Project Management Support - Officer for the Sector for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)

The European Union for Local Development Programme - EU PRO Plus will contribute to more balanced socio-economic development in Serbia by enhancing territorial development management, supporting economic growth, and improving social infrastructure and social cohesion of 99 local self-governments in two regions: Šumadija and Western Serbia and Southern and Eastern Serbia. 

The European Union (EU) has provided 40 million Euros through the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) 2020 to fund the Programme, which will be implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) over a period of 42 months. The support is programmed with two action documents - the EU for Local Development which includes the 30 million Euros support and the EU for COVID-19 Economic Recovery which foresees a 10 million Euros addition.

There are three result areas that the Programme will achieve in targeted municipalities:

Result 1: Improved development planning and introduction of the Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI) concept

Result 2: Enhanced economic growth 

Result 3: Improved social infrastructure and social cohesion

While building on the momentum created by its three predecessors (1) Programme also focuses on four cross cutting aspects: good governance, digitalisation and innovations, environmental and climate change aspects and gender equality. In addition, EU PRO Plus will, through its COVID assistance related activity, strengthen the capacities of the public national health system to respond to COVID-19 pandemic and other national health emergency situations.

The direct beneficiaries of the EU PRO Plus are the Ministry of European Integration, 99 local self-governments, local administration structures, regional development agencies, other business support organisations, local SMEs, and civil society organisations (CSOs). The final beneficiaries are the inhabitants of 99 municipalities. 

All programme activities will be undertaken in partnership with the Government of Serbia, while respecting the national policies and priorities, in order to ensure national ownership and help develop national capacities. The EU PRO Plus is based on the National Priorities for International Assistance in the Republic of Serbia until 2025 (NAD), crucial for economic and social development and the EU integration process, while particularly contributing to preparation for the fulfilment of the requirements under Chapter 22 of the EU acquis - Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments.

• Under the guidance of Senior Officer for the Sector for SMEs, play a key role in development of Programme Calls for Proposals (CFPs) directed towards the youth and women-owned business start-ups, SMEs in their second investment cycle, Business Support Organisations (BSOs), and Local Self-Governments (LSGs) or other entities implementing vocational training programmes
• Manage the evaluation process for the advertised CFPs, including coordination of the grant evaluation committee, organisation of meetings and participate in evaluation of the received applications
• Contribute to efficient monitoring of projects and grants supported within the SMEs Sector and responsible for implementation of the assigned projects
• Contribute to the coordination of implementation of Sector activities with the Support Services 
• With guidelines from the Support Services team and the Senior Officer, contribute to development of documentation and provision of inputs needed for implementation of the Sector activities 
• Responsible for assessing and embedding social aspects into activities, including empowerment of vulnerable groups, promotion of social corporate responsibility and enhancement of impact on the local communities
• Cultivate professional relationship with the national, regional and local counterparts within the Programme Area of Responsibility
• Support dialogue and cooperation between SMEs, BSOs, LSGs, RDAs, and other private and public sector stakeholders aiming at identification of opportunities for partnership and joint socio-economic development initiatives 
• Develop reports and qualitative and quantitative analysis on the relevant policy and external developments as well as Sector performance
• Contribute to presentation of the Programme’s support to enhanced competitiveness of SMEs to the Programme Steering Committee and other internal and external stakeholders 
• Ensure respect of UNOPS project management requirements, financial rules and regulations and UNOPS procurement and grants management procedures
• Contribute to development and update of the Programme’s plans and strategies including identification and assessment of risks and implement mitigation measures in accordance with the Risk Management Strategy 
• Ensure respect of UNOPS and EU PRO Plus configuration management requirements
• Contribute to identification and sharing of the Programme’s lessons learned and the best practices 
• Support the Senior Officer for the Sector for SMEs in coordinating the work of the Sector personnel, including retainers
• Contribute to establishment and maintenance of archive related to the Sector activities
• Contribute to high visibility of the EU PRO Plus, its donor, UNOPS and the other stakeholders involved in the Programme and support other Programme’s communication activities
• Perform other duties as may be reasonably required and in line with the incumbent’s scope of services above.

Education 

• Bachelor’s degree preferably in economics, social sciences, or development studies is required

• Master’s degree in the relevant field would be considered as an asset

Work Experience 

• Two years of experience in the implementation of projects targeting SMEs in Serbia is required. Master’s degree may substitute for some years of experience. 

Language Requirements

•  Fluency in Serbian and English is required

• PRINCE2 and/or PMI certifications would be considered as an asset

• Driving license and ability to travel independently is required

This is a local position, it is therefore open to Nationals of Serbia and to individuals who have a valid residence/work permit.

Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement (LICA)
Contract level: Local ICA Specialist ICA 8
Contract duration: five months with the possibility to extend depending on the circumstances, performance and budget availability

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

The UNOPS Republic of Serbia Multi Country Office (RSMCO) is implementing 12 projects in Serbia, North Macedonia and Montenegro.

In Serbia, where UNOPS has been active since 2000, and North Macedonia and Montenegro where UNOPS works since 2017, the organisation provides support in demanding socio-economic reforms and facilitating accession to the European Union. The projects focus on sustainable socio-economic development, good governance, social cohesion, environment and emergency response. The projects are implemented with the funding from the European Union (EU), Kingdom of Norway, Governments of Switzerland, Sweden and North Macedonia.

All projects have gender equality as a transversal theme, and have been contextualised within the broader Sustainable Development Goals frameworks and objectives.