Portfolio Specialist

Based in Geneva, the Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECR) supports UNOPS offices throughout the region through: management, financial and programmatic oversight of global and country-specific portfolios, clusters and operations centres, including hosting services; fund and management advisory services; project implementation; procuring goods and services; and managing human resources.

In his/her role, the Portfolio Specialist will focus on internal portfolio planning and coordination, project management advice, support client relationship management and grant support process and guidance  with internal and external stakeholders.

Portfolio Planning and Coordination

• Coordinate and oversee the preparation of workplans for different components of the portfolio, including establishment of resource requirements and cost implications.
• Establish portfolio goals and targets by actively supporting coordination within the team work streams to achieve results;
• Create tools and establish working systems or guidance to facilitate improved collaboration between functions within the Portfolio Management Team (PMT);
• Initiate  and actively support learning activities for PMT members, as required, on methods, tools and practices that facilitate effective planning, coordination and implementation;
• Actively and regularly liaise with the Portfolio Finance Analyst and the Finance Officer to ensure work is aligned with budget plans in an effort to drive implementation results and support financial management of projects;
• Monitor implementation of the portfolio activities, including the identification of potential  gaps, proposing solutions for improved implementation support;
• Establish systems and planning tools to be used by the PMT to enhance collaboration, information sharing and oversight;
• Input and update accurate data and information to facilitate monitoring of the projects under the portfolio, contribute to Quarterly Assurance and provide this information to the Project Management Office (PMO) as required;
• Support the Senior Portfolio Manager in the development of written legal, policy and oversight documents related to governance, guidance, hosting terms, SOPs, risk management etc. to support strategic hosting approaches;
• Attend internal UNOPS meetings with the Senior Portfolio Manager and to represent him/her, when requested;
• Supervise, coach and mentor junior team personnel as required.
• In support of the Senior Portfolio Manager, support business development work for the Portfolio, as required.

Advice on Project Management, Implementation and Operation Models and best practices

• Provide advice to partners on UNOPS project management standards, implementation models/practices and operational with focus on planning;
• Act as direct client(s) focal point for project management providing oversight advice to ensure activities are carried out providing clear ‘value for money’ and be in compliance with UNOPS PM policies and best practices;
• Constantly acquire knowledge of all new developments in policies, guidelines and tools and ensure that appropriate interpretations and compliances exist in the portfolio. Act as direct focal point for new Project Management Manual (PMM)/oneUNOPS Projects. 
• Lead implementation debates and exercises related to planning, systematic management of data needs, results reporting and coordinate responses to requests for information from other internal units and external parties;  

Support Client Relationship Management and Capacity Development

• Manage client relations at authorized level to ensure constant responsiveness to client(s) needs and monitoring of portfolio implementation progress to proactively address all issues arising;
• Regularly liaise with Senior Managers and Deputy Director providing regular inter-face to the clients, directing client colleagues to the correct experts for advice in the UNOPS Geneva office or at HQ level as required;
• Initiate and lead organizational and client(s) capacity-building of high performance delivery of project objectives through formal training, coaching and mentoring of internal clients and partners;
• Actively understand the context of client(s) needs, conduct independent investigation to ensure all factors are understood before providing appropriate advice;
• As requested, support business development initiatives and other client(s) engagement activities beyond those in the Portfolio.

Grant Support Process and Guidance

• Review, prepare/draft and finalize a) award documents, and b) final agreements, i.e. grant support agreements, UN2UN agreements, Project Cooperation Agreements, and related  amendments, when needed;
• Prepare and support submission documents for higher level award review/approval, i.e. GVA Deputy Director, ECR Director or EAC;
• Review and support guidance with agreement budgets and revisions/amendment prior to final submission to Senior PM;
• Provide day-to-day support to new and already approved grantees, as required;
• Maintain working-level contacts with NGOs, governmental institutions, donors, other stakeholders, as required.
• Maintain clear monitoring and tracking update of all grants, along with planned payments for smooth implementation, constant delivery overview, expiration alerts and advise of revisions as necessary. 

• Five years of relevant experience in the area of project management support including but not limited to project management, advisory support, operations, and/or communications work is required. 
• Three years of experience in operations is required, including but not limited to the area of procurement and grant-management.
• Experience in operational and/or strategic planning is desirable.

• Contract type: International Contractor Agreement
• Contract level: International Specialist Level 2
• Contract duration: ‘Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

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