Senior Advisor – Counter-Terrorism - Retainer

UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations.

New York Portfolios Office (NYPO) supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as other New York-based United Nations organizations, and bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management.

Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. It was formed by combining the following portfolios: Grants Management Services (GMS), UN Technology Support Services (UNTSS), and Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio (DSIP) It provides Services to partners' programmes that are designed, structured, and managed with a global perspective and primarily serving partners that are headquartered in New York. The SDC has a footprint of approximately 125 countries.

UNOPS has signed an agreement with the United Nations Office for Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) to implement the activities of the EU-UN Global Terrorism Threats Facility project.

UNOCT was established by the General Assembly in June 2017. The Office has five main functions: (a) provide leadership on the General Assembly counter-terrorism mandate across the United Nations System; (b) enhance coordination and coherence across the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact entities to ensure the balanced implementation of the four pillars of the Strategy; (c) strengthen the delivery of United Nations counter-terrorism capacity-building assistance to Member States; (d) improve visibility, advocacy and resource mobilization for United Nations counter-terrorism efforts; and ensure that due priority is given to counter-terrorism across the United Nations System and that the important work on preventing violent extremism is firmly rooted in the Strategy.

In April 2022, UNOCT and the European Union launched the EU-UN Global Terrorism Threats Facility (the Facility), with the overall objective to provide rapid and flexible support to Member States in building their capacities to detect, prevent, counter, investigate and respond to evolving terrorist threat, while ensuring respect for international law, including international human rights law, international humanitarian law and refugee law as well as the rule of law. The Facility delivers three types of activities: (a) advisory and mentoring support through the deployment of experts in a number of thematic areas determined by Member States’ requests; (b) training activities or workshops; and (c) limited provision of light, non-lethal equipment. It operates according to the following principles: 1) it is demand-driven, based on official requests from a Member State; and 2) it is complementary to other UN and EU support. Support delivered by the Facility takes in consideration the recommendations from the assessment visits conducted by the Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee, through its Executive Directorate (CTED).

To support the Facility, UNOPS is developing a roster of specialists (the Roster), members of which will deliver assistance across the four pillars of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, depending on the specific need and context of the requesting Member States or regional organizations. The duration of the assignment depends on the tasks and deliverables assigned.

Under the supervision of the Cluster Head and in coordination with the Head of the EU-UN Global Terrorism Threats Facility, the Senior Programme Manager [Senior Law Enforcement Expert] will provide high-level strategic, operational and advisory support to strengthen Member States counter-terrorism capabilities within their national law enforcement structures. The Senior Law Enforcement Expert will work hand in hand with the national authorities to enhance the effectiveness, professionalism and operational coordination of national law enforcement responses to terrorism threats.

The functions, amongst others, include:

• Lead comprehensive assessments of national law enforcement capacities related to counter-terrorism, identifying operational gaps, institutional weaknesses, and priority areas for intervention, while anticipating emerging threats and challenges;
• Design, implement and oversee targeted technical assistance and capacity-building aimed at strengthening the operational readiness, intervention capabilities, and institutional resilience of national law enforcement entities involved in counter-terrorism efforts;
• Provide high-level strategic advice and mentorship support to national senior law enforcement officials on the development and modernization of organizational structures involved in counter-terrorism efforts, including their operational practices;
• Support national law enforcement services involved in counter-terrorism efforts in developing and refining operational policies, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and guidelines for the response to terrorism-related incidents, including the planning, command and control of CT operations;
• Deliver advanced training and mentoring to senior officers and specialized units within national law enforcement institutions contributing to CT efforts;
• Promote the integration of human rights standard, accountability principles and gender-sensitive approaches across all activities supported by the Facility, ensuring these also become reflected in the institutions’ practice related to which advice and mentoring is being provided by the expert;
• Prepare a variety of high-quality, written substantive outputs, including analyses, presentations, training materials, summary reports, related to their assignments.

Required:

• Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent), preferably in security studies, international relations, public administration, or any related field with ten (10) years of relevant experience is required; or
• First-level university degree (bachelor's degree or equivalent) with twelve (12) years of relevant experience is required.
• Graduation from a police or gendarmerie senior staff college is required.

Required:

• Relevant experience is defined as experience holding senior command positions, preferably at the rank of police superintendent / colonel or above in an operational role within a law enforcement institution contributing to national counter-terrorism efforts;

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience working on counter-terrorism, preferably in an international policing context is required;

• Expertise in building operational law enforcement capacity of units involved in counter terrorism response, preferably while ensuring compliance with international laws, human rights standards, and ethical guidelines of operational units is required.

Desired:

• Experience working internationally with law enforcement/security organizations is desired;

• Experience in designing and providing technical assistance to a range of audiences, including senior law enforcement officials within institutions contributing to national counter-terrorism efforts, is desired;

• Experience working in a multilateral or regional organization would be an asset;

• Experience working with law enforcement/security organizations in Africa would be an asset;

• Experience working in post-conflict or complex settings would be an asset.

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
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• 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.
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