Project Specialist

The Government of the Republic of Serbia and European Investment Bank (EIB) signed three financial agreements worth 200 million Euros for the Project “Modernization, Development, Expansion and Extension of clinical centres in the cities of Belgrade, Novi Sad, Nis and Kragujevac” (Four Clinical Centres in Serbia Project). The Project started in 2007 but due to the size and complexity, as well as limited resources and capacities of the Project Implementation Unit (PIU), established within the Ministry of Health at the start of the Project, the implementation is well behind planned timelines.

In order to support Project’s ‘back on track’ and to effectively use above mentioned loans from EIB, the Government of Republic of Serbia has requested UNOPS to provide technical assistance support in project management and infrastructure project management to assist in the planning and implementation of the Four Clinical Centres in Serbia Project, financed by the Government of Republic of Serbia and European Investment Bank (EIB).

The technical assistance includes the capacity building of the Ministry of Health and its PIU to implement donor and international financial institutions (IFIs) funded projects based on project management principles in the future.

Under guidance and supervision of the Project Manager, the Project Specialist is responsible for provision of specialised knowledge and skills related to all technical consultancies aspects of the clinical centre projects. He/she will play an important role in design of the project activities and in ensuring that the outputs are the most adequate for achievement of the desired outcomes. The Project Specialist will regularly advise infrastructure, procurement and financial departments in ensuring synergy among different project components, conduct analysis of development trends that are relevant for the Project and participate in identification, development, and evaluation of projects. He/she will liaise with the key stakeholders and provide strategic advice to the Project beneficiaries i.e. clinical centre directors and their departments, Ministry of health etc. related to the project design, construction, commissioning and operations.

Specific duties and responsibilities will include:

• Establish and cultivate professional relations with the relevant counterparts in the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Construction, Transport, and Infrastructure if necessary and the Public Investment Management Office  
• Contribute to establishment and cultivation of professional relations with the Project stakeholders at the regional and local level,
• Provide technical advice to the national stakeholders and EIB in areas relevant for the project
• Contribute to presentation of technical aspects of the Project
• Work closely with the Project Manager to ensure the Project is implemented in accordance with the Description of Action, while respecting the relevant national legislation and UNOPS project management and quality standards
• Monitor, analyse, and report on policy changes, researches, assessments, and developments that are relevant for/or may affect the project
• Provide strong contribution to planning and design of the Project activities,
• Participate in evaluation of ITBs and other procurements 
• Provide technical inputs for the project reports
• Contribute to identification and assessment of risks, identification and implementation of mitigation measures in accordance with the UNOPS Project Management Manual and the Project’s risk management strategy
• Provide timely quality inputs needed for monitoring of Projects’ performance, outputs and benefit as envisaged by the Contract Document, or as requested by the Project Manager, and following the relevant Project Plan.
• Ensure respect of UNOPS and configuration management requirements
• Participate in the relevant UNOPS’ Communities of Practice and maintain relations with relevant UNOPS counterparts, primarily those working in the Partnership and Project Management Group
• Contribute to identification and sharing of the Project’s lessons learned and the best practices as per the reporting format.
• Perform other duties as may be reasonably required and in line with the incumbent’s scope of services above at the request of the Project Manager and as may be reasonably required.

Education

• Advanced University Degree preferably in development studies, economics, engineering or relevant field is required.
• University Degree (bachelor’s degree) with a combination of two additional years of relevant professional experience in development studies, economics, engineering or other relevant discipline, may be accepted in lieu of the advance university degree.

Work Experience

• Minimum five years of experience in provision of technical advisory related to project and contract management is required.
• In depth knowledge of Serbian development strategies and policies is an asset
• Direct experience in dealing with national institutions and donors is an asset
• Experience with the EU, IFIs or the UN, or another international organisation is an asset

Certification

• Project Management certification is an asset

• Serbian as native language
• Fluency in written and spoken English is required

Driving licence

• Driver’s license and ability to travel independently is required

This is a local position, it is therefore open to nationals of the Republic of Serbia and to individuals who have a valid residence/work permit. Contract type: Ongoing ICA
Contract level: Local ICA Specialist - 10
Contract duration: Open-ended subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and/or to satisfactory performance

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

• 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
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• 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.

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.

In Serbia, UNOPS has been active since 2000, became the Project Centre (RSPC) in 2012, and was reclassified, due a growing portfolio, to Operations Centre (RSOC) at the beginning of 2017. Since 2017, RSOC operations have expanded to North Macedonia, Georgia and Montenegro.

UNOPS has been a reliable partner primarily of the Government of Serbia, and later of the Governments of North Macedonia, Georgia and Montenegro, in providing support for demanding socio-economic reforms and facilitating accession to the European Union.

Currently, the RSOC is implementing 13 projects focussed on sustainable socio-economic development, creation of more favourable environment for employability, business and infrastructure growth, increased security, improved education, enhanced social inclusion either via enabling durable housing solutions or providing access to health, education and jobs for the most vulnerable population. All projects have good governance and gender equality as transversal themes. UNOPS projects are contextualised within the broader Sustainable Development Goals framework and objectives.