Project Management Office (PMO) Specialist (Internal Candidates Only)

Based in Geneva, Switzerland, the UNOPS Geneva office (GVA) is part of the Global Portfolio Office (GPO).  The GVA manages a diversified portfolio of global and country-specific hosted entities, funds, programs, and projects.  The GVA services include hosting, fund management, advisory services, project/program implementation, procurement, and financial and human resources support.  

The primary role of the Project Management Office (PMO) is to ensure that project/program management policies, processes, and methods are followed and practiced according to the organizational standards while acting as the overall Project Assurance capacity within the GVA on behalf of the  GVA  Director.  In addition to this quality control and compliance oversight function, the PMO supports the GVA portfolio, through result-oriented actions and ad-hoc initiatives, in the implementation of its various programs and projects. 

The Project Management Office (PMO) Specialist will be reporting to the GVA Head of Program (HoP).  The PMO specialist will be responsible for moving GVA toward achieving its mission-focused goals and objectives and will be responsible for the proper implementation and provision of the following functions and services of the PMO:

• Quality management and governance support: GVA’s projects and programs are properly supported in the planning and execution of their quality/progress control meetings and the planning and execution of their project board meetings.

• Grant management support: Ensuring GVA’s projects and programs managing grants receive the proper support during all the grant management processes.

• Delivery/Operation Support: Ensuring GVA’s projects/programs receive the proper operational support and have proper access to GVA’s shared services under effective coordination and planning support.  

• Best Practices: Applying UNOPS standards in project management, encouraging consistent working practices, and making sure GVA’s personnel responsible for projects/programs delivery receive the proper training. 

• Oversight Support: Supporting GVA’s project/program in preparation, execution of their audits, and the implementation of the recommendations.

• Strategic Planning/Portfolio Support: Ensuring GVA is focused on doing the right projects by supporting management decision-making.

Summary of functions:

1. Development and planning 

2. Management Oversight or Implementation

3. Monitoring and Evaluation

4. Quality assurance and Progress Control

5. Knowledge management and Capacity building

1- Development and planning 

• Provide appropriate levels of programmatic management support to the HoP regarding all ongoing program and project activities while maintaining and implementing appropriate standards and best practices in line with UNOPS policies and procedures.

• Provides support to potential and current engagement of high value and/or risk, supporting Engagement Authorities in strengthening program and project governance structures and processes to enable achievement of high standards and consistency in line with UNOPS success criteria.

• Directly contributes to strategic oversight, advice, and direction on program and project management activities in line with service agreements and project documents. Ensure programs and projects contribute to GVA's strategic objectives and targets.

• With the oversight from the HoP, develops and establishes resource tracking systems for use within GVA, complementary to UNOPS' online tools, to ensure effective planning, forecasting, and tracking of delivery across GVA.

• Identifies, and anticipates promptly, potential risks and issues and advises mitigating measures to the HoP and GVA management team.

2- Quality assurance and Progress Controls

• Leads the coordination, preparation, and follow-up of the quarterly assurance/project board meetings for the entire GVA portfolio.  

• Supports the HoP so that the monitoring of entities/funds/programs and projects is carried out regularly to ensure accomplishment of set targets and results for projects/portfolios, and delivery of services as per the agreed terms and conditions and on time. 

• Supports the HoP to ensure there is an adequate risk-based internal control system and mechanisms in place which are exercised regularly as per the appropriate guidelines and tools of UNOPS Geneva and of UNOPS corporate policies and procedures 

• Supports in ensuring adequate quality management procedures are applied across GVA’s projects and programs.

• Provides specialist support to assure the procedures are embedded into the program management of UNOPS Geneva and are applied consistently across all projects/portfolios as per UNOPS corporate guidelines, procedures, and policies. 

• Works with internal audit and finance to ensure the program complies with audit requirements.

• Supports the program and projects boards to identify threats, and opportunities, and evaluate the implications of decisions at the organizational level to ensure compliance with UNOPS-defined standards for program/project management.

• Coordinates quality reviews of program/project documents and deliverables.

• Provides quality control for management products (project documents, reports, etc.).

3- Set-up and closure 

• Facilitates the development of high-level program/project plans, including the collation of lower-level plans into program/project-level milestones.

• Develops, tracks, and maintains dependencies.

• Liaise closely and support the HoSS/PMs in all project assets and finance-related issues.

• Takes on the full closure process for orphan projects and liaise with donors throughout the process

• Oversees and coordinates all project closure activities, ensuring appropriate disposal of the project assets, timely and effective final (operational) reporting, initiation of financial disbursements as appropriate during Defects Liability Periods, updating of information on the UNOPS.

• An advanced degree (Master's or equivalent) in Project Management, Business Administration or related field (e.g. International Relations) is required.

• A first-level degree (Bachelor’s Degree  or equivalent) in the related areas with an additional two (2) years of  experience may be accepted in lieu of the Master's degree.

• PRINCE2 Practitioner Certification is highly desirable.

• MSP certification (Foundation and/or Practitioner) is an advantage.

• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant and progressive professional experience, specifically in the field of Project Management with experience of successful implementation and/or oversight of programmes and projects is required.

• A proven experience in grants management is required, from the selection process to the contract management, and the performance and monitoring oversight.

• A strong experience with data analysis, management reporting and project management tools and information management systems is required.

• Knowledge of UNOPS’ project management tools, UNOPS financial and procurement rules and regulations, and financial management tools, is desirable

• Fluency of English is required. 

• Fluency in French is an advantage.

  
  

Contract type: International Individual Contractor Agreement 
Contract level: ICS10 / IICA-2
Contract duration: Ongoing ICA - Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

• 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.

• Geneva , Switzerland is a UN  family duty station

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.