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Senior Project Analyst

Copenhagen

  • Organization: UNOPS - United Nations Office for Project Services
  • Location: Copenhagen
  • Grade: Junior level - IICA-1, International Individual Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Programme Management
    • Project and Programme Management
  • Closing Date: Closed

Background Information - UNOPS

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.


Background information - Implementation Practices and Standards (IPS)

Within UNOPS, Implementation Practices and Standards (IPS) is responsible for the UNOPS delivery practices. IPS provides thought leadership, standards and oversight as support to the successful delivery of programmes and projects within UNOPS service lines (infrastructure, procurement, project management, human resources and financial management services). 

IPS comprises the Infrastructure and Project Management Group and the Procurement Group which aims to reduce organizational risks, improve project performance, and promote excellence across UNOPS projects through the Standards Management Framework; and provides organisational oversight on the application of standards. These Groups also support the positioning of UNOPS in the UN system and development sector in Infrastructure, Project Management and Procurement. 

In addition, the Portfolio Support unit aims at supporting the building up and management of the organisational readiness of UNOPS and therefore supports the implementation of the UNOPS global portfolio. Last, the IPS is hosting the corporate Knowledge Management initiative.

Background information - IPMG 

UNOPS strategic focus places emphasis on 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 in the most challenging environments. To achieve this goal, UNOPS has established the Infrastructure and Project Management Group (IPMG). 

Within UNOPS, it is IPMG’s objective 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.

To achieve its objectives, IPMG has established three interrelated and interdependent work teams, namely, Strategic Initiatives, Standards, and Engagement Assurance. IPMG is managed overall by the Director of IPMG and supported by a Programme Support Unit.

In 2018, IPMG established the Organizational Portfolio Management Office (OPMO) to assist the organization identity and recommend solutions to the root cause of portfolio, programme and project level risks and issues. The OPMO operates under the IPMG Engagement Assurance Team unit and works closely with the UNOPS HQ groups and regions in providing analysis and recommendations to enhance organizational risk management at the engagement, country, regional and organization levels.

In addition, UNOPS’ Executive Director has established the Engagement Acceptance Committee (EAC), which is managed by a Secretariat headed by the IPS Director. The main purpose of the EAC is to evaluate high risk engagements that may have organization-wide consequences. The Senior Project Analyst will be responsible for supporting the EAC Secretariat functions.

Functional Responsibilities

Reporting to the Infrastructure and Project Management (IPM) Senior Manager, the Senior Project Analyst is expected to play a significant role in achieving OPMO and IPMG objectives. A primary focus of the incumbent will be qualitative and quantitative data analysis and reporting. Specifically, the Senior Project Analyst will perform the following duties and responsibilities: 

  • Conduct system based data analysis at the corporate, regional and operational level highlighting key risks, issues, best practice and lessons learned; 

  • Identify and support the application of system based data analysis approaches to enable oversight and reporting on project management indicators, in alignment with IPMG oversight and reporting activities;

  • Interpret data sets by paying particular attention to trends and patterns that are valuable for diagnostic analytics efforts; 

  • Support the development of reports highlighting findings and recommendations to ensure appropriate and effective controls are in place, in line with UNOPS corporate project management standards and policies; 

  • Compile datasets and create dashboards, graphs and visualisations; 

  • In consultation with IPM Senior Manager, collaborate with IPMG Standards Unit and Information Technology Group (ITG) to identify opportunities for process and system improvements; 

  • Track improvement recommendations and suggest changes where necessary; 

  • Support continuous improvement of project management practices and processes;

  • Support the preparation of OPMO quarterly and annual reports; 

  • Support Implementation Practices and Standards (IPS) in its responsibilities as the Secretariat of the Engagement Acceptance Committee (EAC) and Quarterly Assurance (QA) processes;

  • Provide data analysis and collection on specific topics upon request by supervisor;

  • Maintain a record on the organizational wide Project Management Office (PMO) resources;

  • Support the existing PMOs with coordination and knowledge sharing activities 

  • Contribute to IPS knowledge sharing initiatives;

  • Maintain relevant OPMO electronic records and files;

  • Own various tasks as outlined and assigned in the OPMO annual work plan and other related tasks as assigned, ensuring timely delivery of activities and report on progress against the work plan. 


Monitoring and Progress Controls

(Clear description of measurable outputs, milestones, key performance indicators and/or reporting requirements which will enable performance monitoring)

  • Setting standards, personal and development objectives in Performance Evaluation Review;

  • Ongoing assessment of task completion, meeting quality expectations of the work plan;

  • Successful delivery of outputs, analysis, reports and dashboards; 

  • Successfully meeting deadlines.

Competencies

Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.
Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.
Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).
Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.
Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.
Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.
Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

a. Education 

  • An Advanced University degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Project Management, International Relations/Development, Data Science, Business Administration, Risk Management or other relevant discipline is required;

  • A Bachelor’s Degree with two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of a Master’s degree (total 4 years of experience).


b. Work Experience 

  • 2 years of experience in project management or portfolio management or data analytics or risk management or other relevant field is required in combination with a Master’s Degree; 4 years of experience in project management or portfolio management or data analytics or risk management or other relevant field is required in combination  with a Bachelor’s Degree;

  • Advanced knowledge of and experience using the Google Cloud Platform (GCP) (including Big Query) is desirable;

  • Strong data communication and visualization skills, including with Google Data Studio is desirable;

  • Previous working experience in developing countries in an international environment is desirable;

  • Experience with project management in UNOPS context and UNOPS systems is considered an asset;

  • PRINCE2® Foundation certificate is considered an asset;

  • PRINCE2® Practitioner certificate is considered an asset.

c. Languages 

  • Fluency in English is required;

  • Fluency in French and/or Spanish is highly desirable. 

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: ICA Contract level: IICA 1
Contract duration: Ongoing ICA – ‘Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and 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 


Additional Considerations

  • 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.

    IPS offers a unique work environment in UNOPS headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark, located in the UN City building, one of Copenhagen’s landmarks. UNOPS HQ offers a safe, family-friendly environment with multiple opportunities for networking and an active lifestyle in a city known for its excellent urban design and planning.
    The IPS team is a diverse team in terms of age, nationalities and family situations. The team is inclusive and values social and athletic activities like team breakfast, Friday evening networking or sports such as sailing, climbing, running and squash. IPS is very dynamic and welcomes agility, autonomy and self-drive. The work of IPS is oriented towards exciting opportunities which have a corporate, global impact and is in touch with the whole of UNOPS. UNOPS has a hosting agreement with the Government of Denmark under which both national and international candidates are eligible for HQ-based positions. UNOPS officials are exempt from Danish taxes on UN incomes. EU citizens in particular may opt to be registered with the Danish State Administration as an EU migrant worker, and keep the rights associated with that status, or register through UNOPS with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. EU citizens may apply for the free public Danish health insurance or special health card depending on their choice of registration. Non-EU citizens will be registered by UNOPS under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and must purchase their own private health insurance.
    IPS is very respectful of the UNOPS approach to work-life balance, including flexible working hours and remote working arrangements. IPS is keen on improving diversity in the team with a current focus on gender equality and equal representation.

This vacancy is now closed.
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