Team Lead - Programme Specialist

UN Atlas; Islamabad; On-site; PKR 24,931,000 - 36,011,000; Full time

Job summary

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Pakistan seeks an experienced leader to provide technical leadership and advisory support for the Rule of Law Programme. The role focuses on strengthening governance, access to justice, and security services with emphasis on women and marginalized groups.

Collaboration with government, donors, and UN partners is essential. The incumbent will supervise personnel and ensure effective management, monitoring, and knowledge sharing across Pakistan.

Qualifications

• Advanced university degree in Law or related field is required.
• Fluency in English and Urdu is essential.
• Seven years of relevant professional experience in rule of law, security, justice, governance, or peacebuilding.
• Experience with government institutions, justice and security sectors, and international development organizations is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day technical leadership, coordination, and advisory support for the Rule of Law Programme.
• Offer specialized technical advice to government institutions on reform priorities, governance and accountability.
• Lead institutional assessments and diagnostics, focusing on investigation, prosecution, fair trial safeguards, and service delivery with gender-responsive approaches.
• Manage programme activities, work plans, and ensure quality control of outputs; supervise staff and consultants.

Skills

Technical leadership

Advisory support

Programme management

Gender-responsive reform

Coordination & partnerships

Results-based management

Access to justice

Human rights knowledge

System thinking

Education

Master's degree in Law / International Peace and Conflict Resolution

First-level degree + 2 years relevant experience

Job description

Organizational context: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Rule of Law Programme in Pakistan aims to strengthen the rule of law and improve access to justice and security services, particularly for women and marginalized groups. Operating in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Islamabad Capital Territory, the programme collaborates with government and justice sector institutions to enhance peace and stability. This role supports the Chief Technical Advisor in achieving programme results and strengthening institutional capacity.

Job purpose: This role serves to provide technical leadership and advisory support to the UNDP Rule of Law Programme in Pakistan, under the guidance of the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA). The incumbent will be instrumental in the implementation and achievement of programme results, focusing on strengthening the rule of law, improving access to justice, and enhancing security services for all citizens, with a particular emphasis on women and marginalized groups. The position involves liaising with government counterparts, donor agencies, and UN partners, contributing to strategic positioning, policy advice, programme formulation, and resource mobilization. The role also includes supervising programme personnel and ensuring the effective management and oversight of programme activities to foster peace, stability, and accountable service delivery across Pakistan.

Responsibilities: Provide day-to-day technical leadership, coordination, and advisory support for the Rule of Law Programme, focusing on security-sector and criminal justice reform, access to justice, and institutional strengthening. Offer specialized technical advice to government institutions on reform priorities, including governance, operational effectiveness, and accountability. Lead institutional assessments and diagnostics, providing guidance on investigation, prosecution, fair trial safeguards, and service delivery, with a focus on gender-responsive and survivor-centred approaches. Manage programme activities, prepare work plans, and ensure quality control of technical outputs and reports. Supervise programme personnel and consultants, coordinate with stakeholders including government, donors, and UN agencies, and contribute to results-based management, monitoring, and knowledge management. Facilitate cross-cutting initiatives such as gender equality mainstreaming and support for infrastructure development projects.

Education: An advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in Law, International Peace and Conflict Resolution, Political Science, or a related field is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be considered. Fluency in English and Urdu is essential.

Work experience: A minimum of seven years of relevant professional experience (with a Master's degree) or nine years (with a Bachelor's degree) in rule of law, security, justice, conflict resolution, peacebuilding, or governance is required. Demonstrated experience in project/programme management, preferably in complex settings, is also necessary. Experience with government institutions, justice and security sectors, and international development organizations is desirable.

Skills: Technical leadership and advisory support in rule of law, law enforcement, security sector, and institutional reform. Programme management and oversight. Gender-responsive institutional reform and women's advancement. Coordination and partnership building. Results-based management and reporting. System thinking. Access to justice. Knowledge of human rights.

Required languages: English, Urdu

Desired languages: