Program Management Support Officer at UNOPS Full Time

Background Information – Job-specific

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 organizations. 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.

Established in 2009, UNOPS Ethiopia Office has been providing services to various partners, including the government of Ethiopia, UN agencies such as WHO, UNHCR and WFP, and other international organizations. Since 2014, the UNOPS Ethiopia multi-country office manages and coordinates the UNOPS activities in Ethiopia, as well as Sudan and Djibouti. The UNOPS Ethiopia multi-country office team is composed of approximately 100 national and international women and men and offers a broad range of services such as infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial and human resources management.

Position Background

UNOPS strategy for Ethiopia Multi-Country Office is aimed at providing support to the Government and people of Ethiopia, Sudan, and Djibouti through the delivery of projects and services in line with the governments’ own priorities and also under the UN Delivery as One initiative. The UNOPS Ethiopia Multi-Country Office (ETMCO) has been established as an organizational mechanism to deliver a range of projects for which UNOPS has been appointed as the implementation agency. At present, the UNOPS ETMC office is implementing and negotiating a number of projects in a range of sectors including infrastructure development, Procurement Support to Government Ministries and other UN agencies, and HR support to UN agencies. The functional objective of UNOPS ETMCO is to deliver projects in an efficient and effective manner, to achieve the development outcomes sought by the Government of Ethiopia and the donor community, where capacity building is always considered and encouraged.

Under the supervision and overall guidance of the ETMCO Partnerships Specialist, the Program Management Support Officer is responsible for facilitating the development of new business and partnership relationships between UNOPS and its partners, as well as expanding UNOPS presence in Ethiopia. The incumbent shall work closely with Project managers, PMO, PSO, and other relevant support service units to expand the business and client base. The Program Management Support Officer shall be responsible for the following functional responsibilities, but not limited to:

 Functional Responsibilities

The Program Management Support Officer shall be responsible for the following functional responsibilities, but not limited to:

1. Development and follow up of business opportunities
2. Project Support
3. Support communication and knowledge management
4. Monitoring and Progress Controls

Development and follow up of business opportunities

• Contributes and supports the development and implementation of EMCO business strategy
• Conducts research on donor aid flows worldwide, UN and other agencies, trends in aid, potential future markets for growth, creating criteria for selecting target markets and partners, comparison of donor types, and market with special emphasis to ETMCO core business.
• Explore potentials for new programs and develop proposals for submission to partners.
• Synthesizes and summarizes information relevant to business development and prepare relevant reports, briefing notes/talking points/presentations and other materials for internal and external use
• Advocates UNOPS as a partner and service provider of choice
• Supports development of strategic partnerships with key counterparts and business opportunities
• Maintain and develop contacts and partnerships within the donor community (UN agencies, host government, donor governments, donor organizations, etc.), monitor communications and follow-up activities;
• Support ETMCO Leadership team on the implementation and monitoring progress/ reporting of corporate and strategic initiatives
• Identifies requirements related to marketing materials and the distribution thereof, as well as any reports/publications required for existing and potential clients and partners
• Communicates with the relevant UNOPS personnel on matters pertaining to their respective responsibilities in relation to program and business development
• Develops UNOPS capacity statements for the various services provided by UNOPS
• Supports ETMCO operations and contributes to knowledge sharing, enhancing the harmonization of projects while facilitating synergies with team members.

Project Support

• Prepares project documents, legal agreements, budgets, and support engagement clearance.
• Assists the preparation of meetings and events, draft talking points, and meeting minutes
• Supports ETMCO leadership team in project compliance and quality assurance, by providing up-to-date analysis of project progress, by keeping track of performance vs portfolio Key Performance Indicators – KPIs.
• Collaborates with business area teams to understand project requirements, shape the initial project request, and provide a high-level estimate of the project effort and costs
• Support to internal coordination of corporate and strategic initiatives, planning and reporting, and knowledge sharing and communications.

Support communication and knowledge management

• Promote the circulation of information within ETMCO and its units, in order to support knowledge management and create cross synergies within ETMCO units.
• Together with the communication unit produce high-quality communications and visibility materials of ETMCO on websites

Monitoring and Progress Controls

• Supports preparation of the monthly KPI reports as per EMCO target agreement
• Prepare periodic updates on the progress of Corporate action plans
• Provides ad hoc research on potential business partners
• Involve in the induction of new staff about UNOPS, its mandates, systems, and operation

Impacts of results

• Improved client base and enhance the viability of the office
• Improved partner and service line diversification
• Improved visibility
• Improved partner satisfaction
• Improved adherence to UNOPS internal operations and management

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education requirements

• A first University degree (Bachelor’s) in Business Administration, Commerce, Marketing, Economics, Management, International Affairs, Political science, Development Studies, or related discipline.
• An advanced university degree (Master’s) in Business Administration, Commerce, Marketing, Economics, Management, International Affairs, Political science, Development Studies, or related discipline is an added advantage.

Experience requirements

• Two (2) years of relevant experience in donor relations and/or business development functions is required.
• A Master’s Degree is an added advantage.

Language requirements

• Fluency in spoken and written English is required.
• Fluency in the local language (Amharic) is required
• Knowledge of another official UN language is an asset

Skills

• Executive/Management – Donor relations ( 2 years) – Required
• Executive/Management – Business Development ( 2 years)- Required
• Partnerships – Partnerships development – Optional
• Partnerships – International development experience – Optional
• Partnerships – Commercial and legal agreements experience- Optional

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 a 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.
• Evaluate 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 Individual Contractual Agreement

Contract level: LICA-8

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

Background Information – UNOPS

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management, and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage the recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work-life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

Additional Considerations

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work-life harmonization – UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• 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 (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans, and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.

Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.