Project Management Support - Advisor on EU Accession Negotiation (retainer position)

Through a flexible advisory instrument, UNOPS in North Macedonia  is aiming to provide support to enhance the institutional, technical, and administrative capacity of the relevant government structures for European integration and other relevant  partners for successful management of the overall European Union (EU) integration process. UNOPS in North Macedonia as part of the RSMCO, aims to maximise its impact and create a collaborative environment towards the shared objective of EU accession for the Western Balkans and wider. Although the WB countries are each at different stages in the accession process, they face many common challenges when it comes to reforming their economies, political systems, and public administrations. In addition to the reforms on a national and local level, regional cooperation in South-East Europe remains a key condition for EU Accession. 

Through access to tailored expertise, knowledge and best practice in the region, UNOPS will provide guidance on identifying and addressing the challenges and drawbacks of each of the Western Balkan partners in implementing the new enlargement methodology, assist them with advancing their respective reform agenda in line with accelerated EU integration and Growth Plan for the Western Balkans(1) and engagement of relevant stakeholders in the EU process (civil society, media, academia, private sector and youth).

Under the supervision of the Head of Programme through Project Manager, the PMS Advisor will provide strategic advice to the Government Negotiation Structure, Chief Negotiator, Core Negotiation Team, the Ministry for European Affairs, Ministry for Foreign Affairs and other ministries in regards to coordination of EU accession process, strategic planning and aligning future actions with the accelerated integration and “phasing-in” to individual EU policies, the EU markets and EU programmes. 

Based on the characteristics of the EU integration process but also the “accelerated integration” as defined in the official EU documents, the PMS Advisor will provide advice for the processes that are currently underway and/or planned, with special attention to the substantial reforms needed in line with the revised methodology, harmonisation processes and the required mechanisms, both from a policy and an institutional perspective. S/he will provide technical expertise and advice in streamlining processes and development of documentation, while reflecting good experiences from the region. 

The PMS Advisor’s support will focus on the following strategic aspects of the EU integration process: 

• EU Membership Negotiations
• Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) and Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP). 
• Revised Enlargement Methodology
• EU Policy and various Chapters of the EU Acquis Communitaire
• Networking with EU institutions
• Implementation of the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans and Reform Agenda 
• EU Funding
• Cooperation mechanisms with the media, CSO, academia, private sector and youth.

The selected candidate will perform functions as follows: 

• Provide technical expertise and advice on SAA process
• Provide technical expertise and advice to the beneficiaries on the EU negotiations, in the line with the revised enlargement methodology, negotiating framework, negotiation positions, roadmaps and benchmarking, derogations and transitional arrangements, while reflecting on good practices and lessons learned from the region
• Provide technical expertise on EU alignment process in line with EU Policy and the reforms under various Chapters of the EU Acquis Communautaire
• Provide advice and support development of legal and operational documents (decisions, procedures, guidelines, instructions etc.), to support the efficient functioning of the negotiation structure in accordance with the country’s Negotiating Framework, based on good practices and lessons learned from accession process;
• Provide technical expertise regarding networking with the EU institutions, and facilitate the access to the relevant EU institutions
• Provide technical expertise and advice on the implementation of the Reform Growth Facility for WB (RGF) instrument, its coordination and control mechanism and implementation of RGF Regulation on a needs based cases
• Provide technical expertise and advice on efficient stakeholder engagement in the EU accession process, including on the role and cooperation with other stakeholders such as the Assembly, media, civil society, chambers and business community, academia and other institutions involved in the process

Education 

• Master’s degree preferably in Law, Economy, Political Science, European Studies, International Relations or other relevant discipline is required
• Bachelor’s degree with a combination of two additional years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the Master degree

Work Experience 

• At least seven years of working experience as head and/or member of EU accession negotiation team is required
• Experience in direct coordination, negotiation and organisation of the accession negotiations is required  
• Experience in preparation and participation in screening exercise, negotiation positions and of Intergovernmental Conferences would be an asset
• Diplomatic experience working in Brussels based Permanent representation office would be an asset
• Experience in overseeing implementation of Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) would be an asset

Language Requirements

• Fluent knowledge of English language (speaking, writing and reading) is required

Contract type: International Individual Contractor Agreement (IICA) Retainer*
Contract level: I-ICA 3 (ICS11)
Contract duration: up to 110 w/days in the period of one year with possibility of extension 

*If the selected candidate is based in a duty station where there is a national scale, s/he may be offered the local equivalent position. 

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

• 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. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. 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.

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an independent United Nations (UN) organisation since 1995 (Resolution 48/501, 1994), which succeeded two decades of its operations as a part of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) since 1974 when it was established. 

The mission of UNOPS is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development. As a part of the United Nations family, and as the only self-financed UN organisation, UNOPS is committed to UN values and private sector efficiency. 

In Serbia, UNOPS has been active since 2000 and the organisation provides support in conducting demanding socio-economic reforms and facilitating accession to the European Union. The projects focus on sustainable local development, good governance, the rule of law, social cohesion, environment and emergency response. The projects are implemented with funding from the European Union (EU), the Governments of Switzerland, Sweden, Serbia, and the UN organisations. 

UNOPS Serbia Multi-Country Office (RSMCO) also covers Montenegro and North Macedonia, as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the need for support and potential engagements are being assessed. The work of UNOPS and the projects it implements is contextualised within the broader Sustainable Development Goals frameworks and objectives of the countries of its operations.