Project Assistant (Multiple Openings)
Ulan Bator
- Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
- Location: Ulan Bator
- Grade: Administrative support - NPSA-4, National Personnel Services Agreement
-
Occupational Groups:
- Administrative support
- Project and Programme Management
- Closing Date: 2025-12-01
1. Office/Unit Description
UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. Learn more at undp.org
UNDP has been a long-term development partner of Mongolia for over 30 years, supporting the country’s aspirations for sustainable, inclusive, and resilient development. Within the Upper Middle-Income Country context, UNDP Mongolia provides technical assistance, policy advice, and capacity development support to the Government of Mongolia, in partnership with development partners, financial institutions, the private sector, and civil society, to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The current Country Programme Document (2023–2027) is aligned with Vision 2050 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). It seeks to catalyze transformative change by empowering people to make sustainable and equitable choices, particularly among marginalized and vulnerable groups.
The programme is structured around three interlinked pillars:
1. Diversified, inclusive, and green economic transition;
2. Risk-informed climate adaptation and sustainable management of natural ecosystems; and
3. Women’s empowerment, inclusive and accountable governance, and progress towards SDG attainment.
To support the implementation of projects under these three programme priority areas, the Country Office is seeking qualified project support personnel.
2. Scope of Work
Support the project team to ensure effective project administration and implementation.
- Provide general administrative and logistical support for project activities, including events, trainings, and study visits.
- Identify and recommend qualified suppliers and assist with budget estimates for events.
- Manage participant lists, invitations, and travel/per diem arrangements for training participants.
- Support on-site training logistics (registration, materials, documentation) and compile post-event reports.
- Arrange travel and field missions, collect supporting documents, and ensure proper filing and archiving.
- Assist in procurement and payment processes in line with UNDP procedures.
- Maintain the inventory of promotional items and verify completeness of project documentation.
Provide support to the effective monitoring, evaluation, and reporting on progress of project
- Support implementation of the project’s Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework and data collection.
- Compile and analyze information to track progress against project indicators and targets.
- Organize field visits, progress meetings, and contribute to reporting and documentation.
- Support risk monitoring and maintain updated project risk logs.
- Assist in monitoring budgets and expenditures for accuracy and transparency.
- Contribute to preparation of periodic progress and financial reports
Support knowledge building and knowledge sharing relevant to the assigned project.
- Conduct desk research, data collection, and analysis to support project implementation and reporting.
- Assist in organizing consultations, workshops, and knowledge-sharing events.
- Support preparation of reports, summaries, and presentations related to project outcomes.
- Contribute to data population on relevant project platforms and maintain records.
- Provide translation and interpretation support between English and Mongolian when required.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Project and the Organization.
4. Institutional Arrangement
The Project Assistant works under the direct supervision of the National Project Coordinator/Manager, with overall guidance from the Programme Analyst, and in close collaboration with the Admin and Finance Associate. The incumbent will coordinate closely with the Project Team, Operations Unit, and other relevant staff within the UNDP Country Office to ensure the effective implementation, monitoring, and reporting of project activities.
This role involves maintaining regular communication across units, providing administrative and logistical support, and contributing to a collaborative and inclusive working environment. The Project Assistant is expected to uphold UNDP’s core values of integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity, while ensuring confidentiality, accountability, and high standards of performance in all aspects of their work.
5. 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
Working with Evidence and Data
- Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting decision-making
Digital Awareness and Literacy
- Ability and inclination to rapidly adopt new technologies, either through skillfully grasping their usage or through understanding their impact and empowering others to use them as needed. Knowledge of the usage of digital technologies and emerging trends.
Customer Satisfaction/Client Management
- Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers' needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients’ immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns.
Communication
- Communicate in a clear, concise, and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media, and other appropriate channels
Monitoring and evaluation
- Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively; Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results.
- Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming.
- Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools. Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.
Budget management
- Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets.
Event Management
- Support projects with event management including venue identification, accommodation, logistics, catering, transportation, and cash disbursements, etc.
Education
- Secondary education is required.
- University Degree (bachelor´s degree) in Business Administration, Public Administration, or equivalent field will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.
Experience
- Minimum of 4 years (with secondary education) or 1 year (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible administrative or project experience is required.
Required skills
- Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and web-based management systems, and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages.
Desired skills
- Prior experience in logistics coordination, procurement, travel management, or event organization.
- Prior experience working with UNDP, other UN agencies, or international development organizations in project or programme support roles.
- Exposure to project monitoring and evaluation (M&E) processes, data collection, or report preparation.
- Familiarity with the relevant thematic areas.
Required Language(s)
- Fluency in English and Mongolian is required.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.