Pool of Project Management Analysts for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises and Business Support Organisations - two retainer positions, Multiple positions

The European Union Support to Municipal Development – EU PRO Programme (1) will contribute to a more balanced socio-economic development of Serbia, by enhancing competitiveness and social cohesion of 99 municipalities, in two regions: Šumadija and Western Serbia and South and Eastern Serbia.(2) The European Union (EU) has allocated 25 million Euros for the implementation of the Programme during 36 months. The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) was selected for indirect management, through a Call for Expression of Interest.(3)

There are three results that the Programme will achieve:

• Result 1: Improved technological structure of SMEs and their ability to export
• Result 2: Improved conditions for business operations through more efficient administrative service provision, better land management and specific infrastructure investments
• Result 3: Better social cohesion and attractive living environment through improvement of small scale public infrastructure and social relations.

The direct beneficiaries of the EU PRO are local administration structures, local SMEs, civil society organisations (CSOs) and business support organisations (BSOs). The final beneficiaries are the inhabitants of 99 municipalities.

The EU PRO Programme is based on the National Priorities for International Assistance in the Republic of Serbia 2014-2017, with projections until 2020 (NAD) (4) significant for Serbia’s EU accession process and socio-economic development. Its activities will be undertaken in partnership with the Government of Serbia, while respecting the national strategies, laws and relevant development documents, in order to ensure national ownership and help develop national capacities.

Under the direct supervision of the Project Management Senior Officer, the Project Management Analyst will be responsible for provision of technical assistance to the Programme in designing and delivering activities aiming at improving the quality of SME products and developing their capacities to access new markets and, where relevant, increase export.

In order to enable the Programme, as well as SME and BSO beneficiaries to reach their full potential in competitiveness development, the Programme is recruiting a pool of Project Management Analysts with specialised technical backgrounds. The duration of assignments will depend on the number of applications and type of businesses applying for the Programme support. Therefore, the pool will be consisted of consultants with one or more of the following specialties:

• Business finances – internal finances, financial planning and management
• SME related policies – analysis of legal framework
• Marketing and sales
• Access to finance - analysis of the available sources of funding  
• Business management
• Production and technological processes in one of the following sectors: fruit and vegetable processing, dairy, confectionery, bakery, meat processing, metal processing, wood processing, etc.

More specifically, the Project Management Analyst will undertake the following activities/ responsibilities:

• Provide technical advice regarding thematic areas for provision of support to SMEs and BSOs
• Provide technical advice regarding SME-related legal issues, including guidelines for assessment of their registration, ownership, finances and ethics of SME applicants
• Provide technical advice regarding assessment of SME and BSO applicants and viability of submitted applications to the Programme Grant Evaluation Committee members, as needed
• Participate in meetings with the Programme’s SME and BSO stakeholders in order to obtain information on their needs, as per request and guidelines from the Project Management Senior Officer
• Provide technical advice regarding implementation of the approved SME and BSO projects and provide guidance and support to SME and BSO beneficiaries
• Visit beneficiary SMEs and BSOs in order to verify the data in their applications or assess progress and effects of the project and provide technical advice related to strategic planning, management of finances, product development, innovations and other elements that would enhance SME performance (1)

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree preferably in Economics or Business Administration or relevant field is required
• Master’s degree in relevant discipline will be considered as an asset

Work Experience

• Minimum two years of experience in finance sector or private business in Serbia in business finances and/or SME related policies and/or marketing and sales and/or access to finance and/or business management and/or production and/or technological processes is required
• Two years of consultancy experience in SME development in business finances and/or SME related policies and/or marketing and sales and/or access to finance and/or business management and/or production and/or technological processes is required
• Experience with the EU or the UN, or another international organisation is an asset

Language Requirements

• Fluency in Serbian and English is required

Driving license

• Driving license and ability to travel independently is required

• 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.

In Serbia, UNOPS has been active since 2000, became the Project Centre (RSPC) in 2012, and was reclassified, due a growing portfolio, to Operations Centre (RSOC) at the beginning of 2017. Since 2017, RSOC operations have expanded to North Macedonia, Georgia and Montenegro.

UNOPS has been a reliable partner primarily of the Government of Serbia, and later of the Governments of North Macedonia, Georgia and Montenegro, in providing support for demanding socio-economic reforms and facilitating accession to the European Union.