Project Management Support Officer

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

Purpose and Scope of Assignment

Under the overall guidance and direction of the Project Manager, and in close coordination with the Programme Management Office, the Project Management Support Officer (PMSO) will contribute to ensuring that the project activities are in compliance and up to date, and that reporting requirements to stakeholders are in line with defined project objectives.

Functional Responsibilities

The PMSO will be responsible for monitoring specific administrative and financial transactions, preparing and updating financial reports, providing information and bringing to attention issues related to the project's support operations.

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

• Provide support to the overall aspects of project operations related to finance, human resources, procurement and logistics, among others.
• In consultation with the Project Manager, provide support on all matters relating to financial management and administration in compliance with established procedures, SOPs and the UNOPS Financial Regulations and Rules (FRR).
• Provide effective support and accurate guidance to the PM on all issues relating to UNOPS supportservice functions.
• Ensure accuracy, consistency and applicability of supporting documents (project document, budget, awards, contract validity, No Objection Letters as required, among others).
• Prepare payment requests and necessary supporting documents (financial forecasts and/or Project Delivery Reports) for submittal in accordance with project agreements.
• Prepare and maintain the operational budget according to UNOPS financial management systems and ensure completeness of required supporting documents.
• Liaise with UNOPS support service offices for projectrelated administrative and operational matters such as payments, contract management, recruitment of personnel, procurement of goods and services and assets management.
• Ensure all business processes are backed up by required supporting documents and maintain an effective records system.
• Ensure conformity of project disbursement requests with UNOPS FRR, work plans and availability of resources/funds for disbursement.
• Receive, review and process recruitment requests, certification of payments and other forms of requisitions from the project office, project team or through designated recipients.
• Raise requisitions for procurement, and facilitate requests for issuance of contracts and/or amendments on documents.
• Commit funds through purchase orders (PO) in the financial system in accordance with SOPs.
• Prepare updated financial reports in compliance with reporting requirements to donors, or as specified in the agreement (i.e. Project Delivery Reports; Financial Monitoring Reports, progress Reports, etc).
• Prepare budget revisions in the system in consultation with the PM and Finance Section.
• Provide input for the narrative progress reports and other reporting requirements as requested by the PM.
• Prepare the project's operational and financial completion requirements – e.g. financial and narrative completion reports, settlement of any pending contractual and financial obligations/commitments, full receipt of donor/client contributions, assets disposition, personnel separation, among others.
• Support the effective delivery and implementation of procurement services in coordination with the PM and the Procurement Office and ensure that administration of logistics and assets management are in compliance with established rules and regulations.
• Perform any other tasks as may be assigned.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

A. Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Commerce, Finance, Management, Economics, Accounting, Public Administration or a relevant field. Professional Certificate in a relevant field and/or a Master's Degree would be an asset.

B. Work Experience

• At least 2 years of progressively responsible experience in providing administrative and project operational support in the areas of finance, human resources, procurement, logistics and assets management, among others.
• Knowledge of UNOPS/UN rules and regulations preferred.
• Prior experience in multistage reporting and project support is desirable.
• Proficiency in using Google Suite Package (Google Sheets, Google Docs, and Google Presentation) is preferred.

C. Languages

• Excellent knowledge of both written and oral English is required.
• Knowledge of Dari/Pashto is desirable.

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 8

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. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. 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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