Programme Management Officer, Human Settlements (Fixed-Term Limited)

About the role

UN-Habitat, the UN agency for human settlements, is establishing a full presence in South Africa to implement the Habitat Country Programme Document (HCPD) 2024-2028, which integrates urban themes into the national agenda under SDG 11. The Programme Management Officer, reporting to the Head of the Southern Africa Sub Region, leads the implementation of the HCPD in partnership with the Government of South Africa and the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator.

Key responsibilities

• Develop, implement and evaluate assigned programmes and projects, monitor and analyse their progress, review documents and reports, identify problems and initiate corrective actions.
• Carry out consulting assignments with clients, including planning and facilitating workshops and helping develop client action plans.
• Coordinate policy development, including reviews of issues and trends, evaluations and research studies.
• Support the country programme in resourcing mobilization, set a strategy and coordinate with donors.
• Establish stakeholder coordination mechanisms with ministries, SALGA, civil society, academics and others.
• Provide technical support and act as an interface with ministries dealing with urbanization, including DHS, CoGTA and National Treasury.
• Represent UN-Habitat to the United Nations Country Team and take part in relevant working groups.
• Lead or take part in complex field missions, guide external consultants and government officials and draft mission summaries.
• Coordinate budget funding activities, including programme and project preparation, progress reports, financial statements and programme budgets.
• Follow regional urbanization trends and support the SADC secretariat in elevating the urban agenda.
• Analyze data and produce visual reports to support data-driven planning and decision-making.

Required profile

• Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in architecture, civil engineering, urban and regional planning, climate change, local government, land management, municipal finance, economics or physical and political sciences relevant to human settlements, or a related field.
• Ability to collect data, conduct independent research and analysis, and interpret data for decision-making.
• Professionalism, planning and organizing, judgement and client orientation competencies.