Infrastructure and Project Management (IPM) Intern

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UNOPS - United Nations Office for Project Services

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Application deadline 2 years ago: Sunday 3 Oct 2021 at 23:59 UTC

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Contract

This is a Internship contract. It usually requires 0 years of experience, depending on education. More about Internship contracts.

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 is comprised of the Infrastructure and Project Management Group (IPMG) and the Procurement Group (PG) 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 (PS) unit aims at building up and managing aspects of the organisational readiness of UNOPS. Last, the IPS is hosting the corporate Knowledge Management initiative.

Background information - IPMG

UNOPS strategic focus places increased emphasis on national capacity development and 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, which is both economically and socially sustainable, even 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 programs and projects around the world.

To achieve its objectives, IPMG has established three interrelated and interdependent work streams, namely, Strategic Initiatives, Standards, and Engagement Acceptance. IPMG is managed overall by the Deputy Director of IPMG.

The Strategic Initiatives (SI) team works to develop methodologies and tools to improve development outcomes as well as assist in the positioning of UNOPS at the highest levels in related fields, including various global agenda focus areas, such as resilience and sustainability.

Functional Responsibilities

Purpose and Scope of Assignment Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Infrastructure and Project Management Specialist, the successful candidate will be responsible for supporting a variety of tasks and work packages as a part of her/his internship period. We are seeking qualified applicants who may have a background in infrastructure and project management; and who are extremely structured, organized and detail-oriented, as well as have the ability to communicate complex ideas well. The main support areas will be in (but not limited to) research, technical knowledge as well as communication and administration tasks.

At the end of this internship, the successful candidate will have gained:

- Experience through exposure to UNOPS project management and infrastructure corporate standards and activities;

- Experience in linking Infrastructure and Project Management impacts to corporate strategies as well as practical applications to achieve high level goals.

- Experience dealing with a wide range of practitioners experienced in resilient and sustainable infrastructure across UNOPS, other development partners, donors, government and wider civil society, as well as private sector and academia;

- Understanding of the key role Infrastructure in sustainable development through linkages in Humanitarian, Development and Peace keeping sectors;

- Exposure to international personnel in the Head Office and through interaction with field offices.

The internship is expected to start in November 2021 and last for 6 months (extendable to 12 months upon satisfactory performance and subject to budget availability).

The successful candidate may be required to work on the following:

Research coordination support

● Support data collection and analysis for SI research activities;

● Conduct literature reviews for SI team initiatives;

● Support research on strategic infrastructure and project management areas for cooperation with key partners that support UNOPS initiatives. These areas would include the environmental, social and economic impact of infrastructure, with specific focus on areas such as infrastructure’s role in addressing societal inequalities, including ensuring infrastructure services as a human right;

● Prepare materials and post-event summaries for a variety of workshops, missions and discussions with both internal and external partners; and

● Liaise with key academic partners on areas of research.

Technical Support

● Support a variety of tasks as outlined and assigned in the annual work plan for the SI team;

● Maintain, update, and support all relevant documentation for SI initiatives;

● Providing analysis and reporting as required for SI team by ensuring compliance with all policies, guidelines, and instructions set out by IPMG and the organization;

● Assist with monitoring and reporting of SI team performance; and

● Other support tasks as assigned

Administrative and Communication Support

● Support in communicating SI initiatives to different stakeholders;

● Contribute to maintenance and updating of the intranet site;

● Support all training/event initiatives within IPMG as required, this includes but not limited to training/events set up, administrative support, and logistics;

● Support monitoring of the SI task list and budget; and

● Day to day tasks as assigned.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

● Completion of secondary school or equivalent is required.

● The candidate must be currently enrolled in, or have recently completed (within three years prior to the application date of the internship) a Bachelor/Master’s/Ph.D. Degree in a relevant area, preferably in Engineering, Architecture, Planning, International Development, International Relations, Law, or Project management.

Experience - While no prior work experience is required, some experience in the areas of infrastructure, engineering, architecture, human rights and planning is highly desirable. - In addition, experience with data management for online assessment tools would be considered as an asset.

Additional Requirements

● Knowledge of Google suite is required.

● The ideal candidate would have experience in one of several of the following areas:

o Academic research;

o Infrastructure development and management;

o Development activities in both Humanitarian and Development settings;

o Data analysis;

o Website and intranet development;

o Database development;

o Client/donor research; and

o Business acquisition/development.

Language Skills

● Fluency in English is required;

● Knowledge of French and/or Spanish would be considered an asset.

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.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Internship

Contract level: N/A

Contract duration: 6 months

This internship is not designed to lead to a staff position with UNOPS. Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of the internship.

Interns may be eligible for a monthly stipend of USD $1,300 from UNOPS provided that they do not receive funds from other institutions. Further, UNOPS may provide a one time travel lumpsum of USD $500. However, they must make their own arrangements for accommodation, travel and necessary visa arrangements.

For more details about UNOPS internships please follow this link: https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Internships-and-volunteering.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.

****Work environment:****

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.

Added 2 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: jobs.unops.org