Programme and Knowledge Management Advisor

UNOPS; Damascus (MD); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

UN-Habitat Syria seeks a Programme and Knowledge Management Advisor to strengthen programme delivery, governance, and grants management across the country portfolio. You will coordinate planning, M&E, and donor reporting in collaboration with senior leadership to ensure quality and strategic alignment.

The role requires an advanced degree in a relevant field and at least 5 years of experience in complex development programmes, preferably with UN or international organizations.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a relevant field (architecture/engineering/urban planning/international development/public administration/programme management) is required.
• Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible experience in programme/portfolio management or coordination of complex development programmes.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and coordinate programme management across the country portfolio, supporting grants management, donor reporting, monitoring and evaluation.
• Strengthen project and grant management systems, tools, and workflows to enhance coordination and accountability.
• Coordinate programme planning, portfolio oversight, and strategic initiatives, including participation in relevant management processes.
• Facilitate knowledge management and information sharing among technical units.
• Support communications, advocacy and donor visibility, ensuring UN-Habitat requirements are met.
• Assist in establishing partnership systems, MOUs, and implementing partner coordination.
• Provide support for project proposal coordination, including quality assurance and follow-up.
• Perform other duties to ensure effective functioning of the Programme Support Unit.

Skills

Project control

Project coordination

Project planning

Risk management

Stakeholder management

Project resource management

Programme management

Portfolio management

Grants management

Donor reporting

Monitoring and evaluation

Knowledge management

Systems strengthening

Education

Advanced university degree in architecture/engineering/urban planning/international development/public administration/programme management

Job description

Organizational context: UN-Habitat's Syria Country Programme focuses on urban resilience and recovery, supporting local authorities and communities in data collection, priority identification, and project implementation for housing, infrastructure, and cultural heritage. The Programme and Knowledge Management Advisor will work across technical and operational units to enhance coordination, consistency, and follow-up within the expanding programme portfolio.

Job purpose: The Programme and Knowledge Management Advisor serves as a key advisor to the Head of the Programme Support Unit, playing a crucial role in strengthening programme delivery and project management systems within the UN-Habitat Syria Country Office. This position is vital for supporting programme development, portfolio oversight, grants management, and systems strengthening across all technical units. By working closely with senior leadership, the advisor will enhance programme management, coordination, and quality assurance, ensuring effective reporting and communication as the office's portfolio continues to grow, ultimately contributing to improved programme outcomes and strategic alignment.

Responsibilities: Oversee and coordinate programme management across the country portfolio, supporting grants management, donor reporting, monitoring, and evaluation. Strengthen project and grant management systems, tools, and workflows to enhance coordination and accountability. Coordinate programme planning, portfolio oversight, and strategic initiatives, including participation in relevant management processes. Facilitate knowledge management and information sharing among technical units. Support communications, advocacy, and donor visibility efforts, ensuring consistency with UN-Habitat requirements. Assist in establishing partnership systems, MOUs, and implementing partner coordination. Provide support for project proposal coordination, including quality assurance and follow-up. Perform other related duties as required to ensure the effective functioning of the Programme Support Unit.

Education: An advanced university degree in a relevant field such as architecture, engineering, urban planning, international development, public administration, or programme management is required. A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in a related discipline is also necessary.

Work experience: Requires progressively responsible experience in programme or portfolio management, or coordination of complex development programmes. Demonstrated experience in managing multi-donor portfolios, grants, donor reporting, and M&E is essential. Experience in coordinating multidisciplinary teams and strong expertise in programme quality assurance and systems strengthening are also required. Previous UN or international organization experience is highly desirable.

Skills: Project Control, Project Coordination, Project Planning, Risk Management, Stakeholder Management, Project Resource Management, Programme Management, Portfolio Management, Grants Management, Donor Reporting, Monitoring and Evaluation, Knowledge Management, Systems Strengthening.

Required languages: English

Desired languages: Arabic