Project Management Support Officer (Community Liaison)

With more than 20 years of experience in the country, UNOPS Afghanistan focuses on providing maximum support to the people of Afghanistan through the delivery of projects and services that improve the lives of people in need. The UNOPS Afghanistan Country Office (AFCO) serves as an organizational mechanism to deliver a range of projects for which UNOPS has been designated as the implementation agency.  At present, UNOPS AFCO activities cover a range of sectors including humanitarian, basic human needs, cash for work, infrastructure, development, procurement and HR services. 

The functional objective of UNOPS AFCO is to contribute to improving the lives of girls, boys, men and women living in Afghanistan. The aim of UNOPS AFCO is to provide efficient and cost-effective implementation services on behalf of all our partners to support the humanitarian response and development of the country. UNOPS AFCO’s mission is to exceed the expectations of all stakeholders in the delivery of AFCO services, at all times, in all places, in all circumstances, in order to improve the lives of Afghans in need.

Under the overall supervision of the Senior Programme Manager and Deputy Project Manager, the Community Liaison Officer (internally referred to as: Project Management Support Officer (Community Liaison)) will support the Senior Programme Manager and Deputy Project Manager, in liaising with the local community and local authorities to ensure the project can be implemented as per schedule and scope, addressing the day to day concerns of the community, updating on project’s progress, project’s plans, etc. 

1. Stakeholder management, coordination and liaison

2. Monitoring and reporting

3. Knowledge sharing and knowledge building

1. Stakeholder management, coordination and liaison

• Facilitate the smooth liaison between Afghanistan Civil Aviation Authority (ACAA), JICA, relevant Ministries and UNOPS, by maintaining regular contact and networking.

• Set up and organize meetings for UNOPS with ACAA and/or with any other agencies, contractor or person if requested, including organizing meeting spaces.

• Provide substantive inputs on communication and liaison with different stakeholders to the Senior Programme Manager/Deputy Project Manager.

• On the instruction from the Senior Programme Manager/Deputy Project Manager, relay instructions and messages to the Contractors in a prompt manner.

• Ensure that stakeholders at construction sites are kept abreast of the project development activities and plans, and two-way communication channels remain open with the stakeholders.

• Mediate issues between the community members and the project staff.

1. Monitoring and reporting

• Maintain detailed and accurate records of meetings including agendas, meeting minutes, follow-up/action points.

• Managing information flow by keeping, circulating and archiving detailed project notes and records.

• Measure and report on the effectiveness of communication and liaison strategies/activities.

• Respond to stakeholder concerns by ensuring that they are brought to the attention of the ACAA and facilitate the process of resolving the issue.

• Assist UNOPS in the identification of potential implementation problems and bottlenecks.

• Forward questions about the project from community leaders and residents to appropriate authorities and the Senior Programme Manager/Deputy Project Manager.

• Report to the Senior Programme Manager/Deputy Project Manager and/or Quality Engineer on a daily and weekly basis on community issues and the project’s performance in relation to those issues.

• Keep up with the weekly and daily developments of the project.

1. Knowledge sharing and knowledge building

• Encourage routine and effective capacity-building activities to be conducted in order to build the long-term and sustainable capacity of staff.

• Actively interact with the project team to share case studies, lessons learned and best practices.

• Contribute to the oversight of lessons learned, ensuring that lessons learnt are shared in a timely and appropriate manner.

• Participate in the relevant Communities of Practice.

• Research and log in lessons learned throughout the project life span.

• Provide feedback to Practice Groups on policy, supporting guidance with an aim towards continuous improvement of UNOPS policies.

A.  Education

• A first-level university degree (e.g. Bachelor) in Economics, Development Studies, Social Science and/or other relevant fields are required.

B. Work Experience 

• A minimum of 2 years of experience in communication and liaison, interpreting/translation, community mobilization or other related fields required.

• Experience working with national and international organizations that are contributing to the reconstruction and development in Afghanistan is a significant advantage.

• Prior experience with UNOPS and/or other UN agencies is desirable.

C.  Languages

• Fluency in English, Dari and Pashto is required.

• 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. 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.