Senior Programme Manager

Position description

The Senior Programme Officer (SPO) leads programme development, resource mobilization, and stakeholder coordination within the Peace and Security Cluster. This role ensures compliant, high-quality project delivery, advancing mine action strategies while fostering inclusive, safe environments. SPO leadership directly impacts project success, supporting global security, humanitarian responses, and sustainable development goals. This recruitment aims to fill an ongoing, full-time staff or ICA position based in Damascus, Syria. Depending on actual needs, the hiring unit may decide to recruit endorsed qualified professionals for contracts in different locations with different working conditions (short/long term, part/full-time, retainer, regular or ongoing positions, staff or ICA).

Background Information – UNOPS Peace and Security Cluster

The Peace and Security Cluster (PSC) is an integral component of the GPO, providing specialized expertise in peace and security programming across UNOPS operations. For over 25 years, PSC has provided portfolio and project management services in the area of mine action and explosive hazards, which are reinforced by comprehensive management and oversight controls. Under this umbrella, the Cluster is responsible for the implementation of projects that, through the engagement of inputs such as personnel, third parties, assets and other resources, deliver activities that produce substantive mine action outputs. 

Projects are delivered in line with UNOPS Project Management Manual (PMM), which incorporates best practices in the field, and quality and cross-cutting initiatives such as workforce and talent management; knowledge and information management; health, safety, social and environmental management; gender parity and mainstreaming; and diversity and inclusion. This comprehensive delivery platform is implemented in accordance with partner requirements and in line with UNOPS rules and regulations through the leadership of the Cluster Director, who has the overall authority and accountability for the performance of PSC 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, the GESI Mainstreaming Strategy 2026-2029, and the Prevention and Protection against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment Strategy (updated 2023). 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

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 for mine action 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, risk education and all other aspects of mine action.

The duties and responsibilities of the Senior Programme Officer are similar in different contexts, however may be determined by the lifecycle of the programme, the funding portfolio, and other criteria linked to the specific position and country context. 

*** This recruitment aims to fill an ongoing, full-time staff or ICA position staff based in Damascus, Syria. Depending on actual needs, the hiring unit may decide to recruit endorsed qualified professionals for contracts in different locations with different working conditions (short/long term, part/full-time, retainer, regular or ongoing positions, staff or ICA). ***

Reporting to the Head of Project Unit, the Senior Programme Officer must be able to undertake the below duties and responsibilities:

1. Programme development, planning and coordination

• Coordinate the development and articulation of the Country Programme Strategy (CPS) in line with relevant UN and government and/or national or regional strategies, and review/update at necessary intervals. Ensure CPS reflects in-house capacity, budget, delivery areas, internal tools and knowledge resources, and is informed by GESI analysis of explosive ordnance risk and access to mine action services, ensuring no at-risk groups are left behind. 

• Support the management team to translate the Strategy into implementation/results work plans and associated monitoring mechanisms, with gender-age and disability-disaggregated indicators, and draft project documents as needed for the implementation of the programme.

• Coordinate and collaborate with relevant stakeholders in-country and at HQ, to ensure aligned and coherent planning and implementation processes, including with the GPO GEDSI Advisor on the integration of DEI, GESI and PSEAH considerations throughout the process.

2. Development and follow up of resource mobilization opportunities

• 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, with particular focus on ensuring inclusive approaches, and efforts to reach most at-risk groups.

• Coordinate preparation of programme documents, including concept notes, proposals, and associated budgets, ensuring appropriate levels of funding to ensure viability of projects, and appropriate consideration for GESI/PSEAH in programming, and as distinct and costed budget lines.

• Draft and/or review funding agreements and other project documents required for the signature and implementation of new projects.

• In coordination with headquarters Resource Mobilization personnel, support the review, submission, negotiation, and signature of funding agreements.

3. Programme management support

• Analyze funding agreements and develop compliance plans and monitoring frameworks to guide key departments and management team to meet requirements of funding agreements, in coordination with PSC and the client. 

• In collaboration with relevant personnel, establish monitoring mechanisms to measure delivery against targets outlined in funding agreements. 

• Provide review/input to scopes of work for procurement processes to ensure the requirements of the relevant funding sources, including on safeguarding and inclusion, are reflected in agreements with implementing partners. Review implementing partner reports to ensure requirements are being met. 

• Track programme results against targets, alert relevant management if delivery is not on track, compile data and draft reports to internal and external stakeholders and support the management team to prepare for internal reviews.

• Coordinate information flow between implementation teams, donors, and headquarters, particularly related to any deviations that would require revisions to the relevant legal agreement; when required, Coordinate budget and activity revisions to funding agreements.

• Prepare, and provide editing support for, high quality summary and analytical reports including, but not limited to, project reports, 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.  Ensure that results data and reporting are disaggregated by gender, age, disability.

• Coordinate communications between the programme and the headquarters programme, portfolio management, and technical support teams to support compliance to programme documents and funding agreements, and the implementation of policies, processes and methods according to internal standards.

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

• Establish and build 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.

• Coordinate, participate in, or contribute to the Mine Action Area of Responsibility/Sub-Cluster under the Protection Cluster, where relevant, including the formulation of the mine action components for the Humanitarian Needs Overview and Response Plan, in collaboration with the UNMAS Geneva office. 

• 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.

• Promote inclusive engagement with national authorities (including line ministries responsible for gender, disability and victim assistance, alongside national mine action authorities), communities and stakeholders, ensuring that women, persons with disabilities, survivors and other underrepresented/at-risk groups are meaningfully consulted and considered in programme implementation.

• Support the development of communication strategies, linked to resource mobilization strategies, where relevant, to maximise communication impact and outreach and build awareness of programme objectives.

• Support design, coordination and dissemination of public information products and communication activities as well as gather and draft content for communications products and platforms, ensuring informed consent, dignity and non-stereotype representation of affected communities and individuals. 

• 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. 

5. Knowledge management and document management and innovation

• Maintain records of programme 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 practices, lessons identified, and innovative approaches to improve overall programme performance including but not limited to PSEAH, DEI, GESI, programme implementation, capacity building, stakeholder engagement and innovation.

• Contribute to the management and upkeep of risk management and issue management logs and processes, including GESI and PSEAH risks. 

6. People management 

• Lead and motivate the programme team.

• 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.

• As a member of the in-country management team, foster and role-model a safe and inclusive work environment, respectful of the diversity upon which the UN is based, placing value on perspectives from a broad range of backgrounds, lived experiences, and geographic diversity. 

• Uphold the highest standards of conduct and take decisive action to address behaviours that undermine inclusion, equity and psychological safety through established reporting and escalation mechanisms.

• Create, foster and role-model a culture of respect and zero tolerance for discrimination, abuse of authority, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual exploitation and abuse. Demonstrate visible and accountable leadership on PSEAH and ethical conduct, ensuring prevention and response mechanisms are embedded in project management and implementing partner oversight structures. Ensure that all personnel under supervision are aware of and comply with PSEAH obligations and reporting channels. 

Application instructions

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