Knowledge Management Intern

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.

UNOPS strategic focus places increased emphasis on national capacity development and sustainable approaches to project management, procurement and infrastructure services.  A key objective is to be recognized as an organization that delivers world-class infrastructure and project management, which is both economically and socially sustainable, even in the most challenging environments. To achieve this goal, UNOPS has established the Infrastructure and Project Management Group (IPMG).

Within UNOPS, IPMG’s objectives are to serve the organization’s personnel and partners by broadening their infrastructure and project management capabilities, while disseminating best-practices in both of these areas. Through this work, the group helps facilitate the successful delivery of programmes and projects around the world.

Through its 2018-2021 Strategic Plan adopted in September 2017, UNOPS has made Knowledge Management one of its key priorities and displays a clear ambition to focus knowledge management on efforts to harness expertise for integrated service offerings and specialized solutions, based on realized or anticipated demand towards specific goals and operational contexts. As such, UNOPS Strategic Plan specifies that the baseline for the UNOPS knowledge management strategy will be that past and future demand will help focus investments for reuse and innovation of expertise, especially with regards to institutional capabilities.

To achieve organization-wide knowledge management, UNOPS has launched a corporate initiative during the last quarter of 2017, to be pursued through 2018 and 2019. It especially poses the needs for the knowledge management activities to be integrated into UNOPS existing structures and workplans so that it becomes inherent in UNOPS core business.

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Knowledge Management Specialist, the successful candidate will be responsible for supporting a variety of tasks and work packages as a part of her/his internship period. We are seeking qualified applicants who have strong communication and planning skills and capacity in digital media. The successful candidate must be client/service-oriented as well as structured, organized and detail-oriented. In addition, the incumbent is expected to demonstrate willingness and ability to learn all online tools used by UNOPS, provide guidance and assistance as required to UNOPS personnel and overall continually improve required technical skills under the guidance of the KM Specialist. The incumbent’s support will be focused on, but not limited to, knowledge management and communication activities.

At the end of this internship, the successful candidate will have gained in:

●     Exposure to UNOPS knowledge management corporate standards and activities (ultimately leading to Knowledge Management Specialist or Advisor career path);

●     Specific experience in communications at the corporate level, another core function within UNOPS (ultimately leading to Communications Specialist or Advisor career path);

●     Exposure to an international work environment;

●     Exposure to headquarters.

The internship is expected to start mid-February 2019 for a duration of 6 months. This period can be renewed once for another 6 months, subject to performance and availability of funds.

Overall support to a variety of tasks and work packages in the area of support services, more specifically communications, in alignment with the IPMG annual work plan:

I.  Knowledge Management support

●     Support the implementation of the Communities of Practice (COPs) in UNOPS by reporting on community analytics and supporting knowledge sharing initiatives within the COPs.

●     Support the KM specialist in the role of Knowledge Management Focal Point for Community Leaders, Champions and Practitioners.

●     Assist the KM Specialist in monitoring and evaluation of the Knowledge Management strategy objectives.

●     Support the KM specialist by scheduling and attending Knowledge Management meetings, including taking meetings and following up an action points.

●     Provide support to translation exercises, including review of translation as requested;

●     Support the setup of web conferencing and other online collaborative workspaces as requested.

●     Assist in maintaining the Knowledge Management site on the intranet, including relevant material and documents on the KM intranet.

II.   Support to communications-related initiatives related to Knowledge Management

●     Support  the Knowledge Management strategy through the communication and dissemination of KM products developed by the KM Team.

●     Support the Knowledge Management initiative by responding to emails and requests sent to the Knowledge Management shared mailbox.

●     Provide support to UNOPS Town Halls and other corporate initiatives involving KM products and initiatives.

Education

Completion of secondary school or equivalent is required.

To be eligible for this particular internship with UNOPS, the candidate must be studying towards a university degree in communications, business management, or other relevant discipline, or have graduated with a relevant university degree in the past three years.

Experience

While no prior work experience is required, some experience in digital media, communications, web content management, ideally within the development sector, is highly desirable.

Additional requirements

●     Excellent communications skills, especially English writing skills and copy editing, is required;

●     Experience with online communications and digital media is required;

●     Strong technical skills and experience working with Microsoft Office, Google suite or similar software is required;

●     Experience with desktop publishing software (e.g. Adobe Creative Suite) is an asset.

●     Experience working with content management systems (e.g. SharePoint), including metadata management, site architecture, developing workflows, and Google analytics is an asset.

Language

Fluency and proficiency in English is required. Proficiency in French or Spanish is required, and proficiency in other languages such as in Arabic is an asset, but not required.

• 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.