Programme Management Officer, Human Settlements At UN Human Settlements Program

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Functional title: Programme Management Officer, Human Settlements

Duty station of assignment: Istanbul, Türkiye

Contract modality: International ICA

Grade: IICA-3 equivalent

Duration of assignment: 1 year (with possibility of extension)

Closing date for applications: 11 May 2026

Background

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the United Nations agency mandated by UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. UN-Habitat is a focal agency for the New Urban Agenda’s monitoring and implementation. It supports with all partners the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular, Goal 11 of “Making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”. With its Headquarter in Nairobi, Kenya, UN-Habitat’s Regional Programme Division has its Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ROEECA) in Istanbul, Türkiye. ROEECA engages with over 24 countries in Eastern Europe, Western Balkan, Caucasus and Central Asia.

The position is located in ROEECA’s Istanbul office. The Programme Management Officer typically oversees a small number of personnel in the region. Mission travel is frequent in order to provide the oversight and support roles needed.

Duties and main responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Regional Director, the incumbent is responsible for the following duties::

  • Coordinates policy development, including the review and analysis of issues and trends, preparation of evaluations or other research activities and studies.
  • Develops, implements and evaluates assigned programmes/projects, etc. in close collaboration with UN-Habitat country offices and with United Nations Resident Coordinator offices and partners, as relevant.
  • Collaborates internally with relevant divisions and externally with relevant partners, augmenting resource mobilization and portfolio development, initiating and leading project formulation and approvals, monitoring and analyzing programme/project development and implementation; reviewing relevant documents and reports; identifying problems and issues to be addressed and initiates corrective actions; liaising with relevant parties; and ensuring follow-up actions.
  • Leads and/or participates in large, complex field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting mission summaries, etc. in close collaboration with UN-Habitat country offices.
  • Coordinates activities related to budget funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and prepares related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.);
  • Perform consulting assignments, in collaboration with the client, by planning facilitating workshops, through other interactive sessions and assisting in developing the action plan the client will use to manage the change.
  • Researches, analyzes and presents information gathered from diverse sources and generates survey initiatives; designs data collection tools; reviews, analyzes and interprets responses, identify problems/issues and prepares conclusions relevant to the implementation of the strategic plan within ROEECA, portfolio, thematic focus, and relevant country programming in the context of Common Country Analysis and Cooperation Framework engagements.
  • Organizes and prepares written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc., both with a regional or sub-regional level or country-focused, as required. • Provides substantive backstopping to regional and relevant country-focused consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc.
  • Initiates and coordinates regional and relevant country-focused outreach activities as assigned; conducts training workshops, seminars, etc.; makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
  • Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.
  • Performs other duties as required.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge in the project management cycle and of project lifetimes, from resource mobilization and inception to implementation, evaluation and audit. Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to conduct data collection using various methods. Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other databases. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. The ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Planning and Organising: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

  • Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business or public administration, urban development, urban planning, housing studies, development studies, urban environment management studies or a related field.
  • A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
  • Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable..

Experience

  • A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible and international experience in project or programme management in the areas of human settlements development and urban development in relevant developing countries is required.
  • A minimum of four (4) years of responsible and relevant experience as a senior project manager in an international development organization is desirable.
  • Experience in resource mobilization and donor coordination in three (3) or more related areas (slum upgrading, housing, basic services delivery and environmental upgrading, humanitarian response and climate action) in relevant developing countries is desirable.
  • Experience in programme management in Eastern Europe and Central Asia is desirable.
  • Experience in contributing to organizational strategic planning relevant to the implementation of the New Urban Agenda is desirable.
  • A minimum of Two (2) years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Language

  • English and French are the working language of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable. NOTE: “fluency equals a rating of “fluent” in all four areas (read, write, speak, understand) and ” Knowledge of” equals a rating of ” confident” in two of the four areas.

How to apply

Interested candidates must submit an email quoting in the email subject the post title and the duty station to the UN-Habitat ROEECA, email address:

unhabitat-roeeca.recruitment@un.org

with the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

1. Cover letter addressing precisely how the applicant meets the qualifications and requirements.

2. Completion of a CV in P11 Form which can be downloaded at https://t.ly/pdZjU

The CV shall include information on the past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references.

3. Diplomas and copy of Passport or ID Card

Deadline for applications: 11 May 2026

Please note that applications received after the closing date stated below, will not be given consideration. Only short-listed candidates whose applications respond to the above criteria will be contacted for an interview.