Background Information – Job-specific

UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, 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, 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), 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. Duration of the assignment depends on the tasks and deliverables assigned.

This position at UNOPS is designed to support the activities of the Facility. The selected candidate for this role will become UNOPS personnel under its full responsibility. The incumbent will work closely with other experts from the Roster for the duration of his contract and will undertake short-term assignments, with possible field deployments, depending on the needs of the Facility or of the requesting Member States.

Functional Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Cluster Head and in coordination with the senior programme manager of the EU-UN Global Terrorism Threats Facility, the Senior Programme Manager [trauma-informed interviewing expert] will be expected to deliver high-level technical expertise to support Member States in strengthening their capacities to conduct effective, trauma-informed, human rights-compliant, age- and gender-sensitive interviews in terrorism-related contexts, including of individuals with suspected family ties to terrorist groups and individuals who may be victims of violations or abuses from a humanitarian and human rights perspective, notably for psychological and social support needs assessment purposes:

• Undertake missions and conduct in-depth consultations with Member States requesting assistance to assess the capacity-building needs of national entities and specific personnel tasked with interviewing individuals in terrorism-related contexts to ensure the use of an effective, human rights compliant approach that is trauma-informed, age- and gender-sensitive;
• Conceptualize, design, deliver, and participate in the evaluation of relevant capacity-building activities on trauma-informed approaches to interviewing individuals of different backgrounds in terrorism-related contexts, as well as mitigating the risks of secondary or vicarious trauma for the personnel involved through preventative strategies, individual self-care and coping approaches;
• Provide high-level advisory and/or mentorship services to national entities in charge of interviewing individuals in terrorism-related contexts to strengthen their operational procedures and interviewing skills to ensure effectiveness and compliance with human-rights, as well as to protect their personnel against secondary or vicarious trauma;
• Prepare a variety of high-quality, written substantive outputs, including analyses, presentations, training materials, summary reports, related to their assignments;
• Ensure human rights issues, gender perspectives and the needs and rights of victims are integrated in their work.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

*FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY"

*CANDIDATES WITH NO UNITED NATIONS OR UNOPS EXPERIENCE ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY
Education:

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent), preferably in Psychology, Psychiatry, Criminal Justice, Law, or any related field with a minimum of ten (10) years of relevant experience is required; Or
• First Level University Degree (Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent) with a minimum of twelve (12) years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of advanced university degree.

Work Experience:
Required experience:

• Relevant experience is defined as experience in psychological trauma management in terrorism-related contexts is required;
• Within the ten (10) years of relevant experience, at least five (5) years of experience in the delivery of capacity-building activities, including training, on trauma-informed, human rights-compliant, and/or age- and gender-sensitive interviewing good practices in terrorism-related contexts is required.

Desirable experience (the following experience is optional candidates who do not have it are welcome to apply):

• Experience in designing and providing technical assistance to a range of audiences, including senior government officials, would be an asset;
• Experience working in terrorism-affected countries, including in the Middle-East, would be an asset;
• Knowledge of relevant United Nations documents, standards and tools is desirable;
• Prior experience working with the United Nations or a similar organization is desirable.

Languages:

• Fluency in English (read, write, speak) is required.
• Knowledge of another official language of the United Nations is desirable.

Contract type, level, and duration

• Contract type: International Individual Contractor Agreement (IICA) – Retainer modality.
• Contract level: IICA-4 – ICS-12.

Even though the level of the position is indicated as IICA-4, depending on the incumbent’s personal situation ( candidate with national ID or resident permit), a local fee scale (LICA-12) might be applied in determining the contractor’s fee.

• Contract duration: The contract for this position is set for a duration until 31 December 2025 (renewable subject to funds availability and satisfactory performance).
• Duty station: Home-based, with deployments to the field.

A retainer contract is issued for a period of time during which the services of the individual contractor are required intermittently. The individual contractor agreement on retainer basis will specify a “unit price” per day worked. For budgetary purposes, a monetary cap will be determined when the contract is awarded and issued. Please note that the retainer contract will not provide for a minimum, and payment will be made only after completion of work 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

How to Apply:

To apply, please click here.