Portfolio Associate

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

UNOPS Thailand Operations Hub (THOH) is under the UNOPS Asia Regional Office and was established to better support, develop and oversee the UNOPS portfolio of projects in South East Asia and the Pacific.

Located in Bangkok, Thailand, the Hub comprises two main offices – THOH Thailand and THOH Indonesia and its current portfolio spans HR transactional services, financial management services, procurement services and project implementation services currently being provided to a wide range of other UN entities, INGOs and Governments/Government agencies in South East Asia and the Pacific.

​​​​​THOH is looking for a highly motivated, skilled and experienced individual for the role of Portfolio Associate. Reporting to the Project Manager, the Portfolio Associate works in close collaboration with both internal and external clients especially with UNOPS Bangkok Shared Service Center (BSSC), HR, Finance, Operations, and programme and projects personnel as well as with the focal points of the partner organizations to exchange information and ensure consistent service delivery. The incumbent is responsible for implementation of operational strategies, portfolio planning, administration and management, knowledge building and knowledge sharing. The Portfolio Associate may supervise one or more Operations Assistant as required and assigned.

Background Information – UNOPS

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. 

Background Information - THOH

UNOPS Thailand Operations Hub (THOH) is under the UNOPS Asia Regional Office and was established to better support, develop and oversee the UNOPS portfolio of projects in South East Asia and the Pacific.

Located in Bangkok, Thailand, the Hub comprises two main offices – THOH Thailand and THOH Indonesia and its current portfolio spans HR transactional services, financial management services, procurement services and project implementation services currently being provided to a wide range of other UN entities, INGOs and Governments/Government agencies in South East Asia and the Pacific.

​​​​​THOH is looking for a highly motivated, skilled and experienced individual for the role of a Portfolio Associate.  Reporting to the Project Manager, the Portfolio Associate works in close collaboration with both internal and external clients especially with UNOPS Global Shared Service Center (GSSC), HR, Finance, Operations, and programme and projects personnel as well as with the focal points of the partner organizations to exchange information and ensure consistent service delivery. The incumbent is responsible for implementation of operational strategies, portfolio planning, administration and management, knowledge building and knowledge sharing. The Portfolio Associate may supervise one or more Operations Assistant as required and assigned.

Functional Responsibilities

Implementation of operational strategies

• Full compliance with UNOPS rules and regulations of programme/project management, financial processes, financial records and reports and audit follow up, human resources management, procurement processes; implementation of the effective internal control framework.
• Contribution to the content of internal Standard Operating Procedures in programme/project management, in consultation with the direct supervisor and office management.

Portfolio planning, administration and management

• Manage of all aspects of project implementation and service delivery in full compliance with UNOPS rules and regulations; monitoring of progress for all projects/service agreements under his/her responsibility, anticipating operational and budgetary issues and taking pre-emptive action.
• Interact with colleagues, clients and partners and undertaking of missions, as may be required, to guide operational issues and UNOPS service provision. Focus on resolution of operational and process issues, referring complex issues to supervisor with clear recommendations for courses of action.
• Review of service requests, assessment of their complexity, level of effort and UNOPS service fee levels for compliance with the UNOPS self-financing principle, and feedback prior to acceptance of projects for execution and/or service requests.
• Assist in the preparation of service request documents and analysis of submissions for project and/or UNOPS service acceptance; coordination of inputs from different parties; preparation of business case, legal document, budget, associated documentation and presentation of requests to the The Integrated Practice Advice and Support (IPAS).
• Prepare required documents such as incurred expenditure reports, budget status reports, GL transactions, project stage approval, payment process to be authorized by the Project Manager and Hub Director to endorse for project-related activities and to advise/inform clients/partners and funding agencies with the expenditure and budget status
• Prepare project budgets and revisions and other related documents.
• Initiate for the procurement of goods or services by requesting quotations, examining cost estimates, evaluating cost effectiveness and compliance with provisions contained in the UNOPS Procurement Manual and related guidelines and actively follow-up from procurement to delivery.
• Initiate recruitment and contribute in preparation of TOR. Process all administrative requirements (e.g. funding source, clearances, and documentation) and request THOH HR focal point to undertake recruitment action; follow-up to completion.
• Verify for the accuracy of requests/transactions and completeness of documentation. Initiate action and certification for approval at the higher level as required.  Monitor expenditures regularly and inform supervisor and clients of budget status and any need to reallocate resources to meet objectives.
• Undertake administrative arrangements (e.g. funding, logistics) for training and study tours, evaluating relevance of event with project objectives and review of nominations.
• Prepare briefing materials as required for mission travel and/or discussion on project activities.

Knowledge building and knowledge sharing

• Maintain accurate data and information to enable effective monitoring and evaluation of project and service activities, and to institutionalize and disseminate knowledge.
• Coach and/or mentor junior colleagues on portfolio management and service administration and encourage feedback for improvement and standardization.
• Document and share knowledge and information with colleagues, clients and partners.
• Participate in the trainings relevant for the portfolio, projects and operations management.
• Contribute to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Perform any other duties as assigned from time to time.

Education:

• Secondary education required. 
• First university degree (bachelor’s or equivalent) in one or more of the following disciplines: international affairs; business administration; social sciences; economics; environmental studies; development studies or another field relevant to international development assistance preferred.

Experience:

• Minimum 6 years work experience in supporting project implementation as a member of a project/portfolio team, provision of administrative/logistical support to projects/programmes is required in combination with secondary school education. 
• At least 2 years of relevant experience required in combination with a first university degree.
• Experience with an international organization required.
• Experience in formulating, implementing and/or monitoring project budgets or similar budgets required.
• Experience in conducting or substantively supporting procurement processes an added advantage.
• Experience in implementing grant/fund management projects desired.
• Experience in facilitating official travel, events organization and providing logistical support to missions desirable.
• Experience in supporting HR processes such as contract administration, payroll preparation and recruitment and selection desirable.
• Experience in preparation of periodic and project expenditure reports required.
• A thorough knowledge of UN rules and procedures in budget management, contracting, purchasing and recruitment of project personnel is highly desirable.
• Experience working in ERP environment and handling of web-based management systems desired. Experience in using oneUNOPS a distinctive advantage.

Language:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.

Contract type: Local ICA

• 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.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• 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.