Project Management Support - Senior Officer

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.

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 – UNOPS Hub in Amman

The UNOPS Hub in Amman implements projects on behalf of UN agencies and bilateral donors and in close coordination with the Government and national authorities. With an established presence across the region (Jordan, Iraq, Yemen, Syria, and Lebanon), the office runs operations including large-scale procurement, project development, and technical management, and provides financial, human resources, and infrastructure-related services. The functional objective of UNOPS Hub in Amman is to deliver its projects in an efficient and effective manner and in line with the principles, rules, and regulations of UNOPS, in order to support the response to the current needs and national priorities in the region.

UNOPS has been active in Iraq since 2004, delivering close to 50 projects worth over USD 260 million. UNOPS has a very strong relationship with the key counterparts at both central and regional government levels in Iraq. UNOPS operates from its Operational Hub in Amman, and supports its country office in Baghdad and its sub-office in Erbil.

The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

UNOPS is committed to achieving a fully diverse workforce.

Background Information - Job-specific

UNOPS is undertaking a four-year phase II project (including 12 months for the Defect Notification Period) that aims to improve basic living conditions for returnees in the liberated rural areas of Al-Anbar and Ninewa governorates through the rehabilitation of up to 875 housing units and restoration of decentralized services. The decentralized services component will entail the provision of solar street lighting, the rehabilitation of selected community roads, and of water and sanitation networks and/or stations. When feasible, the rehabilitated housing units will be connected to the restored decentralized services taking into consideration the whole neighborhood. The rehabilitation of housing and basic services will be guided by a needs-based approach.

Functional Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager (PM), the incumbent is responsible for performing the following duties:

1. Project Implementation, Governance, and Oversight

• Support the PM in ensuring timely planning and implementation of the project’s activities and achievement of the project’s objectives within the prescribed scope of work, timeline, budget and quality standards.
• Support and liaise with PM on the project implementation progress and development;
• Ensure compliance with UNOPS Organizational Directives, Administrative Instructions and Project Management Manual during the project implementation;
• Assist in management of the project information flows and oversee change controls, risk registers and issue management by establishing oversight procedures;
• Provide inputs and review project reports and presentations for PM, as and when needed.

2. Coordination and Liaison

• Liaise and coordinate with municipal authorities and other governmental counterparts, NGOs and CSOs, and targeted communities;
• Maintain effective communication and coordination with the project team;
• Develop and maintain good working relationships with local authorities, NGOs and other local stakeholders.

3. Knowledge Management

• Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for planning and knowledge building;
• Participate in the relevant UNOPS Currents

4. Monitoring and Progress Controls

• Number of coordination/interagency meetings attended;
• Number of project documents reviewed and provided with substantive programmatic inputs;
• Number of site visits conducted in coordination with the PM;
• Number of participations in relevant (project management) UNOPS Communities of Practice (Currents);

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.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

• Advanced University Degree (Masters Degree or equivalent) in Engineering, Business Administration, Project Management, Social Science, Development Studies or other related fields is required

• A First Level University Degree (Bachelor's Degree or equivalent) in the above-mentioned areas or other related fields with an additional 2 years of experience will be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.

  Work Experience

• At least 2 years (or more depending on academic credentials) of experience in supporting project/ programme implementation and coordination is required;

• Experience in managing project in the rehabilitation of housing sector is highly desired;
• Knowledge of UN policies, procedures, and operations , and experience of working in the UN/ International Organization are required;
• High proficiency with computers, and other software/ platforms related to the position's field of expertise. Good experience in working with the G-Suite platform including, Google Drive, Google Calendar, Gmail, Google Sheets, Docs, and Slides;

Languages:

Excellent communication skills, including fluency in spoken and written Arabic and English languages, are required

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: ICA Contract level: LICA 9 Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requriements, avaialbity of funds and satsifactory 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

• 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.
• This positiion is a local position open for nationals.
• 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.