Project Analyst , NPSA-9, 90% part-time

Belgrade

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
Location: Belgrade
Grade: Junior level - NPSA-9, National Personnel Services Agreement
Occupational Groups:
- Project and Programme Management
Closing Date: Closed

Background

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

The European Union revised the enlargement methodology and adopted the enhanced one in 2020. Enhancing methodology was developed to strengthen the EU accession process. It aims to make the enlargement process more credible, predictable, dynamic and subject to stronger political steering. Methodology should build trust among stakeholders, make the accession process more transparent, efficient and prepare Western Balkan countries to fulfill all preconditions for membership. The credibility of the process is meant to be reinforced through an even stronger focus on the fundamental reforms and a more central role in the EU integration process. Another notable change in the methodology is the merit-based accession process which should be implemented through positive and negative conditionality. Incentives for candidates who successfully undertake the reform process would be: accelerated integration and “phasing in” to individual EU policies, the EU market and EU programmes or increased funding and investments, including performance-based access to Instrument for Pre-accession support. A conditional slot for significant new enlargement is set for 2030 and by that time the EU will perform internal institutional, legal and budget reforms to be ready for the accession of new members.

Further to the new methodology, in 2023 the EU announced a new Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, aiming to accelerate the countries’ socio-economic convergence to the EU. The plan is underpinned by a financial instrument and Serbia is finalizing the preparation of the Reform Agenda document, which sets the path for accelerating fundamental reforms.

UNDP in Serbia is seeking a qualified and experienced candidate to support the Ministry of European Integration in creating effective communication mechanisms related to the Reform Agenda and Growth Plan.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Analyst is responsible for day-to-day management and decision-making for the Project. The Project Analyst's primary responsibility is to ensure that the project produces the results specified in the project document, to the required standard of quality and within the specified constraints of time and cost.

Specific responsibilities will include implementation of project activities with the aim of achieving the following project results:

Timely implement project activities and overseeing of project delivery,
Prepare the Project Work Plan and project reports (Progress reports including the Final report and their presentation to the National Project Director/Project Board for review/approval).
Monitor project progress to ensure that it is in accordance with the timetable set out in the project document.
Maintain good cooperation and coordination between national counterparts, partners, and other relevant stakeholders.
Maintain regular contacts with beneficiaries to ensure that their feedback has been addressed in delivering project outputs.
Identify, collect, and analyze, relevant information and data.
Capture good practices and lessons learnt, particularly related to areas of capacity development and national development.
Support activities related to assessing capacities and development needs of local government organizations and partners, in close collaboration with national counterparts at both central and local level.
Prepare briefs, talking points and project briefs for management.
Draft terms of reference for goods and services.
Coordinate meetings, training sessions, conferences, and promotional activities.
Build network of contacts to acquire and share relevant knowledge and information.
Manage the project team.
Facilitate teams’ learning and knowledge sharing.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

Project Analyst will work under the guidance and direct supervision of the Senior Program Officer.

Competencies

Core
Achieve Results:	LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
Think Innovatively:	LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
Learn Continuously:	LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
Adapt with Agility:	LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
Act with Determination:	LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
Engage and Partner:	LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion:	LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Thematic Area	Name	Definition
Business Direction and Strategy	Effective Decision Making	Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources
Business Management	Monitoring	Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results
Digital & Innovation	Tech literacy	Ability to apply new digital tools or adapting their original use to create new insights, fresh perspectives or develop solutions. Understand the potential as well as the limitations of certain technological developments; being able to identify how technology can add value when it's used as a ""means to an end"".
Digital & Innovation	Systems thinking & transformation	Understand that complex problems need a non-reductionistic, holistic approach. Ability to explore challenges from multiple perspectives by zooming in and out, with a focus on relationships and flows rather than individual elements; understand how certain dynamics and conditions are driving and influencing an issue. Ability to develop a collective understanding by a mapping systems and their dynamics (e.g. flows or resources, information; power relations); is able to handle ambiguity and can help others navigate it. Being able to identify intervention points to leverage change and system transformation by setting out a coherent collection of multiple interventions to probe the system for desirable effects. Understand that change is non-linear and unpredictable; being comfortable and able to work with emergence.
Business Direction and Strategy	System Thinking	Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master´s degree or equicalent) in law, social sciences, political science, public or business administration, economics or related is required, or
A first-level university degree (Bachelor`s degree) in law, social sciences, political science, public or business administration, economics or related, in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master`s degree

Experience:

Minimum 2 years (with Master´s degree) or 4 years (with Bachelor´s degree) of relevant professional experience in a management position, preferably in international/multilateral development context

Required skills:

Ability to organize and motivate team, deliver when working under pressure and within changing circumstances.
Excellent writing/reporting and presentation skills.
Excellent interpersonal, networking and team building skills.
Good application of Results-Based Management.
Good organizational and time management skills.
Strong oral and written communication skills.
Experience in managing people and complex projects/processes that included extensive communication, coordination, and facilitation requirements is an asset.
Experience in partnership building at national, regional, and local level is an asset.
Excellent understanding of Serbia's socio-economic situation.
Understanding of current policies and legislation on Research and Innovation.
Understanding of CEB project execution mechanisms and relations between banks and project PIU.
Familiarity with the EU accession process

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

The following specific experiences will be considered as an asset experience in managing projects in the field of hard infrastructure, experience in relations with IFIs.
Knowledge in the use of computers and office software packages and handling of web-based management systems.

Required Language(s)

Fluency in Serbian and English is required.

The online application form must be fully completed. Applicants are required to carefully complete their online application form and reflect all of their work experience history in the application.

Only attaching a CV is not sufficient for applicants to be considered for positions. All applicants have to complete the Experience, Education, Language, and Nationality & Permanent Residence fields fully.

Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials.

Disclaimer

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Non-discrimination

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

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This vacancy is now closed.