Project Management Support – Associate

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 record-keeping 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 project-related 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

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.

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 web-based management systems is an asset.
• Knowledge of UNOPS/UN rules and regulations preferred

Language 

• Excellent knowledge of both written and oral English is required

Source: https://jobs.unops.org/Pages/ViewVacancy/VADetails.aspx?id=28582