Project Management Support – Senior Officer (Grants Officer, Retainer)

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 - Job-specific

United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner. Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations. With a flexible structure and global reach, we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale.

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 – job-specific

Background AUMCO The Austria Multi-Country Office (AUMCO) was set up in August 2019 as a part of the UNOPS Europe & Central Asia Region (ECR). Specifically, AUMCO aims to enable achievement of Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement through global programmes and tailored interventions in the Balkans, South Caucasus, and Central Asia, focused on: - Infrastructure - Procurement - Project Management (full service, back on track) - HR and Transactional Services - Grants Management - Technical and Advisory Services

UNOPS in Albania UNOPS Albania is aimed at providing efficient and cost-effective implementation services on behalf of partners to support the Government of Albania achieve its national priorities through citizen-oriented programmes and projects. UNOPS Albania office, based in Tirana, operates under the operational support of the Austria Multi-Country Office (AUMCO). The Office was established in early-2021 to support, develop and oversee UNOPS’ growing portfolio of projects in the country. The office currently provides implementation services to several projects on Cultural Heritage and Healthcare, where UNOPS works closely with development partners and the Government focusing on culture and healthcare sectors. The aim now is to expand UNOPS' support to Albania.

EU4Culture On 26 November 2019, Albania was hit by its most deadly earthquake in a century. The earthquake measured 6.4 on the Richter scale and caused significant casualties and property damage, resulting in 51 deaths, over 1000 injured, and nearly 14,000 people displaced. To measure and assess the economic damage, a Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) was conducted, estimating the total economic losses at nearly EUR 1Billion. The PDNA documented the destruction of public and private infrastructure. Of particular concern was the destruction of cultural heritage monuments and property of which 53 cultural heritage properties were significantly damaged.

The EU4Culture project seeks to remediate the effect of the earthquake on Albania’s cultural heritage through the rehabilitation of monuments, as well as contribute to Albania’s socio-economic recovery through the construction and upgrade of these sites. It is important also to support improvements in the capacity of institutions responsible for the management of these cultural monuments and sites to better accommodate tourism.

Background for the job

An expected result of the project is that economic and local development is supported through cultural heritage revitalization and improved capacities for its safeguarding, management, and promotion. To achieve this, a competitive grants scheme was designed and is being implemented to support innovative cultural, environmentally friendly, and innovative tourism initiatives around the cultural heritage sites targeted by the project. The aim is to contribute towards an improvement of the quality of tangible and intangible local cultural goods and services to allow them to compete within the country, in the EU and across other higher-value markets.

While the grants primarily target cultural and creative industries sector operators and the local communities in the selected heritage sites and surrounding areas, an enhanced focus is on mainstreaming youth engagement, women participation, and the inclusion of minorities and the socially and economically disadvantaged.

25 projects were awarded during 2022 and 2023 following application for grant funding to two open competitive calls for project proposals (CfPs). The projects, lasting between four and twelve months, are currently under implementation in 6 municipalities benefiting communities living in proximity of EU4Culture sites affected by the earthquake. Another competitive CfP is planned to be launched by late 2023 – early 2024.

While the CfPs are launched, and the opportunities promoted, once the deadline for submission of applications is closed, it is succeeded by the evaluation of received proposals and an assessment of financial and management capacities of the organisations to be recommended for grant award. Once awarded, the implementation phase is supported by capacity building, coordination, and monitoring activities.

In the framework of this process, the organisation requires the services of Project Management Support Senior Officers (Grant Officers) that shall be on retainer contracts to carry out short-term work packages when required.

Functional Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Project Management Support Specialist and in coordination with UNOPS EU4Culture Grants Team, the Project Management Support Senior Officer (Grant Officer) will undertake the following duties and responsibilities, as relevant and applicable:

Coordination & Evaluation - Provide advice to effective and compliant grant management with a focus on the operationality and functioning of EU4Culture’s grant governance structures, - Advise on potential and actual social and economic impacts of small-scale project interventions during proposal evaluation phase as well as during implementation, with a special focus on gender mainstreaming, inclusion of youth and employability - Contribute to coordination of EU4Culture’s grant project interventions’ due diligence including gender and social screening and potential impact assessments during the pre-award phase - Provide innovative social and economic development advice to the implementation of interventions which contribute to the sustainability of projects - Carry out evaluation, including review and scoring, of grant applications, based on predetermined selection criteria and score grids compliant to UNOPS Grant Support Management Operational Instructions and SOPs

Implementation - Provide direct support to EU4Culture’s grantees by developing, facilitating, and coordinating activities (meetings, etc.) that link grant projects to relevant for-profit business entities, with a special focus on touristic agencies, as well as other relevant development actors - Act as liaison between - and provide advice to - grantees on specific thematic activities with a focus on gender, youth and social inclusion - Design and deliver capacity building actions to develop the capacity of grantees and UNOPS personnel in implementing UNOPS gender, youth, social and management capacity development requirements

Monitoring & Reporting - Monitor implementation of awarded grant projects including the review of periodic and special narrative reports - Contribute to design, development and adaptation of monitoring and assessment instruments which integrate gender-sensitive and other socio-economic indicators (youth, minority, dis/ability, employability, etc) - Capture and document information, data and results relevant to the grants scope and objectives - Review grantee’s periodic progress and results reports (narrative) as per the reporting timelines - Produce synthetic and analytical reports based on grantees’ reports and other UNOPS Albania reports - Prepare and deliver briefs and presentations, as per EU4Culture’s socio-economic component needs

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education - An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in a relevant discipline including social sciences, economics, environment, gender or development studies, is required. - An additional 2 years of relevant work experience in combination with a relevant first university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent in the aforementioned disciplines) may substitute for the Master’s degree requirement.

Experience - A minimum of 2 years of experience in a project development coordination role is required (combined with an advanced university degree in one of the aforementioned disciplines) - Experience with socio-economic development monitoring and impact assessment is required - Demonstrable experience in the coordination of some of the following areas is an asset: small grants management, community engagement, project cycle management (including planning and monitoring), gender, youth and social inclusion (including participation ethnic, cultural and linguistic minorities, and socially and economically disadvantaged people)

Languages - Full professional working knowledge of English and Albanian is required

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: ICA, retainer Contract level: LICA-9 Contract duration: Up to 200 working days per year, with possibility of extension depending on performance and availability of funds

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

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.

Additional Information

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions

• 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 (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.