Project Management Support - Senior Assistant

Nordic Support for Progress of North Macedonia

A)

The Government of Norway has decided to fund a sub-regional programme “Nordic Support for Progress in North Macedonia” to be implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). The project consists of a socio-economic development support to the more undeveloped parts of the country and also envisages support to the Macedonian authorities responsible for leading the renewed efforts on the EU accession process. 

The Government of Norway has allocated funding for the implementation of the Project in Macedonia during 24 months.

The Overall Objective is to contribute to a more balanced socio-economic development and contribute to the implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement and EU accession negotiations priorities. 

Specifically, the programme has objectives at the local and national levels i.e. locally, to increase employment opportunities, support social cohesion as well as to enhance local infrastructure in the less developed areas with a focus given to the inclusion of youth, women and vulnerable groups in the labour market. Nationally, the programme aims at supporting the government to improve its capacity for EU integration and government reform agenda in the accession process

All Project activities will be undertaken in partnership and cooperation with national and local institutions, with the aim of allowing them to adopt/adapt the legal requirements and, where relevant, EU accession criteria. This will ensure national ownership and support the development of national capacities.

B)

The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency has decided to fund a project “Support to progress in North Macedonia - Government reform agenda in the EU-accession process” to be implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). The objective of the project supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) is to support the enhancement of the EU integration capacity of the Republic of North Macedonia by providing technical assistance to government institutions during the accession period. 

SIDA has allocated funding for the implementation of the project in Macedonia during 24 months.

The Overall Objective of the SIDA support is to contribute to, and effectively communicate to the public, the implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, accession negotiations and government reform priorities in the Republic of North Macedonia. 

Project interventions are aimed towards communicating the benefits of the EU accession process to the general population, as well as to involve the civil society and media throughout the accession phases. All project activities will be undertaken in partnership with the Government of Macedonia, in cooperation with the national institutions, with the aim of allowing them to adopt/adapt the legal requirements and, where relevant, EU accession criteria. 

This will ensure national ownership and support the development of national capacities.

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the Project Management Support - Senior Assistant will provide assistance in implementation of the “Nordic Support for Progress of North Macedonia” activities. S/he will contribute to efficient and effective monitoring of implementation of the project, and support provision of assistance to the beneficiaries. 

The Senior Assistant will undertake the following specific activities/responsibilities:

• Maintain relationship with the project beneficiaries. 

• Provide assistance in development of reports on activities implemented on monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual basis and thus ensuring compliance with the donor’s contractual obligations and UNOPS internal policies.  

• Assist the Project Manager in follow up of project quality indicators and support monthly assurance tasks. 

• Assist the Project Manager in completing the projects plans and compiling data for monitoring purposes against the project monitoring tools and entering the data into UNOPS project and monitoring platforms. 

• Provide assistance and logistical support in organising various events, such as workshops, conferences, field visits and missions. 

• Provide support for the Project communication and visibility activities.

• Provide assistance in conducting procurement activities, such as market research, participation in selection panels, communications with vendors and others as required. 

• With the guidance of the Project Manager, liaise with retainers and service providers to support implementation of the activities including gathering data on their engagement, collecting and storing their reports, communicating directly with retainers in relation to administrative and procedural issues. 

• Provide assistance in collection, preparation, and archiving of documentation related to processing of financial transactions related to activities and the overall work of the office. 

• Maintain records and the filing system of the project and the office overall. 

• Compile and prepare briefings and presentation materials, speeches, background information and documentation for meetings and missions.

• Translate simple correspondences, when needed.

• Perform other duties as may be reasonably required and in line with the incumbent’s scope of services above

Education 

• Secondary education is required. Bachelor’s degree preferably in economics, social sciences, or development studies is an asset.

Work Experience 

• Five years of progressive experience in project management support positions is required. Bachelor’s degree may substitute for some years of experience.

Language Requirements

• Fluency in English and Macedonian is required

• Knowledge of Albanian language would be considered as an asset.

Certification

• PRojects in Controlled Environments 2 (PRINCE2) Foundation Certification would be considered as an asset

• Ability to perform a variety of standard tasks and duties related to project management support - monitoring implementation of projects, supporting beneficiaries to implement grant support agreements, collecting and communicating information on socio-economic developments, supporting organisation of meetings and events, populating and maintaining databases related to projects 

• Ability to produce written information clearly and persuasively conforming to the required standards

• Ability to handle a large volume of work possibly under time constraints

• Strong IT skills

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• 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 (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) has been active in Serbia since 2000, and the operations of UNOPS Serbia Project Office (RSPO) have since 2017 expanded to North Macedonia and Montenegro.

UNOPS has been a reliable partner primarily of the Government of Serbia, and later of the Governments of North Macedonia and Montenegro, in providing support for demanding socio-economic reforms and facilitating accession to the European Union.

Currently, the RSMCO is implementing 14 projects focussed on sustainable socio-economic development, social cohesion, creating environment for employability, business and infrastructure growth, increased security, improved education, enhanced social inclusion either via enabling durable housing solutions or providing access to health, education and jobs for the most vulnerable population. All projects have good governance and gender equality as transversal themes. UNOPS projects are contextualised within the broader Sustainable Development Goals framework and objectives.