Project Support Officer

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.

With more than 20 years of experience in the country, UNOPS Afghanistan focuses on providing maximum support to the Government and people of Afghanistan through delivery of projects and services in line with the government’s national priorities. The UNOPS Afghanistan Country Office (AFCO) serves as an organizational mechanism to deliver a range of projects for which UNOPS has been designated as the implementation agency. At present, UNOPS AFCO is implementing a number of projects in a range of sectors including infrastructure (roads, bridges, justice and security, health, and water supply) development, procurement services, HR services, capacity building, and humanitarian protection, amongst others, on behalf of the Government of Afghanistan, the international donor community, and other UN agencies.

The functional objective of UNOPS AFCO is to contribute to the achievement of the development outcomes sought by the Government of Afghanistan. The aim of UNOPS AFCO is to provide efficient and cost-effective implementation services on behalf of all our partners to support the reconstruction and development of the country. UNOPS AFCO’s mission is to exceed the expectations of all stakeholders in the delivery of AFCO’s services, at all times, in all places, in all circumstances, in order to improve significantly the lives of all Afghans in need

Established in 2015, Resolute Support (RS) is a NATO-led, non-combat mission with a mandate to train, advise and assist the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF), who assumed nationwide responsibility for Afghanistan’s security following the conclusion of the previous NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission.
The purpose of RSHQ is to help the Afghan security forces and institutions develop the capacity to protect its citizens in a sustainable manner and to manage/improve security enhancements with Kabul city. The purpose of the UNOPS/RSHQ engagement is to support NATO for both the ANA Trust Fund Office (NATFO) and Kabul Security Force (KSF) funding streams; for procurement of goods and services, contract management, maintenance of equipment(s), physical security enhancements, construction projects and construction work packages, as well as coordination and facilitation of RSHQ operations, programs and activities (non-kinetic only).

This is a complex engagement and during 2020 the project will expand significantly and convert from a project to a programme. 

2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment

Under the overall guidance and direction of the Project Manager (PM), and in close coordination with the Programme Management Office, the Project Support Officer (PSO) will contribute to ensuring that the project activities are in compliance and up to date, and that reporting requirements to stakeholders are in line with defined project objectives. The PSO will be responsible for monitoring specific administrative and financial transactions, preparing and updating financial reports, providing information and bringing to attention issues related to the project’s support operations. Specific responsibilities and duties include, but are not limited to:

• Provide support to the overall aspects of project operations related to finance, human resources, procurement and logistics, among others.

• In consultation with the Project Manager, provide support on all matters relating to financial management and administration in compliance with established procedures, SOPs and the UNOPS Financial Regulations and Rules (FRR).

• Provide effective support and accurate guidance to the PM on all issues relating to UNOPS support-service functions.

• Ensure accuracy, consistency and applicability of supporting documents (project document, budget, awards, contract validity, No Objection Letters as required, among others). 

• Prepare payment requests and necessary supporting documents (financial forecasts and/or Project Delivery Reports) for submittal in accordance with project agreements.

• Prepare and maintain the operational budget according to UNOPS financial management systems and ensure completeness of required supporting documents. 

• Liaise with UNOPS support service offices for project-related administrative and operational matters such as payments, contract management, recruitment of personnel, procurement of goods and services and assets management.

• Ensure all business processes are backed up by required supporting documents and maintain an effective records system.

• Ensure conformity of project disbursement requests with UNOPS FRR, work plans and availability of resources/funds for disbursement.

• Receive, review and process recruitment requests, certification of payments and other forms of requisitions from the project office, project team or through designated recipients.

• Raise requisitions for procurement, and facilitate requests for issuance of contracts and/or amendments on documents. 

• Commit funds through purchase orders (PO) in the financial system in accordance with SOPs.

• Prepare updated financial reports in compliance with reporting requirements to donors, or as specified in the agreement (i.e. Project Delivery Reports; Financial Monitoring Reports, progress Reports, etc).

• Prepare budget revisions in the system in consultation with the PM and Finance Section.

• Provide input for the narrative progress reports and other reporting requirements as requested by the PM. 

• Prepare the project’s operational and financial completion requirements – e.g. financial and narrative completion reports, settlement of any pending contractual and financial obligations/commitments, full receipt of donor/client contributions, assets disposition, personnel separation, among others. 

• Support the effective delivery and implementation of procurement services in coordination with the PM and the Procurement Office and ensure that administration of logistics and assets management are in compliance with established rules and regulations.

• Perform any other tasks as may be assigned.

A.  Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Commerce, Finance, Management, Economics, Accounting, Public Administration or a relevant field. Professional Certificate in a relevant field and/or a Master’s Degree would be an asset.

B. Work Experience 

• At least 2 years of progressively responsible experience in providing administrative and project operational support in the areas of finance, human resources, procurement, logistics and assets management, among others.

• Knowledge of UNOPS/UN rules and regulations preferred.

• Prior experience in multi-stage reporting and project support is desirable.

• Proficiency in using Google Suite Package (Google Sheets, Google Docs, and Google Presentation) is preferred.  

C.  Languages

• Excellent knowledge of both written and oral English is required.

• Knowledge of Dari/Pashto is desirable.

• 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.