Associate Economic Development Officer – Movement and Trade

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale. 

Jerusalem Office – UNOPS Project Management and Infrastructure Centre of Excellence

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.

In recognition of its ability to affect and lead positive change, the Jerusalem Office  has been named the UNOPS Project Management and Infrastructure Centre of Excellence.

The Jerusalem Office is the first UN office to receive the Level 4 P3M3 Maturity Model certification in project management by APMG. This certification demonstrates the well-structured, standardized and defined project management processes and methodologies applied to projects, generating the best results desired by our partners.

This achievement is part of a broader agenda to increase the Office’s impact on development projects, by improving our services and adding value to the outcomes of our partners’ works. The office has benchmarked its capabilities against international industry level standards and through this has achieved several prestigious certifications, including ISO 9001 (Quality Management), ISO 18001 (Occupational Health and Safety), ISO 14001 (Environment Management) and Level 4 P3M3.

The mandate of the Office of the Quartet is to increase Palestinian economic and institutional development and empowerment, as a support towards achieving a two-state solution. In the event of a resumption of final status negotiations, the OQ would support Quartet members in their efforts to realize a successful outcome.  The following strategic principles will guide the OQ’s work (in the areas of energy, water, rule of law, movement and trade and information/communication technology as well as economic mapping), to support the parties and ensure alignment with the strategic objectives of the Quartet members and donors to the Office. The Office’s work is undertaken in keeping with the following broad guidelines:

1. Playing a catalytic role in working towards sectoral solutions in partnership with other actors, while taking on direct responsibility for specific elements of those solutions (when the office is well positioned and requested to do so). Particular attention is paid to policies and projects that have a multiplier effect – that is an outcome which extends beyond the narrow output of the policy or project; 
2. Focusing on implementation of agreements reached and announcements made by the parties, to ensure that they are translated as quickly as possible into results that have a positive impact in people’s lives; 
3. Bridging between the parties and providing creative solutions that enable progress on the ground; 
4. Maintaining the vertical depth of our work from the most granular, technical level to the strategic and political level while engaging the broad array of actors required to make progress, including the parties, members of the international community and others;
5. Ensuring complementarity of the OQ’s work with that of other key actors, including those which also play a convening role, including UNSCO, the Netherlands, Norway, the World Bank and the Local Aid Coordination Secretariat more broadly;
6. Continuing support to the Quartet Envoys, including their work to enable greater Palestinian sovereignty over its own affairs and to realize a final status agreement.

The OQ is seeking to recruit an Economic Development Associate (EDA) to contribute to the implementation of OQ’s development agenda. The EDA will support the work of the OQ Movement and Trade team.

Supporting the OQ Movement and Trade team, the EDA will contribute to the following areas:

1. Project Management and Delivery;
   1. Project Communication and Outreach;
   2. Research, Analysis, and Writing;
   3. Presentation and Communication Support;
   4. Event Organization.

The work is of a highly confidential nature and the contractor must maintain the highest standards of confidentiality.

Deliverables:

The contractor will deliver his/her contributions to the following areas (under the overall leadership and in full coordination with the Movement and Trade Team Leader/Advisor):

Project Management and Delivery

1. Lead or support the delivery of one or more work streams of an OQ priority project including proposing strategy and direction for the work stream.
2. Adapt project strategy and direction appropriately in response to changing information.
3. Propose and agree on work stream outputs with Team Leader or lead Advisor and deliver work stream outputs on time and within tolerances according to the agreed strategy.
4. Prepare planning and strategy documents for the priority project and/or work streams as necessary.

Project Communication and Outreach

1. Meet with internal and external project stakeholders regularly, to discuss project progress and agree and coordinate outputs or areas of cooperation, in line with the agreed project strategy.
2. Prepare a range of written communication documents (such as reports, letters, emails and presentations) for internal and external project stakeholders as needed.
3. Assist with the organization of meetings, workshops and conferences relating to the project.

Research, Analysis, and Writing:

1. Conduct original research and analysis related to priority projects, or other OQ strategic objectives, in response to tasking from Advisors and management. Support Advisors in conducting original and synthesized research, project or survey design, where necessary.
2. Prepare literature reviews and other written inputs; assist in background research and drafting of new research projects; assist in the identification of field-wide best practices and translate those into case studies.
3. Write drafts of (research) reports, papers, briefs, and memos that inform discussions on issues relevant to the OQ’s strategic objectives, as required; provide detailed comments and feedback; assist in editing papers, reports, briefs and memos, and preparing them for publication.

Presentation and Communication Support:

1. Assist OQ Advisors and Management in developing a variety of presentations both in response to project needs and other OQ priorities; work closely with Advisors to generate document structure, text and graphics, conduct research and analysis, and pull together a compelling set of materials.
2. Draft and assemble materials for internal and external meetings, as required.
3. Draft articles or updates for public briefing notes, OQ website, and social media, as required.
4. Update and maintain relevant pages on OQ’s website, under supervision, as required.
5. Support preparation of other outreach activities, as required.

Event Organization: Assist with the organization of meetings, workshops and conferences.

Others: Provide cross-cutting assistance with other OQ priorities, as required.

a) Education

-       Advanced degree (MA or PhD) in economics, international relations, development management or other development areas is preferred. Bachelor’s degree as a minimum.

b. Work Experience

-       2 years of relevant work experience required, either in a private sector or non-profit environment.

-       Experience in Palestinian economic development and/or Palestinian trade is an asset.

c. Languages

-       Excellent command of written and spoken English.

-       Knowledge of Arabic and/or Hebrew is an asset

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.