Lead Expert (EMS)

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects around the world. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement, and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors, and United Nations organizations. With over 6,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical, and management knowledge they need, where they need it.

UNOPS provides its partners with advisory, implementation, and transactional services, with projects ranging from building schools and hospitals, to procuring goods and services and training local personnel.  UNOPS works closely with governments and communities to ensure increased economic, social, and environmental sustainability for the projects we support, with a focus on developing national capacity.  

UNOPS Georgia was established in mid-2018 to support, develop and oversee UNOPS’s growing portfolio in the country. The office currently provides implementation services to several projects where UNOPS works closely with development partners and the Government of Georgia, focusing on education, security, and healthcare sectors.

UNOPS Georgia is focused on providing efficient and cost-effective implementation services on behalf of all our partners to support the Government of Georgia achieve its national priorities through citizen-oriented programmes and projects. The UNOPS Georgia office operates under the operational support of the Austrian Multi-Country Office (AUMCO).

The UNOPS office is based in Tbilisi, Georgia with all project sites currently in Tbilisi. 

The ‘Support to Advancing Technical Capacities for Ensuring Human Security’ Project is part of a wider initiative by the European Union (EU) for the Security Sector in Georgia known as "EU4 Security, Accountability and Fight against Crime (SAFE) in Georgia".

The overall SAFE programme will contribute to increased security of Georgian citizens by strengthening good governance and the rule of law in Georgia, through support provided to the prevention and fight against crime; hybrid and emerging threats; border management; civil protection and crisis management; and oversight of the security sector. 

The overall objective of the “Support to Advancing Technical Capacities for Ensuring Human Security” component is to contribute to the efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability of institutions in the security sector. The project will identify specific needs and procure cutting edge technology/equipment and provide technical assistance to enhance institutional and operational capacities of designated security sector actors, law enforcement agencies, and oversight institutions.

Specific objectives of the Project include: 

● Identification of specific needs for enhancing technological capacities (hardware and software) of designated public security sector actors for implementation of the security sector reform.  

● Strengthening institutional and operational capacities of law enforcement agencies, disaster response and oversight institutions through providing high technological equipment, software and hardware solutions.

● Ensuring that the institutional capacity of the Emergency Management Service (EMS) is strengthened through organizational and functional development of the Service, enhancement of its capabilities, strengthening international relations and cooperation.

The Project will be required to coordinate with other Components of the Action and to procure equipment and services to ensure strategic support.

2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Senior Project Manager, and in close cooperation with stakeholders, the Lead Expert will be primarily responsible for providing and mobilizing technical advice to the beneficiaries in all areas defined under the Project, but will specifically focus on the Emergency Management Service (EMS). The Lead Expert will coordinate the overall performance of the EMS Technical Assistance (TA) Component of the Project, including interaction with stakeholders at planning level and overall design and implementation of the Project activities, as related to the support to be provided to the EMS. All relevant decisions regarding the content of the activities shall be taken jointly with the beneficiary and the Donor.

The Lead Expert shall be able to establish professional communication and partnership with the project beneficiaries and other stakeholders, as well as represent the project at all levels, as required. S/he has to develop and submit relevant Activity Plan/s for the TA component of the project, including schedule of planned missions. The Lead Expert shall assess all relevant documentation and present the list of additional key (thematic) experts to be hired under the TA component of the Project. Based on the list S/he should develop a detailed ToR for experts and support the recruitment process. In addition, the Lead Expert will be responsible for the development of Technical Specifications for the procurement of relevant consultancy services in close coordination with the Project team and stakeholder. The procurement process will be conducted according to the UNOPS rules and regulations.

The Lead Expert is obliged to ensure maximum information sharing with all relevant local and international stakeholders and proactively participate in close coordination among all other relevant EU projects and other international experts in the field to make best use of available capacities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities will include:

● Under the direct guidance of the Senior Project Manager, coordinate the overall performance and delivery of services under the EMS TA component of the Project;

● Develop, update and implement the approved Action Plan(s) for the EMS TA component of the Project, including the establishment of major milestones and KPIs;

● Ensure proactive risk identification throughout the full cycle of the Project implementation, and assess and implement adequate mitigation measures, as/if necessary;

● Plan and organise high level working meetings with all relevant Project stakeholders to agree on the Project activities as related to EMS;

● Assess all relevant Project documentation and develop detailed Terms of Reference(s) (ToRs) for key (thematic) experts to be recruited under the EMS TA component of the Project;

● Provide recommendations and suggest most effective solutions for the specific needs identified by Project stakeholders and beneficiary/ies;

● Develop Technical Specifications for the procurement of relevant consultancy services in close coordination with the Project team and all relevant stakeholders;

● Liaise with the Project team and all relevant stakeholders, as required, to ensure the consultancy services are procured within the project implementation timeline and with due consideration of the UNOPS procurement rules and procedures; 

● Manage acceptance and delivery of services, monitor the progress and ensure the quality control of services provided to the beneficiary/ies;

● Prepare assessment deliverables (such as monthly and/or quarterly assessment reports);      

Main Deliverables will include:

- Thorough assessment of all Project-related documents and analysis of needs and challenges of the beneficiary/ies in order to offer recommendations and most effective solutions (Inception Phase - Assessment Report);

- Development of Action Plan(s) for the EMS TA component of the Project; 

- Development of Terms of Reference(s) for all key (thematic) experts to be recruited under the EMS TA component of the Project;

- Development of Technical Specifications for the consultancy services to be provided/procured under the EMS TA component of the Project;

- Preparation of Assessment and Monthly/Quarterly Progress Reports to report on the progress and quality of services provided to the beneficiary under the TA component of the Project. 

● University degree in Public Administration, Civil protection, Disaster Management, law or other related field; or, in its absence, a minimum of 3 years’ experience additional to the general professional experience required;

● A postgraduate diploma in civil protection or disaster management will be regarded as an asset.

Experience

● Minimum 9 years of related professional working experience; in the civil protection/disaster management and/or related issues.

● Comparative knowledge of institutional requirements and practices related to the various components of the TOR;

● Solid knowledge of emergency management services operation, working methods and procedures;

●  Understanding of civil protection/disaster management systems and general institutional frameworks in the EU and EU member States;

●  Previous experience in preparation and/or analysis of institutional setting and regulations in the field of civil protection and disaster management. 

● Within the overall 9 years of experience required:

● At least 5 years’ work experience on the civil protection/disaster management and/or related issues.

● At least 2 years as a lead expert/ or team leader/deputy team leader and/or senior advisor in at least one donor-funded project.

● At least 2 years of cumulative experience covering all the following fields: (a) emergency management services operation, working methods and procedures; (b) civil protection/disaster management systems and general institutional frameworks in the EU and EU member States; (c)in preparation and/or analysis of institutional setting and regulations in the field of civil protection and disaster management

● Experience acquired within a national civil protection authority or agency from Participating State to the EU Civil Protection Mechanism exercising civil protection responsibilities on nation-wide basis as a central authority or central agency would be an asset

Language

Fluency in English (written and spoken) is required.  

Contract type: ICA
Contract level: IICA-3/ICSC-11
Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

• 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.