Project Support Officer

About the project:

After 30 years of independence, Moldova’s prison system continues to resemble the Soviet model of ‘carceral collectivism’ instantiated by gulag-resembling architecture and a cultural attachment to this penal philosophy. The most acute problems faced by the penitentiary system are overcrowding, criminal subculture, inadequate healthcare and insufficient meaningful activities. The overcrowding has been particularly severe in Prison no. 13 in Chisinau, an institution built in 1849 that serves as the only pre-trial facility covering both the capital and central region of Moldova. Aiming to align the treatment of prisoners to European standards by improving material conditions, safety and management practices, the Moldovan Government is pursuing the development of a new remand facility that will replace Prison no. 13 in Chisinau.

UNOPS has been engaged by the Ministry of Justice to deliver the construction of the penitentiary. The new facility is expected to have a capacity of 1,050 inmates and would enhance the physical conditions of detention for pre-trial detainees in Moldova. The project, expected to be completed by 2027, is jointly financed through the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) and the Government of the Republic of Moldova.

About the position:

The Project Support Officer (PSO) will have a reporting line to the Senior Project Manager (SPM) in Moldova, and a secondary reporting line to the UAMCO Programme Management Office (PMO) Specialist in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Overall, the PSO will support to ensure that the Moldova Project Office has the right projects in place, their governance and decision making is facilitated, that UAMCO has the resources and capability to deliver projects in Moldova consistently well, and that operational and change priorities are balanced.

The role is based in Moldova and is responsible for supporting the project monitoring, reporting, quality assurance, and knowledge management. In particular, the role’s responsibility is to ensure that project management policies, processes and methods are followed and practised according to the organisation standards, while acting as support to the SPM as project quality assurance capacity. 

He/she identifies probable project issues that may need attention, supports in problem analysis and solution identification as necessary, and assists the SPM and PMO Specialist in problem resolution as per action-items assigned.

Summary of key functions:  

1. Project Monitoring

2. Project Reporting

3. Quality Assurance

4. Knowledge Management

Contract type: ICA
Contract level: Local ICA Specialist (ICS 9)
Contract duration: Ongoing ICA – ‘Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.’ (40 months)

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

Please note that the title in the contract for this position will be Project Management Support Senior Officer.

• 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.