Overview
The Head of Secretariat role is responsible for guiding the Global Platform for Action’s strategic direction, overseeing programme development and implementation, managing partnerships, and supporting governance functions.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the development, implementation and evaluation of the GPA Secretariat’s strategy, workplan and budget.
- Coordinate activities related to budget and funding.
- Foster the GPA Support Structure as a key mechanism of engagement.
- Liaise with members of the GPA Board and Advisory Group.
- Identify potential areas for further development and incubate new initiatives.
- Serve as a spokesperson for sustainable energy in fragile and displacement settings.
- Establish collaboration and partnerships with key officials.
- Direct substantive support to and participate in consultative meetings, conferences, workshops.
- Identify and guide inputs to policy developments.
- Supervise preparation of various written outputs.
- Review all relevant documents and reports produced by the GPA prior to publication.
- Report to the Chair of the GPA Board with regard to all substantive matters.
- Report on progress to Chair of the GPA Board and wider GPA Advisory Group.
- Serve as Secretary of the GPA Board and wider GPA Advisory Group.
- Ensure support to the GPA Board and wider Advisory Group in preparing and organising its meetings and implement activities.
- Discharge any additional duties assigned by the Chair of the GPA Board.
- Provide day-to-day management and supervision of the GPA Team.
- Manage the GPA Secretariat budget and authorise payments, leave and mission requests.
- Report to UNOPS with regard to all administrative issues.
- Act as the Program Executive (PE) within the UNOPS program management quality assurance practice and processes.
- Direct GPA Team in programme / project development, implementation, monitoring and assessment.
- Identify priorities, problems, risks, and issues to be addressed for the GPA Team and propose corrective actions.
- Direct and review field missions.
- Ensure effective utilisation, supervision and development of the GPA Team.
- Guide, evaluate and mentor members of the GPA Team.
Required Experience
- A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience, in team management, energy access in displacement settings, environment, climate, or sustainable development is required.
- Strong understanding of the humanitarian–development–peace nexus and sustainable energy access challenges in displacement and fragile contexts.
- Proven team leadership and ability to manage staff in diverse locations.
- Excellent organizational and project management skills.
- Experience in results-based planning and monitoring.
- Experience working with multi-stakeholder partnerships (UN, NGOs, private sector, governments, or donors) is desired.
- Familiarity with global energy access frameworks (e.g., SDG7, SEforALL, Global Compact on Refugees, Humanitarian Energy Compact) is desired.
- Ability to work effectively across cultures and time zones, demonstrating adaptability and initiative in a fast-paced environment is desired.
- Experience in development or humanitarian contexts is desired.
Qualifications
- An advanced university degree (Masters degree or equivalent) preferably in energy, environment, climate, sustainability or other relevant discipline is required.
- OR A bachelor's degree preferably in energy, environment, climate, sustainability or related field with a combination of two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the master's degree.
