Project Management Support - Officer for the Sector for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)

The European Union for Local Development Programme - EU PRO Plus is designed to contribute to reduction of socio-economic disparities in Serbia. It will support Šumadija and Western Serbia and South and Eastern Serbia, the two less developed regions, to tackle persistent underutilisation of development potentials and reduce social exclusion. While building on the momentum created by its three predecessors, this Programme will enhance territorial development management, support economic growth, and improve social infrastructure and cohesion. The European Union (EU) has allocated 30 million Euros for the implementation of the Programme during 36 months. The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) was selected for indirect management.

The EU PRO Plus Programme will enhance national, regional, and local capacities for management of integrated and sustainable territorial development (ISTD) while considering the European Union (EU) territorial instruments and contributing to the fulfilment of the requirements of Chapter 22 of the EU Acquis related to the Regional Policy and the Coordination of Structural Instruments. These instruments are supporting local communities to take more responsibilities for planning their development and tackling socio-economic challenges, thus the approach is effective in terms of addressing regional disparities.

There are three results that the Programme will achieve:

• Result 1: Improved development planning in targeted municipalities and introduction of the ITI concept

• Result 2: Enhanced economic growth in targeted municipalities

• Result 3 Improved social infrastructure and social cohesion in targeted municipalities

The direct beneficiaries of the EU PRO Plus are the Ministry of European Integration, local self-governments, regional administration structures, SMEs, civil society organisations (CSOs) and business support organisations (BSOs). The final beneficiaries are the inhabitants of 99 municipalities. 

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Officer for the Sector for SMEs, the Officer for the Sector for SMEs will be responsible for development and implementation of projects and activities contributing to enhanced competitiveness and sustainability of SMEs. S/he will strongly contribute to development of activities which will support start-ups and businesses to enhance market potential, value chain contribution, efficiency, productivity and directly contribute to job creation. 

The Officer for the Sector for SMEs will undertake the following activities/responsibilities:

• Under the guidance of Senior Officer for the Sector for SMEs, play a key role in development of Programme Calls for Proposals (CFPs) directed towards the youth and women-owned business start-ups, SMEs in their second investment cycle, Business Support Organisations (BSOs), and Local Self-Governments (LSGs) or other entities implementing vocational training programmes

• Manage the evaluation process for the advertised CFPs, including coordination of the grant evaluation committee, organisation of meetings and participate in evaluation of the received applications

• Contribute to efficient monitoring of projects and grants supported within the SMEs Sector and responsible for implementation of the assigned projects

• Contribute to the coordination of implementation of Sector activities with the Support Services 

• With guidelines from the Support Services team and the Senior Officer, contribute to development of documentation and provision of inputs needed for implementation of the Sector activities 

• Responsible for assessing and embedding social aspects into activities, including empowerment of vulnerable groups, promotion of social corporate responsibility and enhancement of impact on the local communities

• Cultivate professional relationship with the national, regional and local counterparts within the Programme Area of Responsibility

• Support dialogue and cooperation between SMEs, BSOs, LSGs, RDAs, and other private and public sector stakeholders aiming at identification of opportunities for partnership and joint socio-economic development initiatives 

• Develop reports and qualitative and quantitative analysis on the relevant policy and external developments as well as Sector performance

• Contribute to presentation of the Programme’s support to enhanced competitiveness of SMEs to the Programme Steering Committee and other internal and external stakeholders 

• Ensure respect of UNOPS project management requirements, financial rules and regulations and UNOPS procurement and grants management procedures

• Contribute to development and update of the Programme’s plans and strategies including identification and assessment of risks and implement mitigation measures in accordance with the Risk Management Strategy 

• Ensure respect of UNOPS and EU PRO Plus configuration management requirements

• Contribute to identification and sharing of the Programme’s lessons learned and the best practices 

• Support the Senior Officer for the Sector for SMEs in coordinating the work of the Sector personnel, including retainers

• Contribute to establishment and maintenance of archive related to the Sector activities

• Contribute to high visibility of the EU PRO Plus, its donor, UNOPS and the other stakeholders involved in the Programme and support other Programme’s communication activities

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

Education 

• Bachelor’s degree preferably in economics, social sciences, or development studies is required

• Master’s degree in the relevant field would be considered as an asset

Work Experience 

• Two years of experience in the implementation of projects targeting SMEs in Serbia is required. Master’s degree may substitute for some years of experience. 

Language Requirements

•  Fluency in Serbian and English is required

• PRINCE2 and/or PMI certifications would be considered as an asset

• Driving license and ability to travel independently is required

This is a local position, it is therefore open to nationals of the Republic of Serbia and to individuals who have a valid residence/work permit.

Contract type: Ongoing ICA
Contract level: Local ICA 8
Contract duration: Open-ended subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and/or to satisfactory performance

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 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.