Project Management Support - Senior Assistant

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.

With more than 20 years of experience in the country, UNOPS Afghanistan focuses on providing maximum support to the Government and people of Afghanistan through delivery of projects and services in line with the government’s national priorities. The UNOPS Afghanistan Country Office (AFCO) serves as an organizational mechanism to deliver a range of projects for which UNOPS has been designated as the implementation agency. At present, UNOPS AFCO is implementing a number of projects in a range of sectors including infrastructure (roads, bridges, justice and security, health, and water supply) development, procurement services, HR services, capacity building, and humanitarian protection, amongst others, on behalf of the Government of Afghanistan, the international donor community, and other UN agencies.

The functional objective of UNOPS AFCO is to contribute to the achievement of the development outcomes sought by the Government of Afghanistan. The aim of UNOPS AFCO is to provide efficient and cost-effective implementation services on behalf of all our partners to support the reconstruction and development of the country. UNOPS AFCO’s mission is to exceed the expectations of all stakeholders in the delivery of AFCO’s services, at all times, in all places, in all circumstances, in order to improve significantly the lives of all Afghans in need

Established in 2015, Resolute Support (RS) is a NATO-led, non-combat mission with a mandate to train, advise and assist the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF), who assumed nationwide responsibility for Afghanistan’s security following the conclusion of the previous NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission. 

The purpose of RSHQ is to help the Afghan security forces and institutions develop the capacity to protect its citizens in a sustainable manner and to manage/improve security enhancements within Kabul city. The purpose of the UNOPS/RSHQ engagement is to support NATO for both the ANA Trust Fund Office (NATFO) and Kabul Security Force (KSF) funding streams, which includes procurement of goods and services, contract management, maintenance of equipment, physical security enhancements, construction projects and construction work packages, as well as coordination and facilitation of RSHQ operations, programs and activities (non-kinetic only).

1. Purpose and Scope of Assignment

Under the overall guidance, direction and supervision of the Project Manager, the Project Support Management Assistant will provide support to all operational aspects of the Kabul Security Cluster and all the projects under it, including, but not limited to supporting and facilitating finance, human resources, procurement, contracting and logistics, administration, outreach, and stakeholder coordination activities, in close consultation with the relevant colleagues.

Specific responsibilities and duties include, but are not limited to:

• Provide support to overall project operations 

• Coordinate with the team in the field on a daily basis

• Provide logistics support to the Kabul Security Cluster projects 

• Hold and support regular meetings among team members and with KSF to coordinate tasks and work plans and report on progress and completed works 

• Monitor and compile field reports

• Coordinate with the Core Programme Team to assist with KSF compliance with HSE, gender and sustainability policies and standards.

• Ensure accuracy, consistency, filing and record-keeping of all project documents in an efficient manner

• Assist in the preparation of Bill of Quantities, technical specifications, contracts, project delivery and financial reports, etc. as required by various stakeholders and legal commitments 

• Assist in preparation of requisitions in support of field teams. 

• support the project manager in contract management

• Liaise with UNOPS support service units for project-related administrative and operational matters such as requisitions, payments, contract management, recruitment of personnel, procurement of goods and services and assets management

• Support the Project Manager in work plan development, update, and monitoring

• Provide input for the narrative progress reports and other reporting/outreach products as requested by the PM 

• Support smooth operational and financial closure of the project, settlement of any pending contractual and financial commitments, full receipt of donor/client contributions, assets disposition, personnel separation, among others

Education

• High School Diploma is the minimum requirement for this role.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering Business Administration, Construction Management or related discipline is an asset

• A relevant combination of academic credentials and/or industry certifications and qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the university education.                                                  

Work Experience 

• Secondary school + 5 years of experience or bachelor + 1 years of experience progressively responsible experience in providing administrative and project operational support in the areas of financial management, human resources, procurement, logistics, contract management, assets management, and administration

• Experience in project coordination, QA/QC desirable

• 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.