Technical Specialist, Critical Minerals and Investment

Technical Specialist, Critical Minerals and Investment Job Category Programme Duty Station(s) Home based Seniority Level

ICS 10

Contract Type ICA - IICA - Retainer

IICA 2

Posting Start Date 13-Aug-2026 Posting End Date 27-Aug-2026 Duration 12 Months, for up to a maximum of 120 working days. Job Highlight The Technical Specialist will serve as a core technical resource to SEforALL’s Green Industrialisation Hub and the Council for Critical Mineral Development in the Global South, leading the assessment of financing bottlenecks, policy and structuring reforms to mobilize investment and the design of a scalable investment framework. This role involves translating high-level commitments into actionable investment vehicles, fostering cross-continental collaboration, and establishing the financial pathways necessary to accelerate mineral-to-green industrialization across Africa and Southeast Asia. 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. About the Country/Multi-Country Office From Geneva, UNOPS facilitates the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), working with governments, other United Nations (UN) agencies and partners by providing quality services, integrated solutions and management support through strategic, cost-effective and results-oriented approaches. This includes supporting platforms and hosting high-profile, flagship initiatives and funds focusing on health, nutrition, water and sanitation, sustainable cities, environment, energy, climate and trade. UNOPS is a recognized resource for the UN system in Geneva – from fund management and oversight and advisory services, to providing hosting solutions to a range of global initiatives, as well as operational support to partner organizations. About the Project Office Sustainable Energy for All has a global mandate to accelerate progress on the energy transition in emerging and developing countries. Hosted by UNOPS, we work at the intersection of energy, climate and development, partnering with governments and organizations worldwide to end energy poverty, double energy efficiency, significantly expand renewable energy and combat climate change. Our vision is a world where everyone, everywhere, can lead a dignified life on a healthy planet, powered by sustainable energy. We promote this vision by pushing for higher ambitions, stronger policies, greater finance flows, increased localization and green jobs, and faster results toward an energy transition that leaves no one behind. Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched the Sustainable Energy for All initiative in 2011. Since then, our CEO has served as the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of UN-Energy. About the Group From Geneva, UNOPS facilitates the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), working with governments, other United Nations (UN) agencies and partners by providing quality servces, integrated solutions and management support through strategic, cost-effective and results-oriented approches. This includes supporting platforms and hosting high-profile, flagship initiatives and funds focusing on health, nutrition, water and sanitation, sustainable cities, environment, energy, climate and trade. UNOPS is a recognized resource for the UN system in Geneva – from fund management and oversight and advisory services, to providing hosting solutions to a range of global initiatives, as well as operational support to partner organizations. Job Specific Context Africa holds an estimated USD 29.5 trillion in strategic minerals, yet captures only 2% of global clean energy investment. While recent policy shifts demonstrate a commitment to domestic value addition and green industrialisation, structural financing barriers persist. There is growing recognition that without the robust mobilization of African institutional capital, value-addition strategies risk fostering industrial growth that fails to secure significant domestic ownership, long-term wealth retention, or broader structural economic transformation. To unlock this potential, there is an urgent need to bridge the gap between high-level political commitments and the deployment of capital into bankable, domestically owned green industrialization assets. This position is located within the Green Industrialization team at SEforALL. Within the programme, SEforALL implements several initiatives, including the Renewable Energy Manufacturing Initiative (REMI) and the Council for Critical Minerals Development in the Global South. Launched in 2024, the critical minerals workstream aims to develop state‑of‑the‑art data and analytics to guide decision‑making and facilitate south‑south cooperation enabling countries to attract investments in local minerals processing and refining, and build forward linkages with manufacturing for energy transition technologies. The minerals workstream is expanding to cover additional in‑country activities with a focus on the African and Southeast Asia regions, including strengthening engagement of regional value chain development. Role Purpose Reporting to the Principal Specialist, Renewable Energy, the Consultant facilitates the design and operationalization of a robust investment framework for minerals‑to‑manufacturing and green industrialization at a national- and regional‑level in Africa and Southeast Asia. The Consultant leads the quantification of investment opportunities across key value chains, including processing, refining, and manufacturing, while benchmarking international financing models to inform regional and national industrialization strategies. This role requires close coordination with the Council for Critical Minerals Development in the Global South, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, African Development Bank, and other regional partners to ensure all proposed financing mechanisms and structures are viable for implementation. This is a part‑time retainer role, expected to contribute an average of up to 10 days per month. In duty stations where the National Professional Officer (NPO) category has been established by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), the contract modality (Local ICA or International ICA) may be evaluated based on the nationality and/or permanent residency status of the preferred candidate. Functions / Key Results Expected Clean Technology Minerals and Manufacturing Investment Assessment Investment opportunity and gap assessment: Provide a strategic synthesis of global/regional trends shaping critical minerals and green industrialisation. Build upon existing demand/supply analyses and energy transition plans to quantify investment requirements and financing gaps across selected African and Southeast Asian value chains. Investor and industry assessment: Map and survey relevant stakeholders, including investors, financiers, DFIs, sovereign wealth funds, and industry players across the value chain (from minerals to manufacturing), to analyze investment barriers such as cost of capital, currency risks, and infrastructure constraints. Re‑assess drivers of investment risk (distinguishing between real and perceived risks) and identify the conditions required to mobilize domestic capital into commercially viable projects. Benchmarking and comparative analysis: Evaluate existing financing platforms, blended‑finance instruments, and industrial financing mechanisms to identify opportunities for alignment. Review international experiences and transferable financing models to inform pathways for domestic industrial development and value capture in the African context. Green Industrialization Funding Facility Framework Facility design and operationalisation roadmap: Assess the feasibility of a dedicated financing mechanism (e.g., a Minerals and Green Industrialisation Facility). Evaluate capitalization approaches, including sovereign wealth funds, commodity‑revenue platforms, and guarantees. Propose design options, including mandate, governance, and investment criteria, and develop an implementation roadmap with partnership models for scaling domestic investment. Stakeholder Engagement Stakeholder mapping and consultation: Conduct mapping and engage with key stakeholders, including government entities, private sector actors, and Development Finance Institutions (DFIs). Organizing high‑level consultation to validate proposed financing mechanisms and ensure institutional alignment. Skills Analytics, Energy Policy, Governmental Affairs, Manufacturing, Minerals, Project Finance, Stakeholder Management, Strategic Planning, Supply Chain Strategy Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organisation. 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. Role model for diversity and inclusion. Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles. Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is 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. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries. 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 behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements. Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem‑solving. Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground. Education Requirements Required Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Economics, Finance, Development, Law, International Relations, Engineering or a related field. A first‑level university degree (Bachelor’s) in the above fields combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree. Experience Requirements Required Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in investment banking, mining value chain project finance, development finance, or energy or economic policy development. Demonstrated expertise in green industrialization and critical minerals value chains. Experience collaborating with Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), and Sovereign Wealth Funds to design and structure investment facilities or industrial development frameworks. Experience in conducting high‑level stakeholder consultations with government officials, private equity investors, and multilateral partners. Advanced analytical expertise with a proven ability to translate complex investment constraints (e.g., currency volatility, high cost of capital) into actionable, bankable financing mechanisms. Experience in the African and/or Southeast Asian institutional capital and/or minerals development landscape. Language Requirements Additional Information UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind. Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities. UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities. We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our 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. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes. UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind. Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities. UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities. We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our 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. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes. 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. For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here . For more details about the contract types, please click here. 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. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks. #J-18808-Ljbffr Unops