GMS Project Management Officer (PMO)

Bern

Organization: UPU - Universal Postal Union
Location: Bern
Grade: Mid level - P-3, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
Occupational Groups:
- Project and Programme Management
Closing Date: Closed

Vacancy Announcement No: UPU/23/P3/FT-NC/401

Title: GMS Project Management Officer (PMO)

Grade: P3

Type of contract: Fixed-term (Non-Core) Appointment

Duration: 12 months

Publication Date: 2 May 2023

Application Deadline: 11 June 2023
(40 day(s) until closing deadline)
Currently accepting applications

Organizational Unit: Postal Operations Directorate (DOP )

Duty Station: Bern Switzerland

Scheduled date for taking up appointment: 1 August 2023

Organizational Context:
With its 192 member countries, the Universal Postal Union (UPU), a specialized agency of the United Nations, is the primary forum for cooperation between postal sector players. It helps to ensure a truly universal network of up-to-date products and services.

Main duties:
Under the direct supervision of the Programme Manager and the overall guidance of the Program Coordinator, the incumbent/PMO plays a key role in achieving the program's goals and objectives. The PMO is responsible for working with internal and external customers in RFID based projects with international and national focus. The PMO monitors and analyses specific aspects of programme/project development and implementation, reviews relevant documents and reports, identifies problems and issues to be addressed and recommends corrective actions, liaises with relevant parties, identifies and tracks follow-up actions.

1. Responsibilities related to the strategic planning and coordination
- Provides substantive support on the management of a portfolio of projects and their evaluation, including the review and analysis of emerging issues and trends; participates in evaluations activities, including procurement and studies.
- Participates in the definition of strategies and methodologies to leverage technical support services for the UPU GMS RFID infrastructure, including state of the art technological solutions to implement those services
- Coordinates policy development, including the review and analysis of issues and trends, preparation of evaluations or other research activities and studies
- Works with key partners, Global Monitoring System (GMS) stakeholders and beneficiary countries to support the facilitation of the implementation of GMS capacity building activities (such as train-the-trainers' sessions, national and regional workshops)
- Takes part in the review of relevant documents and reports
- Identifies problems and issues to be addressed, makes recommendation of corrective actions, liaises with relevant parties, identifies and tracks follow-up actions
- Provides substantive support for policy coordination and evaluation functions, including the review and analysis of emerging issues and trends
- Participates in and review survey initiatives, assists with the design of data collection tools, issues data collection tools, analyses and interprets responses, identifies problems/issues and prepares preliminary conclusions
- Cooperates to outreach activities, participates in the development of training workshops, seminars, etc, participates in and makes presentations on assigned topics/activities
- Participates in field missions, including provision of substantive and administrative support, data collection, etc.
- Organizes and prepares written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc.
- Investigates and proposes improvement action plans to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the Quality Measurement Programme
- Recommends optimal organisational frameworks for the program activities in line with best practices, noting the multinational and multidisciplinary characteristics of the team involved in the program
- Provides support on activities concerning stakeholder management, including customers and prospects along with other business partners

2. Activities relating to QSF-funded projects
- Acts as focal point for QSF
- Researches, analyses and presents information gathered from diverse sources
- Administratively coordinates activities related to project preparation and submissions, progress reports, etc. and preparation of related documents and reports
- Drafts documents or reports needed for QSF BoT and secretariat
- Presents project status during QSF BoT meeting
- Analyses reports for QSF BoT and coordinates follow up of recommendation

3. Management of project
- Monitors and analyses programme/project development and implementation
- Reviews relevant documents and reports
- Identifies problems and issues to be addressed and initiates corrective actions
- Liaises with relevant parties; ensures follow-up actions.

4. Customer engagement
- Assists the program manager in engaging with prospective customers
- Participates in meetings with prospective customers to promote GMS services
- Follows up engagement cycle with prospective customers from kick off contact to closure of contractual engagement

QUALIFICATION AND SKILLS REQUIRED

Education:
Bachelor's degree or equivalent in economics or business administration or project management.

Experience:
At least five years' experience in IT project management. Some experience working in the UN system or postal sector would be an asset.

Technical knowledge:
1. Experience in managing international and national projects in the field of RFID, preferably in postal and transportation sectors
2. Experience in projects concerning automation and digital cloud infrastructures
3. Knowledge in project management including Agile (Scrum) methodology and about Jira/Confluence
4. Experience in managing projects in Business Process Management (BPM)
5. Experience in managing relationship with customers 'project and business prospects

Skills and abilities / competencies:
1. Ability to identify and resolve data discrepancies and operational problems.
2. Opens to multicultural environments and able to travel abroad
3. Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately
4. Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals
5. Confidentiality and discernment of sensitive data

Language skills:
Proficiency in English is required. Working knowledge of French would be an asset.

Additional Information:
This is a non-core post. This position will be in full compliance with the "Rules governing non-core staff", which expressly exclude some international benefits (home leave, installation grant, education grant and eligibility to a continuing appointment).

The selected staff will participate in the UPU Provident Scheme and will be insured together with their recognized dependents against the risks of sickness and accidents.

This is a one year contract which can be renewed if the services continue to be required in the future, the funds are available and/or the staff member's performance is satisfactory. However, this appointment does not automatically carry any expectancy of extension or renewal or of conversion to any other type of appointment.
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French is the official language of the UPU. English and French are the working languages of the UPU International Bureau.
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Priority shall be given for an internal promotion.
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The UPU is committed to encouraging diversity within its workforce. Interested candidates from minority groups and/or with disabilities are encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated equally and in the strictest confidence.
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Candidates might be considered for other similar posts (for a period not exceeding one year).
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Candidates must ensure that they provide relevant contact details so that they can be contacted at any time, to prevent them from being excluded from the selection process.
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The UPU is committed to securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for its staff members. In this regard, candidates under serious consideration for selection may be subject to satisfactory background checks aimed at validating the educational and professional background records as indicated by candidates in their respective application forms.

Annual salary: (Net of tax)
64,121 USD

Post adjustment: 81.6 % of the above figure(s). This percentage is to be considered as indicative since variations may occur each month either upwards or downwards due to currency exchange rate fluctuations or inflation.

The conditions of service are governed by the Staff Regulations and Rules of the International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union.

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application form.
All applications must be received by the closing date as stated in the vacancy announcement.

All applicants employed by postal entities and applying for a vacant position in the Professional (P) or Senior (D) category must be recommended and submitted through the competent postal authority.
Applications not satisfying this criterion may not be considered.

Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

Applications from women and member states are particularly encouraged.

The UPU promotes diversity and work-life balance.

For further instructions regarding the online application process, please visit the UPU internet page at:

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Currently accepting applications