Project Management Support - Associate - INTERNAL VACANCY

The Government of the Republic of Serbia (GoS) and European Investment Bank (EIB) signed three Financial Contracts in the amount of EUR 200 million for the Reconstruction of Four Clinical Centres in Serbia Project (FCCS/Project). The FCCS costs have been estimated at over EUR 430 million in total, of which EUR 200 million is provided by the EIB, whereas the balance is provided by GoS, the European Commission – CARDS and IPA projects, the World Bank and bilateral donors. In February 2023, GoS expressed interest in a new loan from EIB, in support of the second phase of reconstruction of four clinical centres.

The FCCS is the project of national priority and of vital importance to Serbian citizens. It should contribute to the reform of the tertiary healthcare system and provision of efficient and quality healthcare services to Serbian citizens according to patient needs and comparable to European standards. The Financial Contract with the EIB stipulates a clause that the Ministry of Health (MoH) and its Project Implementation Unit (PIU) can have Technical Assistance (TA) to support implementation of the Project. 

Based on UNOPS mandate / experience/ expertness, UNOPS was invited to provide TA to the MoH Evaluation Committee for the process of the technical evaluation of received bids for the construction of the Clinical Centre of Serbia (CCS) in Belgrade during 2018. UNOPS has been involved in the evaluation process on the basis of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between MoH and UNOPS on 28 December 2017.  Following UNOPS successful engagement in the evaluation process, UNOPS was asked to submit a proposal for the provision of TA in management of the reconstruction of the FCCS Project. The Agreement between MoH and UNOPS concerning the provision of Technical Assistance was signed on 18 March 2019, and was amended to extend and expand scope of the TA to FCCS.

Project Information

The UNOPS Technical Assistance (TA) team plays a crucial role in supporting the Ministry of Health (MoH) and Project Implementation Unit (PIU) across three key functional areas: Project Management, Infrastructure, and Procurement. In response to specific requests from the MoH/PIU, UNOPS extends its technical expertise to assist in the crucial phase of preparing for the next reconstruction phase of the Project. This proactive engagement underscores UNOPS's commitment to long-term project success and sustainable development in the health sector. The TA provided for the next reconstruction phase encompasses strategic planning, technical assessments, and the development of necessary documentation to ensure a seamless transition and continued progress.

THIS IS AN INTERNAL VACANCY FOR WHICH ONLY INTERNAL CANDIDATES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION.

The Project Management Support Associate reports to and supports the Lead Civil Engineer to coordinate all TA project support and operations. The Project Management Support Associate works closely with the Lead Civil Engineer in defining priorities as defined in the results framework and supports compliance with the relevant internal processes and procedures. 

The purpose of this assignment is to provide comprehensive support to the Lead Civil Engineer and the UNOPS Technical Assistance team in the implementation of a health infrastructure project financed by the European Investment Bank (EIB). The role supports effective planning, coordination, monitoring, and reporting of project activities in alignment with UNOPS standards, EIB requirements, and national procedures. It ensures that project objectives are met while adhering to applicable policies, timelines, and quality standards.

Under the direct supervision of the Lead Civil Engineer, the assignment includes, but is not limited to, the following activities/responsibilities:

• Support development of project management products, including but not limited to risk, quality, and communication approaches; 

• Support the preparation, update, and tracking of project work plans, schedules and work packages;

• Coordinate and contribute to the preparation of monthly and quarterly reports to MoH and drafting of PIU’s reports to the EIB;  

• Prepare meeting minutes, in both languages, Serbian and English in line with project requirements;

• Contribute to the quality checks of the project management products and support quality assurance;

• Assist in identifying risks, issues, and mitigation measures and contribute to the preparation and updates of risk and issue registers and other project documentation for UNOPS, PIU and the EIB;

• Support identification and  tracking of indicators related to project outcomes and impact; 

• Maintain and support modifying or improving the structure of  document management systems to ensure real time tracking of project activities;

• Provide support in monitoring all HR requirements and related activities (drafting of ToRs, monitoring and tracking experts’ deliverables if needed);

• Facilitate internal and external communication among stakeholders;

• Monitor media coverage of the FCCS project through services provided by a clipping agency;

• Assist in the coordination of day-to-day administrative project activities;

• Support proper record-keeping and documentation of TA project files, decisions, and deliverables;

• Support documentation of lessons learned, contribute to the innovation of working processes within the TA team;

• Update Gender Action Plan and contribute to gender-related project activities; 

• Translate from English to Serbian and vice-versa;

• Regularly update the project dashboard and other relevant monitoring tools;

• Perform other duties as may be reasonably required and in line with the incumbent’s scope of services above.

• High School Diploma/Secondary School Diploma is required.
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor or equivalent) preferably in Business Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Public Administration, International Relations or equivalent with two (2) years of experience would be an asset and may substitute for four (4) years of relevant experience.

• A minimum of six years of experience in project management support activities is required
• Experience with international organisations (preferably in the UN / EU context) will be considered as an asset
• Knowledge of UNOPS rules and regulations will be considered as an asset
• Experience in similar projects will be considered as an asset

• Fluency in written and spoken English and Serbian is required

This is a local position, it is therefore open to nationals of Serbia and to individuals who have a valid residence/work permit.

Contract type: ICA
Contract level: Local ICA Support - ICS 6
Contract duration: Ongoing ICA – Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance


For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx 

• 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. 

• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience requirements outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to considering all candidates in a fair and transparent manner, and we value diverse perspectives and experiences, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals with diverse 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.