Programme Support Officer

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UNOPS - United Nations Office for Project Services

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Application deadline 2 years ago: Thursday 28 Oct 2021 at 23:59 UTC

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Contract

This is a LICA Specialist-9 contract. This kind of contract is known as Local Individual Contractor Agreements. It is normally only for nationals. It's an external contract. It usually requires 2 years of experience, depending on education. More about LICA Specialist-9 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.

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 - Job-specific

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations helping a wide range of partners in delivering peace, security, humanitarian and development projects across the world.

UNOPS Sri Lanka implements tailored socio-economic development projects that benefit vulnerable people and supports the Government national capacities. UNOPS has been working in Sri Lanka since 1997 managing education, public health, roads, water and sanitation, fisheries, agriculture and solid waste infrastructure projects. UNOPS also provides expertise in programme management, procurement, fund management and human resources management services.

As part of its programme implementation and advisory capacity, UNOPS will work closely with members of the Government of Sri Lanka and its representatives, the United Nations in Sri Lanka, the donor and diplomatic missions covering Sri Lanka and the Sri Lankan civil society to deliver agreed sets of projects and activities.

The Programme Support Officer will support the execution of programmatic tasks and activities under the UNOPS Peacebuilding programme. The Programme Support Officer will be supporting the implementation of said activities working closely with other team members in Protection, Project Management, Financial Management and Grants Management for civil society partners. More specifically, the Programme Support Officer will be responsible to provide support for the day to day programmatic activities and provision of services to the civil society partners working closely with women groups and promoting gender empowerment.

Under the supervision of the Programme Manager and in close coordination with other members of the project team, the Programme Support Officer will provide programmatic support for the delivery of all activities as per UNOPS agreed policies, processes and standards.

He/She will have a high sense of integrity, confidentiality and the ability to engage sensibly with local stakeholders including local authorities and local communities. This position is based in Colombo with limited travel/presence to UNOPS project and partners areas of work.

Functional Responsibilities

Summary of functions:1. Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination 2. Grant Management Monitoring 3. Programme Implementation Monitoring and Reporting 4. Communications

1. Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination

  • Document, Map and regularly update key stakeholders of the projects including implementing partners, civil society organisations, local authorities and donors.

  • Ensure liaison and communication with partners and key stakeholders in the relevant duty station and geographic area

  • Interact with UNOPS project teams, partners to exchange information on operational implementation related to the programme

  • Coordinate route activities and operational aspects and report problems and issues to supervisor with recommendation of course of action

  • Arrange and facilitate meetings, trainings and workshops with different stakeholders

  • Arrange and facilitate field visits

2. Grant Management Monitoring

  • Assist in the administration and monitoring of the programme implementation including data and budget

  • Support to expedite grant management activities including project amendments and revision exercises in liaison with civil society partners in accordance with UNOPS policy and guidelines.

  • Support the monitoring implementation of grants by tracking timely start and completion of all activities and proactively highlighting for discussion and action the activities that are at risk of getting delayed.

  • Assist the programme manager in tracking programme and activities implementation progress and alert in case of delays or arising issues.

  • Assist in collecting and verifying programme related data and information from partners to inform decision making

3. Programme Implementation Monitoring and Reporting - Provide support to the Programme Manager, ensuring that relevant project support functions requiring programme and operational support are provided in a professional and timely manner. - Assist the Programme Manager in preparation of all relevant products as per the Project Management Manual including stakeholder mapping and Standard Operating Procedures. - Help ensure that all relevant project documents and administrative files are maintained as per corporate requirements. - Support the Programme Manager in the organization and management of periodic Project Board Meetings, including preparing presentations, sharing of documents and minute taking. - Support and contribute to the timely reporting to donors in collaboration with different functional units - Involve in preparation and ensure timely reporting to donors along with different functional units - Assist and participate in field visits to the project sites, including the related logistics and - administrative matters as necessary

4. Communications - Support the communication function for the programme - Support internal and external communication and visibility as part of the Programme communication strategy - Support the development of communication materials including photos, videos, factsheets, success stories, social media and newsletter and other internal and external communication products - Support in developing background documentation and undertake information gathering on context evolution.

Impact of Results: The Programme Support Officer supports the achievement of project results by adhering and executing project implementation plans and work packages.

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.

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

Education - Advanced University Degree (Master Degree or equivalent) in relevant field such as Social Science, Development, Law, Peacebuilding, Human

  • Or Bachelors Degree combined with 3 years of experience

Experience

  • Minimum of 2 years of experience (or more depending on academic credentials) in Civil Society Organizations, NGOs in Sri Lanka is required.
  • Good knowledge of the development and humanitarian sector/working with UN, Donors, NGOs in Sri Lanka is an advantage.
  • Additional experience of project support functions (finance, human resources, procurement & logistics) is an advantage.
  • Experience conducting due diligence exercise or capacity assessments for CSO/NGOs/POs or similar organisations is an asset.
  • Experience in Grants Monitoring and Evaluation for NGOs/CSOs/POs is an asset.

Language

  • Full working knowledge of English is essential

  • Knowledge of at least one of the local language Sinhala and/or Tamil is required

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement Contract level: Local ICA Specialist Contract duration: 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

  • The position is open to Sri Lankan nationals only.
  • Q****ualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
  • 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.
  • 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.

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