Project Management Support - Associate

The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) brings together diverse expertise to help partners deliver impact worldwide. With hubs in New York, Geneva, and Vienna, and expert teams operating globally, GPO leads multi-regional initiatives that advance sustainable development, climate action, and peacebuilding - including in some of the world’s most challenging environments. By leveraging our collective expertise and global networks, GPO supports UNOPS’ strategic priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals across more than 130 countries. We work closely with major global partners - including governments, international financial institutions, and UN agencies - to deliver a wide range of services, such as project management, fund management, hosting services, and HR support.

Not Required - part of GPO/NYPO

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is the operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects worldwide. UNOPS helps its partners build a better future by delivering services that enhance the efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development initiatives. As a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement, and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors, and UN organizations.

The Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports a diverse portfolio of peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development partners. It was established through the integration of the Grant Management Services (GMS), United Nations Technology Support Services (UNTSS), and the Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio (DSIP). The SDC delivers services to partner programmes that are designed, structured, and managed from a global perspective, primarily serving partners headquartered in New York. The SDC has a presence in approximately 125 countries.

UNOPS has signed a Global Agreement with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to provide operational support for the implementation of UNODC's mandate through the delivery of Human Resources services.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), an office under the UN Secretariat, established in 1997 to assist member states in their efforts to combat illicit drugs, crime, and terrorism, is one of the partners under UNTSS.

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) supports Member States in strengthening the rule of law, advancing good governance, and enhancing the effectiveness, accountability, and professionalism of criminal justice and security institutions.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is the global leader in the fight against drugs, organized crime, corruption and terrorism with widely recognized expertise and specialization on issues pertaining to international cooperation in criminal matters. The work of UNODC is guided by a broad range of international legally binding instruments and a set of United Nations standards and norms on crime prevention and criminal justice.

UNODC, as guardian of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and secretariat to the Conference of the States Parties to the Convention, has the mandate to provide support and technical assistance to States Parties to effectively implement the Convention, including on business integrity. The backbone for UNODC anti-corruption work is the normative framework provided by UNCAC.

UNODC possesses extensive experience and in-depth substantive expertise, delivering and adapting technical assistance to Member States upon request and working with a variety of national, regional and international stakeholders. Moreover, UNODC possesses substantial experience in developing technical tools, and disseminating and facilitating exchange of good practices in the fight against corruption.

As part of its anti-corruption mandate and through its Programme Office in Ukraine (POUKR), UNODC implements technical assistance support and projects aimed at strengthening anti-corruption frameworks, enhancing transparency in public investment management, and empowering national and local institutions to identify and address corruption risks.

The Project Management Support Associate provides substantive support to the planning, coordination and delivery of project activities. The role collaborates closely with project managers and local stakeholders to maintain effective coordination, facilitate operations and ensure activities are delivered efficiently in line with the project’s results framework and internal processes.

1. Planning and Preparation

• Support senior technical leads (e.g. lead engineers) or project managers in stakeholder engagement, training needs assessment, and development of capacity-building programmes.
• Contribute to budget and consumption projections preparation, procurement processes, and identification of risks with mitigation measures. 
• Assist in drafting project agreements, amendments, and budget revisions in consultation with project managers and relevant stakeholders.

2. Training and Implementation Support

• Coordinate logistics for training sessions, workshops, and meetings (venues, materials, accommodation, catering, assessments, certification).
• Support the development of training materials and the integration of thematic inputs into delivery.
• Liaise with service providers, retainers and project stakeholders to ensure effective project implementation.
• Facilitate internal and external communications to minimize operational disruption and maintain consistent project delivery.

3. Monitoring, Reporting and Compliance

• Develop and update monitoring tools, progress tracking sheets, and risk/ issue registers.
• Collect, prepare and archive documentation related to training and project activities.
• Contribute to drafting and quality assurance of reports, meeting minutes, and donor/partner submissions.
• Track project milestones and alert managers on deadlines and reporting requirements.
• Support financial reporting and monitor budget expenditures. 
• Ensure compliance with UNOPS policies, procedures and donor requirements.

4. Operational and Logistical Support

• Coordinate procurement, travel, transport and inventory management in support of project operations in Ukraine (Kyiv, Lviv, Chernivtsi, Uzhorod or alternative options) in compliance with safety and security processes and procedures.
• Support HR-related project requirements (e.g. drafting terms of reference for positions, monitoring deliverables, recruitment activities, payment requests, etc).
• Manage and safely storage project files, shared drives, and document management systems to ensure real-time tracking and accessibility.

5. Knowledge Building and Sharing

• Support the organization, facilitation and delivery of training and learning sessions on project management.
• Participate in knowledge-sharing initiatives and Communities of Practice (CoPs), contributing insights and lessons learned.
• Conduct research on project management-related topics and contribute to the drafting of reports, summaries and briefing notes.

Required

• Secondary school (or equivalent) with 6 years of relevant experience OR

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) with 2 years of relevant experience is required.

Desired

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

Required

• Relevant experience is work in project management, administration, operational and logistical support, or related areas. 
• Demonstrable proficiency in the use of collaboration and productivity tools (e.g. MS Office, G-Suite, etc) and web-based management systems is required.
• Demonstrated experience working independently, with minimal supervision and tight deadlines is required.   
• Previous experience working in Ukraine and ability to adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment.

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.