Director, Cities Alliance

General Information

Publication for
Hosted Entity
Entity Name
Cities Alliance
Position Title
Director, Cities Alliance
Job Category
Leadership
Duty Station(s)
Brussels
Seniority Level
Executive Level
ICS Level
ICS 14
Contract Type
Staff \- IP \- FTA
Contract Level
IP D\-2
Posting Start Date
26\-Jan\-2026
Posting End Date
07\-Jun\-2026
Duration
2 years, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funds.

Job Highlight

The Director leads the Cities Alliance Secretariat, and is responsible for ensuring the formulation, adoption, financing and implementation of the Strategic Plan, and its Annual Work Plans. This requires clear and consistent leadership, and strategic/diplomatic collaboration management to work with Cities Alliance members, partners and country stakeholders to fulfil the vision and mission of Cities Alliance. To fulfil this function, the Director maintains regular contact with the Chair of the Management Board on matters of strategy and substance and, where appropriate, with the President of the Assembly.

About the Region

The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) unites the New York Portfolios, including the Peace and Security team (PSC); the Geneva Office; and the Vienna\-based Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) teams, to maximize global impact, foster efficiencies and streamline global programmes. Leveraging our collective expertise and networks, GPO supports UNOPS' strategic priorities and the SDGs across over 130 countries. We deliver project management, fund management, advisory services, project implementation, and HR services, working closely with major global partners. Our thematic focus includes sustainable development, climate action, health, peace \& security, and humanitarian action.

About the Country/Multi\-Country Office

As part of the Global Portfolios Office, UNOPS Geneva provides comprehensive solutions in secretariat hosting, operational support, and fund management. We manage global programmes, including the Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) Portfolio, offering project management, procurement, HR, and financial services. Geneva 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.

Job Specific Context

Cities Alliance, which is hosted by UNOPS, is the global partnership promoting the role of cities in poverty reduction and sustainable development. Headquartered in Brussels and supported by a Secretariat, it is a unique partnership with a diverse membership which has come together to strengthen both impacts and coherence in urban development. Cities Alliance is a global leader, with a strong track record in grant\-making to support strategic citywide planning, slum upgrading and access to basic services; urban climate action and resilience; the inclusion of forcibly displaced populations in cities; women empowerment and gender equality in cities; inclusive urban economies and investment pathways that improve livelihoods and reduce urban poverty. Through UNOPS, the Cities Alliance operates a Multi\-Donor Fund supported by an efficient, flexible grant\-making mechanism with global reach.

The Cities Alliance has established an international reputation for its role in promoting coherence of effort in international development, identifying critical policy and knowledge gaps, convening members and partners, and delivering high\-quality programmes. The context of its work is that of rapidly urbanising economies, the growth of cities of all sizes, and promoting the interests of the urban poor in general, and women in particular. Adopting a long\-term and programmatic approach that recognises the catalytic nature of development assistance, the Cities Alliance seeks to work with and support local expertise and institutions, ensure citywide and nationwide approaches to development, and facilitate follow\-up investments and impacts.

The Cities Alliance undertakes regular independent evaluations, as well as programme and financial audits. The Secretariat has recently embarked on a decentralisation strategy, with an empowered and effective management team and staff operating from three global hubs.

The Management Board (on which UNOPS is represented ex officio) is responsible for setting the overall strategic direction, priorities and budget of the Cities Alliance. The Secretariat is responsible for the implementation of the work programme and related activities, and shall report to the Management Board on these, through the Director.

The Director of the Cities Alliance is a UNOPS Director, subject to UNOPS policies and procedures.

Role Purpose

The Director will position Cities Alliance as a recognised global leader in advancing inclusive urban development. Results will be measured through strengthened member engagement, organisational growth and sustained resource mobilisation, and expanded influence and impact on cities at the global and local level. By driving strategic partnerships with cities, donors, development banks and other stakeholders, the Director will enhance Cities Alliance’s contribution to the implementation of the SDGs, the Paris Agreement, and the New Urban Agenda. Impact will be visible in empowered local governments, scaled community\-led solutions, and demonstrable reductions in urban poverty and vulnerability to climate risks.

To achieve this, frequent interaction is required with, but not limited to the following:* Managers and staff within the Cities Alliance Secretariat, senior representatives within Cities Alliance membership, as well as representatives of UN Agencies, multilateral and other international organisations.

• Constant interaction at senior level with Governments, Private Sector organisations, development banks and representatives of nongovernmental organizations.

Functions / Key Results Expected

Summary of Key Functions :

1\. Development of robust financial architecture
2\. Strategy and Planning
3\. Management Board
4\. Partnership, Global Advocacy and Communications
5\. Management of the Secretariat* Development of robust financial architecture :

• The Director is accountable to the Management Board for restoring and sustaining Cities Alliance’s financial viability, including securing predictable multi\-year financing and diversifying revenue streams beyond traditional ODA grants, and responding to shifts in the development finance landscape, and challenges related to operating in fragile settings.


• Ensures the development and management of an effective and proven resource mobilization strategy which underpins Cities Alliance’ sustainability and growth.


• Develops strategies to expand and diversify the existing core Donors and Funding Sources, as well as alternative sources such as development banks, multi\-donor funds, philanthropic foundations, the private sector and public\-private partnerships.


• Identifies ways to balance the relationship between core and project financing, to ensure that the Cities Alliance retains sufficient flexibility in pursuing new and/or strategic activities.


• Strategy and Planning :


• Lead a time\-bound institutional review and renewal process, to ensure strategic relevance, financial sustainability, and competitiveness in a rapidly changing development finance landscape.


• Leads the development of the Strategic Plan and Annual Work Plans, with time\-bound targets and milestones for fulfilling the Cities Alliance vision and ensures their timely approval by the Management Board.


• Ensures that the Cities Alliance Strategic Plan is aligned with, and actively contributes to, implementation of Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, the Paris Climate Agreement, and the New Urban Agenda;


• Leads organizational adaptation and planning and directs and oversees the setting of framework targets and monitoring tools.


• Ensures that all Cities Alliance policies and governance instruments are regularly reviewed and updated, including the Charter, Standard Operating Procedures, Conflict of Interest Policy and the Risk and Results Frameworks.


• Management Board


• Oversees the provision of high\-quality strategic information to the Management Board to facilitate its role in setting policies and strategies. This includes regular, high\-level strategic analysis, advice, and communication in its strategic, results and risk management roles, in active collaboration with the Chair of the Management Board.


• Facilitates and promotes communication between the Management Board and partners on policy and programme issues. This includes regular monitoring and clear reporting of progress toward key targets.


• Communicates on a regular basis with the Chair of the Management Board on ongoing progress and highlights emerging issues. Identifies operational challenges at an early stage that need the Board’s support, including any resource deficiencies.


• Partnership, Global Advocacy and Communications :


• In partnerships with the President and/or Chair of the Management Board where appropriate, acts as spokesperson for Cities Alliance and reports regularly to Members on progress on the implementation of the Strategic Plan.


• Supports the Cities Alliance partnership and seeks to extend the existing partnership with key stakeholders relevant to a changing urban and developmental environment.


• Represents the Cities Alliance at high\-level events, and/or appoints appropriate staff to represent the Cities Alliance.


• Leads the Secretariat in articulating and communicating Cities Alliance strategy, vision and values and return on investments to external stakeholders.


• Ensures that Members are kept fully appraise

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