Project Management Support - Associate

The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) brings together diverse expertise to help partners deliver impact worldwide. With hubs in New York, Geneva, and Vienna, and expert teams operating globally, GPO leads multi-regional initiatives that advance sustainable development, climate action, and peacebuilding - including in some of the world’s most challenging environments. By leveraging our collective expertise and global networks, GPO supports UNOPS’ strategic priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals across more than 130 countries. We work closely with major global partners - including governments, international financial institutions, and UN agencies - to deliver a wide range of services, such as project management, fund management, hosting services, and HR support.

The New York Portfolios Office (NYPO) manages UNOPS' New York-based portfolios, delivering project and programme management, procurement, HR, and financial services to global partners, from the UN Secretariat to Member States. NYPO strategically positions UNOPS with these partners, fostering collaboration to achieve growth and leveraging expertise in global portfolio design and implementation. We support the broader SDGs and 2030 Agenda, primarily assisting the UN Secretariat and other New York-based UN entities with a global reach. NYPO encompasses the Peace and Security Cluster (PSC), focusing on explosive threat management, and the Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC), providing diverse operational support to the UN system in New York.

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In Colombia, UNOPS implements the UNMAS programme to support the National Government in matters related to Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA) and compliance with the State's obligations under the Ottawa Convention. UNMAS Colombia's mission is to provide technical assistance to the Colombian State to enable communities to live free from the threat of explosive devices and to enable HMA to contribute to the country's peace and development processes.

This position is embedded within a programme aimed at strengthening Colombia’s HMA sector through an integrated approach that includes: (i) the strengthening of the national policy and regulatory framework; (ii) the enhancement of operational capacity, including emergency response; and (iii) the reinforcement of resilience to explosive ordnance (EO) at the local level.

PSC operates within UNOPS’ broader commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), and the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (PSEAH), as set out in the UNOPS DEI Strategy and Accountability Plan 2026-2029. Within the mine action context, these commitments are operationalised through the PSC GEDSI Strategy 2026-2029 which set expectations for inclusive recruitment, workforce representation, and the integration of GESI and PSEAH into programme delivery and implementing partner oversight. All PSC roles, including this position, are expected to contribute actively to these commitments.

The Project Management Support Associate provides substantive support to the planning, coordination, and delivery of project activities. The role collaborates closely with project stakeholders to maintain effective coordination, facilitate operations, and ensure activities are delivered efficiently in line with the project’s results framework and internal processes.

Planning and Preparation

• Support senior programme managers in stakeholder engagement, training needs assessment, and development of capacity-building programmes.
• Contribute to budget preparation, procurement processes, and identification of risks with mitigation measures. 
• Assist in drafting project agreements, amendments, and budget revisions in consultation with relevant stakeholders.
• Support communication and coordination with governmental stakeholders by facilitating information sharing, scheduling meetings, maintaining contact records, and following up on routine requests to support project implementation.

Project Implementation Support

• Assist the national Mine Action Center (MAC/AICMA Group) in updating National Mine Action Standards, technical annexes, training curricula, and assist in training sessions.
• Under the guidance of senior staff, support the delivery of technical training and related activities in HMA, including Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE), victims assistance, humanitarian demining, National and International Mine Action Standards, emerging EO-related threats, restorative justice and relevant topics aimed at strengthening national and local capacities in HMA, in accordance with UNOPS PSEAH standards and do no harm principlesensuring that training and outreach activities are designed and delivered inclusively, reaching women, girls, persons with disabilities, indigenous communities, and other groups facing access barriers.
• Support the administration of personnel and the coordination of project activities and assets within an allocated budget.
• Coordinate logistics for training sessions, workshops, and meetings (venues, materials, accommodation, catering, assessments, certification)
• Support the development of training materials and the integration of thematic inputs into delivery.
• Liaise with service providers, retainers, and project stakeholders to ensure effective project implementation.
• Facilitate internal and external communications to minimize operational disruption and maintain consistent project delivery.

Monitoring, Reporting and Compliance

• Develop and update monitoring tools, progress tracking sheets, and risk/ issue registers.
• Collect, prepare and archive documentation related to training and project activities.
• Contribute to drafting and quality assurance of reports, meeting minutes, and donor/partner submissions.
• Track project milestones and alert managers on deadlines and reporting requirements.
• Ensure compliance with UNOPS policies, procedures and donor requirements.
• Assist the UNMAS Colombia programme in updating the information collection methodologies, monitoring, and supporting the information collection sessions with relevant stakeholders.
• Assist data management and quality checks, and contribute to systematizing the technical processes and results.
• Help with grant-related administrative tasks, such as tracking grantee submissions, reporting, and maintaining records on asset documentation.

Operational and Logistical Support

• Coordinate procurement, travel, transport and inventory management in support of project operations.
• Support HR-related project requirements (e.g. drafting terms of reference for positions, monitoring deliverables, recruitment activities, etc), applying UNOPS DEI Strategy and Standards consistent with the DEI Accountability Plan.
• Manage project files, shared drives, and document management systems to ensure real-time tracking and accessibility.
• Assist interagency missions in the field when required.
• Support the preparation of programme documents, including concept notes, proposals, and associated budgets.
• Participate in coordination meetings and assist in information sharing with humanitarian partners, under direct guidance.

Knowledge Building and Sharing

• Support the organization, facilitation and delivery of training and learning sessions on project management.
• Participate in knowledge-sharing initiatives and Communities of Practice (CoPs), contributing insights and lessons learned.
• Conduct research on project management-related topics and contribute to the drafting of reports, summaries, humanitarian analysis, technical notes and briefing notes

Required

• Secondary school (or equivalent) with 6 years of relevant experience OR

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 2 years of relevant experience is required.

Desired

• A globally recognized professional certificate or membership in Project Management is desired.

• Basic Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) certification is desired.

Required

• Relevant experience is work in project management or related areas.  

• Demonstrable proficiency in the use of collaboration and productivity tools (e.g. MS Office, G-Suite, etc) and web-based management systems is required

  
  Desired

• Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in a developing country is desired.
• Experience in development or humanitarian contexts is desired.
• Experience in liaising with national and/or local authorities is desired.
• Experience working in mine action is desired 
• Experience applying gender-sensitive, inclusive, or GESI-responsive approaches in community engagement, training delivery, or project coordination in humanitarian or development contexts is desirable.

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
  

• 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. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
• For more details about the contract types, please click 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.