UNOPS Seeks Senior Strategic Advisor for Remote Global Initiatives-Apply before 9 Apr 2026
The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is recruiting a Senior Strategic Advisor to provide high-level advisory services on a home-based, remote basis. This senior-level position focuses on strategic design, stakeholder facilitation, and quality assurance for complex institutional programs. With a contract duration of 12 months, the role offers a unique opportunity to influence international projects that advance sustainable development, peacebuilding, and operational excellence.
Role Overview
The Senior Strategic Advisor serves as a non-operational, high-impact consultant, guiding programs through the inception, design, and quality assurance phases. The Advisor will navigate political and technical landscapes, define “Build Mandates” for large-scale systems, and provide expert consultations through focused Sprints. The position emphasizes ensuring alignment with global best practices and client objectives while fostering long-term institutional growth.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Design & Stakeholder Facilitation
- Lead integrated workshops and residencies to merge organizational needs with technical and governance frameworks.
- Facilitate the definition of the project “North Star,” ensuring consensus among government, international partners, and technical teams.
- Conduct stakeholder analysis using surveys, interviews, and heat-mapping to identify institutional pain points and change readiness.
Expert Consultation & Quality Assurance
- Oversee the development of strategic frameworks, governance models, and design packages that translate stakeholder needs into actionable mandates.
- Provide intensive, short-burst strategic and technical reviews (“Sprints”) to evaluate program progress against long-term objectives.
- Review and refine decision-support frameworks, logic models, and data-driven engines to ensure alignment with policy priorities.
Executive Advisory & Change Management
- Act as a high-level liaison between UNOPS and senior government or partner leadership.
- Advise on change and engagement strategies, ensuring user adoption, capacity building, and governance integration.
- Identify strategic risks in project delivery and recommend mitigation strategies regarding governance, resources, and political shifts.
Required Skills and Competencies
- Strategic Visioning: Ability to define long-term organizational goals and align complex projects with international standards.
- Systems Thinking: Proficiency in Design Thinking or Systems Engineering methodologies to address complex challenges.
- Change Leadership: Expertise in advising on institutional reform and managing organizational transitions.
- Global Experience: Ability to operate across diverse political and cultural landscapes, translating technical needs into strategic mandates.
- Communication & Collaboration: Strong interpersonal skills, facilitating consensus, conflict resolution, and knowledge sharing across stakeholders.
Professional Credentials:
- Master’s degree with 7 years of relevant experience, or Bachelor’s degree with 9 years of experience.
- Certifications in project/program management (PRINCE2, PMP, MSP), Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban, Lean), or corporate governance and design thinking are highly desirable.
About UNOPS and the Peace & Security Cluster
The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) supports multi-regional initiatives to advance sustainable development and peacebuilding in over 130 countries. The New York Portfolios Office (NYPO) focuses on managing high-profile portfolios for the UN Secretariat and other UN entities, providing operational support across project management, procurement, HR, and financial services.
Within NYPO, the Peace and Security Cluster (PSC) has over 25 years of experience delivering gender-responsive humanitarian mine action and explosive threat management projects in 18 countries and territories. The Senior Strategic Advisor will contribute directly to PSC’s global mission, helping guide strategic planning and governance across multi-country operations.
Qualifications and Experience
- Demonstrated experience in high-level strategic planning and program delivery for multi-sectoral initiatives.
- Experience in institutional reform in fragile or transitioning contexts.
- Proven ability to engage senior officials and executive boards in policy and governance discussions.
- Fluency in English is required.
Application and Additional Information
UNOPS emphasizes diversity and inclusion in recruitment. Candidates from all backgrounds—including underrepresented groups—are encouraged to apply. UNOPS strictly does not request payments at any stage of the recruitment process. Shortlisted candidates will advance to assessment stages, and reasonable accommodations are provided as needed.
This role is ideal for professionals seeking to apply their expertise in strategic advisory, governance, and change management to high-impact global projects while working remotely.
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