Project Management Support - Senior Officer (Coordination/Liaison)

Austria Multi-Country Office (AUMCO)

The Austria Multi-Country Office (AUMCO) is part of the UNOPS Europe and Central Asia Region (ECR). Specifically, AUMCO aims to enable the achievement of Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement through global programmes and tailored interventions in the Balkans, South Caucasus, and Central Asia, focused on Infrastructure, Procurement, Project Management (full service, back on track), HR and Transactional Services, Grants Management and Technical and Advisory Services. 

Uzbekistan Office

Under the purview of AUMCO, the Uzbekistan Office, established in October 2022, supports the Government of Uzbekistan’s development efforts in the country, through the provision of effective project management, infrastructure and procurement services. At present, the office has signed and has been implementing three engagements contributing to SGD3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), while actively working with the Government and development partners in diversifying its portfolio in line with the country’s development priorities, in sectors including education.

Project Information

The UNOPS Uzbekistan Project Office currently has two ongoing projects both of which are major contributions to SDG3 (Good Health and Wellbeing). 

This position relates to the project “Uzbekistan COVID-19 Emergency Response Project” with the Republic of Uzbekistan's Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health Service (SES). Funded through two major loans from the Asian Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. In this project UNOPS will support the Government of Uzbekistan to upgrade up to 54 existing laboratory and treatment facilities across the country, procuring diagnostic equipment and supplies, and establishing an ICT system for monitoring the epidemiological situation to strengthen preparedness and resilience to the COVID-19 pandemic and other epidemics. 

Under the guidance and supervision of the Portfolio Senior Manager, the Project Management Support Senior Officer (Coordination/Liaison) will provide coordination and liaison to support the delivery of the project in collaboration with SES' management. This will include working under the supervisor to ensure sharing of accurate and timely information with SES regarding project progress on ongoing processes and procedures, promoting knowledge exchange and capacity development, identifying and addressing implementation challenges and delays, and facilitating timely conduct of appropriate processes, including but not limited to the provision/finalization of specifications for medical equipment and ICT to be procured, the clearance of documentation for infrastructure works on SES facilities, and training/capacity building activities for SES Personnel. To these ends, the incumbent will be embedded within the Sanitary & Epidemiological Service (SES) of Uzbekistan and UNOPS offices based on a weekly schedule to be agreed with the supervisor to coordinate project delivery on a day to day basis.

The responsibilities include the following:

1.     Stakeholder management, engagement, coordination and liaison

• Under the guidance of the supervisor, lead on coordinating communication and information flows with relevant stakeholders, in particular MoH/SES to ensure work plan projections and key activities are coordinated on a daily basis;

• Recommend and/or organize and support ad-hoc coordination meetings with national partners, as required;

• Maintain a registry of tasks and agreed next steps/actions to ensure continuity and strengthened workflow management;

• Monitor design and execution of activities will achieve the agreed project targets, and recommend actions  to project  management;

• Actively participate in internal and external meetings as needed and support stakeholder engagement in terms of project delivery;

• Communicate project work plans and key activities in a forward-looking manner to ensure smooth and timely coordination;

• Support in the organization of regular partner meetings, including Steering Committee/Project Board meetings, prepare meeting agendas, ensure participation of all key ministries and other national partners, and as secretary to the meeting, draft short reports in project languages, Russian, Uzbek and English as required;

• Maintain up to date lists of all project key contacts and stakeholders, and provide regular updates to national contacts;

• Identify and coordinate the timely resolution of project and operational issues with national authorities, including processes required for the relevant procurement and infrastructure management activities, as well as logistics arrangements regarding and handover of equipment and other supplies;

• Participate in meetings with potential partners and ensure follow-up;

• Conduct project site visits and organize meetings with key partners and stakeholders.

2.     Project Management Support

• Coordinate, liaise and support the Portfolio Senior Manager with the overall planning, coordination and governance ensuring sound project management and implementation in line with the project, policy and strategies;

• Prepare/deliver work plans and reports for coordination/liaison purposes, ensuring that they are sound, and in line with the project, policy and strategies;

• Prepare and maintain the appropriate files, including internal and external reports;

• Assist in effective project issue and risk management in coordination with appropriate stakeholders;

• Coordinate timely receipt of required inputs from internal and external stakeholders.

3.     Project monitoring and reporting

• Prepare/contribute to reports and presentations required for coordination/liaison purposes;

• Support project’s compliance with donor agreements and reporting requirements.

• Prepare and maintain updated project activity monitoring trackers and coordinate with relevant units for update.

4.     Knowledge management and innovation

• Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for planning and knowledge building;

• Facilitate two-way, effective and timely sharing of information relating to project delivery and requirements;

• Facilitate sharing and exchange of knowledge among partners/stakeholders to promote effective collaboration, as well as capacity development.

• Contribute to expertise in tools and techniques.

• A first level university degree (e.g. Bachelor’s degree) in Business Administration/Management, Project/ Programme Management, Development Studies or similar field is required.
• A second level university degree (e.g. Masters Degree) is an asset and may substitute for 2 years of relevant experience.

• Four years of professional experience in project management support and reporting is required.
• At least two years of this must include a liaison function involving facilitation of implementation in close coordination with the appropriate stakeholders.
• Experience working with the implementation of IFI loan funds in Uzbekistan is a distinct advantage.
• Experience working in public organizations of Uzbekistan and/or an international organization, in particular the UN, is an asset.
• Experience in working with the G-Suite platform including, Google Drive, Google Calendar, Gmail, Google Sheets, Docs, and Slides is desired;

• Working knowledge of English is required.
• Fluency in either Uzbek or Russian is required. Fluency in both is an asset.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

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. For more information on a retainer contract 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.