Project Management Support

Background Information - Afghanistan

Afghanistan

With more than 20 years of experience in the country, UNOPS Afghanistan focuses on providing maximum support to the Government and people of Afghanistan through delivery of projects and services in line with the government's national priorities.

The UNOPS Afghanistan Country Office (AFCO) serves as an organizational mechanism to deliver a range of projects for which UNOPS has been designated as the implementation agency.

At present, UNOPS AFCO is implementing a number of projects in a range of sectors including infrastructure (roads, bridges, justice and security, health, and water supply) development, procurement services, HR services, capacity building, and humanitarian protection, amongst others, on behalf of the Government of Afghanistan, the international donor community, and other UN agencies.

The functional objective of UNOPS AFCO is to contribute to the achievement of the development outcomes sought by the Government of Afghanistan.

The aim of UNOPS AFCO is to provide efficient and cost-effective implementation services on behalf of all our partners to support the reconstruction and development of the country.

UNOPS AFCO's mission is to exceed the expectations of all stakeholders in the delivery of AFCO's services, at all times, in all places, in all circumstances, in order to significantly improve the lives of all Afghans in need.

Background Information - Job-specific

Project Information

UNOPS is implementing the World Bank (WB) funded Water Emergency Relief Project (WERP) Irrigation component.

The project aims to address the water supply and irrigation challenges in selected rural areas of Afghanistan and improve the quality of irrigation schemes.

The UNOPS component intends to address water scarcity challenges faced by farmers in drought-affected districts by providing them with access to solar-powered water driven pumps.

These solar pumping systems will enable water to be drawn from rivers and other perennial surface water bodies to be utilised effectively for irrigation of agricultural land and crops.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment

Under the overall guidance, direction and supervision of the Project Manager and Deputy Project Manager, the Project Management Support - Associate will contribute to ensuring that the project activities are in compliance and up to date and that reporting requirements to UNOPS and stakeholders are in line with defined project objectives.

The Project Management Support - Associate will be responsible to provide support for all operational aspects of the project, including but not limited to preparing initial documentations for financial transactions, preparing the reports, and covering all aspects of human resources, procurement, contracting and logistics, administration, outreach and stakeholder coordination in close consultation with the relevant colleagues.

The Project Management Support - Associate also will have the responsibility to support the community engagement activities with the community engagement senior assistants.

Functional Responsibilities

Specific responsibilities and duties include, but are not limited to:

• Provide support to the overall aspects of project operations related to reporting, human resources, procurement, contract management, logistics, and administration, among others
• In consultation with the Team Lead (TL), provide support on all matters relating to the administration in compliance with established policies, procedures, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and the UNOPS Financial Regulations and Rules (FRR)
• Provide effective support to the TL on all issues relating to project operations and implementation
• Ensure accuracy, consistency, filing and recordkeeping of all project documents in an efficient manner
• Provide efficient support in contract management, goods contract management and all matters relating to successful supervision and management of contracts and purchase orders.
• Support the community engagement senior assistants in implementing community engagement activities.
• Frequent field visits to participate and implement community engagement activities.
• Liaise with UNOPS support service units for projectrelated administrative and operational matters such as requisitions, payments, contract management, recruitment of personnel, procurement of goods and services and assets management.
• Basic transactional support to the PM in work plan development, update, and monitoring
• Monitor all critical project financial indicators and alert TL in case of deviations
• Provide input for the narrative progress reports and other reporting/outreach products as requested by the TL
• Ensure smooth operational closure of the project, settlement of any pending contractual and financial commitments, full receipt of donor/client contributions, assets disposition, personnel separation, among others
• Coordinate process of the preparation of the project due reports, in line with the setup deadlines and ensure quality and timely submission of the report.
• Facilitate execution of any and all project issues as may be required for efficient implementation.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

a. Education

• High School Diploma is the minimum academic requirement of this role.
• Bachelor's Degree in Public or Business Administration, Commerce, Finance, Management, Economics, Law, may substitute for two (2) years working experience.

b. Experience

• 6 years of relevant work experience in the field of project management with focus on monitoring, recording, reporting, and coordination.
• Experience and demonstrated knowledge of UN rules and procedures in Project Management, Procurement, Finance, HR Management and administrative rules and regulations will be an advantage.
• Knowledge of G Suit Package and handling of webbased management systems is an asset.
• Knowledge of UNOPS/UN rules and regulations preferred

c. Language

• Excellent knowledge of both written and oral English is required

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 ICA

Contract level:
LICA 6

Contract duration:
Ongoing ICA - Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:

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.

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