Project Management Support - Senior Officer

UNOPS – an operational arm of the United Nations – supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by successfully implementing its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development.

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


Working with us

We are proud of our people. With a wealth of knowledge and skills in various disciplines – engineering, finance, human resources, ICT, leadership, project management, procurement, and more – they help tackle some of the biggest challenges of our time. Their work around the world supports progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).


At UNOPS, we offer a range of short- and long-term opportunities in various environments and duty stations – from Denmark and Kenya to Mexico, Switzerland, Myanmar, Senegal, Uganda, and many more.


Diversity

With over 5,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,400 personnel recruited on behalf of our partners, spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced and diverse labor force — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs. We continually strive to maintain our gender-balanced workplace. We encourage qualified underrepresented groups as per UNOPS Gender, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy to apply for our vacancies.



Work life harmonization

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

Background Information – UNOPS Hub in Amman 

The UNOPS Hub in Amman implements projects on behalf of UN agencies and bilateral donors and in close coordination with the Government and national authorities. With an established presence across the region (Jordan, Iraq, Yemen, Syria, and Lebanon), the office runs operations including large-scale procurement, project development, and technical management, and provides financial, human resources, and infrastructure-related services. The functional objective of UNOPS Hub in Amman is to deliver its projects in an efficient and effective manner and in line with the principles, rules, and regulations of UNOPS, in order to support the response to the current needs and national priorities in the region. 

UNOPS has been active in Iraq since 2004, delivering close to 50 projects worth over USD 260 million. UNOPS has a very strong relationship with the key counterparts at both central and regional government levels in Iraq. UNOPS operates from its Operational Hub in Amman, and supports its country office in Baghdad and its sub-office in Erbil.

The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

UNOPS is committed to achieving a fully diverse workforce.

Background Information - Project Specific

UNOPS is undertaking a four-year phase II project (including 12 months for the Defect Notification Period) that aims to improve basic living conditions for returnees in the liberated rural areas of Al-Anbar and Ninewa governorates through the rehabilitation of up to 875 housing units and restoration of decentralized services. The decentralized services component will entail the provision of solar street lighting, the rehabilitation of selected community roads, and of water and sanitation networks and/or stations. When feasible, the rehabilitated housing units will be connected to the restored decentralized services taking into consideration the whole neighborhood. The rehabilitation of housing and basic services will be guided by a needs-based approach.

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager (PM), the incumbent is responsible for performing the following duties:

• Support the PM in ensuring timely planning and implementation of the project’s activities and achievement of the project’s objectives within the prescribed scope of work, timeline, budget and quality standards; 

• Support and liaise with PM on the project implementation progress and development;

• Ensure compliance with UNOPS Organizational Directives, Administrative Instructions and Project Management Manual during the project implementation;

• Assist in management of the project information flows and oversee change controls, risk registers and issue management by establishing oversight procedures;

• Provide inputs and review project reports and presentations for PM, as and when needed;

• Support the Project Manager in ensuring UNOPS Policies and Procedures, Financial Rules and Regulations (FRR) are adhered to for efficient programme implementation and progress;

• Support the production/updating of project initiation documents (PID), Legal Agreements and other project documents, and have a thorough understanding of the terms, conditions, and respective roles and responsibilities of partners/stakeholders to ensure the project products are capable of meeting the business cases for both UNOPS and the client;

• Assist the PM in  Monitoring overall project physical and financial deliveries and support the project Manager accordingly. Track expenditure and take relevant action when required to revise budgets (realignment and amendment);

• Assist in Monitor and record best practices and innovative approaches within UNOPS financial regulations and rules; identify and show alternative options according to activity needs for the PM final decision and action;

• Provide support to PM  in Managing the  information flows and support the PM in overseeing change controls, risk registers and issue management; document and feedback lessons learned and best practices within the project;

• Support the project planning processes;

• Maintain all supporting documents for audit and review processes;

• Assist the Project Manager in monitoring of project quality  and HSE indicators and undertaking monthly assurance tasks on behalf of the Project Manager;

• Conduct site visits to the ongoing projects and others required during implementation of the project as needed;

• Prepare operational and financial completion requirements for individual projects, e.g. financial and narrative completion reports, settlement of any pending contractual and financial obligations/commitments, full receipt of donor/client contributions, assets disposition, and personnel separation, among others;

• Support the Project Manager by monitoring budgets, cash flow and reporting on expense obligations to ensure that deliverables are met;

• Coordinate vendor communications, meetings, and reports as necessary;

• Prepare payment requests and necessary supporting documents (financial forecasts and/or Project Delivery Reports) for submission in accordance with project agreements.

• Liaise and coordinate with municipal authorities and other governmental counterparts, NGOs and CSOs, and targeted communities;

• Maintain effective communication and coordination with the project team;

• Develop and maintain good working relationships with local authorities, NGOs and other local stakeholders;

• Contract management of all contracts (Works, Goods, Service Contracts etc.) under the Project;

• In coordination with Project Manager Coordinate/liaise with Amman Hub Support Services units on all administrative matters related to the project;

• In coordination with Project Manager Liaise with the Amman Hub Programme Management Office (PMO) to complete project assurance related tasks and all related project matters.

• Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for planning and knowledge building;

• Participate in the relevant UNOPS Currents.

• Advanced University Degree (Masters Degree or equivalent) in preferably in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, or other related fields is desired.

• A First Level University Degree (Bachelor's Degree or equivalent) in the above-mentioned areas or other related fields with an additional 2 years of experience will be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree. 

• At least 4 years of experience in supporting project/ programme implementation and coordination is required.
• Knowledge of UN policies, procedures, and operations, and experience of working in the UN/International Organization are desired.
• Excellent communication skills, including fluency in spoken and written Arabic and English languages, are required.
• High proficiency with computers, and other software/ platforms related to the position's field of expertise. Good experience in working with the G-Suite platform including, Google Drive, Google Calendar, Gmail, Google Sheets, Docs, and Slides.
• Experience in managing project in the rehabilitation of housing sector is highly desired.

Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement (LICA)
Contract level: LICA-9
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.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and it is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, or disability.
  
• 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.  
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, 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 recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.