Project Management Support - Senior Officer (Peace and Development)

Job Description

Background Information - Job-specific

Background Information – UNOPS Hub in Amman

The UNOPS Hub in Amman implements projects on behalf of UN agencies and bilateral donors and in close coordination with the Government and national authorities. With an established presence across the region (Jordan, Iraq, Yemen, Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon), the office runs operations including large-scale procurement, project development, and technical management, and provides financial, human resources, and infrastructure-related services.

The functional objective of UNOPS Hub in Amman is to deliver its projects in an efficient and effective manner and in line with the principles, rules, and regulations of UNOPS, in order to support the response to the current needs and national priorities in the region.

UNOPS has been active in Lebanon since 2015, delivering projects in support of the Government of Lebanon and partners. Since the explosion at the Beirut Port on 4 August 2020, UNOPS has significantly scaled up its presence in the country to support the humanitarian response and both its presence and portfolio have undergone expansion.

The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

UNOPS is committed to achieving a fully diverse workforce.

Background Information - Project Specific

UNOPS is undertaking a project that aims at improving access to critical municipal services and increasing the resilience of the Beirut and Bourj Hammoud municipalities affected by the Beirut Port explosion, through the rehabilitation of damaged municipal infrastructure and assets as well as restoration of critical urban services, such as water and sanitation, roads, waste management, and energy, including renewable energy, in an integrated and gender-sensitive manner, contributing to improved quality of life as well as by creating local economic activities for all. Besides the improved public service delivery, the project entails undertaking accompanying tension-mitigation measures, extensive community engagement activities, and grants support to local CSO/NGOs that aims at reducing tensions in the targeted communities, enhancing community resilience, and helping rebuild the trust in the local authorities.

The project has a duration of 48 months (including 12 months for the Defect Notification Period), and will be implemented in coordination with the governmental, municipal, and relevant community stakeholders in Lebanon, to ensure that projects activities are designed in consultation with relevant governmental authorities and to reflect community needs.

Functional Responsibilities

Purpose and Scope of Assignment

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the incumbent is responsible for performing the following duties:

Project Development

• Undertake detailed and project-specific Peace and Conflict analysis, ensuring that gender and human rights dimensions are reflected in both analysis and programming, to enhance conflict-sensitive project implementation. This would also require identifying appropriate ‘entry points for conflict prevention and sustaining peace, proposing concrete, actionable and timely recommendations for consideration by the UNOPS programme team;

• Contribute to the development of the communication and stakeholder engagement plan in coordination with the Community Engagement and Communication Officer;

• Lead on the implementation of conflict-sensitivity under the project;

• Contribute to stakeholder engagement and engage with potential project beneficiaries;

• Conduct conflict risk assessments and propose mitigation measures to the PM;

• Participate in the selection of proposals in the grants component;

• Support the identification of key actors to play a role in the project in support of peace impacts at the local level through suggesting/identifying appropriate participatory approaches to planning and implementation.

• Identify opportunities to build national capacities for conflict prevention including areas of programmatic engagement with national stakeholders

• Mainstream conflict sensitivity in all stages of the project cycle and ensure that UNOPS assessments and projects are conflict-sensitive and informed by high-quality analysis.

• Prepare a checklist for mainstreaming conflict sensitivity in the project activities.

Monitoring and Progress Controls

• Peace and conflict analysis and risk assessment conducted;

• project-related documents to mainstreaming conflict sensitivity are developed.

• Project checklist on mainstreaming conflict sensitivity in project activities.

Education/Experience/Language requirements
Education

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in conflict resolution, peace studies, political science, sociology, human rights, international relations, economics, law, public administration, or other related social sciences is required.
• An advanced university degree (Master’s Degree) in the above-mentioned areas or other related social sciences is desired and may substitute some of the required years of experience.

Experience

• At least 4 years of experience (or less depending on academic credentials) in conflict analysis, strategy development, risk-informed/conflict-sensitive development and/or conflict prevention & sustaining peace in a governmental, multilateral or civil society organization is required;
• Experience in programming and project management, such as programme design and results monitoring, in areas related to conflict prevention, peacebuilding and/or development is required;
• Experience in working with the G-Suite platform including, Google Drive, Google Calendar, Gmail, Google Sheets, Docs, and Slides is required.
• Experience in national and community-level conflict prevention and peacebuilding initiatives and programming; with experience in gendered dimensions of peacebuilding being an asset.
• High proficiency with computers, and other software/ platforms related to the position’s field of expertise.
• Experience of working in the UN/ International Organization is preferred.

Language

• Fluency in spoken and written Arabic and English languages is required.

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 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. Evaluates 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: Individual Contractual Agreement (ICA)
Contract level: Local ICA Specialist 9
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

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.

About the Organization

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 recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

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