Project Management Support - Senior Analyst

Background Information - Ghana Multi Country Office (GMCO)

GMCO is responsible for managing strategic and operational risks associated with a subset of the regional portfolio of engagements, developing and delivering cost effective services contributing to partners’ sustainable results and achievements of UNOPS management results.

• Liaise and develop engagements, and deliver services responding to partner needs.
• Leverage advice and integrate delivery modalities of the three Delivery Practices and the Global Partner Service Office.
• Maintain appropriate arrangements and capacity for direct transactional support for delivery of the sub-regional portfolio.

Background Information - Sierra Leone

UNOPS has been established in Sierra Leone since 2000 and currently has over 70 personnel in country,operating out of 3 main locations with the its country office in Freetown.

During the last 15 years, UNOPS has delivered a variety of infrastructure projects nationwide, particularly in the fields of health and security infrastructure, and has procured a variety of vehicles, non-medical health related items and medical equipment.

Sierra Leone’s geographical location, land characteristics, and monsoon climate make the country susceptible to natural hazards including floods, landslides and coastal erosion. In 2015 and 2017, massive floods in Freetown led to more than 9,000 people being displaced, including over 1,200 dead and missing. Freetown continues to remain at high risk of natural disasters.  In 2017 UNOPS embarked on a partnership with the Freetown City Council (FCC) to carry out technical assessments and develop resilient infrastructure at key points in the city at risk of failure as a result of extreme climatic conditions.

In 2020 the Government of Japan pledged to contribute to this programme by boosting humanitarian assistance and increasing resilience, through rehabilitation works which reduce immediate risks to life and property in Freetown communities affected by flooding since June 2019. The project will also contribute to capacity building and income generation of low-income beneficiaries through implementation of the following project activities:

Activity1: Conduct assessment of resilient infrastructure and plan the implementation

Activity2: Rehabilitation and/or replacement of damaged infrastructures including footbridges, channels, culverts and tree planting (for slope stabilization and reducing rainwater runoff)

Activity3: Provide technical assistance for labor intensive works – using low-income community labor force for rehabilitation works

The Project Management Support Analyst reports to the Project Manager, who provides broad supervision and guidance. The role is responsible for supporting the Project Manager with the day-to-day operations, coordinating implementation, and liaison with the Government of Japan. S/he maintains a close eye on the  operational and financial performance, identifies probable issues that may need attention, supports in problem analysis and solution identification as necessary, coordinates resolution as per action-items assigned, drafting required correspondences to stakeholders concerned and preparation of mission reports.  The Project Management Support Analyst is required to work in a complex and challenging environment with limited resources.

Summary of functions:

1. Project Implementation

2. Financial and procurement management

3. Project monitoring and reporting

4. Stakeholder management, coordination and liaison

5. Knowledge management and innovation

• Advanced university degree (master or equivalent) with two  years of relevant experience

• University degree with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the education requirements outlined above.

• A relevant combination of academic credentials and/or industry certifications and qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the university education.

B. Work Experience

• A minimum of 2 years relevant and progressive professional experience, specifically in the field of Project Management and/or support with focus on planning, stakeholder management, monitoring, reporting is required.
• Demonstrated experience in preparing reports to donors and partners  is required.
• Experience in development projects involving capacity building, development coordination mechanisms, and/or operations management is desirable.
• Experience and demonstrated knowledge of UN rules and procedures in Procurement, Finance, and administrative rules and regulations will be an advantage.
• Experience in Infrastructure project delivery is considered an advantage.
• Previous experience working in Africa is an advantage

• Full working knowledge of Japanese is required
• Full working knowledge of English is essential. 
• Fluency in one or more additional official UNOPS languages is an advantage

• Contract type: International Individual Contract Agreement 
• Contract level: IICA 1/ ICS 9
• 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.
• 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
• Freetown is a Family Duty Station
• 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.
• 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.

Africa Region

AFR helps ensure that projects are executed to the highest standards, providing a shared knowledge base and ensuring that best practices and lessons learned are disseminated between projects across the entire region.