Project Management Support Officer

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UNOPS - United Nations Office for Project Services

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Application deadline 3 years ago: Monday 17 Aug 2020 at 23:59 UTC

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Contract

This is a LICA Specialist-8 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 0 years of experience, depending on education. More about LICA Specialist-8 contracts.

Background Information - Myanmar

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organisations. With over 6,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, where they need it. By implementing around 1,000 projects for our partners at any given time, UNOPS makes significant contributions to results on the ground, often in the most challenging environments.

Myanmar is one of UNOPS leading offices in Asia, acting as fund manager for three of the largest development programmes in the country, namely the Access to Health Fund, the Livelihood and Food Security Fund (LIFT) and the Joint Peace Fund (JPF). In addition, UNOPS Myanmar is Principal Recipient for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Myanmar and Cambodia, and for the Global Fund Regional Artemisinin-resistance Initiative targeting drug resistant malaria in the Greater Mekong sub-region. UNOPS provides procurement, infrastructure and project management services to a wide range of organizations in the country, including the Government of Myanmar, international development partners, other UN agencies, NGOs and INGOs. UNOPS Myanmar plays a critical role in ensuring that the quality of services provided to its partners meets stringent requirements of speed, efficiency and cost effectiveness.

Background Information - Job-specific

Through this specific vacancy announcement UNOPS Myanmar is seeking the services of a qualified professional who will provide support for the implementation of ongoing projects managed by 3PI.

The primary role of Project Management Support Officer (PSO) is to ensure the project management policies, processes and methods are followed and practiced according to the organization standards, while acting as the overall Project Assurance capacity within the business unit on behalf of the Head of Program and Partnership. The PSO strongly contributes to moving the 3PI toward achieving its mission-focused goals and objectives.

Functional competencies

The functions and services of the PSO include:

  • Portfolio Support: Ensuring UNOPS is focused on doing the right projects by supporting management decision-making.
  • Delivery Support: Ensuring UNOPS is doing projects the right way, through the effective delivery of the programme and projects.
  • Best Practices: Applying UNOPS standards in project management, encouraging consistent working practices and ensuring appropriate application.
  1. Development and planning
  • In conjunction with the 3PI team, provides appropriate levels of programmatic management and administrative support to the Project Management regarding all ongoing project activities, while maintaining and implementing appropriate standards and best practices in line with UNOPS policies and procedures.
  • Facilitate the project managers in compliance with service agreements and project documents.
  • Ensure proper development, implementation and, as and when appropriate, amendments, of project budgets and staffing resources by consultation with PMs, ensuring synergies across 3PI.
  • Develops and maintains resource tracking systems for use within 3PI, complementary to UNOPS' online tools, to ensure effective planning, forecasting and tracking of delivery across 3PI
  • Identifies, and anticipates in a timely manner, potential risks and issues and advises mitigating measures to PMs.

    2. Set-up and closure

  • Facilitate the development of high-level/project plans, including the collation of lower-level plans into project-level milestones.
  • Develop, track and maintain dependencies.
  • Liaise closely and support the Finance Senior Officer in all project assets and finance related issues.
  • For project closure purposes, acts as a focal point between PM and Project Closure Team throughout the process.
  • Coordinate all project closure activities, ensuring appropriate disposal of project assets, timely and effective final (operational) reporting, initiation of financial disbursements as appropriate during Defects Liability Periods, updating of information on the UNOPS Management Workspace (MWS), and closely working with project finance team for effective handover of closed projects to UNOPS HQ for financial closure processes.

    3. Monitoring and reporting

  • Regularly review project status, evaluating performance criteria (scope, cost, schedule and quality).

  • Maintain diaries and progress reports as required by UNOPS standard procedures.
  • Identify and anticipate in a timely manner, potential risks and issues specific to delivery forecasts, and advise mitigating measures to the Head of Programme.
  • Provide routine oversight and analysis of delivery data within the dashboard system, using UNOPS ERP system as required.
  • Perform routine maintenance and implementation of effective monitoring and evaluation systems of project activities, in line with logical frameworks.
  • Within the context of monitoring and evaluation, ensure all projects submit and regularly update specific milestones and targets for the duration of projects' life-cycles, and track progress, or otherwise, against such information.
  • Provide editorial support to projects, ensuring effective and timely dissemination of reports, in line with project documentation and clients' expectations.
  • Provide the necessary project analysis reports and information to support areas relevant to the project management team (i.e. Locally Managed Direct Costs projections etc.).
  • Coordinate the implementation of requests or initiatives relevant to project management from the Regional Office, IPAS, and HQ Teams, as required.

    4. Stakeholder engagement

  • Develop stakeholder profiles and facilitate the formulation of stakeholder engagement strategies.
  • Support the formulation of project communications plans.
  • Coordinate stakeholder engagement and communication, ensuring effective timing and interdependency management of communications across projects.
  • Coordinate internal project communications.
  • Monitor the effectiveness of project communications.

    5. Quality assurance

  • Support Finance Senior Officer in project audit and project team to ensure the project activities comply with audit requirements.
  • Work with procurement/purchasing staff to ensure effective interface with suppliers' quality systems.
  • Work with HR staff for resource planning and recruitment process
  • Ensure compliance with UNOPS defined standards for project management.
  • Coordinate quality reviews of project documents and deliverables.
  • Provide quality control for management products (project documents, reports, etc.).
  • Provide suggestions in supporting key stakeholders to continuously identify and improve operational processes relevant to project implementation.

    6. Knowledge management and innovation

  • Act as a focal point for 3PI maturity enhancement initiatives, using the UNOPS Project Management Manual as a baseline.
  • Actively interact with PMs and the wider PM community to share case studies, lessons learned and best practices in the Knowledge System.
  • Contributes to the oversight of lessons learned procedures, ensuring that lessons learnt are shared in a timely and appropriate manner

Impact of Results

The PSO directly impacts on achievement of project results by assisting the Head of Programme to implement effective project management methods and strategies, reduced risks, cut costs and improve success rates. This consequently reinforces the visibility and image of the UNOPS as an effective service provider in project services and management and strengthens its competitive position as a partner of choice in sustainable development and project services.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education:

  • A Bachelor’s Degree in Project Management, Business Administration or related field (e.g. International Relations) is required.

Certification:

  • PRINCE2 Foundation Certification is highly desirable.
  • MSP certification (Foundation and/or Practitioner) is an advantage

Experience: - A minimum of least 2 years of relevant and progressive professional experience, specifically in the field of Project Management with experience of successful implementation and/or oversight of programmes and projects. - Previous experience of working within a PMO environment is an advantage. - Detailed knowledge of UNOPS’ project management tools, UNOPS financial and procurement rules and regulations, and financial management tools, is essential, - Strong experience with data analysis, management reporting and project management tools and information management systems

Language Requirements:

  • Full working knowledge of English/Myanmar is essential.

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 - Local Individual Contractor Agreement (LICA) Contract level- LICA 8 Contract duration - Open ended (Open-ended (subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds, and satisfactory performance)

THIS IS A LOCAL POSITION. ONLY MYANMAR NATIONALS ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY. ALL OTHER APPLICANTS WILL BE REJECTED.

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.

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.

Added 3 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: jobs.unops.org