Job Opening ID: 265779
Job Network: Economic, Social and Development
Job Family: Programme Management
Category and Level: Professional and Higher Categories, P-3
Duty Station: NEW YORK
Department/Office: United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)
Date Posted: Nov 13, 2025
Deadline: Dec 27, 2025
Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located in the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), based in New York, USA. UNAOC is a United Nations entity that builds bridges between societies, promotes dialogue and understanding, and seeks to forge the collective political will required to accomplish these tasks. UNAOC works as a convener and facilitator to bring all sectors of society together to strengthen intercultural and interreligious dialogue to diminish hostility, and promote mutual respect and harmony among the people and cultures of the world. UNAOC’s activities are fashioned around the five pillars of Education, Youth, Migration, Media, and Women as peace mediators in identity-based settings. The Programme Officer will report to the Director of UNAOC Secretariat.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Programme Management Officer will be responsible for the following duties: (These duties are generic and may not be carried out by all Programme Management Officers.)
- Participates in the development, implementation and evaluation of assigned programmes/projects with specific attention to activities addressing human rights and combating Islamophobia; monitors and analyzes programme/project development and implementation; reviews relevant documents and reports; identifies problems and issues to be addressed and proposes corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; identifies and tracks follow-up actions;
- Provides technical and operational advice for planning and implementing partnership initiatives with State and non-State actors on programming to address Islamophobia within the broader context of religious intolerance, ensuring alignment with broader UN strategies and mandates on tolerance and human rights;
- Assists in the coordination and preparation of a report to the General Assembly outlining the implementation of relevant resolutions and measures taken by Member States and the United Nations to combat Islamophobia;
- Performs consulting assignments, facilitates workshops, through other interactive sessions and assisting in developing the action plan as per work plan;
- Researches, analyzes and presents information gathered from diverse sources focused on human rights issues and events including from a gender perspective, ensures human rights considerations are integrated into UN efforts in combating Islamophobia;
- Assists in policy development, including the review and analysis of issues and trends related to human rights and religious intolerance; contributes to evaluations, studies and other research activities;
- Undertakes survey initiatives; designs data collection tools; reviews, analyzes and interprets responses, identifies problems/issues and prepares conclusions;
- Prepares various written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications relevant to the mandate on combating islamophobia;
- Provides substantive support to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc;
- Undertakes outreach activities; conducts training workshops, seminars, etc.; makes presentations particularly in areas related to human rights, rule of law, and addressing Islamophobia;
- Coordinates activities related to budget and funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and prepares related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.);
- Collects and analyzes data focused on combating islamophobia and of human rights, programme indicators, including gender-specific metrics; uses data visualization to provide insights for planning, decision-making, and reporting to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting;
- Performs other duties as required.
Competencies
Professionalism: Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to Islamophobia, with the ability to evaluate international political situations. Ability to work on issues related to Islamophobia, anti-Muslim discrimination, and implementation of relevant UN Mandates, including familiarity with the General Assembly and Human Rights Council resolutions and initiatives addressing Islamophobia.
Ability to translate relevant mandates into operational prevention, outreach, monitoring and capacity-building activities with Member States, civil society, and technology stakeholders.
Ability to draft policy guidance and briefings, advising senior managers on risk mitigation and rights-compliant responses, designing awareness and training programmes for duty-bearers and youth, and contributing to monitoring and reporting on incidents and trends of anti-Muslim hatred.Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems.
Ability to conduct data collection using various methods. Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other databases.
Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities.
Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.
Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in international relations, political science, public administration or a related field.
A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of relevant with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in project or programme management, human rights, or related area is required. A minimum of two years of experience in providing technical assistance and delivering capacity-building activities through workshops, seminars and meetings is required. At least two years of experience in data analytics, digital innovation, foresight, behaviorual science and culture changes or related area is desirable. Experience in the design, implementation or evaluation of programmes focused on human rights, religious tolerance or combating discrimination, including Islamophobia, is desirable. Experience working in the United Nations Common System or a similar, multilateral institution is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. Arabic is desirable. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).
Required Languages
| Language | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | UN Level III | UN Level III | UN Level III | UN Level III |
Desirable Languages
| Language | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arabic | UN Level II | UN Level II | UN Level II | UN Level II |
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview.
Special Notice
Extension of the appointment is subject to the extension of the mandate and/or the availability of funds. Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position. Applicants, who successfully go through a competitive recruitment process and are recommended for selection and/or inclusion in the roster of pre-approved candidates for subsequent job openings at the same level and with similar functions, may have their application information and roster status shared with other UN Organizations. Such applicants may be contacted by other UN Organizations for similar job openings, subject to the confirmation of their interest. Placement on the roster is no guarantee of a future selection. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.
United Nations Considerations
According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.