Senior Strategic Advisor

Organizational Context

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is responsible for promoting sustainable urban development. The Regional Programme Division (RPD) acts as the primary platform for translating the UN-Habitat Strategic Plan 2026–2029 into regional and country-level results. This role supports RPD in strengthening organizational effectiveness and aligning its work.

Job Purpose

This role provides high-level strategic advisory support to the Director of the Regional Programme Division (RPD) at UN-Habitat. The purpose is to enhance strategic decision-making, strengthen programme governance, and improve organizational effectiveness. The role contributes to the coherent and effective delivery of RPD priorities and the UN-Habitat Strategic Plan 2026–2029 by refining the integrated business model, ensuring institutional alignment across headquarters, regional offices, and country offices, and promoting a unified approach to programme delivery. It also supports continuous improvement in strategy realization, programme quality, strategic prioritization, knowledge management, and organizational learning.

Responsibilities

Provide executive-level strategic advice and analytical support to the Director on divisional priorities, organizational performance, and emerging opportunities. Prepare executive briefing notes, discussion papers, and strategic analyses. Support the prioritization and sequencing of strategic corporate and divisional initiatives, and engagement with senior management and strategic partners. Assist in the implementation and refinement of the integrated RPD business model, translating strategic priorities into practical institutional frameworks and operational approaches. Strengthen programme development methodologies, quality, design, and strategic positioning across regional and country offices. Support integrated programme approaches and develop practical guidance for programme quality and implementation consistency. Enhance programme governance frameworks, quality assurance, and implementation oversight. Facilitate leadership consultations and alignment processes, and support organizational realignment where needed. Identify opportunities to strengthen business processes and capture lessons learned for cross-regional knowledge sharing.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten years of progressive international experience in strategy realization, organizational effectiveness, institutional strengthening, or programme development is required. Experience providing strategic advisory support to senior executives and facilitating complex alignment processes is desirable. Experience developing and implementing organizational business models and institutional frameworks is also desirable.

Skills

Strategic advisory support, Organizational effectiveness, Programme governance, Institutional alignment, Programme development, Strategy realization, Knowledge management, Organizational learning, Analytical skills, Communication, Facilitation.

Explore related opportunities