UNOPS is recruiting a home-based Information Management Specialist for the Santiago Network, on a short-term lumpsum assignment from February to April 2027 at mid level (ICS 10, IICA 2). The specialist will organise the inputs behind the first regular report on loss and damage. Applications close on 23 November 2026. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the full vacancy and organised every function, deliverable and requirement below.
Key Facts About the Assignment
💼 Position title: Information Management Specialist (Loss and Damage Report Submissions), Santiago Network
🗃️ Job category: Strategy & Corporate Services
🏠 Duty station: Home based
📶 Seniority level: Mid Level
🔢 ICS level: ICS 10
📝 Contract type: ICA - IICA - Retainer
🏷️ Contract level: IICA 2
⏱️ Duration: Short-term lumpsum assignment (February-April 2027)
Why This Assignment Matters
This short-term assignment offers the chance to contribute to a high-profile global initiative on climate-induced loss and damage. The work feeds directly into the foundational preparation of the first regular report on loss and damage. The specialist will help collect and organise inputs from diverse stakeholders, including on climate risks and impacts and on responses to climate-induced loss and damage, so that they are available to the entity that will develop the report once it is selected. The assignment also offers exposure to information about a wide diversity of loss and damage responses that will form the basis of the global report.
What Is the Santiago Network?
The Santiago Network was established in December 2019 at COP25, as part of the Warsaw International Mechanism for averting, minimising and addressing loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change. Its purpose is to catalyse the technical assistance of relevant Organizations, Bodies, Networks and Experts (OBNEs) for the implementation of suitable approaches at the local, national and regional level, in developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change (decision 2/CMA.2, para 43, noted by 2/CP.25).
How the Network Is Structured
Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement subsequently decided on the functions and institutional arrangements of the Network to enable its full operationalisation. They agreed on three parts:
🏛️ A hosted Secretariat that facilitates its work, known as the Santiago Network Secretariat
🧭 An Advisory Board that provides guidance and oversight to the Secretariat on the effective implementation of the Network's functions
🕸️ A Network of OBNEs covering a wide range of topics relevant to averting, minimising and addressing loss and damage
Who Hosts the Secretariat
At COP28 in 2023, Parties selected the consortium of UNOPS and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) as co-hosts of the Santiago Network Secretariat, for an initial term of five years with five-year renewal periods.
⚙️ UNOPS provides the administrative and operational support for the effective functioning of the Secretariat
🔬 UNDRR provides the Secretariat with technical backstopping and expertise in averting, minimising and addressing loss and damage
The Road to the First Regular Report
📜 At the climate change conference in 2025, Parties mandated the Santiago Network Advisory Board (SNAB) to develop the Terms of Reference for the first regular report on loss and damage
✅ At the Seventh Meeting of the SNAB, in September 2026, the Terms of Reference were approved
📣 The Secretariat was tasked with developing a global call for inputs to provide an evidence base for the report
✍️ The report itself will be prepared by a Santiago Network Member, or a group of Members, to be selected by April 2027 through an ongoing call for proposals
Purpose of the Role
The selected candidate will act as an authoritative specialist, supporting the systematic collection, organisation and management of diverse information on loss and damage received from a range of stakeholders through a global call for inputs. The role contributes to the design and implementation of frameworks for content classification and tagging, so that relevant products and knowledge are more accessible and inter-operable.
The specialist will also help create and maintain a digital repository of materials that supports analysis by the OBNEs drafting the first edition of the regular report. Finally, the specialist will identify key materials that the Santiago Network can use in support of its other functions, including knowledge development and exchange across technical assistance domains, regions and climate contexts. This assignment will support information management practices for a critical global climate initiative.
Function 1: Information Management Strategy and Implementation
🔎 Manage the analysis of existing standards and processes for the systematic collection, tagging and classification of submissions related to loss and damage, and propose options for their enhancement and integration
🧷 Apply relevant methodologies to ensure consistent use of proposed tagging structures and identify emerging thematic areas from submitted content
🧪 Apply innovative approaches for categorising diverse content, including submissions received through incomplete forms or alternative channels, ensuring comprehensive data capture and accessibility
Function 2: Digital Repository Development and Interoperability
💾 Manage the development and implementation of an interoperable digital repository for all submitted materials, ensuring effective content grouping, accessibility and seamless integration with submission form data
🤝 Facilitate the sharing of the repository with selected OBNEs and support access to available information by developing simple guidance and providing direct assistance to relevant counterparts
Function 3: Programme Support and Knowledge Leadership
📒 Compile lessons learned on the call for inputs and its management, covering for example the submission process and available options, the management of the received content and the accessibility of the information management system to selected OBNEs
📢 Identify content that can support advocacy, the engagement of members and technical counterparts, and knowledge development and exchange, and propose options to fully leverage selected content
🎓 Provide advice and capacity building within the Secretariat on advanced information management techniques, options and tools that can support engagement of members and technical counterparts, and knowledge development and exchange
Deliverables and Their Timeline
The exact timeline and deliverables might be subject to change.
🧰 End of February 2027: An improved set of tools, categories and tags to systematise the diverse submissions received through the call for inputs, and their use to strengthen existing and newly established submission channels
🗄️ End of March 2027: A digital repository of materials, including all submissions received through the call for inputs, tagged and organised in a systematic manner to support sharing with the OBNEs selected to draft the report
🛟 Throughout April 2027: Support to the relevant OBNEs in accessing the repository, through accessible guidance and direct assistance to relevant personnel
📋 End of April 2027: A curated list of materials for use by the Secretariat, with recommendations on how to use them in innovative, impactful ways, and relevant capacity building for Secretariat staff if needed
💡 End of April 2027: A set of lessons learned from the call for inputs process, recommendations to strengthen efforts for future editions of the report, and indications on how to strengthen the Secretariat's broader knowledge management work
Skills UNOPS Lists for the Role
📊 Analytical Skills
🌡️ Climate Change
🖋️ Content Management
🔗 Data Integration
🧮 Data Management
📦 Digital Archiving
ℹ️ Information Management
📅 Project Management
Education Requirements
🎒 A Bachelor's degree (or equivalent), preferably in Information Management, Data Science, Computer Science, Information Systems, Knowledge Management, Environmental Science, Climate Change, Disaster Risk Management, Sustainable Development or a related field, with 7 years of relevant experience
🏅 Or a Master's degree (or equivalent), preferably in any of the above or related fields, with 5 years of relevant experience
🪪 Desired: a certification in Data Management, Information Systems or Digital Archiving
Required Experience
📈 7 years of experience with a Bachelor's degree, or 5 years with a Master's degree, in programme management, information management, data management, or fields related to climate change, disasters or the environment
🧱 Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing content classification systems, tagging methodologies and digital repositories
🌊 Demonstrated thematic expertise on loss and damage associated with the impacts of climate change, or other related fields, including climate change adaptation, disasters (DRR, DRM, disaster preparedness, response and recovery), environment (ecosystem management, conservation), humanitarian interventions or sustainable development
Experience That Is Desired
🗺️ Understanding of climate change policy, notably loss and damage negotiations under the UNFCCC and the WIM
🚑 Experience providing technical assistance on loss and damage, or working with climate-vulnerable recipients in a related sector (for example early warning and preparedness, humanitarian interventions, reconstruction, advocacy)
🌐 Experience working with international organizations or multi-stakeholder partnerships
🧬 Proven experience in managing complex data sets and ensuring data interoperability
🏗️ Experience in developing and implementing information management strategies for large-scale projects
Language Requirements
🗣️ English: Fluent, required
📗 French: Fluent, desirable
📙 Spanish: Fluent, desirable
📕 Arabic: Fluent, desirable
📓 Chinese, Mandarin: Fluent, desirable
📔 Russian: Fluent, desirable
Competencies UNOPS Looks For
🔭 Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organisation, and anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organisation
🕊️ Treats all individuals with respect, responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same, upholds organisational and ethical norms, maintains high standards of trustworthiness and is a role model for diversity and inclusion
🙌 Acts as a positive role model contributing to team spirit, and collaborates and supports the development of others; for people managers only, acts as a positive leadership role model who motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilising appropriate leadership styles
🎯 Understands the impact of the role on all partners, always puts the end beneficiary first, and builds and maintains strong external relationships, being a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role)
🚀 Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal, with actions leading to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas, sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them, and understands that responsible use of resources maximises impact on beneficiaries
🔄 Is open to change and flexible in a fast-paced environment, effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements, reflects on experiences and modifies own behaviour, performs consistently even under pressure and always pursues continuous improvement
🧠 Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions, with an unbiased, rational approach, calculated risks, and innovation and creativity in problem-solving
💬 Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner, with communication that considers the feelings and needs of others, actively listens and proactively shares knowledge, and handles conflict effectively by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground
Selection Rules and Cut-Off Time
🕛 Applications must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date; applications received after it will not be considered
📞 Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments
🚫 UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes
🧾 UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind
That last point is worth remembering whenever you apply for a job. Our guide to how we check listings also explains the red flags of a fake offer.
Retainer Contract Conditions
📘 For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses, which take around 4 hours, in your own time before providing services to UNOPS
🔁 Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract
❌ You will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers
Other Terms and Conditions
🪜 For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
⚖️ All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks
🌻 All personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda
🛂 UNOPS conducts background checks on all potential personnel, and recruitment is contingent on the results of such checks
Diversity, Inclusion and Safeguarding at UNOPS
UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Its workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations and abilities, and it strives to sustain an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
Applications are evaluated based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. UNOPS says it is committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcomes diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, inform the human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment. Background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired, and by applying, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
For more international openings, browse the latest professional job opportunities on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
What will the Information Management Specialist actually produce?
The main outputs are an improved set of tools, categories and tags, a tagged digital repository of all submissions, support and guidance for the OBNEs accessing it, a curated list of materials for the Secretariat, and a set of lessons learned. UNOPS notes that the exact timeline and deliverables might be subject to change.
How long does the assignment last?
It is a short-term lumpsum assignment running from February to April 2027. The deliverables are spread across the end of February, the end of March and the end of April 2027.
Is this a home-based position?
Yes. The duty station is listed as home based.
What contract does UNOPS offer for this role?
The contract type is ICA - IICA - Retainer, at contract level IICA 2 and ICS level 10. The seniority level is Mid Level.
What education and experience are required?
You need a Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) with 7 years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree (or equivalent) with 5 years of relevant experience. You also need demonstrated experience with content classification systems, tagging methodologies and digital repositories, plus thematic expertise on loss and damage or a related field.
Which languages are needed?
Fluent English is required. Fluent French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin) or Russian are desirable.
Are the mandatory retainer courses paid?
No. The courses take around 4 hours, are completed in your own time before providing services to UNOPS, and you will not receive any compensation for taking them or any refreshers.
What is the exact cut-off for applying?
Applications must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on 23 November 2026. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
Does UNOPS charge candidates any fee?
No. UNOPS states that it will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
Deadline
⏳ 23 November 2026
