Job Highlight

The role offers the chance to provide sound advice, lead review committees, and advocate for new ideas, directly contributing to UNOPS' mission by ensuring transparent, efficient, and compliant resource utilization in a global context.

About

About the Group

The Risk and Compliance Group (RCG) integrates key Second Line of Defence functions to strengthen risk management and ensure UNOPS operations align with UN values. RCG supports the organization in applying best practices across risk management, quality assurance, compliance, internal controls, and due diligence. Core responsibilities include enterprise and corporate risk management, such as secretariat support to the Quarterly Management Review (QMR); corporate insurance; development of compliance and accountability frameworks; oversight of internal controls; and due diligence. RCG also manages the Contracts and Property Committee (CPC) and the bid protest process. Through these functions, RCG helps embed risk management into operational processes, supports the automation of controls, proactively addresses key risks, prevents non-compliance, and ensures robust due diligence. Our group plays a vital role in advancing integrity, accountability, and operational excellence across UNOPS.

Role Purpose

The role provides strategic and operational oversight of the Review Committee function, ensuring that procurement and related cases are reviewed objectively, efficiently, and in full compliance with UNOPS Financial Regulations, Rules, policies, and established procedures. It is responsible for managing case reviews, providing recommendations and advisory support to senior management, facilitating Review Committee meetings, and ensuring the quality and integrity of committee outputs. The role also contributes to knowledge management, capacity building, stakeholder coordination, process improvement, and policy development by identifying trends, strengthening guidance, and promoting best practices across review boards. The position further supports effective team coordination and a collaborative, inclusive working environment.

***This position is a maternity cover however unselected qualified candidates from this recruitment cycle may be considered for future openings in identical or similar roles. ***

Functions / Key Results Expected

Case Management (all types), including recommendations to the ECPO and RDAssume responsibility and ownership for reviewing both regular and Emergency Procurement (EPP) cases. Conduct EPP reviews—which are ad hoc and managed upon receipt—including the preparation of minutes and recommendations as required. Ensure that all cases proposed for award strictly comply with Financial Regulations and Rules, as well as established policies. Provide guidance on provisions, write-offs, asset management, and asset disposal oversight to promote cost-effective lifecycle management and the seamless closure of project cycles. As required, act in an advisory capacity to the Executive Chief Procurement Officer (ECPO) and Regional Directors (RDs) regarding relevant areas. Support the Chief, CPC in maintaining a contract review program that aligns with the Review Committee's mandate and UNOPS procurement regulations. Encourage continuous assessment and renewal of contracting processes to ensure efficient service, integrity, and responsiveness to client business needs. Advise on the evolution of contract review procedures while building awareness of requirements to ensure the smooth and timely review and award of contracts. Meeting Facilitation and Management Oversee the administrative tasks necessary for the Review Board’s functioning, including performance reporting, and the mapping of member qualifications. Support the Chief, CPC in planning, recruiting, and developing committee members with the required competencies, encouraging diverse teams in terms of gender and geography. Convene and preside over Review Committee meetings in accordance with the terms of reference and responsibilities agreed upon with the Chief, CPC. Promote teamwork and collaboration by providing committee members with clear direction, objectives, and guidance to perform their duties efficiently and responsibly. Ensure that all outputs produced by the Review Committee (such as reports and recommendations) maintain high-quality standards, are clear and objective, and accurately reflect deliberations while complying with respective mandates. Knowledge Management (KM) and Capacity Building Across Stakeholders Assume direct supervisory responsibility for one team member and actively coordinate with other CPC Chairs to ensure the smooth, timely review of cases across all boards, while fostering a positive, respectful work environment for both men and women that upholds the highest standards of conduct. Develop and maintain interactive orientation and training for new committee members in cooperation with Procurement Group (PG) to ensure a consistent understanding of roles, limitations, and responsibilities. Support the implementation of regular reporting mechanisms to identify and address submission bottlenecks. Identify trends and common issues in Review Committee submissions, collaborate with the Chief, CPC to make appropriate recommendations to mitigate these issues, and suggest policy improvements to relevant practice groups. When requested, support the Procurement Group (PG) in its policy formulation process by tracking and reporting procurement patterns. Support the Chief, CPC in ensuring effective collaboration between the Review Committee and internal stakeholders throughout UNOPS. Coordinate with other UNOPS review boards to continuously identify opportunities for creating and implementing efficiency measures. Assist the Chief, CPC with the ongoing research, development, and implementation of best practices and innovative approaches to develop tools and guidelines which can simplify the Review Committee process, reduce workload, and avoid duplication of work.

Education Requirements

Required:

A Master’s Degree is required. A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s Degree) in combination with 2 additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Desired:

Certification in Procurement

Requirements

Experience Requirements

Required:

A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in any of the following: procurement, supply chain; project/contract management or logistics support.

Desired:

Candidates with UNOPS field experience and/or application of UNOPS regulations and rules are encouraged to apply. Candidates who have experience as a member of the CPC are encouraged to apply.