Project Management Support – Specialist

Functional Responsibilities:

The incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:

Project Planning & Execution: Coordinate the co-design of objectives, scope, and strategies with UNDP. Monitor progress, allocate resources, and ensure timely completion while adhering to quality standards

• Actively co-design project activities and milestones with UNDP. Ensure inclusivity by integrating inputs from diverse stakeholders, recognizing the pivotal leadership roles of both UNDP and OSET.
• Clearly delineate the project’s boundaries to maintain its relevance and feasibility. Harmonize the diverse interests of stakeholders, acknowledging that strategic trade-offs will be inevitable.
• Direct a high-stakes initiative with an ambitious timeline, striving to achieve exceptional outcomes that resonate positively with a wide array of stakeholders.

Team Leadership & Communication: Assemble and guide various project teams, ensuring clear communication with all stakeholders, including team members, UN and non-UN project partners, and senior management.

• Direct teams across diverse workstreams, recognizing the unique reporting structures. Prioritize engagement based on expertise and subject matter, ensuring cohesive collaboration even when direct authority is absent.
• Act as the pivotal conduit, seamlessly connecting project operations with senior management within the UN framework and external entities. Ensure timely and transparent information flow to foster alignment and collaboration.
• Cultivate strong, trust-based relationships with all project partners, both within and outside the UN. Prioritize clear, timely, and effective communication to maintain stakeholder buy-in and collaborative momentum.

Risk Management: Identify potential project risks, develop mitigation strategies, and manage changes effectively to ensure the initiatives completion until the Summit for the Future.

• Assume a leadership role in the initiative’s risk management, taking early action on foreseeable challenges. Prioritize transparent communication about these risks with all partners, ensuring they are well-informed and prepared.
• Craft and refine mitigation mechanisms by closely collaborating with all stakeholders, ensuring a united and coherent approach to potential challenges.
• Efficiently and effectively implement the devised strategies, regularly reviewing and adjusting as necessary to navigate the dynamic landscape of the project and ensure successful outcomes.

Fundraising & Partnership management: Contribute to the fundraising from government and civil society organizations, cultivate relationships with all stakeholders in the DPI Ecosystem, ensuring the initiative’s financial sustainability and growth

• Aim to secure a medium six-figure sum for project funding, leveraging proposals and pitches tailored to potential donors and organizations.
• Forge and nurture global partnerships, engaging stakeholders from diverse sectors.
• Channel funds and resources to not only meet immediate project needs but also lay a foundation for the initiative’s enduring success and scalability in the future.

Monitoring and Progress Controls:

• Monitor project activities and regularly update stakeholders on project status
• Implement systematic and periodic checks on all project activities, ensuring alignment with set milestones and objectives.
• Maintain open channels of communication, providing stakeholders with timely, accurate, and comprehensive updates on project progression and any deviations

Education/Experience/Language requirements:

FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

*CANDIDATES WITH NO UNITED NATIONS OR UNOPS EXPERIENCE ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

Education:

Advanced University degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in public or business administration, computer science, international development, law or related area. A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in combination with an additional two (2) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience / Language:

Required experience:

• At least five (5) years of progressively responsible work experience in development cooperation, e-government, management consulting, or a related field is required;

Desired experience: The following experience is optional. Candidates who do not have it are welcome to apply.

• Experience in a DPI safeguards related field such as human rights online, e-government, digital diplomacy is desirable;
• Experience in stakeholder engagement and partnership development is desirable;
• Experience in events management and coordination is desirable;
• Experience in developing and implementing communication and outreach strategies is desirable.

Language:

• Fluency in English (read, write, speak) is required.
• Knowledge of another United Nations official language is an asset.

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UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunities. Our workforce is made up of people from varied nationalities, cultures and races. They speak a range of languages and have different gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities.
We encourage women and candidates from underrepresented groups in UNOPS to apply. These include candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities. Click apply and join us!

Remarks: Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.