Programme Manager, Energy Efficiency & Demand Flexibility

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development. UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources. 

UNOPS Global Portfolios bring together a range of expertise to help partners deliver impact worldwide. With hubs in New York, Geneva and Vienna, and expert teams operating across regions, we lead complex, multi-regional initiatives that advance sustainable development, peacebuilding and climate action.

We work in close collaboration with the UN family, governments and other local and international partners. Our work ranges from supporting mine action in some of the world’s most fragile and conflict-affected contexts, to expanding access to healthcare and clean water, to helping protect the environment.

From Geneva, UNOPS strives to facilitate the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), by working with governments, other United Nations (UN) agencies and partners. This includes supporting platforms and hosting high-profile, flagship initiatives and funds focusing on health, nutrition, water and sanitation, sustainable cities, environment, energy, climate and trade.

UNOPS is a recognized resource for the UN system in Geneva – from fund management and oversight and advisory services, to providing hosting solutions to a range of global initiatives, as well as operational support to partner organizations.

UNOPS provides quality services, integrated solutions and management support to UN agencies, initiatives and partners in a strategic, cohesive, cost-effective and results-oriented manner. Geneva is also home to UNOPS Europe and Central Asia Regional Office.

Sustainable Energy for All has a global mandate to accelerate progress on the energy transition in emerging and developing countries. Hosted by UNOPS, we work at the intersection of energy, climate and development, partnering with governments and organizations worldwide to end energy poverty, double energy efficiency, significantly expand renewable energy and combat climate change.

Our vision is a world where everyone, everywhere, can lead a dignified life on a healthy planet, powered by sustainable energy. We promote this vision by pushing for higher ambitions, stronger policies, greater finance flows, increased localization and green jobs, and faster results toward an energy transition that leaves no one behind. 

Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched the Sustainable Energy for All initiative in 2011. Since then, our CEO has served as the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of UN-Energy.

As part of the Global Portfolio Office, UNOPS Geneva provides comprehensive solutions in secretariat hosting, operational support, and fund management. We manage global programmes, including the Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) Portfolio, offering project management, procurement, HR, and financial services. Geneva hosts the secretariats of eight global partnerships focused on health (RBM, Stop TB, ATscale), nutrition (SUN), water/sanitation (SHF), humanitarian leadership (GELI), urban development (Cities Alliance), and disaster displacement (PDD). We also provide fund management for EIF and UN Water, and operational support to Geneva-based partners like the Global Fund and UNHCR.

This position is located within the Energy Efficiency team of the Energy Solutions Unit. The objective of the Energy Efficiency team is to support global progress on doubling energy efficiency by 2030 through in-country actions and with the partners of Mission Efficiency, as a lead coordinator, by pushing for greater commitments, strengthening the enabling policy environment, and driving increased investment in energy efficiency infrastructure and projects. Additionally, improve cohesion in the Mission Efficiency platform (hosted by SEforALL) as a global collective of actions, commitments and goals on energy efficiency by a coalition of governments, organizations and initiatives to drive actions to accelerate the transition towards energy efficient economies through in-country support.

Under the supervision of the Head, Energy Transition Planning and Energy Efficiency, the Programme Manager, Energy Efficiency & Demand Flexibility manages the Energy Efficiency team and related grant delivery for SEforALL. The role is responsible for elevating energy efficiency within the development agenda by communicating a clear narrative, convening partners, and strengthening global initiatives. The incumbent provides energy efficiency-related technical support to countries to enable national policy progress, facilitates knowledge creation, and drives market transformation and investment in end-use sectors.

Programme Oversight and Team Management 

• Lead and manage the energy efficiency programme of SEforALL, overseeing the implementation of grant-funded initiatives and ensuring all technical deliverables meet organizational and donor standards.

• Formally manage energy efficiency team members ensuring performance and high-quality of work and fostering a collaborative environment and ensuring well-being of staff.

• Facilitate cross-team synergies and technical advice that improves programmatic outputs and impacts progress on just and equitable energy transition.

Technical Guidance and Advisory

• Provide technical guidance to the team on research, data analysis and policy and regulatory approaches related to energy efficiency, demand flexibility and other energy sector related themes to ensure evidence-based programmatic outputs.

• Advise on SEforALL’s strategy and theory of change on energy efficiency with data and analysis to prioritize activities, identify collaboration partners, and develop narratives that gain commitment from leadership, partners and funders.

• Coordinate technical assistance to support energy efficiency investment and oversee knowledge creation to increase understanding of demand flexibility and promote institutional improvements.

Implementation and Engagement

• Develop and maintain engagement with governments, public institutions, donors and other stakeholders necessary for the delivery of in-country activities related to energy efficiency and demand flexibility across regions. 

• Collaborate with the partners of Mission Efficiency to deliver coordinated actions that accelerate the rate of improvement in energy efficiency globally.  

• Facilitate intelligence development and knowledge sharing to increase awareness and understanding of implementation aspects of energy efficiency interventions across end-use sectors. 

 Advocacy and Communications

• Participate in and contribute to technical sessions, workshops, and partner meetings at global and national energy forums to represent SEforALL’s work, advocating for energy efficiency and ensuring technical narratives are aligned with organizational goals.

• Support the operationalization of energy efficiency initiatives through public outreach and communication strategies by coordinating a clear narrative and facilitating partner engagement to strengthen commitments in end-use energy sectors.

Required: 

• An Advanced University Degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Energy, Engineering, Business Management, Policy, Economics, Sustainable Development or a related field.

• A First Level University Degree (bachelor’s degree) in Energy, Engineering, Business Management, Policy, Economics, Sustainable Development or a related field with an additional two years of experience may be accepted in lieu of the Master's Degree.

Required

• A Minimum of 5 years of relevant direct work experience in energy efficiency.

• Proven experience in supporting national implementation frameworks, including engaging with governments to develop energy efficiency policies and managing programme execution. 

• Demonstrated experience in managing teams and project delivery, ensuring milestones are met within international development or energy-related organizations.

Desired

• Demonstrated experience in delivering technical assistance to developing countries on sustainable energy and climate change including creating external multi-stakeholder partnerships.

• Experience in market transformation initiatives and driving investment toward energy efficiency infrastructure across end-use sectors.

• Demonstrated experience in policies, strategies, institutions and practices related to energy efficiency.

• Extensive technical knowledge on energy energy efficiency landscape, energy systems, policy analysis, development and planning. 

• 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. 
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience requirements outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to considering all candidates in a fair and transparent manner, and we value diverse perspectives and experiences, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals with diverse 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.

• 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.