Project Assistant, Social Inclusion (part-time 50%)

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

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.

Under the Delivering as One Framework and in line with UN Development Assistance Framework and UNDP Country Programme Document, one of the main outcomes of UN/UNDP interventions in Montenegro is to achieve ‘populations’ improved access to quality, equitable, inclusive and mutually reinforcing systems of health, education, social protection and decent work.

This outcome will be achieved, among others, by providing support to the reform processes to build and strengthen the institutional mechanisms and capacities in the sectors of social welfare, employment, health and education to improve vulnerable populations’ terms of participation in society, access to resources, widening their opportunities and ensuring respect for rights.

In other words, the solutions to social exclusion phenomena require multi-sectoral and multi-layer contributions from labor market, education, health and social protection sectors and system policies. In this respect, it is important for Montenegro to accelerate decisive endeavors to reform these sectors in accordance with the best EU practices.

More concretely, UNDP will support implementation of  activities which may include i) provision of support to national and local authorities in improving and optimizing the network of social, health and educational institutions and their physical facilities, thus increasing the potential to provide quality services ii) development of standards for community based services, ii) capacity development of local actors involved in service provision, iii) support to national and local actors who plan, design, run/manage and deliver community-services in results and beneficiary oriented manner.

Within the Social Inclusion programming the particular attention is paid to the most vulnerable populations such as Roma/refugees. The intervention in this regard are mainly focusing on identifying root causes for their exclusion (such as legal status) and the activities are directed towards improving access to social, health and educational services and national employment programmmes. 

The position is classified at NB2 - NPSA5 grade level.

The Project Assistant is responsible for all the administrative and accounting matters under the SI Programme, as set out in the overall Project documents and in accordance with the UNDP standards and best practices. Under direct supervision of the respective Programme Manager, the main task of the Project Assistant will be to ensure overall administrative and accounting support to implementation/delivery of different aspects of the SI Programme which focuses on:

•             Social Welfare Reform and Employment programme(s) including Roma and youth related activities;

•             Development/upgrade of the Social, Health and Education sector capacities.

In performing these responsibilities, the incumbent will be required to carry out the following main tasks on a regular basis:

• Maintain administrative files relevant to the Projects;
• Maintain day-to-day communication with Operations Unit regarding the Projects’ administration matters: procurement, human resources and finance matters; provide administrative support regarding recruitment of experts and procurement of goods and services under the Projects;
• Provide support to procurement processes related to the Projects’ implementation: provide inputs for preparation of procurement plans for the office; provide support to organization of procurement processes including preparation of tender documents (with quality check and verification of the project design and technical documentation in case of construction works), support to organization of the tendering and contracting procedure (publishing tender, if necessary organizing pre-bid conference and site visit, selecting and contracting companies), support to receipts of quotations, bids or proposals, and their preliminary evaluation; provide support to monitoring and supervision of construction works (according to UNDP procedure and MNE legislation), provide support to identification of needs for equipment, and procurement and installation of necessary equipment;
• Perform regular financial and administrative duties necessary for the successful and timely Projects’ implementation:

• Ensure daily transactions are processed in the Atlas system (vendors, vouchers, requisitions, etc.);
• Keep track of all transactions in a budget notebook;
• Perform regular budget revisions;
• Provide regular delivery estimation and monthly expense estimation to the Finance Unit; provide regular reporting regarding the Projects’ expenditures;
• Prepare periodic Projects’ asset/inventory reports;
• Ensure completeness of documentation, check accuracy of calculation for all financial transactions related to the Projects, and prepare/process financial transactions in the system in accordance with UNDP rules and procedures.

• Draft routine correspondence, facsimile, memoranda and reports from oral instructions, previous correspondence or other available information sources, in accordance with the standard office procedures, and ensure appropriate follow-up; write minutes from the meetings; provide translation/interpretation services into English and vice versa when needed.
• Provide logistical support to the Projects and ensure provision of adequate secretarial and interpretation facilities (organization of Projects’ events, meetings and study tours, travel arrangements, arrangement of shipments, project vehicles maintenance, conference facilities arrangements, visits of experts, timely processed daily subsistence allowances, etc.).

The Project Assistant will work part-time 50%. He/she will be responsible for daily support to the Social Inclusion Programme Manager based in UNDP Montenegro Country Office in Podgorica. The incumbent will be based in UNDP Montenegro office in Podgorica.

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity 
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Demonstrating corporate knowledge and sound judgment
• Self-development, initiative-taking
• Acting as a team player and facilitating team work
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively
• Creating synergies through self-control
• Managing conflict
• Excellent inter-personal and communication skills
• Excellent organizational skills with developed attention to detail
• Ability to work independently and in a team.

Functional competencies:

• Results Based Programme Development
• Innovation
• Building Strategic Partnerships
• Design and implementation of Management Systems
• Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing
• Job knowledge/Technical Expertise
• Client Orientation

Education:

• Secondary Education,
• University Degree in Economy, Management or related sciences is a strong advantage.

Experience: 

• At least 3 years of progressively responsible administrative or project experience is required; previous relevant experience with international organizations will be an advantage;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages; experience in handling of web-based management systems;
• Knowledge of finance management system used by UNDP will be an asset.

Languages:

• Fluency in English and Montenegrin.

Important applicant information

All posts in the NPSA categories are subject to local recruitment.

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.

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.