Programme Management Officer, Human Settlements

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities.

UN-Habitat is the focal point for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system.

UN-Habitat works with partners to build inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and communities.

UN-Habitat promotes urbanization as a positive transformative force for people and communities, reducing inequality, discrimination and poverty.

UN-Habitat s Regional Office for the Arab States (ROAS) manages UN-Habitat s project portfolio in the Arab States. It ensures that country priorities are in alignment with the UN-Habitat s organizational policies and strategic objectives and brings through its Regional Representative to the attention of the Executive Management Committee (EMC) opportunities and challenges in the region, allowing for timely feedback and responses to urgent demands and requests from Member States. This post is located in UN-Habitat/ROAS at the Riyadh duty station, and the incumbent will report to the Head of Country Programme and under the full guidance of the Regional Director for the Arab States. The primary focus of the position is to lead the implementation of an ongoing multi-year project in collaboration with and funded by the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing (MOMAH). The project is specifically focusing on delivering 4 main workstreams: (1) development of a Spatial Planning Act; (2) the development of a National Urban Policy; (3) the classification and reclassification of the municipal system; and (4) the establishment of a National Urban Lab. The incumbent will also support broader programme implementation of the UN-Habitat Office in Saudi Arabia, including programme development, monitoring, and reporting. This will span a diverse portfolio covering housing, informal settlements, urban planning, urban economy, urban legislation, urban information management, and other thematic areas aligned with the priorities of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, Saudi Vision 2030, and UN-Habitat s Strategic Plan.

A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible work experience in human settlements, project or programme management and/or development is required.

A minimum of five (5) years of experience managing multidisciplinary teams across complex development agreements, major urban planning projects, or public private partnerships is required.

A minimum of five (5) years of experience in a government-related environment providing expert urban planning and management advice to senior officials and decision-makers is required.

A minimum of two (2) years of experience in urban planning and design in various relevant settings is desirable.

A minimum of one (1) year of relevant government experience in complex and multi-stakeholder environments within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is desirable, preferably within ministries relating to UN-Habitat s mandate.

Experience of working in large multi-cultural settings is desirable.

Experience in project design, management, and implementation with the United Nations or other international agencies is desirable.

Two (2) years or more of demonstratable experience in utilizing data analytics or related fields to inform decision making is desirable.

Five years of experience in a government-related environment providing expert urban planning and management advice to senior officials and decision-makers is desirable.