The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ development projects, by providing sustainable project management, procurement, and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors, and United Nations organisations. As a self-financing entity within the UN system, UNOPS must ensure that the projects it delivers meet client expectations in terms of cost, quality and time, while at the same time ensuring that these projects collectively meet a broader array of success criteria.

As part of its UNOPS Republic of Serbia Multi-Country Office (RSMCO) operations, and in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation in Montenegro (the Ministry), UNOPS in Montenegro is initiating an “Enhancing School Infrastructure in Montenegro (ESIM)” Project, funded by European Investment Bank (EIB), which is designed to enhance the capacity of national and local stakeholders, primarily the Ministry, to better plan, deliver and manage school infrastructure. This Project is part of a broader programme that will contribute to improved quality of pre-school, primary and secondary education in Montenegro and it is part of the broader vision focused on further comprehensive education reforms. The key beneficiaries of the Project are the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation and schools in Montenegro.

The Architect works closely with and under the supervision and direction of the Project Manager to ensure support for the efficient and effective implementation of the Project, and in cooperation with the Department for Investments and Public Procurement of the Ministry, which includes Office for coordination and implementation of capital budget and project loans. While contributing to the planning, management, monitoring, and reporting of Project activities, the Architect is primarily responsible for ensuring quality delivery of work packages related to the development of technical documentation for the construction or reconstruction of new schools, as also related to assessment of school infrastructure.

In performing her/his work, the Architect promotes a client, quality and results-oriented approach, and works closely with the Support Services to exchange information and ensure consistent service delivery.

The Architect will undertake the following activities/responsibilities:

• Provide specialised knowledge needed for the quality delivery of infrastructure related work packages and activities.
• Develop terms of references (ToRs) related to infrastructure work packages and activities, including ToRs for the development and review of technical documentation and infrastructure assessment.
• Monitor and review progress and conduct quality checks of infrastructure related activities.
• Actively follow and contribute to the technical design development and review processes, ensuring alignment with project objectives and compliance with technical standards.
• Engage with infrastructure related stakeholders, including beneficiary institutions, Project experts/retainers, internal UNOPS entities, primarily design review committee.
• Support the Project Manager in engaging with the Project’s key stakeholders, including the donor, the European Investment Bank (EIB), and the Ministry of Education Science and Innovation (MESI).
• Establish and cultivate close cooperation with Support Services in support of procurement, finance, human resources, logistics, and administrative actions.
• Participate in evaluation panels related to infrastructure activities.
• Manage and or coordinate infrastructure related consultants.
• Provide inputs to reports outlining findings of the education infrastructure assesment.
• Provide inputs to the Project work plans, forecasts, procurement and other Project’s plans in parts related to infrastructure work packages.
• Contribute to the development of the Project’s reports and analysis within the scope of the assignment.
• Contribute to the identification and assessment of risks and implementation of mitigation measures in accordance with the Office/Project Risk Management Approach.
• Contribute to the maintenance of the Project’s archive, with a focus on infrastructure work packages and activities.
• Contribute to the identification and sharing of the Project’s lessons learned and the best practices.
• Provide support to the Project’s communication and visibility activities.
• Produce meeting minutes and reports and contribute to the development of briefings and other Project documentation.
• Perform other duties as may be reasonably required and in line with the incumbent’s scope of services above.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture or Civil Engineering is required.

Work Experience

• Two years of working experience in architectural and/or infrastructure projects is required.
• Experience with the conduct of infrastructure related studies or the development of technical documentation and designs would be an asset.
• Experience in engagement with Governmental institutions, international organisations and donors would be an asset.
• Experience with Government infrastructure projects, including with implementation of security standards would be an asset.

Language Requirements

• Fluency in Montenegrin and English is required.

Driving license

• A driving licence and the ability to travel independently is a requirement.

ALL CANDIDATES ARE REQUESTED TO SUBMIT A CV AND COVER LETTER ALONG WITH THEIR APPLICATION

• Possession of the certificate for design and construction is required.

This is a local position, it is therefore open to nationals of Montenegro and to individuals who have a valid residence/work permit.

Contract type: ICA
Contract level: Local ICA Specialist – ICS 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:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

• 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. 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.

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an independent United Nations (UN) organisation since 1995 (Resolution 48/501, 1994), which succeeded two decades of its operations as a part of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) since 1974 when it was established.

The mission of UNOPS is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development. As a part of the United Nations family, and as the only self-financed UN organisation, UNOPS is committed to UN values and private sector efficiency.

In Serbia, UNOPS has been active since 2000 and the organisation provides support in conducting demanding socio-economic reforms and facilitating accession to the European Union. The projects focus on sustainable local development, good governance, the rule of law, social cohesion, environment and emergency response. The projects are implemented with funding from the European Union (EU), the Governments of Switzerland, Sweden, Serbia, and the UN organisations.

UNOPS Serbia Multi-Country Office (RSMCO) also covers Montenegro and North Macedonia, as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the need for support and potential engagements are being assessed. The work of UNOPS and the projects it implements is contextualised within the broader Sustainable Development Goals frameworks and objectives of the countries of its operations.