Project Management Support - Specialist [Youth]

The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) seeks to reduce tensions across cultural divides that threaten to inflame existing political conflicts or trigger new ones. Through preventive diplomacy initiatives, it works at grassroots level, promoting education, youth, media and migration projects aimed at building trust and respect among diverse communities.

The Alliance was established in 2005, at the initiative of the Governments of Spain and Turkey, under the auspices of the United Nations. On 7 January 2019, H.E. Miguel Ángel Moratinos was appointed by the United Nations Secretary General to succeed Nassir Abdulaziz Al Nasser, former President of the General Assembly, and Jorge Sampaio, former President of Portugal, as High Representative of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations. UNAOC is supported by a Group of Friends – a community of over 130 member countries and international organizations and bodies. The UNAOC Secretariat, based in New York, NY, is funded by multiple donors, with operations level support provided by UNOPS.

UNAOC is looking for a Project Management Specialist to run activities focused on Youth which is a key area of work for UNAOC. The work of the Project Management Specialist – Youth would include responsibilities linked to advocacy and partnership building, project development and implementation, monitoring and evaluation, research and data analysis, as well as support for other UNAOC activities.

Under the coordination of the Program Management Coordinator and the direct supervision of the Director UNAOC, the Project Management Specialist duties will include:

• Engage with UN departments and agencies to advocate for and represent UNAOC’s mandate within the broader UN agenda on Youth, and particularly within the Youth, Peace and Security agenda.
• Collaborate and coordinate with colleagues to maintain policy relevance of implemented activities related to Youth.
• Liaise with UN departments and agencies to identify innovative and entrepreneurial practices.
• Design, implement and coordinate new project activity across the full spectrum of the UNAOC pillars of activity (Youth, Education, Media, Women and Migration), with an emphasis on youth projects/activities in line with UNAOC’s Action Plan 2019-2023, the UNSG Plan of Action for Preventing Violent Extremism, and other relevant policy documents.
• Engage in the development and expansion of partnerships with other UN entities, international organizations, research bodies, think-tanks, civil society groups and universities to build and expand on potential content areas (especially on issues relating to Youth); research and develop new areas featuring best practices and resources on cross-cultural dialogue;
• Organize events related to Youth, including the development of content and the facilitation of logistics.
• Draft new initiatives in accordance with internal procedures to participation of selected organizations in various events of the Alliance and partners;
• As appropriate, participate in the selection of the projects related to competitive processes, particularly with reference to the Youth Solidarity Fund. Subtasks can include: participation in fundraising efforts, creation of a comprehensive database; coordination of process to select jury members and liaison with them; development of a shortlist; presentation of shortlisted projects to  the selection panel; preparation of a summary report on the selection process; establishment of direct liaison with selected projects and provision of technical support and expertise where appropriate; development and facilitation of a capacity-building programme to support selected projects; and review of reports from selected projects.
• Actively monitor the financial aspects of the assigned project including keeping progress report of budget execution and drafting reports to the donors.  Actively provide support to all logistics needed for project activities while working closely with the Administrative Personnel. 
• Draft TORs for services and liaise with vendors as needed including collecting vendor forms.
• Maintain records, file and organize documents regarding project operations.
• Coordinate website and other electronic (internet, social media, etc.) outreach efforts with the Communications staff, particularly with reference to the Youth Solidarity Fund
• Assist communications team when relevant to monitor and track stories about achievements of organizations or individuals supported by UNAOC; 
• Support communications team and provide input for the communications team to produce communication materials pertaining to assigned project activities;
• Incorporate a consultation process with stakeholders and partners from different regions;
• Ensure use of best practices in the monitoring and assessment of all UNAOC projects; 
• Monitor the full field of international project activity by international and regional organizations as well as NGOs involving innovative grassroots projects, with a focus on intercultural understanding;
• Contribute and provide input to the overall work of the UNAOC Secretariat and Cabinet and take on additional tasks as and when needed.

• Master’s Degree in international relations, international development, international education, social sciences, human rights, public policy and other related areas.
• Bachelor degree plus additional years of relevant experience may substitute the requirement of Master’s degree 
  
  

• 5 years of relevant work experience in project support or management or organization of large-scale events;
• Proven knowledge of international relations, particularly matters related to the United Nations, and intercultural issues, including trends in the fields of cross-cultural dialogue and international education is desirable;
• Experience in youth issues, international education issues and gender issues in an international context is desirable;
• 1 -2 years of work experience with international organizations or international non-governmental organizations is desirable;
• Experience with research, analysis and drafting of documents on complex issues is desirable;
• IT proficiency an asset 

• Fluency in both spoken and written English; working knowledge of another UN language is an asset; and

Contract type: International Individual Contractual Agreement (IICA-2) 

• 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.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• 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
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• 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.