Project Management Support Senior Officer (Liaison)

Background Information - UNOPS

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, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen), 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, to achieve the outcomes sought by the clients.

UNOPS has been active in Syria since 2014, delivering projects in support of the Government of Syria and partners. This includes the rehabilitation of health facilities and public schools and providing operational support to UN partners.

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

The incumbent will work on the Nexus Response Mechanism (NRM) programme in Syria, funded by the European Union.  The goal of the Nexus Response Mechanism is to allow innovative, tailor made, flexible, rights-based activities along the humanitarian-development spectrum across Syria, and the UN parameters and principles of engagement in Syria. The objective of the programme is to contribute to resilience, and sustainable development in Syria. The NRM specifically aims at reducing communities’ vulnerabilities through projects that increase their resilience through capacity development to prepare for future shocks, while addressing their immediate needs and challenges.

The programme will achieve the following results:     

1. Contextual knowledge and understanding through studies and assessments are produced and they inform the formulation of the programme strategy      

2. Access to livelihood opportunities is enhanced and sustainable initiatives are promoted in order to allow phasing out from the "care and maintenance" aid dependence model in favor of more durable approaches 

3. Capacities of local and municipal service providers, and civil society organizations to deliver basic services (e.g. education, health, social protection, water and sanitation, land, shelter, registration, and housing) to conflict affected, displaced and returnee populations are strengthened; 

4. Local governance is informed by context and sector specific analysis, community and stakeholder input, tailored conflict and gender sensitive analysis and due diligence criteria monitoring that is performed collectively by local and international partners;

5. Progress is made towards creating conditions for sustainable solutions for conflict affected, displaced populations and returnees.

The first and second year of the project will focus on the preparation of studies and assessments. The second year will also include the preparation, evaluation and awarding of different tenders and grants that will achieve the results mentioned above. 

Background Information – Job Specific

The Liaison Officer will be a member of the UNOPS Project Management Team (PMT) and she/he will be responsible for the following functions:

Project Coordination 

• In collaboration with the PM and other team members, implement the workplan guided by the project documents and strategy;

• Ensure close and effective collaboration with all key stakeholders and ensure their active participation in all project activities and committees;

• Support the PM in the design and planning of processes and systems to improve and expand NRM support;

• Support validating needs assessments with national priorities as well as wider UN strategies and frameworks.

• Where necessary, prepare and analyze information from the target locations and prepare summaries, briefing notes, implementation plans and roadmaps;

• Prepare and implement a coordinated response to the needs of the communities;

• Promote the project by providing substantive input for stories, articles and other PR activities;

• Support the PM in overseeing grants in the field;

• Perform other duties as required.

Development of infrastructure interventions 

• Review designs related to infrastructure works centered on the end user’s needs, which meet stakeholders' requirements, UNOPS quality standards for design and construction, the project’s objectives, and budget constraints. 

• Take into account users' specific needs based on gender, age, disabilities, socio-cultural norms, etc. 

• Consider all stages of an infrastructure life cycle (design and planning, raw material acquisition, materials processing, construction, community training for operation, maintenance, renovation, decommissioning, and recycling) and optimize the proposed infrastructure's value for money.

• Review the budgets of the proposed infrastructure interventions.

• Conduct participatory workshops with partners to refine the understanding of the causes of service gaps, their capacity-building needs, and their expectations, where necessary 

• Participate in evaluating bids, conducting detailed and substantiated technical evaluations and verification/assessment of the references submitted by the bidders (acting in full compliance with the provision of the Procurement Manual), when needed.

Monitoring, quality assurance and reporting on infrastructure interventions 

• Contribute to setting up and managing remote supervision systems, including but not limited to the setup of remote monitoring systems based on the “UNOPS Collect” application

• Conduct regular field visits of  infrastructure interventions implemented by contractors, assess the quality of the interventions and coordinate with the contractors to address any potential issue. 

• Perform quality assurance and quality control for all infrastructure  interventions.

• Report timely and qualitatively on the progress of the infrastructure interventions, with a focus on impact, quality, risks and issues and lessons learned. 

• Review and approve all test results related to  Infrastructure.

Liaison and relationship building with stakeholders 

• Support the PM in participating  in relevant inter-agency working groups, meetings and events, including UN coordination mechanisms (when requested); 

• Liaise with Local authorities community and Implementing Partners to ensure effective coordination, smooth implementation of project activities, and alignment with local priorities;

• Inform the PM on local authorities and local communities priorities in NRM related sectors in Aleppo 

Reporting

• Ensure accurate and timely reporting of progress and conditions on-site through daily site records.

• Prepare and submit to the PM a monthly (or as requested) report, summarizing the progress of NRM activities in the location, quality control issues, resourcing and scheduling issues, and any other pertinent facts as required.

• Produce any appropriate documentation identified by the PM professionally and accurately

Education

• A Master's Degree in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Construction Management or a related field is required. 

• A Bachelor’s Degree in the above-mentioned areas or related field with an additional two (2) years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of a master's degree. 

Work Experience 

• A minimum of four (4) years of professional experience (or more depending on academic credentials) in the field of Infrastructure rehabilitation or construction is required.

• Experience in stakeholder management with local authorities is required. 

• Previous work experience in Aleppo, particularly with local authorities, is considered to be an advantage. 

• Experience in community development, and civic engagement is an added advantage;

• Experience working with the UN or other Humanitarian/Development agencies is an advantage.

• Proficiency in Google Suite is desired.

Language requirement

• Fluency in written and oral English is required.

• Fluency in written and oral Arabic is required.