Project Associate, 70% part-time, NPSA 6 at UNDP Serbia
JOB DETAIL
Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
The Dual Education Enhancement project is part of the Future Ready Serbia Portfolio, directly supporting the newly established Office for Dual Education and National Qualification Framework. This project will be implemented in several phases. It aims to create a business environment in Serbia that propels the Serbian economy into a knowledge and innovation-based economy, based on equal opportunities, and to develop a business-need-driven future-ready workforce with competencies and skills that are quick to match the ever-changing new technologies. The Project will work towards the outcome through a set of interventions that include support to strengthening the capacities of the Office for Dual Education and National Qualification Framework, providing linkages between the private and public sector, international outreach to link the Office to the international dual education community and promotion of dual education in Serbia. Also, as the Office for Dual Education and National Qualification Framework has been recently established, UNDP will provide it temporary assistance by establishing a Project Implementation Unit in the Office to enable it to immediately manage the existing assistance (projects/grants/loans) until it manages to build its capacities at a regular pace.
As such, UNDP is seeking a Project Associate who will support the implementation of the Project objectives, and support the Project Implementation Unit in managing day-to-day operations together with the rest of the Project team.
Duties and Responsibilities
Actively participate to coordination and implementation of designated project activities:
- Assist in conceptualization, coordination, and implementation of selected activities/components in the area of the dual education.
- Provide inputs for development of project monitoring and evaluation framework.
- Prepare regular updates and reports to Project Boards on projects’ progress, implementing issues, emerging risks/problems and proposals for necessary remedial actions.
- Assist in identification of bottlenecks in the regulatory environment for dual education, propose solutions accordingly through constant stakeholder coordination and proactively act towards barrier removal and achievement of pre-identified targets.
- Identify and collect policy-related and other relevant information, documents and data, compile and analyze data for further use in project management.
Support to project administration:
- Support organization and coordination of meetings, training sessions, workshops, conferences, and project events and prepare reports and meeting minutes, as required
- Support in managing project finances, process invoices and ensure tax exemption for project related goods and services.
- Support procurement processes, provide inputs for request for quotations/proposals, prepare tenders and small procurements (canvassing), provide inputs for UNDP procurement plan.
- Draft terms of reference for consultants and contractors, as required and support recruitment of short-term consultants in line with rules and regulations.
- Follow up with (sub)contractors to ensure time delivery of outputs.
- Assist project teams, experts and consultants on travel and logistics matters.
- Coordinates and organizes trainings, field visits, missions and conferences.
- Perform other tasks ad duties as assigned by the supervisor.
- Ensure full compliance of activities with UNDP rules, regulations, and policies.
Network with partners and beneficiaries:
- Maintain communication with stakeholders within the Government of Serbia responsible for tasks pertaining to the project’s scope of work.
- Maintain cooperation and communication with project’s partners and beneficiaries on the implementation of the agreed activities, especially for the events, trainings, workshops.
- Establish record with contacts, pursue networking and information sharing and to follow up on partnership related issues.
- Prepare official correspondence for national and international partners
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Institutional Arrangement
The Project Associate will work under the overall guidance and supervision of the Programme Analyst – SDG Integration.
Competencies
| Core | |
| Achieve Results: | LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline |
| Think Innovatively: | LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements |
| Learn Continuously: | LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback |
| Adapt with Agility: | LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible |
| Act with Determination: | LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident |
| Engage and Partner: | LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships |
| Enable Diversity and Inclusion: | LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination |
| Thematic Area | Name | Definition |
| Partnership management | Relationship management | Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding |
| Business Development | Knowledge Facilitation | Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally |
| Business Management | Partnerships Management | Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies. |
| Business Management | Working with Evidence and Data | Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting decision-making. |
| Business Management | Customer Satisfaction/Client Management | Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers’ needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients’ immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns. |
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Secondary education is required, or
- University Degree in Project Management, Administration, Natural, Social Sciences or equivalent field will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement
Experience:
- A minimum of 6 years (with high school diploma) or 3 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant work experience in the field of project management, technical coordination, public policy or relevant related field is required
Required skills and competencies:
- Experience in the usage of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.), and knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages.
- Proven track record of working on policy initiatives or coordination of technical activities related to education
Desired additional skills and competencies:
- Experience in providing support in coordinating and implementing development projects;
- Experience in providing administrative support relevant for the project implementation.
- Proven oral and written communication skills in Serbian and English language;
- Good organizational and time management skills/experience;
- Excellent writing/reporting and presentation skills/experience;
- Excellent interpersonal, networking and team building skills;
- Proven ability in building strong relationships with clients and external actors;
- Cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
Required Languages:
- Excellent knowledge of written and spoken Serbian and English.
The online application form must be fully completed. Applicants are required to carefully complete their online application form and reflect all of their work experience history in the application.
Only attaching a CV is not sufficient for applicants to be considered for positions. All applicants have to complete the Experience, Education, Language, and Nationality & Permanent Residence fields fully.
Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials.
Disclaimer
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
Scam warning
The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.
JOBS YOU WILL LOVE
