Project Management Support – Specialist (Partnerships) – Retainer

Position description

*Even though the duty station is indicated as New York, USA, consideration may be given to allow the position to be home-based, depending on the incumbent’s personal situation. For home-based positions, a location-specific fee scale is applied in determining the contractor’s fee.

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.

The New York Portfolios Office (NYPO) supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management.

Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development operations. It provides Services to partners’ programmes that are designed, structured, and managed with a global perspective and primarily serves partners that are headquartered in New York. The SDC has a footprint of approximately 125 countries.

The Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio includes various initiatives in priority areas such as climate, environment, and youth engagement, in support of the 2030 Agenda. Additionally, it helps the UN Secretariat in implementing global programs related to political affairs, peacebuilding, and counter-terrorism among others.

Functional Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Senior Portfolio Manager, the Project Development Specialist is responsible for facilitating the development and operationalization of new programmes and projects. This includes engaging with partners, writing project proposals, developing budgets and operational plans, and managing the first phase of project implementation.

Summary of functions:

1. Project Development and partnerships
2. Project Management
3. Stakeholder engagement
4. Knowledge management and innovation

1. Project Development and partnerships

• Support project development, including the preparation of concept notes, proposals, legal agreements, budgets, and project documents.
• Analyse opportunities and risks during development, providing advice to management within the context and framework of proposed solutions.
• Support negotiations with partners and consultations with beneficiaries by facilitating the finalization of concept notes and project proposals in a context-sensitive and results-oriented manner.
• Develop, complete and update implementation plan(s).
• Facilitate the review and approval of new projects by ensuring the use of UNOPS updated policies and procedures and liaising with headquarters for requesting clarifications and permissions.
• Embed sustainability dimensions including social and gender inclusion, environmental and economic aspects into project life span.
• Identify, and anticipate in a timely manner, potential risks and issues and advises mitigating measures to senior management/ Project Board so that maximum benefit to partner(s) and other stakeholders is achieved.
• Identify potential opportunities for UNOPS involvement.

2. Project Management

• Manage the initial stages of project implementation
• Oversee the recruitment of the project team
• Set up the project in the UNOPS system
• Initiate procurement and other activities as needed

3. Stakeholder engagement

• Establish solid working relationships with the Project Board (Executive, Senior Users and Senior Suppliers), client and key stakeholders.
• Support stakeholder engagement and communication, monitoring effective timing and interdependency management of communications. Monitor that stakeholders are aware of project activities, progress, exceptions and are in a position to accept handover outputs.

4. Knowledge management and innovation

• Encourage routine and effective capacity building activities are conducted in order to build the long-term and sustainable capacity of staff.
• Actively interact with other Project Managers and the wider PM community to share case studies, lessons learned and best practices.
• Contribute to the oversight of lessons learned procedures, ensuring that lessons learnt are shared in a timely and appropriate manner. Participate in the relevant Communities of Practice.
• Research and logging of lessons learned throughout the project life span.
• Provide feedback to Practice Groups on policy, supporting guidance with an aim towards continuous improvement of UNOPS policies.

Impact of Results

The Project Management Support – Specialist directly impacts on achievement of project results by adhering to project management methods and strategies, reducing risks, cutting costs and improving success rates. This consequently reinforces the visibility and image of 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.

Monitoring and progress control

• A work plan will be developed based on the UNOPS Performance Evaluation Report (PER) cycle and serve as the overarching document to monitor progress and record performance.
• Regular meetings with the supervisor.

Education/ Experience/ Language requirements

*FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent), preferably in administration, development studies, political science, international relations, social sciences, law, public administration, or a related field is required.
• First-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in combination with two (2) additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced university degree.
• Certification in Project Management (Prince2, PMI, etc.) is an asset.

Work Experience

Required experience:

• At least five (5) years of experience implementing projects/programmes in the area of international development.
• Minimum of three (3) years experience developing or implementing projects/programmes for international organizations.

Desirable experience (the following experience is optional candidates who do not have it are welcome to apply):

• Specific Experience in partnerships, development of project proposals, budgets and legal agreements is an asset
• Experience within the UN system is an asset.

Language requirements

• Fluency in oral and written English is required;
• Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an asset.

Application instructions

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