City Engagement Specialist

**Job Highlight**
The position offers an opportunity to support a global initiative focused on climate action and sustainable urban development. Through this role, the successful candidate will actively contribute to innovation in partnership development, knowledge management and coalition building, working with a diverse range of stakeholders to empower cities and local governments in their transition to climate-resilient systems.

**About the Region**
The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) brings together diverse expertise to help partners deliver impact worldwide. With hubs in New York, Geneva, and Vienna, and expert teams operating globally, GPO leads multi-regional initiatives that advance sustainable development, climate action, and peacebuilding - including in some of the world’s most challenging environments. By leveraging our collective expertise and global networks, GPO supports UNOPS’ strategic priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals across more than 130 countries. We work closely with major global partners - including governments, international financial institutions, and UN agencies - to deliver a wide range of services, such as project management, fund management, hosting services, and HR support.

UNOPS Geneva also hosts the secretariats of eight global partnerships focused on health (RBM, Stop TB, ATscale), nutrition (SUN), water/sanitation (SHF), humanitarian leadership (GELI), urban development (Cities Alliance), and disaster displacement (PDD). We also provide fund management for EIF and UN Water, and operational support to Geneva-based partners like the Global Fund and UNHCR. The EU-UNOPS Lives in Dignity (LiD) Grant Facility is also based here.

**Job Specific Context**
Through this engagement, under the Water and Environment Cluster (WEC) Portfolio, UNOPS will provide implementation services to the European Commission to support the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM).

This will involve accelerating its initiatives and delivering advisory, management, coordination, and implementation services around three main outputs:

1. Cities have enhanced capacity, systems and tools to develop implementation plans and prepare bankable climate projects,

2. Cities are equipped to mobilise adequate finance for the implementation of their sustainable energy and climate action plans (SECAPs), and

3. Business-to-city matchmaking mechanisms are established to scale up innovative, sustainable solutions and technologies.

The position will support cities and local governments empowerment  to accelerate their transition to climate-resilient, sustainable energy and low emission mobility urban systems with enhanced capacity, accessed finance, and established private sector partnerships.

**Role Purpose**
Working under the guidance and leadership of the Director of the UNOPS GCoM Support and Coordination Unit, the successful candidate will work closely with cities and partners to facilitate coordination, support implementation processes, and contribute to the rollout of technical assistance, knowledge sharing and collaboration activities that advance climate-resilient solutions on the ground.

**Functions / Key Results Expected**
1. City Climate and Energy Priority Development

• In close liaison with the Partnerships and Networks Adviser, lead the structured dialogues with city counterparts, including mayors' offices, technical departments to identify and prioritize climate and energy challenges and opportunities.

• Facilitate the translation of city needs and key priorities, into technically sound and bankable project pipelines aligned with available financing opportunities, while strengthening collaboration between cities and private sector partners by helping cities articulate investment needs and supporting businesses in understanding local procurement and regulatory contexts.

• Provide technical guidance to cities on the development and implementation of Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAPs), Climate Action Plans (CAPs) and related frameworks, ensuring coherence between planning, investment and implementation.

2. City Stakeholder Management System

• In close collaboration with municipal stakeholders and focal points, support the design and implementation of a systematic, city-level stakeholder engagement approach that maps, prioritizes and manages relationships across all relevant municipal actors, including political leadership, technical units (energy, transport, buildings, waste, etc.) and finance/budget departments. Equity and inclusiveness are key drivers in the approach.

• Design and deliver capacity-building materials and training for GCoM team members and city counterparts on the stakeholder engagement approach, ensuring consistent application across the city portfolio.

• Maintain an up-to-date stakeholder data base and intelligence system, tracking engagement status, key contacts, open issues and follow-up actions for each city.

3. City-to