Project Management Support - Specialist

UNOPS has been providing hosting services since 2010. The number of hosted Initiatives has since grown steadily, reaching six Hosting Engagements to date, all managed out of UNOPS Geneva Office. UNOPS provides the full range of services within the Hosting Engagements: managing donor agreements and funds; establishing new partnerships including with the private sector; providing HR, procurement, administrative, IT, grant management, financial and support services.

• Hosting engagement development and planning
• Service delivery and quality assurance
• Partnership, networking and advocacy 
• Knowledge management and innovation

• Manage and guide the hosting engagement to ensure cost-effectiveness, efficiency and a quality standard of service provision; troubleshoot across service areas; monitor and appraise team performance.

• Implement strategic and operational plans to meet internal targets and partners' expectations, as well as support on relevant governance frameworks in accordance with the Operational Instruction for Hosting engagements. 

• Collaborate with partners including with UNOPS Geneva Office and HQ support units on the monitoring and review of service delivery and performance.

• Develop and execute project budget, establishing measurable long term/short term targets.

• Monitor progress of project against set targets, making timely and appropriate decisions to meet work plans and revenue objectives.

• Support the planning, recruitment and administration of personnel with the skills and competencies needed to ensure optimum performance for the partners

• Promote teamwork, collaboration and diversity by providing guidance to enable them to perform their duties responsibly, effectively and efficiently, in accordance with UNOPS rules, regulations, and best practices.

• Foster a positive work environment, respectful of both men and women, and ensure that the highest standards of conduct are observed.

• Work with partners in the design and development of specific projects and budgets including for multi-donor Trust Funds; apply project-costing tools to enhance engagement acceptance.

• Collaborate with partners and prepare and issue Terms of Reference or Statements of Works for HR recruitments, establishing grant agreements or contract for services and managing the processes for identifying suitable candidates, firms or institutions; evaluating proposals received; making recommendations for contract awards, negotiating with successful bidder(s).

• Manage with appropriate departments the preparation of contract documents and Letters of Agreement with institutions and UN agencies, including administering contracts and agreements and processing amendments.

• Monitor agreements, budgets and expenditure and prepare any periodic process and budget/financial reports required by partners.   

• Submit reports and critical issues to the Head of the Secretariat to drive further process implementation and business development planning.

• Support the CMI to build and strengthen partnerships through active networking, advocacy and effective communication of UNOPS’ competencies in project service delivery and management.

• Support the business development function by evaluating trends to identify and develop new business and partnership/customer opportunities. 

• Convey UNOPS’ position in discussions with existing and new partners/clients, including negotiating project implementation terms in line with UNOPS policies. 

• Develop and present information about UNOPS’ services, project concept notes and briefs promoting UNOPS capabilities in supporting partner needs.

• Plan, implement and organize strategic capacity building of personnel, partners and stakeholders.

• Lead the development of SOPs for the CMI Secretariat, as well as tools and platforms for data and content management to drive information and knowledge sharing with colleagues, clients and partners.

• Actively participate in Communities of Practice (CoP) and other knowledge sharing channels across UNOPS operations worldwide.

Master’s Degree or equivalent is desired.

A first level university degree (Bachelor or undergraduate degree) in combination with 2 years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner certification, and/or other Project Management certificates, is a strong asset.

Experience:
Minimum 5 years of relevant progressive experience in international development and programme management, including a proven track record in one or more of the following areas: project management; donor engagement/relations; grants management; and/or communications/advocacy work.

hands-on experience in operations is required, ideally with knowledge of UN rules, regulations, and procedures in the area of donor engagement, grants and/or procurement and finance.

Experience with Google-Suite, Web-based management systems and ERP (ideally Agresso based).

Languages:
Full working knowledge of English is essential.

Good knowledge of French is an asset.

Contract type: International Individual Contractor Agreement (IICA) Contract level: IICA-2 (ICS-10 - P3 equivalent)
Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

• Please note that the position is based in Marseille, France which is a family duty station. 
• Please note, this position is based in Marseille, France and therefore, the selected incumbent will be responsible to comply with local regulations, including but not limited to - Taxation and Social Security.
• 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
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• 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.