Project Assistant

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN's global development network, established to advocate for change and connect countries to knowledge, experience, and resources to help people build better lives. UNDP operates in approximately 170 countries and territories, working to eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities through sustainable development. The organization focuses on various areas, including climate change, democratic governance, peacebuilding, and resilience. The specific project mentioned, 'EU Partnership for Local Climate Action in Türkiye,' is a collaborative effort between the European Union and the Government of Türkiye aimed at enhancing local climate action and guiding the nation towards a climate-resilient and low-carbon future. This project involves working closely with the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, local authorities, and key stakeholders to improve capacities at different governance levels and society.

Job Overview:
The Project Assistant (PA) will play a crucial role in supporting the implementation of the 'EU Partnership for Local Climate Action in Türkiye' project. This position involves providing general administrative and logistical support to the Project Manager, Grant Programme Support Administrator, Project Associates, key experts, and short-term consultants. The PA will assist in organizing various project activities, including meetings, trainings, workshops, and stakeholder consultations, ensuring effective communication among project partners and stakeholders. The role requires maintaining project documentation, managing correspondence, and supporting outreach and public relations activities. The PA will also be responsible for preparing project newsletters, presentations, and promotional materials, ensuring compliance with visibility guidelines. This position is integral to enhancing local climate adaptation planning and decision-making capacities, ultimately contributing to the project's goal of fostering climate action at the local level.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Project Assistant will be responsible for a wide range of duties, including but not limited to: providing general administrative support; offering logistical assistance for project activities; organizing and participating in meetings; managing correspondence with project partners; ensuring effective communication flow between the project team and UNDP Türkiye Communications Unit; maintaining project files and expert reports; monitoring equipment usage; drafting correspondence and documents; archiving project documents; supporting translation tasks; initiating social media communication; preparing project newsletters and presentations; developing promotional materials; and monitoring the usage of visibility materials throughout the project implementation. The PA will also support the project outreach and public relations activities, including keeping the project website updated and creating content for social media accounts.

Required Qualifications:
The successful candidate must possess a minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible administrative or project experience with a high school diploma, or 2 years of experience with a bachelor's degree in business administration, economics, engineering, political/social sciences, administrative sciences, environmental sciences, or related fields. The candidate should have excellent command of office software, including word processors, spreadsheets, and databases. Desired skills include experience working with government entities, organizing events, and creating written communication materials such as project bulletins and press releases. Familiarity with EU rules and contractual procedures is also preferred, along with experience using social media-based communication tools.

Educational Background:
Candidates must have completed high school or hold a bachelor's degree in relevant fields such as business administration, economics, engineering, political/social sciences, administrative sciences, or environmental sciences. This educational background is essential for understanding the administrative and project management aspects of the role.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience for candidates with a high school diploma or 2 years for those with a bachelor's degree. Experience in administrative or project roles, particularly in collaboration with international institutions or organizations, is essential. Candidates should have a proven track record of working on projects that involve coordination and communication with various stakeholders.

Languages:
Full proficiency in both English and Turkish is mandatory for this position. This bilingual requirement is crucial for effective communication within the project team and with local stakeholders, as well as for preparing project documentation and outreach materials.

Additional Notes:
The Project Assistant will report directly to the Project Manager and will work closely with other team members to ensure timely and efficient administration of project inputs according to UNDP rules and procedures. The position may require the PA to work on-site at the premises of the project implementing partner on certain days of the week. The role is expected to be full-time, and the successful candidate will be part of a dynamic team focused on enhancing local climate action in Türkiye.