Principal Programme Management Officer

The Principal Programme Management Officer leads the Innovation and Digital Transformation Service within the Department of Peace Operations, overseeing the implementation of digital transformation strategies to enhance peacekeeping operations. The role involves managing teams, coordinating cross-departmental activities, and ensuring high-quality outputs that support evidence-based decision-making and innovation in peacekeeping.

Responsibilities

• Leads, supervises, and carries out activities related to innovation and the implementation of the digital transformation strategy for UN Peacekeeping, leveraging data and technology to improve mandate implementation, safety and security, and efficiency across platforms and stakeholders.
• Co-ordinates the work carried out by the teams in the Service (Digital Transformation, Innovation, CPAS/Evaluation and Information Integrity) and other entities engaged in implementation across DPO, peacekeeping missions, OICT and other stakeholders, including on data governance for peacekeeping, interoperable data systems, CPAS, and collaboration on data issues with relevant partners.
• Ensures that the outputs produced by the teams maintain high-quality standards and support evidence-based decision-making, community-centered peacekeeping, resilience to information threats, and cross-mission learning by connecting field innovation with headquarters policy, training and evaluation.
• Ensures that all outputs produced by the Sections under his/her supervision meet required standards before completion to ensure they comply with the relevant mandates.
• Assists the DPET Director in preparing, updating, and implementing the Service’s annual work plans as well as the overall Digital Transformation Implementation Plan, determining priorities, and allocating resources for the completion of outputs and their timely delivery, including support for transitions and drawdowns through strengthened national institutions, capacity transfer, and documentation of impact.
• Undertakes or oversees the programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the Service including preparation of budgets, reporting on budget/programme performance, evaluation of staff performance (PAS), interviews of candidates for job openings, evaluation of candidates and preparation of inputs for results-based budgeting.
• Recruits staff, taking due account of geographical balance.
• Manages, guides, develops, and trains staff under his/her supervision.
• Fosters teamwork and communication among staff in the Branch/Service/Division and across organizational boundaries.
• Leads and supervises the organization of meetings, seminars, etc. on substantive issues.
• Manages the substantive preparation and organization of such meetings or seminars.
• Participates in international, regional, or national meetings and provides programmatic/substantive expertise on an issue or holds programmatic/substantive and organizational discussions with representatives of other institutions.
• Represents the Division at international, regional, or national meetings.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, international relations, development studies, economics, public administration, programme management or related fields.
• A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of fifteen years of progressively responsible experience in leading change management or innovative programmes, programme management or administration, or related field, in an international context is required.
• Experience of managing complex projects is required.
• Experience of working in change management or innovative programmes is required.
• Experience of working in peacekeeping is desirable.
• Experience of working on a digital transformation in a UN entity or public organization is desirable.
• English is required at UN Level III proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
• French is desirable at UN Level II proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

Skills

• Programme Management
• Change Management
• Project Management
• Digital Transformation
• Innovation Management
• Peacekeeping Operations
• Team Leadership
• Cross-Department Coordination
• Evidence-Based Decision Making
• Public Administration
• International Relations
• Development Studies
• Economics
• Law
• Advanced University Degree
• Programme Administration

Languages

English, French