Coordination Specialist (Area of Responsibility)

The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) brings together diverse expertise to help partners deliver impact worldwide. With hubs in New York, Geneva, and Vienna, and expert teams operating globally, GPO leads multi-regional initiatives that advance sustainable development, climate action, and peacebuilding - including in some of the world’s most challenging environments. By leveraging our collective expertise and global networks, GPO supports UNOPS’ strategic priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals across more than 130 countries. We work closely with major global partners - including governments, international financial institutions, and UN agencies - to deliver a wide range of services, such as project management, fund management, hosting services, and HR support.

The New York Portfolios Office (NYPO) manages UNOPS' New York-based portfolios, delivering project and programme management, procurement, HR, and financial services to global partners, from the UN Secretariat to Member States. NYPO strategically positions UNOPS with these partners, fostering collaboration to achieve growth and leveraging expertise in global portfolio design and implementation. We support the broader SDGs and 2030 Agenda, primarily assisting the UN Secretariat and other New York-based UN entities with a global reach. NYPO encompasses the Peace and Security Cluster (PSC), focusing on explosive threat management, and the Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC), providing diverse operational support to the UN system in New York.

Background Information – UNMAS

Established in 1997 by the General Assembly, the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) serves as the United Nations focal point for mine action and supports its vision of “a world free of the threat of landmines and unexploded ordnance, where individuals and communities live in a safe environment conducive to development, and where mine survivors are fully integrated into their societies.”

UNMAS coordinates and collaborates with fourteen UN departments, agencies, programmes and funds to ensure an effective, proactive and coordinated response to the problems of landmines and explosive remnants of war, including cluster munitions.

UNMAS establishes, manages, and provides strategic direction to mine-action coordination centres in countries and territories as part of peacekeeping operations and humanitarian emergencies or crises. In these situations, UNMAS may plan and carry out mine-action projects, support and coordinate the work of local and international mine-action service providers, and set priorities for mine clearance, mine-risk education and all other aspects of mine action.

Background Information – UNOPS

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Peace and Security Cluster (PSC) is a principal service provider in the field of mine action. The Cluster is responsible to administer, provide support and oversight of the day-to-day management of UNMAS Field Programmes, both according to the client requirements and in line with UNOPS rules and regulations. It is headed by the Cluster Director who has the overall authority and accountability for the performance of the Peace and Security Cluster on behalf of its clients.

PSC operates within UNOPS broader commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), and the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (PSEAH), as set out in the UNOPS DEI Strategy and Accountability Plan 2026-2029. Within the mine action context, these commitments are operationalised through the PSC GEDSI Strategy 2026-2029 which sets expectations for inclusive recruitment, workforce representation, and the integration of GESI and PSEAH into programme delivery and implementing partner oversight. All PSC roles, including this position, are expected to contribute actively to these commitments.

Background Information – UNMAS Occupied Palestinian Territory

The Palestine Programme is directly aligned with UN strategies for the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT); is included within the Humanitarian Response Plans and Emergency Contingency Plans for Gaza; is integrated with the Protection Cluster strategies on protection of civilians and creating the conditions for the delivery of humanitarian assistance in the OPT. The vision of UNMAS Palestine is an OPT where the threat of explosive ordnance is minimized, enabling civilians, UN, and humanitarian partners to live and operate in a safe and secure environment As such, the mission of UNMAS Palestine is to enable humanitarian, recovery, and reconstruction partners to operate safely from explosive ordnance risks, while coordinating mine action and supporting national capacity development.

The Coordination Specialist (Area of Responsibility) is responsible for leading strategic coordination, planning, and programme development for mine action in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. This includes resource mobilization, donor engagement, advocacy, and fostering strong stakeholder relationships and inter-agency collaboration. The incumbent will provide technical and programme management support, ensure effective knowledge management, and contribute to people management, all while ensuring mine action efforts are gender-responsive, disability-inclusive, and aligned with humanitarian and UN strategic frameworks.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Project Unit (HPU), the incumbent will perform the following functions:

1. Strategic coordination, planning and programme development

2. Resource Mobilization, Donor Engagement and Advocacy

3. Stakeholder coordination, representation, and inter-agency collaboration

4. Technical and Programme management support

5. Knowledge management. information and document management

6. People management

1. Strategic coordination planning and programme development

• Coordinate the development and implementation of the MA sector strategy, ensuring alignment with the Humanitarian Programme Cycle (HPC), Protection Cluster priorities, UN strategic frameworks, and relevant national and/or regional mine action strategies.
• Complement to the Country Programme Strategy (CPS) and link it with the Emergency and Early Recovery planning. Ensure CPS reflects in-house capacity, budget, typology of delivery areas and the internal tools and knowledge resources.
• Coordinate and collaborate with relevant stakeholders in-country and at HQ, to ensure aligned and coherent planning and implementation processes.
• Coordinate or support the development and implementation of the MA sector annual workplan, ensuring priorities reflect humanitarian needs, partner capacities, available resources, and evolving operational requirements.
• Coordinate the integration of Mine Action into humanitarian planning processes, including the Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO), Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), Flash Appeals, Early Recovery planning, and other inter-sectoral response frameworks and analyses.
• Coordinate planning processes with humanitarian partners, national authorities, UN entities, and UNMAS management to ensure coherent, evidence-based, and coordinated implementation of Mine Action priorities.
• Ensure that all coordination, planning, and programme development processes are GESI-responsive, in line with UNOPS and UN commitments to leaving no one behind. This includes:

• Integrating gender equality and social inclusion analysis into the Mine Action sector strategy, HNO/HRP, and annual workplan.

• Promoting the meaningful participation of women, youth, persons with disabilities, and marginalized groups in coordination meetings, Technical Working Groups, and decision-making forums.

• Ensuring data collection and needs assessments are disaggregated by gender, age, and disability, and that findings inform prioritization and resource allocation.

• Provide strategic support to management on humanitarian coordination and strategic engagement, including advising on Mine Action integration across sectors, identifying opportunities for cross-sectoral collaboration, commissioning and coordinating strategic analyses under guidance of management, and providing evidence-based recommendations to inform programme priorities, advocacy, and operational decision-making.

2. Resource Mobilization, Donor Engagement and Advocacy

• Monitor humanitarian and development trends and needs to identify potential areas of intervention within UN mandates and existing capacity.
• Stay abreast of policies on mine action, UN policies, and cross-cutting priorities, such as gender, diversity, conflict sensitivity, sustainability, and environment, to be included in programme design as relevant.
• Coordinate the identification, design, and formulation of new activities to meet programme objectives.
• Enhance Mine Action mainstreaming in the cross-response areas and cross-sector information sharing
• Coordinate the development of sector concept notes, appeals, donor briefings, funding proposals, and resource mobilisation initiatives in collaboration with partners and UNMAS management.
• Support donor engagement and maintain regular dialogue with donors regarding sector priorities, funding gaps, and operational achievements.
• Ensure the preparation and coordination of evidence-based advocacy messages and products through the MA AoR and, where appropriate, the Protection Cluster, in consultation with partners and in alignment with UNMAS strategic priorities and advocacy objectives.
• In support of sectoral coordination, develop monitoring mechanisms to measure delivery of humanitarian coordinated activities
• Coordinate information flow between implementation teams, donors, and headquarters, on strategic coordination and humanitarian coordination information,
• Prepare, and provide editing support for, high quality summary and analytical reports focused on humanitarian cluster coordination including, but not limited to annual reports, situation reports, briefing notes, code cables, and UN reports. Prepare written summaries of meetings/visits and ensure relevant team members implement follow-up actions, as appropriate; research and prepare analytical, and sometimes sensitive, documents for the management team.
• Coordinate communications between the Country Programme office and the headquarters Programme, Portfolio Management, and Risk, Quality and Partnership teams to support compliance to programme documents and funding agreements, and the implementation of policies, processes and methods according to internal standards.

3. Stakeholder coordination, representation, and inter-agency collaboration

• Maintain relationships with UN, international organizations, donors, governments, and mine action stakeholders for the purposes of facilitating activities and improving the quality and relevance of programme implementation.
• Participate in, contribute to and report on the relevant inter-agency, UN mission, donor and inter-governmental coordination meetings in consultation with relevant programme technical experts when required. Support the management team with UN common planning and programming processes, including strategic country analysis, UNSDCF, humanitarian response plans, integrated strategic frameworks, etc.
• Serve as the technical coordination lead of the Mine Action thematic Area of Responsibility/Sub-Cluster under the Protection Cluster, including the formulation of the mine action components for the Humanitarian Needs Overview and Response Plan Response plan, in collaboration with the UNMAS Geneva office and under the guidance of supervisor.
• Support the applications of policies, practices and procedures associated with the overall implementation of the Humanitarian Programme Cycle and associated funding and monitoring mechanisms, where relevant, in collaboration with the UNMAS Geneva office.
• Support the development of communication strategies of the MAoR, linked to resource mobilization strategies, where relevant, to maximise communication impact and outreach
• Support design, coordination and dissemination of public information products and communication activities as well as gather and draft content for communications products and platforms, particularly as relates to coordination and humanitarian cluster engagement
• Support preparations for official meetings, events, briefings, and field visits, and prepare talking points, briefing notes, presentations and speeches for the management team and senior UN officials.
• Coordinate with the Protection Cluster's Gender-Based Violence and Child Protection Areas of Responsibility, and with the inter-agency PSEA network where one exists, to align mine action with protection priorities and referral pathways.

4. Technical support, monitoring and Programme management support

• Lead humanitarian coordination of the MA thematic area and facilitate implementation of agreed sector priorities through regular coordination meetings and Technical Working Groups.
• Monitor progress against agreed workplans, identify implementation challenges, and recommend corrective actions where required.
• Ensure consistent application of agreed technical standards, methodologies, and information management processes across the sector.
• Ensure that sector monitoring, reporting, and information management processes capture data disaggregated by sex, age, and disability, including casualty and victim/ survivor data, and that this data informs prioritisation and reporting to donors and the Protection Cluster.
• Include GESI integration among the dimensions monitored against agreed sector workplans, and share findings with the PSC GEDSI Advisor.
• Ensure that affected communities, including women, persons with disabilities, and other groups at heightened risk, can give feedback on mine action services, and that this feedback informs sector priorities.

5. Knowledge management and document management and innovation

• Maintain records of MA thematic area files and other necessary programme documents such as documentation of decisions and actions taken on programme issues.
• Implement relevant standards, tools and templates to effectively manage programme development and implementation.
• Identify, contribute to, record and share the ongoing development and implementation of best practice, lessons identified, and innovative approaches to improve overall programme performance
• Contribute to the management and upkeep of risk management and issue management logs and processes, including GESI and PSEAH risks.

6. People management (if applicable)

• Perform the programme team manager role, unless appointed to another person(s).
• Ensure the effective planning, recruitment and development of a flexible workforce with the skills and competencies needed to ensure optimum performance, and ensure gender and geographical diversity.
• Promote equitable representation on gender, geographic representation and other characteristics in the recruitment, onboarding, and development of the MA coordination team and TWG leads, ensuring equitable access to opportunities for underrepresented groups.
• Foster an inclusive and respectful work environment where all personnel can contribute fully and safely.Provide mentorship, coaching, and capacity-building opportunities to develop diverse talent and support career progression.
• Ensure that all team members are aware of and comply with UNOPS policies on preventing sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), harassment, and discrimination, and comply with UNOPS PSEAH obligations, and report any allegation or suspicion immediately through the established UNOPS reporting channels.
• Lead, supervise, mentor, and develop the MA (Mine Action Technical Group) TWG leads to ensure effective delivery of coordination functions.
• Coordinate the effective functioning of the TWGs by supporting the nomination, onboarding, and rotation of technical leads, ensuring appropriate organisational representation and gender balance, encouraging nominations from national and local organisations, women-led organisations, and organisations of persons with disabilities, providing ongoing guidance and support, and convening regular coordination meetings with TWG leads to monitor implementation and strengthen collaboration.
• Foster a positive work environment, respectful of both men and women, and ensure that the highest standards of conduct are observed. Create, foster and role-model a safe, inclusive culture and work environment for all personnel. Ensure zero tolerance for discrimination, harassment, and sexual exploitation and abuse, and that the highest standards of conduct are observed; and ensure that all personnel under supervision, including contracted personnel, are aware of and comply with PSEAH obligations and reporting channel.
• Have a thorough understanding of UNOPS personnel contract modalities (including ICA and Staff).
• Carry out any other related duties as needed and requested by the supervisor.

• Advanced University Degree (MA or equivalent) with five years of relevant experience, OR
• First Level University degree (bachelor’s degree or equivalent) with seven years of relevant experience.

Required:

• Relevant experience is defined as progressive experience in programme, project development or management, in either public or private sector organizations.
• Within relevant experience, 3 years of Mine Action (MA) is required.
• Knowledge in at least 2 from 5 core pillars of Mine Action is required:
  • Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE)
  • Victim Assistance (VA)
  • Clearance
  • Advocacy
  • Stockpile Destruction

Desired:

• Knowledge and/or experience applying GESI or DEI considerations in humanitarian coordination, planning, or data analysis is desirable.

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
  

• 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.
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• 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.