Project Management Support - Senior Officer

The UNOPS Middle East Region (MR) provides strategic leadership, performance oversight, and support to UNOPS operations across Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and the State of Palestine. MR is responsible for positioning UNOPS as a key development partner in the region through high-level engagement with regional bodies, UN coordination mechanisms, development banks, donors, and intergovernmental organisations. By fostering strategic partnerships and promoting operational excellence, the region supports country teams in delivering sustainable solutions to complex development, peace, and humanitarian challenges

Since the opening of the Jerusalem Office in 2006, UNOPS has significantly strengthened its operations in Palestine. Our expert knowledge, skills and management systems contribute to the sustainable development of public infrastructure in Gaza and the West Bank, including Area C and East Jerusalem.

UNOPS supports both humanitarian response and early recovery in Gaza. Currently, UNOPS support in Gaza focuses on key humanitarian enablers, including on access, via the Security Council-mandated UN 2720 Mechanism and the Access Support Unit (ASU), humanitarian fuel and energy, and mine action. Operations are envisaged to continue in the coming period with a focus in line with the UNOPS mandate: (i) infrastructure construction and rehabilitation, (ii) procurement and (iii) project management.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Head of Programme, the Project Manager manages the “Programme for Emergency Recovery in Palestine” project, funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). This project focuses on the urgent procurement of essential water, health, and solid waste management and energy items for Gaza and the West Bank. The  Programme Support Officer is responsible for providing operational and administrative support to the Project Manager and, adhering to established tolerances for time, cost, quality, scope, risk, and benefits

The Project Management Support Senior Officer supports the effective implementation, coordination and monitoring of project activities to ensure successful delivery of results within scope, time, cost and quality parameters. The role provides analytical and operational support in project planning, execution and reporting; contributes to risk and performance management; and ensures timely communication with partners and stakeholders. Through proactive client focus and problem-solving, the Senior Officer helps drive efficient project delivery and achievement of results in line with organizational and donor/ client expectations

1. Project Delivery and Performance

• Support the Project Manager in maintaining and updating project implementation plans and relevant sub-plans such as the Procurement Plan.

• Liaise with the UNOPS support service team and other technical team for project-related administrative and operational matters such as procurement of goods and services, contract management and logistics assets management. 

• Support the Project Manager to liaise with the JICA and other stakeholders. 

• Support contract management duties including supplier performance evaluation.

• Register potential risks and issues and support to develop mitigating measures to senior management/ Project Board.

2. Procedures 

• Support the preparation of the reporting obligations defined in the Legal Agreement(s) and in the Implementation Plan.

• Monitor the progress of any interaction and communication between UNOPS and stakeholders and across stakeholders as well as internal communication with technical teams.

• Assist in developing the requirements definitions for procurement processes and evaluating bidding submissions received.

• Ensure maintenance of the project files and lessons learned are recorded.

• Ensure the development and implementation of project financial management guidelines and control mechanisms, in conformity with UNOPS rules and regulations. 

• Support budgets, cash flow and obligations to ensure that deliverables are met and payments to contractors and personnel are received on time.

• Understand and manage UNOPS overheads, allocable charges, and related corporate charges as they apply to the project.

• Manage expenditures against the budget (based on accurate financial reports).

• Comply with all organizational policies and specifically the Project Management Manual.

3. Monitoring and reporting

• Prepare and issue regular project narrative and financial reports to JICA in accordance with Partner and UNOPS requirements for reporting.

• Maintain diaries and progress reports as required by the organization’s standard procedures.

4. Stakeholder engagement

• Provide support in coordinating internal project communications. Monitor the effectiveness of project communications.

• Provide support in coordinating stakeholder engagement and communication, ensuring effective timing and interdependency management of communications. 

5. Quality assurance

• Work with internal stakeholders to ensure projects comply with audit requirements.

• Work with the procurement team to ensure an effective interface with suppliers' quality systems.

• Coordinate quality reviews of project documents and deliverables.

• Provide quality control for management outputs (project documents, reports, etc.).

6. Knowledge management and innovation

• Encourage routine and effective capacity-building activities to be conducted in order to build the long-term and sustainable capacity of staff.

• Contribute to the oversight of lessons learned procedures, ensuring that lessons learnt are shared in a timely and appropriate manner. 

• Research and logging of lessons learned throughout the project lifespan.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 4 years of relevant experience OR

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 2 years of relevant experience is required.

Desired

• A globally recognized professional certificate or membership in Project Management is desired

Required

• Relevant experience  in project management or related areas.

• Experience in procurement-related projects is required.

• Demonstrable proficiency in the use of collaboration and productivity tools (e.g. MS Office, G-Suite, etc) and web-based management systems is required

Desired

• Experience in the Middle East region and/or conflict-affected countries is desired. 

• Experience in managing JICA-funded projects is desired. 

• Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in a developing country is desired.

• Experience in development or humanitarian contexts is desired

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
  

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. 
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.