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General Information

Position Title
Programme Support Specialist
Job Category
Programme
Duty Station(s)
Copenhagen
Seniority Level
Mid Level
ICS Level
ICS 10
Contract Type
ICA - IICA - Regular
Contract Level
IICA 2
Posting Start Date
16-Feb-2026
Posting End Date
02-Mar-2026
Duration
Ongoing, subject to performance and budget availability

Job Highlight

This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to the digital transformation of UNOPS, working at the intersection of IT and programme management. The position offers exposure to a wide range of IT projects, providing opportunities to develop skills in financial management, resource planning, and stakeholder engagement within a global organization.

About the Group

The UNOPS IT Group (ITG) is at the forefront of digital transformation, designing, delivering, and managing all of UNOPS IT infrastructure and business applications. We are a global team, dedicated to harnessing cutting-edge technology to address critical business needs and empower UNOPS personnel worldwide. ITG provides the essential IT systems and tools that underpin the successful implementation of UNOPS projects and the delivery of corporate initiatives. From maintaining robust enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and developing bespoke business applications to managing our cloud infrastructure and supporting global collaboration platforms, our work ensures operational excellence. We are committed to continuous improvement, driving effectiveness and efficiency in UNOPS products and services, ultimately helping people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development.

Job Specific Context

The Programme Support Specialist enables the effective delivery of the ITG and PID Programme by providing integrated financial and operational support. The role ensures strong budget oversight, expenditure control, and compliant financial reporting, while supporting recruitment, onboarding, procurement, and knowledge management to maintain robust internal controls and organizational accountability.

Additionally, they support the smooth operation and monitoring of programme activities, optimize resource use, and drive continuous process improvement in line with best practices and agreed standards.

The Programme Support Specialist reports to the Team Lead, ITG Project Management and Support, who provides broad supervision and guidance and works in close collaboration with both ITG and the PID team.

Role Purpose

The Programme Support Specialist independently manages projects/programs and adapts existing policies to meet emerging needs within ITG and PID. The role provides authoritative advice on financial management, resource utilization, and stakeholder communication, ensuring the successful delivery of programme outcomes.

Functions / Key Results Expected

1. Programme Support and Coordination


  • Strengthen programme reporting, assurance, and control processes, ensuring timely, accurate, and reliable information across operational, financial, and delivery areas.


  • Coordinate stakeholder communication and engagement efforts, ensuring project activities, progress, risks, exceptions, and financial implications are clearly communicated and that stakeholders are prepared to accept handover of programme outputs.


  • Advise ITG and PID senior management on emerging issues and risks, including operational, financial, and delivery-related factors that may impact the achievement of programme outcomes.


  • Support the development, maintenance, and monitoring of programme and project plans, including stage plans, resource forecasts, and budget-related inputs.


  • Contribute to the monitoring of programme progress and resource utilization, supporting the identification of variances and advising on corrective actions as required to maintain delivery, cost, and quality objectives.


  • Monitor & manage risks and escalate any relevant risks to the Programme Manager and senior management as needed.


  • In collaboration with the ITG Contract Manager, develop, implement, and oversee procurement plans for the Programme, ensuring timely, cost-effective procurement aligned with the workplan.


  • Coordinate contract management and vendor relationship management, ensuring smooth delivery of the contracts and respect of the terms and conditions.


  • Monitor and evaluate vendor performance.


  • Provide strategic programme support through the preparation, consolidation, and quality assurance of programme documentation, management reports, and presentations.

2. Financial and Budget Management


  • Manage the ITG and PID programme budget and financial expenditure and all administrative procedures in line with the workplan.


  • Monitor, track and control expenditure to ensure optimum and appropriate use of resources, produce financial reports, and provide regular updates to PID and ITG senior management.


  • Identify cost-saving opportunities and recommend strategies to optimize budget utilization.


  • Prepare, review, and process GLJEs to ensure accurate accounting of project transactions, fund transfers, reconciliations, and adjustments, ensuring full compliance with organizational financial rules.


  • Process direct payments and advance requests and prepare project budget revisions.


  • Process prepaid card replenishment procedures.


  • Produce financial reports; including developing financial monitoring and reporting formats as per UNOPS requirements.

  • Ensure all financial operations and reporting align with UN/UNOPS regulations and IPSAS standards, while proactively managing audit responses for internal and external bodies such as the UNBOA.


  • Alert the supervisor and senior management of any financial shortfalls and over-expenditures. Propose budget revision and initiate corrective action when necessary.

3. Resource Management


  • Optimize resource planning and utilization across IT projects, including coordination of recruitment, onboarding, and offboarding processes in collaboration with relevant teams.


  • Identify control mechanisms to ensure correct resources are utilized on the projects.


  • Design, coordinate, and strengthen capacity-building initiatives for personnel, including training sessions, workshops, and related logistical arrangements such as travel and procurement.

4. Knowledge Management and Communication


  • Facilitate cross-project learning and best practice transfer through documentation and dissemination/sharing of lessons learned.


  • Contribute to the recording and oversight of lessons learned procedures, ensuring that lessons learnt are shared in a timely and appropriate manner.


  • Manage project files, including internal and external project reports in an organized and accessible manner.


  • Develop, implement and maintain communications plans.


  • Manage the coordination of communications to ensure stakeholders are aware of project activities, progress, exceptions and are in a position to accept handover products.


  • Facilitate effective internal communication and coordination among project team members, stakeholders, and partners.


  • Serve as a point of contact for inquiries and information exchange related to the programme.

Skills

Budget Management, Contract Management, Financial Analysis, Risk Management, Stakeholder Management, Effective communication
Strategic Perspective
Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organisation. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organisation.
Respect
Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organisational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.
Collaboration
Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.
Partnerships
Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).
Excellence
Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.
Adaptability
Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.
Decision-making
Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.
Communication
Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Education Requirements

Required

  • Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Economics or related field or related fields with 7 years of relevant experience OR

  • Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any of the above or related fields with 5 years of relevant experience is required


Desired

  • Professional certification in accounting (CA, CPA, ACCA, ACA, CIMA, etc.), audit (CIA) or equivalent.

  • PRINCE2® Foundation or equivalent.

Experience Requirements

Required

  • Minimum 5 years of professional experience in project financial reporting, audit and accounting, with a demonstrable track record in designing, implementing, or evaluating internal controls within these functions is required.


Desired

  • Experience with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) or International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

  • Experience working in an international organization or the UN system.

  • Experience in program management support for large or complex programs.

  • Experience with IT project management methodologies.

Language Requirements

LanguageProficiency LevelRequirement
EnglishFluentRequired
SpanishFluentDesirable
FrenchFluentDesirable

Additional Information

  • Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
  • Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
  • Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
  • Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments. 
  • UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 
  • Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities. 
  • We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.
 
Terms and Conditions
 
  • For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
  • For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here
  • For more details about the contract types, please click here.
  • All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. 
  • It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.