Policy Drafting Advisor

Duty station: New York or Copenhagen or Home-based

Application deadline: 18-Feb-2024

Women are encouraged to apply.

Background Information

UNOPS policies and related documents form the foundation for informing UNOPS personnel on how to work cohesively to deliver for our partners and beneficiaries.

UNOPS is adopting a new legislative framework and streamlining the content of all UNOPS policies. This project will enhance the legislative framework, address the evolving needs of UNOPS’ team of thousands, and incorporate industry changes and current best practices to ensure comprehensive and effective guidance for all UNOPS personnel.

UNOPS is also embarking on a Process Innovation and Digitalisation journey to enhance UNOPS’ operational efficiency, overhauling processes and leveraging digital technologies and solutions across all functional areas.

*** This position is being established for 2 years, with possibility of extension.

*** Duty station can be New York or Copenhagen or Home-based.

Functional Responsibilities
The purpose of the position is to deliver, in close collaboration with UNOPS Practices and other Units, a set of policies that are fit for purpose, clear, simple, principles-based, strictly necessary, easily understandable, consistent with each other and with UNOPS constitutional documents and legislative framework, and supportive of optimized/streamlined processes. This position is being established for 2 years, with possibility of extension.

Under the supervision of the Senior Legal Advisor, and working together with designated technical experts, the Policies Drafting Advisor will carry out the following activities:

• Establish a working version of the criteria outlined above, to use as a benchmark against which policies and related documents will be reviewed.
• Conduct a comprehensive review of UNOPS current policies and related documents to establish whether they meet that benchmark. The review should take into account changing organization goals and culture, emerging risks, and the policies and practices of other United Nations entities.
• When policies do not meet the benchmark, propose appropriate changes, in consultation with UNOPS Practices and other Units. Changes could include a complete revision of a policy, the removal of specific provisions, their inclusion in other documents, or any other appropriate change.
• UNOPS Practices and other Units are currently engaged in a review of policies (and processes, guidance, and other documents) pertaining to their specific areas; the Policy Drafting Specialist will be providing support to that review, preparing policy drafts, and ensuring that all policies meet the established benchmark.
• Prepare an alphabetical subject index, to enable UNOPS personnel to find the relevant policies by using commonly-used terms. Work with the Process Innovation and Digitalization Programme (PID) and the IT Group on digital solutions making policies more accessible.
• Carry out other related tasks as may be assigned by the Senior Legal Advisor from time to time.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent), preferably in public administration, law and/or communications, or other related discipline is required.
• First level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in combination with 2 additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced university degree.

Experience

• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in public administration, law and/or communications or a relevant field is required.
• Demonstrated experience in drafting policies, legislation or related documents is required.

Language

• Fluency in oral and written English is required.
• Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an asset.