United Nations Institute for Training and Research is looking for a Senior Programme Specialist (P4)

Vacancy type: Fixed-term regular staff

Duration of the contract: 1 year (renewable)

Deadline for submission of applications: 07 July 2026

Organizational Unit: Social Development Programme

Number of job positions: 1

Accountabilities:

Under the direct supervision of the Director of the Division for People, and in close coordination with the UNCTAD Digital Government Programme (UNDGP) and relevant national counterparts, the incumbent is responsible for coordinating the implementation and strategic development of the UNCTAD–UNITAR Digital Government Capacity Development Programme, ensuring coherence across country projects, training activities, partnerships, and resource mobilization efforts, and maximizing the effectiveness of digital government, its development impact, and its contribution to the 2030 Agenda. This requires the following duties:

• Providing strategic leadership and oversight for the overall implementation of the UNCTAD–UNITAR Digital Government Capacity Development Programme, acting as the operational focal point between UNITAR, UNCTAD, donors, and national counterparts, and ensuring alignment with agreed work plans, governance arrangements, and programme objectives.
• Coordinating the implementation of UN Digital Government projects at national and regional levels, ensuring that implemented systems are fully operational, meet expected objectives, and are sustainable over time through tailored capacity-building and training activities for national and/or regional officers in charge of the systems, adapted to their respective roles.
• Leading the design, development, and operationalization of the Digital Government Academy, including:
  • Structuring a coherent learning offer (foundational, intermediate, and advanced levels);
  • Coordinating the development of curricula, learning pathways, and training materials (online, blended, and in-person);
  • Ensuring quality assurance, consistency, and alignment with UN digital government tools and platforms.
• Overseeing and coordinating capacity development activities across multiple countries, including the planning, delivery, and follow-up of training programmes for government officials on mapping, simplifying, digitizing, and automating administrative procedures using UN Digital Government systems.
• Facilitating and supervising training delivery, including learning labs, workshops, and academies at national, regional, and global levels, while coordinating trainers, subject-matter experts, and institutional partners.
• Identifying and coordinating the required personnel and civil servants at national level to support the development and implementation of projects, as well as the training of other national or regional officers responsible for operating and maintaining the implemented systems.
• Monitoring and evaluating programme and project implementation, assessing progress against objectives and indicators, consolidating feedback from trainees and stakeholders, and translating lessons learned into continuous improvements of training content, digital tools, and methodological approaches.
• Coordinating reporting and knowledge management, including the drafting and finalization of narrative progress reports, donor reports, briefing notes, and strategic inputs related to the Digital Government Academy, country projects, and broader programme activities.
• Ensuring effective inter-agency coordination with UNCTAD and other UN entities, contributing to joint programme planning, reporting, branding, visibility, and the delivery of training services in line with the UNCTAD–UNITAR cooperation framework.
• Supporting resource mobilization and programme expansion, including the coordination of funding proposals, donor engagement, and discussions on sustainable financing models for digital government capacity development.
• Contributing to strategic planning and partnership development, maintaining effective working relationships with government counterparts, donors, academia, civil society, and other stakeholders involved in digital government and public sector transformation.

Other tasks include:

• Providing substantial support in all aspects of the activities and operations of the SDP.
• Preparing and presenting written outputs including training background papers, studies, evaluations, inputs to publications, and public relations information on the SDP’s activities to enhance its visibility and contribute to fundraising efforts.
• Providing supervision, technical guidance, and performance oversight to consultants, individual contractors, fellows, and trainees involved in the programme, ensuring the effective delivery of outputs, alignment with programme objectives, and adherence to quality standards.

Work implies frequent interaction with the following:

• Members of the Division, staff in other departments, units and sections within UNITAR;
• Representatives and officials in national governments, local authorities and regional associations;
• Counterparts, senior officers and staff in other UN agencies and other International Organizations, in particular UNCTAD, ITC, UNIDO and World Bank;
• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academia and learning institutions, digital government activists, the private sector and the press/media.

Results expected:

• Effective coordination and delivery of the UNCTAD–UNITAR Digital Government Capacity Development Programme, resulting in coherent implementation across country projects, the Digital Government Academy, and related training activities, including those of a cross-cutting and interdivisional nature.
• Operational and sustainable implementation of UN Digital Government projects, with digital government systems meeting expected objectives and remaining functional over time through effective, role-based training of national and regional officers responsible for their operation and maintenance.
• Successful establishment and operationalization of the Digital Government Academy, delivering high-quality, structured learning offers (foundational, intermediate, and advanced) aligned with UN digital government tools, platforms, and quality standards.
• High-quality design, delivery, monitoring, and evaluation of capacity development activities, ensuring the efficient and effective execution of training programmes through appropriate methodologies, knowledge management practices, and continuous improvement mechanisms.
• Effective inter-agency coordination with UNCTAD and other UN entities, enabling the joint planning, branding, reporting, and delivery of training services in the field of digital government and public sector transformation.
• Strengthened partnerships and stakeholder engagement, including the establishment and maintenance of effective working relationships with donors, government counterparts, academia, and other partners to support programme implementation and expansion.
• Substantive contributions to strategic planning and partnership coordination, including the provision of recommendations, technical advice, and analytical inputs to support programme development and delivery.
• Effective coordination of funding-related activities, including the design of project proposals, engagement with potential donors, preparation of work plans and budgets, and support to pledging and agreement processes.
• Timely and high-quality reporting and performance management, including the review and management of project progress reports, identification of implementation risks and corrective actions, and drafting and finalization of narrative and donor reports.
• Production of training content and learning materials in line with approved quality standards, ensuring consistency, relevance, and alignment with UN digital government methodologies and tools.
• Professional conduct and accountability, with actions consistently meeting corporate standards for delivery and behaviour, and the incumbent serving as a role model in professionalism, collaboration, and results-based management.

Competencies:

Professionalism: Knowledge of practical experience in designing and operating business facilitation tools, in training government officials to use them, in advocating digital government solutions and in fundraising. Knowledge of the role of digitalisation in investment and business facilitation. Experience in analyzing data to demonstrate impact; Shows pride in work and in achievements; Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments observing deadlines and achieving results; Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; Remains calm in stressful situations.

Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honors commitments; Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost, and quality standards; Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; Supports subordinates, provides oversight, and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; Takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. Identifies priority activities and assignments. Adjust priorities as required. Allocates appropriate amounts of time and resources for completing work. Foresee risks and allows for contingencies when planning; Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; Uses time efficiently.

Commitment to continuous learning: Keeps abreast of new developments in own occupation/profession; Actively seeks to develop oneself professionally and personally; Contributes to the learning of colleagues and subordinates; Shows willingness to learn from others; Seeks feedback to learn and improve.

Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; Places team agenda before personal agenda; Supports and acts in accordance with final group decisions, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect their own position; Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Respect for Diversity: Works effectively with people from all backgrounds; Treats all people with dignity and respect; Treats men and women equally; Shows respect for and understanding of diverse points of view and demonstrates this understanding in daily work and decision-making; Examines own biases and behaviours to avoid stereotypical responses; Does not discriminate against any individual or group.

Technology Awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology; Understands applicability and limitations of technology to the work of the office; Actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; Shows willingness to learn new technology.

Minimum requirements

Qualifications and experience

Education: Advanced University degree in economics, law, public administration or other social science or relevant combination of education and experience in lieu accepted.

Experience: A minimum of seven years of responsible professional experience in the field of investment and trade facilitation, digital government, or related areas. Work experience with UN Digital Government tools and no-code online service builders is desirable.

Languages: Fluency in English and French.

Special Notice:

UNITAR is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Qualified women, individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups, and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.

English and French are the two working languages of UNITAR. Priority will be given to the applicants from the under-represented regions at UNITAR. There will be a probation period of 3 months.

UNITAR staff members are subject to the authority of the UNITAR Executive Director and their appointments are limited to service with the Institute.

Considerations:

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation or sexual abuse, or crimes other than minor traffic offences, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. UNITAR is a non-smoking environment.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable Staff Regulations and Rules and UNITAR administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

No Fee:

UNITAR DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). UNITAR DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

How to apply

Please submit your application along with a motive letter as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the vacancy announcement.

Due to high number of expected applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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