UN Women is recruiting a Programme Management Specialist (IPSA-10) to work home-based within its Programme Support Management Unit (PSMU). The role covers partner and grant management oversight, the annual assurance of programme partners and the improvement of the PGAMS system. The vacancy states no nationality restriction, and applications close on 04 November 2026 at 23:59 New York time. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the full vacancy text and summarised every requirement below.
What Is UN Women and What Does It Work For?
UN Women is grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. It works for:
⚖️ The elimination of discrimination against women and girls
💪 The empowerment of women
🤝 The achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security
UN Women was created by the United Nations General Assembly in July 2010 as the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. Its creation came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system, which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment:
🏛️ DAW
📜 OSAGI
🔬 INSTRAW
🌐 UNIFEM
Where Does the Role Sit? The SPRED Division
The Strategy, Planning, Results and Effectiveness Division (SPRED) integrates corporate strategy and performance measurement to improve decision-making and to drive the implementation of UN Women's Strategic Plan. It manages for results while increasing transparency and accountability to its Governing Bodies and Stakeholders. Specifically, the Division:
🧭 Formulates corporate strategies aligned to the corporate objectives
🛡️ Ensures internal controls and risk management are fully in place
📈 Monitors and reports on the implementation of the Strategic Plan
🎓 Provides strategic guidance and oversight on programme and project management and implementation, including programme partner management
SPRED helps strengthen UN Women and improves services to the field by defining a clear set of priorities with aligned resources, ownership, accountability and oversight. It also provides an arm's length analysis of the performance of the organization.
The Programme Support Management Unit (PSMU)
The PSMU provides corporate advisory services and direct support for project and programme development, implementation, monitoring and oversight under SPRED. It guides the organization (HQ, Regional and Country offices) in implementing their respective Strategic Notes by following best practices, so that all projects and programmes maintain a level of standardization, planning and knowledge sharing and work collectively towards UN Women's strategic goals.
PSMU offers Regional Offices (ROs) and Country Offices (COs) a range of services, trainings and toolkits that increase their capacity to deliver programmes on time, within scope and on budget. It also supports the implementation of global projects managed by HQ.
Vacancy at a Glance
🏢 Organisation: UN Women
💼 Position: Programme Management Specialist
🏷️ Level: IPSA-10 (International PSA)
🧩 Unit: Programme Support Management Unit (PSMU), Strategy, Planning, Results and Effectiveness Division (SPRED)
🏠 Location: Home-based
👔 Reports to: Manager, Programme Support Unit within PSMU, under the overall guidance of the Chief of PSMU in HQ
⏱️ Experience: at least 5 years
🎓 Education: Master's degree or equivalent
🗣️ Language: fluency in English
🛂 Work permit: valid for the home-based location
What Will the Programme Management Specialist Do?
Under the supervision of the Manager, Programme Support Unit with PSMU, and overall guidance of the Chief of PSMU in HQ, the Programme Management Specialist plays a proactive role in:
🔎 Programme Partner Management oversight
🖥️ Enhancement of the Partner and Grants Agreement Management System (PGAMS)
📋 The Risk-based Capacity Assessment (RBCA) and Assurance Module
📝 Business requirement documentation of other Programme Partner Management modules
The work is done in close collaboration with other units in HQ and/or Regions and Countries.
Coordinating Enhancements to PGAMS, RBCA and the Assurance Module
The first area of the scope of work is to coordinate enhancements to the Partner Grants and Agreement Management System (PGAMS), the online Risk-based Capacity Assessment and the Assurance Module:
✍️ Sign off on the detailed scope, requirements and wireframes with the PGAMS Offshore Development Team, providing clarifications, user acceptance testing of the developed solution and validations after release of solutions
📞 Consult Regional PGAMS Focal Points on the new requirements and on the enhancement or new development of PGAMS and the online RBCA and Assurance Modules
🔗 Review with other business process owners, stakeholders and technical service providers (IST) the data, linkages and technical architecture for the enhancement or new development
📚 Update documentation on User Guides, frequently asked questions, chatbots and other related support documentation, including the creation of new content in multimedia
🆘 Provide user support on issues with PGAMS, the RBCA Module and the Assurance Module
✅ Address outstanding UNBOA Recommendations on the Programme Partner Management Lifecycle
🧱 Finalize business requirements for the next phase of PGAMS on the Initiate, Monitor and Closure Module, as required
📊 Finalize reports and dashboards design
🔄 Undertake further processes on completion of these modules, as required, dependent on resources
Coordinating the Annual Assurance of Programme Partners
The second area is the annual assurance of programme partners:
🗓️ Conduct the Annual Assurance Planning and validation against the Assurance Module
🤝 Coordinate the annual Assurance exercise of Programme Partners with UN Women Offices and independent auditor(s)
📑 Review and provide procedural guidance on the Resolution of Assurance Findings
Oversight of Programme Partner Management Indicators
The third area is oversight of Programme Partner Management indicators:
📈 Implement automated Regional Office reporting templates for Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) to address UNBOA recommendations
🔍 Analyze key oversight indicators for the Programme Support Unit portfolio, recommend corrective action and follow up for compliance
📡 Monitor key performance indicators for Programme Partners and other Programme Support Unit requirements through regular and ad hoc reviews
🗂️ Oversee Programme Partner Agreements with offices using key PGAMS data
🧮 Analyze complex data, develop Programme Partner oversight tools, identify key trends and provide information to management
Managing Knowledge Building Efforts
The fourth area is knowledge building:
💡 Manage the process of identifying and synthesizing best practices and lessons learned directly linked to the implementation of Programme Partner management, and contribute to their global dissemination
🏫 Strengthen the capacity of Offices on PGAMS, RBCA and the Assurance Module
The incumbent also performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Core Values and Core Competencies
UN Women lists three core values:
🧱 Integrity
🎯 Professionalism
🌐 Respect for Diversity
The core competencies are:
🙋 Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
📌 Accountability
🧩 Creative Problem Solving
💬 Effective Communication
🔗 Inclusive Collaboration
🗣️ Stakeholder Engagement
🏁 Leading by Example
Functional Competencies
The vacancy asks for these functional competencies:
🔄 Ability to translate business processes, policies and audit recommendations into clear business requirements
🧪 Sound understanding of risk-based capacity assessment, assurance and audit processes
📉 Strong analytical skills, with the ability to analyze complex data and recommend corrective action to management
🧰 Ability to design and maintain oversight tools, dashboards and reports that support second-line oversight and decision-making
⏳ Ability to coordinate across several stakeholders to deliver results on time
🎒 Ability to develop guidance and training material to strengthen corporate systems and procedure
Education and Certification
🎓 A Master's degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political/Development Studies or another relevant discipline is required.
📘 A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
🏅 A project/programme management certification (such as PMP®, PRINCE2® or MSP®) would be an added advantage.
How Much Experience Do You Need?
⌛ At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in programme or partner management, business process management or corporate systems, including oversight, assurance or compliance functions, is required.
🔁 Strong knowledge of programme partner and grant management processes across the full lifecycle: selection, agreement, monitoring, assurance and closure. Knowledge of UN Women or UN-system procedures is desirable.
📝 Experience writing business requirements and running user acceptance testing for corporate systems is desirable.
🕵️ Experience coordinating audits or assurance work with independent auditors is desirable.
🛠️ Experience developing guidance or training for field offices.
Language Requirements
🇬🇧 Fluency in English is required.
🌍 Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable: French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish.
Work Permit for Home-based Staff
Prior to starting their assignment, Home based International PPSA are responsible for holding a work permit valid for the home-based location during the entire I PPSA duration. The vacancy does not state a specific country for the home-based location.
Who Can Apply?
The vacancy lists no nationality restriction for this International PSA position. The key conditions are the education, experience and English requirements above, and a valid work permit for the home-based location before the assignment starts.
Diversity, Inclusion and Conduct Standards
UN Women is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. It recruits, employs, trains, compensates and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.
If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, include this information in your application.
UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including:
🚫 Sexual exploitation and abuse
🛑 Sexual harassment
⛔ Abuse of authority
📛 Discrimination
All selected candidates are expected to adhere to UN Women's policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel. They will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks, which include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.
How to Apply
📋 Complete all sections of the application form, including the sections on education and employment history. If all sections are not completed, the application may be disqualified from the recruitment and selection process.
♿ Include any reasonable accommodation request in your application.
⏰ Submit before 23:59 New York time on 04 November 2026.
Find more opportunities like this in our jobs listings on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN Women Programme Management Specialist job?
It is an IPSA-10 home-based position within UN Women's Programme Support Management Unit (PSMU), under the Strategy, Planning, Results and Effectiveness Division. The role oversees programme partner management, enhances the PGAMS system and coordinates the annual assurance of programme partners.
Where is the job based?
The position is home-based. The vacancy does not name a specific country.
What is the application deadline?
Applications close on 04 November 2026 at 23:59 New York time.
Who is eligible to apply?
The vacancy states no nationality restriction. Home based International PPSA are responsible for holding a work permit valid for the home-based location during the entire assignment duration.
How many years of experience do I need?
At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in programme or partner management, business process management or corporate systems, including oversight, assurance or compliance functions.
Which degree is required?
A Master's degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political/Development Studies or another relevant discipline. A first-level university degree plus two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted instead. A project or programme management certification such as PMP, PRINCE2 or MSP is an added advantage.
Which languages do I need?
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish) is desirable.
What will I work on day to day?
You will coordinate enhancements to PGAMS, the online Risk-based Capacity Assessment and the Assurance Module, coordinate the annual assurance of programme partners with UN Women offices and independent auditors, oversee programme partner management indicators and manage knowledge building efforts.
What happens if my application form is incomplete?
If all sections of the application form, including education and employment history, are not completed, the application may be disqualified from the recruitment and selection process.
Will UN Women check my background?
Yes. All selected candidates undergo rigorous reference and background checks, including verification of academic credentials and employment history.
Deadline
⏳ 04 November 2026
Link
🔗 Apply here: https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1001/job/37750
