable, support the planning and execution of DISHA-hosted events or DISHA’s presence at external events.
• Support Head of DISHA in prospective funder outreach, including preparation and tailoring of pitch materials and grant applications.
• Lead impact reporting for interim and final grant reports.

6. Support the efforts to build and maintain a well-aligned and high-functioning DISHA team

• In alignment with the Head of DISHA and other Disha Leads, work to establish a productive and coordinated environment within and across the teams.
• Support the Head of DISHA in the definition of project objectives, resource plans, and timelines in collaboration with project partners.
• Collaborate with Workstream/Use Case Lead(s) for project planning including resource allocation, impact trajectory, progress monitoring, and risk profile review.
• Draft, align, and deliver on project work plans including raising any delivery roadblocks and significant delivery risks to Head of DISHA in time.

Competencies

Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization.

Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.

Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).

Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.

Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.

Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.

Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education:

• An advanced University Degree (Master’s or equivalent) or higher degree, preferably in computer science, social sciences, business management, economics, or other relevant disciplines.
• First-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in the above-mentioned fields with an additional two (2) years of relevant experience can be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of 7 (seven) years experience in managing multi-stakeholder projects.
• Experience growing the user base of software products is desired.
• Experience coordinating, gathering and analyzing user needs, user testing and feedback and synthesizing them into prioritized objectives and a coherent design in collaboration with software engineers is desired.
• Experience in data analysis, data science or AI is preferable.
• People management experience is preferable.
• An understanding from end-to-end of the software delivery cycle including at least one experience of deployment or go-live is desired.
• Experience in satellite image analysis or remote sensing is an asset.
• Experience of implementing innovation or technology in social or humanitarian sectors is an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Full working knowledge of English is required;
• Knowledge of another official UNOPS language is an asset.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type, level and duration

1. Contract type: International Individual Contractor Agreement (IICA)
2. Contract level: ICS 11 / LICA 11 / IICA 3
3. Contract duration: “Ongoing” until April 2025 with the possibility of extension subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds, and satisfactory performance.

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

Disclaimer:

• In duty stations where the NPO category has been established by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), a Local Individual Contractor Agreement (LICA) must be issued for a home-based contract.

Additional Information

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses ( they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.