Project Management Support - Senior Officer

The Office of Information and Communication Technology (OICT)

OICT provides enterprise-wide oversight of ICT programmes, budgets and decision-making to ensure alignment with the Secretariat’s overall ICT strategy, in support of the Organization’s mission. Services required for this agreement revolve around the activities concerning OICT’s responsibility for the management of the global ICT environment which includes the development of Secretariat-wide infrastructure architecture and overseeing the central data centres that house enterprise systems and safeguard all Secretariat-wide data.

Background Information – Job Specific

In adapting to the growing complexity of the 21st century, the United Nations need to respond dynamically to ensure it remains instrumental in supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and targets for the 2030 agenda. Technological innovation and the role of partnerships across sectors have become increasingly important to accelerate progress in addressing the problems that humanity faces.

In close partnership with the Government of Finland, the UN is establishing and operationalizing the United Nations Technology Innovation Lab (UNTIL) located in Espoo, Finland.

The priority focus of the UNTIL Finland Lab will be establishing partnerships with UN Funds and Programmes as well as Governments, Academia, NGOs and private sector leveraging technology to address SDGs challenges in the areas of Education, Health, Circular Economy and Peace and Mediation.

This is a position in UNOPS for supporting projects in the United Nations Secretariat (United Nations Technology Innovation Lab – UNTIL Finland) Policy, Strategy and Governance Division (PSGD) of OICT.  The incumbent of this position will be personnel of UNOPS under its full responsibility.

Under the overall supervision of UNOPS Senior Programme Manager and direct supervision of the UNTIL Lab Manager, the functional responsibilities of the Project Management Support – Senior Officer shall include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Support in management of the programme

• Monitor the reporting requirements of the programme, review and help to finalize project reports, and submit reports on time;
• Work with the UNOPS programme management office to provide feedback and mutually agree on corrective actions for project budgets/expenditures, when required;
• Input and update of accurate data and information to facilitate monitoring and evaluation of the programme activities;
• Communicate with colleagues on the programme team on areas requiring additional information to improve quality of output and /or account submission and increase knowledge base in the process.

2. Support in management of human resources and procurement tasks:

• Assist in managing the recruitment process for positions as required in the programme;
• Assist in managing the procurement processes as required in the programme;
• Support in collecting, compiling and/or reviewing the leave and travel plans of all staff and consultants for programme, ensuring their timely submission to necessary stakeholders;
• Support in collecting, compiling and/or reviewing all procurement plans and reports for the programme, ensuring their timely submission to the stakeholders;
• Travel Management: Arrangement of travel and hotel reservations, preparation of travel authorizations;
• Provide advice and guidance to personnel on administrative procedures, processes and practices and liaise with relevant groups on personnel administration matters;
• Learning initiatives &Training support on Administrative and HR-related topics.

3. Support in management of compliance of programme activities:

• Contribute to UNOPS capacity building in effective service delivery by focusing on learning, coaching and mentoring team members and field staff.

4.Support in upholding regular and professional client management and stakeholder communications:

• Regularly communicate with clients under the scope of the programme and provide regular updates on status and delivery against objectives;
• Input and update accurate data and information to facilitate monitoring of UNTIL projects as well as provide communications and assurance information;

Monitoring and Progress Controls:

The result of work of the Project Management Support - Senior Officer impacts directly on delivery of services that satisfy the requirements of the Department as well as the performance of the services implemented in the DPO and Peacekeeping and Special Political Missions, Economic Commissions, Offices away from Headquarters, and Headquarters. It will also ensure proper processes and methodologies are followed and implemented according to the latest of the industry standards. The incumbent is responsible for ensuring activities for all global locations are in line with the overall business targets and UN policies, rules and regulations.

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Public Administration, Management, International Relations, Business Administration, Law or in a field related to the post description, or;

• A first level university degree combined with an additional two (2) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

Required:

• A minimum of two (2) years of work progressive experience in one or more of the following areas:

• A minimum one (1) year of experience in providing administrative support to a large programme or organization.

• A minimum of one (1) year experience with MS Office products suite.

Desirable:

• Ability to think critically and solve problems, as well as being able to comprehend and apply new information.

• Knowledge of UN/UNOPS policies and procedures, especially with regards to budgeting and/or accounting, human resources, procurement.

• Experience with an ERP system.

Language requirements

• Fluency in English is required;
• Knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

Background Information: Sustainable Development Cluster(SDC)

Based in New York, the Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations.

The SDC’s services include grants management, development and special initiatives support, and technology support to the UN and UN agencies.

The SDC is part of the New York Service Cluster that supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as a broadening community of other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management.