Project Officer (SB-4 Peg 2)

Contract

This is a G-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as General Service and related categories. It is normally only for nationals. It usually requires 4 years of experience, depending on education. More about G-4 contracts.

This is a SC-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as Service Board / Service Contract. It is normally only for nationals. More about SC-4 contracts.

**OVERVIEW** ------------ Parent Sector : Natural Sciences Sector (SC) Duty Station: Almaty Job Family: Natural Sciences Type of contract : Non Staff Level : Level 4 Duration of contract : 1 year (with the 3 months’ probation period and the possibility of extension) Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 14-APR-2021 ***Deadline extended due to IT maintenance*** UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism ***(Only candidates who are entitled to work in Kazakhstan may apply to this position)*** **OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST** ----------------------------------------- UNESCO Almaty Office is launching a regional project (hereafter "Project"), funded by the Adaptation Fund, on “Reducing vulnerabilities of populations in the Central Asia region from glacier lake outburst floods (GLOFs) in a changing climate”. The objective of the proposed project is to strengthen adaptation to climate change in Central Asia by reducing societal risks and vulnerabilities associated with GLOFs. The Project objective will be achieved by assessing societal risks and vulnerabilities associated with glacier-melting related risks and then addressing these risks and vulnerabilities. The approach will strengthen the monitoring, analytical and response capacities of institutions and government officials responsible for DRR, emergencies and CCA through community and gender-sensitive ground-level training and awareness campaigns, and through the establishment of early warning systems (EWS), supported with the necessary state-of-the-art monitoring strategies. The Project Officer (PO) will operationally manage the Project for its successful execution. This position’s responsibilities include the daily responsibility for the management, coordination and supervision of the implementation of the Project and delivery of the results in accordance with the full Project proposal and work plans. In addition, the PO will be responsible for overseeing the financial management and disbursements. Under the overall authority of the Director of the UNESCO Almaty and the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist for Natural Sciences, the Incumbent shall manage the coordination and overall implementation of the Project by carrying out the following duties and responsibilities: Background ---------- 1\. Coordinate the overall planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of the Project in compliance with its overall objective, specific objectives, expected outputs, outcomes and activities: - Oversee and manage Project implementation, monitor work progress, and ensure timely delivery of outputs. - Report to the implementing partner and respective national and regional stakeholders, in cooperation with the national Project focal points, regarding Project progress. - Develop and facilitate the implementation of a comprehensive monitoring and reporting system. - Ensure timely preparation of detailed annual work plans and budgets for approval. - Assist in the identification, selection and recruitment of staff, consultants and other experts as required. - Coordinate and facilitate the work of the Project team (consisting of the finance and admin. assistant, national coordinators, implementing partners, and national and international consultants). - Organizing and coordinating the work of the Project Steering Committee (Project partners) and the Project Team (key stakeholders) according to the agreed schedule for the on-line and face-to-face modes. - Control expenditures and assure adequate management of resources. - Provide input to management and technical reports, and other documents as described in the overall Project. Reports should contain assessments of progress in implementing activities, including reasons for delays, if any, and recommendations on necessary improvements. - Supporting the procurement of goods and services and regularly monitoring their deployment. - Guiding the production of Project deliverables, including guidelines, manuals and other technical and/or reporting materials, and ensure their high quality. - Ensuring conformity and compliance with UNESCO rules and regulations, policies, communication strategies, and Office procedures and practices. - Ensuring the necessary bi-annual reporting on the Project in SISTER system. Long Description ---------------- 2\. Ensure the monitoring and evaluation of the implementation and the reporting on the Project activities by: - Providing overall coordination on monitoring, evaluation and reporting, in line with established outputs, outcomes and indicators of the Project. - Drafting and compiling the reports on the Project activities for UNESCO, and the donor. - Regularly monitoring the financial status of the Project and developing budget revisions, as needed. - Coordinating preparation of budgetary and financial reports, verification of overall accuracy and consistency, and crosscheck consistency of figures and by contributing to preparation of budgetary and financial reports, statistics and projections. - Fostering exchanges of information and experiences and identifying new strategies to improve the joint Project delivery and to achieve its objectives. - Facilitating the implementation of monitoring/evaluation actions (including identifying issues and instituting timely remedial measures, as appropriate), reporting on and documenting good practices, case studies and lessons learned. 3\. Liaise with relevant national, regional and international governmental and non-governmental partners, counterparts and stakeholders, and coordinate the Project team by: - Providing technical input and guidance to relevant stakeholders, counterparts and authorities. - Identifying concerned institutions and entities and ensuring their engagement in relevant activities of the Project. - Developing partnerships to promote synergies with national and regional entities to facilitate the implementation of the Project and its long-term sustainability. - Contributing to maintaining productive relationships with counterparts and key stakeholders, including ministries, regional and national authorities, Adaption Fund, relevant UN System partners and others. - Provide coordination among the National Coordinators, and the Project team. Skills and Competencies ----------------------- 4\. Oversee and contribute to the development and implementation of the Communication Plan of the Project in close cooperation with the Project team members: - a) Ensuring proper visibility is given to the Project, donor and partners by developing and updating communication plans, objectives, milestones and tools and providing strategic orientation and support to the implementation team. - b) Ensuring compliance with UNESCO and Adaptation Fund communication requirements. 5\. Ensure the overall coherence with UNESCO’s Natural Sciences programme and coordination with other Natural Sciences Projects at the UNESCO Office in Almaty. 6\. Contribute to any other tasks that may be required for the successful implementation of the Project and UNESCO’s programme delivery in the UNESCO Almaty Cluster countries. **COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)** ------------------------------------ Planning and organizing (C) Results focus (C) Making quality decisions (M) Strategic thinking (M) **-** ----- For detailed information, please consult the [UNESCO Competency Framework](https://en.unesco.org/sites/default/files/competency_framework_e.pdf). **REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS** --------------------------- ***Education*** - Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in international development, environment, sustainable management of natural resources, hydrology, climate change and/or other fields closely related to the position. ***Work Experience*** - Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in implementation of projects and programmes in natural sciences-related field. - Minimum 3 years of experience (academic or professional) in the area of sustainable management of natural resources, environment, climate change. - Experience engaging with government agencies, partner institutions and/or donors and in developing partnerships. ***Skills and Competencies*** - Knowledge of Results Based Management and competence in contribution to managing programme activities. - Good understanding of the thematic areas covered by the Project. - Ability to synthesize performance data and produce analytical reports to inform management and strategic decision-making. - Ability to identify and analyse trends, opportunities and threats and to develop appropriate strategies and mechanisms to address them. - Good IT skills, including advanced knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.). ***Languages*** - Excellent knowledge of English and Russian (oral and written). **DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS** ---------------------------- ***Work Experience*** - Experience in UN or other international organization. - Experience working in a multicultural team. ***Skills and Competencies*** - Knowledge of UN procedures, rules and regulations. ***Languages*** - Working level knowledge of any other Central Asian language. **BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS** ----------------------------- - Salary: \*957,187 KZT monthly (including 10% for pension and 5% for medical insurance). (\*subject to change in case of changes in UNESCO Almaty SC salary scale) - UNESCO's salaries are paid in local currency (Kazakh tenge). - Other benefits include: 2.5 days annual leave for each completed month of service, 5% for medical insurance and 10% for pension plan are included into the monthly salary. - Please note that UNESCO is a non-smoking Organization. **SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS** ------------------------------------- Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the [UNESCO careers website.](https://careers.unesco.org/careersection/2/joblist.ftl) No modifications can be made to the application submitted. The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as a competency-based interview. UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates. Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided. **Footer** ---------- UNESCO applies a zero tolerance policy against all forms of harassment. UNESCO is committed to achieve and sustain gender parity among its staff members in all categories and at all grades. Furthermore, UNESCO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities, as well as nationals from non-and under-represented Member States [(last update here)](https://en.unesco.org/careers/geographicaldistribution) are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality. Worldwide mobility is required for staff members appointed to international posts. UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.