UN-Habitat’s Syria Country Programme has worked closely with Syrian cities and communities to develop an urban resilience and recovery approach. UN-Habitat supports local authorities and communities to collect better urban data to reach a common understanding of urban recovery needs; jointly identify neighborhood and municipal area response priorities, straddling humanitarian, resilience-building and recovery phases; and to design and implement housing, infrastructure and basic services, urban environment, and urban cultural heritage projects that directly respond to these local priorities. UN-Habitat Syria currently has offices in Damascus, Homs, Aleppo, and Deir Ezzor, operationalizing projects across the country.

UN-Habitat is the United Nations agency mandated to promote sustainable urbanization and adequate housing for all. In Syria, UN-Habitat supports government institutions, municipalities and communities in urban recovery, housing, basic urban services, municipal governance and area-based development.

The Programme Management Specialist will work under the overall supervision of the UN-Habitat Syria Country Director, report to the Deputy Country Director, and work in close coordination with the Homs Hub Coordinator, relevant Unit Leads, technical and operations teams, Governorate and Municipality, the Embassy of Japan, Japanese technical partners, contractors and other project stakeholders.

The purpose of the position is to support UN-Habitat programme in Homs sub-office including support managing the implementation of the “The Project for Integrated Urban Regeneration and Sustainable Waste Management in Homs City – Restoring the Heartbeat of Homs.”

The Programme Management Specialist will be responsible for the overall planning, coordination, implementation, monitoring and reporting of the activities in Homs sub-office, ensuring timely and high-quality delivery in accordance with the approved project document, budget, UN-Habitat rules and regulations, and donor requirements.

The project for Integrated Urban Regeneration and Sustainable Waste Management in Homs City – Restoring the Heartbeat of Homs is funded by Government of Japan, with a duration of 24 months. It combines the revitalization of the Old Clock Square and surrounding urban environment with rehabilitation of the municipal solid waste management system, including application of the Fukuoka Method and provision and rehabilitation of waste-management vehicles and equipment

The Programme Management Specialist will:

• Lead the overall implementation and management of the activities in Homs sub-office, ensuring delivery of activities, outputs and outcomes within the approved scope, timeframe and budget.

• Manage project planning, staffing, procurement, contracts, budgets, monitoring, reporting and risk management.

• Supervise project personnel, consultants and technical experts, and ensure effective coordination between the Damascus Country Office and Homs Hub.

• Supporting coordination with related Governorates, Municipalites, Donors, UN agencies and other government and development partners.

• Oversee the implementation of project activities, including urban public-space revitalization, municipal solid waste management improvements and related capacity-building initiatives.

• Ensure effective technical quality assurance, community engagement, monitoring, compliance and accountability in accordance with UN-Habitat and donor requirements.

• Prepare donor reports, briefings and other project documentation, and support project visibility, evaluations and future programme development.

• Perform other related duties as required.

Ultimate Result of Service

The activities are delivered within the approved timeframe, budget and quality standards. For the Project in Homs will result in improved public spaces, municipal solid waste management, urban services and municipal capacity. The project strengthens community engagement, supports sustainable urban recovery, and ensures effective donor reporting, financial management, risk management and accountability, while providing a replicable model for integrated urban recovery in Syria.

Required:

• An advanced university degree in urban planning, architecture, civil or environmental engineering, solid waste management, project management, international development or a related field with 5 years of progressively responsible experience.

OR

• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree with 7 years of progressively responsible experience.

Required:

• Progressively responsible experience in project or programme management, urban development, engineering, infrastructure, municipal services or a related field.

• Experience managing complex, donor-funded projects, including budgets, procurement, contractors and technical teams.

Desired:

• Experience in urban regeneration, municipal infrastructure or environmental services.

• Experience working with government institutions, donors and communities, particularly in fragile or post-conflict contexts.

• Previous experience with the United Nations or projects funded by the Government of Japan is an asset.

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