Project Management Support Officer

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. By implementing around 1,000 projects for our partners at any given time, UNOPS makes significant contributions to results on the ground, other in the most challenging environments.

Dutch and English speaking Caribbean

UNOPS Dutch and English Caribbean is part of the Costa Rica Project Center and from that Centre UNOPS has implemented a number of infrastructure, technical advisory and procurement projects.

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) is the Barbados primary acute care medical facility and an accredited teaching hospital affiliated with the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus. The institution was opened on November 14, 1964, to address the medical, surgical, clinical and treatment needs of the Caribbean and to serve as a teaching hospital for those seeking a career in the medical profession. Since its inception, the hospital has expanded its bed capacity from 464 beds to the current 519 beds. Operational plans for the QEH continue to focus on strengthening the delivery of quality health care with strategic direction guided by the 10-year plan for Health and the QEH Care Excellence Programme (CEP).

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital is central in the health system and access to health coverage for the citizens of Barbados.  Its maintenance and upgrade is of high priority to the government of Barbados. The QEH needs refurbishment and upgrades in different sections of the hospital and due to these reasons, UNOPS has come to an agreement with the Ministry of Health and Wellness from Barbados to cooperate in the Implementation Support for the Strengthening and Improvement of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. 


About Our Culture:

Our work helps build the foundations for countries and communities to achieve peace and sustainable development, guided by our values - Inclusion, Integrity, Humility and Humanity.  

UNOPS celebrates diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunities. UNOPS encourages qualified female candidates, as well as qualified candidates from groups underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce, to apply. These groups include people from racialized or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, as well as people with disabilities.

The Project Management Support Officer will locally contribute with technical and administrative support of the project in progress.  The Project Management Support Officer will play a critical role in the successful implementation of a hospital project and the establishment of an office in Barbados. 

Project Implementation: 

1. Support the Project Managers in the preparation of terms of reference documents related to the project operations, MOA/MOU, work plans).  

2. Serve as a liaison with Support Services in managing purchase orders, contracts, and payment requests.  

3. Provide project status information to Project Managers to identify and manage risks and issues raised by PMs.  

Financial and Procurement Management: 

1. Support to Project Managers (PM) in the preparation of budgets, reviews, and financial information.  

2. Support Project Managers in managing budgets, cash flow, and obligations to ensure deliverables are met and that UNOPS procedures and standards are followed.  

3. Assist in monitoring the project budget and financial expenditures, ensuring that administrative procedures are aligned with the work plan and ongoing contracts.  

Project Monitoring and Report Preparation: 

1. When needed, provide advice and necessary support during the "formulation phase" of new initiatives, focusing on quality assurance and quality control of project documents, costs, financial implications, implementation plan, milestones, and benchmark indicators, as well as adherence to UNOPS project approval processes and procedures.

2. Support the Project Manager in the execution of approved project plans (including setting milestones).  

3. Make substantial contributions to the development of project strategies and schedules and manage work packages.  

• Bachelor's Degree is required, preferably in Business Administration, Public Administration, Health Administration, Procurement, Economics, Engineering, Project Management, Public Health, or related areas.

• Desirable Master Degree, preferable in Business Administration, Public Administration, Health Administration, Procurement, Engineering, Project Management, Public Health, or related areas.

Work experience:

• At least 4 years of experience (or less according to the level of Degree) providing professional support in project management and/or programs operations, developing partnerships, institutional articulation, and/or project planning and implementation will be required.

• Desirable experience in the implementation of projects in the public / private health sector, which involve a large number of interested parties (stakeholders).

• Desirable experience in procurement of medical equipment and/or medical infrastructure.

• Desirable experience with United Nations agencies, international organizations, governments, foundations, international NGOs, or private sector organizations.

Language:

• Proficiency in English (spoken & written) is required.

• Fluency in Spanish may be considered an asset.

• 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. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. 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.