Project Management Support - Senior Associate

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

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.

The Project Management Support Senior Associate provides technical, administrative and logistical support to ensure the efficient and effective delivery of project operations. The incumbent contributes to the coordination and execution of day-to-day project management processes, ensuring compliance with UNOPS standards and procedures. The role is client-focused and results-oriented in supporting timely project implementation.

Project Monitoring and Reporting

• Support the supervisor in monitoring project implementation and financial performance to ensure compliance with UNOPS rules, regulations and reporting standards.
• Prepare and maintain financial disbursement reports and progress updates in coordination with Finance and relevant units.
• Maintain comprehensive project documentation, including financial records, audit files and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) entries (oneUNOPS), ensuring accuracy and completeness.
• Track project budgets, cash flow and expenditures. Identify variances, propose budget revisions, and initiate corrective actions when necessary.
• Record project data and updates in relevant logs and registers, ensuring information accuracy for reporting and audits.
• Take minutes of meetings, track action points, and assist in compiling periodic project performance reports and completion reports.

Project Implementation and Delivery Support

• Assist in day-to-day project execution, ensuring adherence to UNOPS project management methodologies, financial regulations and quality standards.
• Support the preparation, amendment, and monitoring of project work plans, agreements and budget revisions.
• Facilitate communication between partners, service providers and internal teams to ensure the timely delivery of project activities.
• Track project milestones, risks and issues, maintaining updated records and assisting with mitigation planning.
• Support preparation and review of contractors’ invoices, verification of supporting documents, and coordination of deliverables.
• Contribute to identifying operational or administrative bottlenecks and propose practical solutions to enhance project efficiency.

Operational and Administrative Support

• Provide administrative assistance in project operations, including HR coordination, procurement planning and logistical arrangements.
• Support the preparation of Terms of Reference (ToRs), contracts and purchase orders. Review supporting documentation before submission for approval.
• Coordinate and organize workshops, trainings, meetings and missions, ensuring timely logistical, financial and travel arrangements.
• Liaise with Finance, HR and Procurement units to process payments, monitor commitments, and ensure compliance with internal control systems. 
• Maintain project correspondence, records and filing systems in accordance with UNOPS document management policies.
• Support onboarding, induction, and contract management processes for project personnel and consultants.

Financial and Procurement Management

• Assist in the preparation of project budgets, forecasts, and expenditure reports, ensuring accuracy and timely submission.
• Monitor financial transactions, disbursements, and vendor payments in alignment with UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations.
• Review and reconcile project accounts, ensuring that expenditures align with approved budgets and work plans.
• Coordinate procurement processes, including requisition preparation, evaluation support, and tracking of contracts and purchase orders.
• Facilitate communication with vendors, manage documentation for procurement and financial activities, and ensure timely service delivery.
• Support project audits by maintaining complete financial documentation and assisting in implementing audit recommendations.

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 7 years of relevant experience OR Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 3 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 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 are required.

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.