Project Liaison Officer

Background Information – Project

UNOPS SSOC will be implementing the South Sudan Safety Net Project (SSSNP), which is funded by the World Bank (WB) to address existing challenges of soaring levels of poverty, vulnerability, unemployment and idleness, particularly amongst youth. The project development objective is to provide access to income opportunities and temporary employment to the poor and vulnerable households and strengthen safety nets delivery systems.

SSSNP has three main components namely:

a.    Public works plus including complementary activities like entrepreneurial skills, WASH training and early childhood development and nutrition messaging;

b.    Direct income support targeting House Holds who are labour constrained

c.     Strengthening safety net delivery systems

The project will be targeting the most vulnerable segments of South Sudanese population aiming to be benefit in excess of 68 thousand beneficiary HH in more than 10 vulnerable locations across the country.

Under the overall supervision of the Project Manager, the incumbent will be an organized, efficient, and communicative liaison officer to coordinate between UNOPS and Government entities. In this role, the incumbent will act as the middle person between UNOPS and the different Ministries to streamline operations, resolve issues, improve communications, and generally ensure that the relationship is as beneficial as possible.

Scope of Work

The Projects Liaison Officer will be responsible for:

• Develop, maintain, and intensify contacts with relevant government institutions and authorities;
• Maintain thorough knowledge of the UNOPS business, as well as an understanding of how that impacts with Government entities;
• Monitor, coordinate, and communicate strategic objectives of UNOPS;
• Collaborate and communicate successfully with all Government Ministries;
• Work with other staff members to develop a greater understanding of the business and any issues that arise;
• Develop and foster relationships with the key Government and local authorities at National and State levels;
• Collect, analyze, and utilize data and feedback to identify opportunities to improve the relationship between UNOPS and the line Ministries;
• Compile reports about particular incidents, events, or updates about important issue for the business;
• Proactively solve conflicts and address issues that could occur between UNOPS and the Ministry staff and local authorities;
• Promptly respond to incidents and other events as necessary;
• Act as a positive representation of UNOPS to all Government and Local stakeholders;
• Draft official letters in English and or Arabic (when necessary) to communicate formally with relevant local government bodies;
• Map all stakeholders at National and State  levels and ensure the staff are kept updated on the structures of government at all level including any changes;
• In Liaison with the Communication Officer, prepare monthly progress reports and one pagers to stakeholders.

• Master’s Degree or advanced degree in Law or Political Science or Philosophy or relevant field is required;
• Bachelor’s degree in Law or Political Science or Philosophy or relevant field with additional 7 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the Masters degree.

• Minimum of 5 years relevant experience working with the government or related role is required.
• Knowledge and understanding of government settings and functions at both national, state and county level is an advantage
• Ability to establish and nurture beneficial business relationships is desired
• Skills working with the local governments is required.

1. Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement
2. Contract level : LICA Specialist 10
3. Contract duration : Ongoing ICA – ‘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.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• 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
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

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.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

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

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

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