Asociado/a de Apoyo a la Gestión de Proyectos (Proyecto CRIACO)

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) was established in 1997 and operates globally to assist member states in combating illicit drugs, crime, and terrorism. The organization works with governments and civil society to prevent drugs and crime from threatening the security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, peace, and development opportunities of citizens. UNODC promotes the implementation of international conventions, guides national policies and strategies against drugs and crime, and develops national capacities to address drug production, trafficking, abuse, and organized crime. UNODC has a presence in approximately 125 countries and collaborates with various partners to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects.

Job Overview:
The position of Project Support Associate is crucial for the successful implementation of the CRIACO project, which aims to strengthen the capacities of security, criminal justice, customs, forensic institutions, and other competent bodies in Argentina. The role involves providing substantive support to project coordination, expert planning, and execution of project activities with a focus on illicit drugs, synthetic drugs, new psychoactive substances, chemical precursors, and forensic laboratories. The associate will work closely with project stakeholders to maintain effective documentation management, facilitate logistics, and ensure that project activities are carried out efficiently in accordance with the project's results framework and internal processes. This role is essential for driving high-impact project results through expert planning, coordination of inputs, and collaboration with stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support Project Planning and Preparation: Assist in systematizing the needs of national and regional counterparts regarding documents and results related to illicit drugs, synthetic drugs, new psychoactive substances, chemical precursors, and forensic laboratories. Collect, validate, and systematize information on illicit drugs and chemicals. Organize work plans, timelines, activity matrices, conceptual documents, and technical terms of reference necessary for project implementation.
• Support Training and Implementation: Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team in systematizing and sourcing training materials, guides, presentations, and pedagogical tools related to natural and synthetic drugs, chemical precursors, and forensic methodologies. Participate in documenting and implementing training processes directed at forensic laboratories, security forces, customs, and judicial systems.
• Monitoring, Reporting, and Compliance: Compile and systematize information related to illicit drugs and chemical precursors. Develop and update matrices, databases, and monitoring tools for the project. Contribute to the systematization of reports, statistical analyses, and thematic documents for project coordination and stakeholders.
• Operational and Logistical Support: Organize meetings, workshops, and training sessions related to forensic chemistry and drug analysis. Prepare agendas, participant lists, and reference documents for meetings.
• Knowledge Development and Exchange: Support the organization of training sessions and technical exchanges on forensic chemistry and drug analysis. Compile research and technical inputs on trends and illicit drug markets. Participate in networks and forums related to illicit drugs and forensic laboratories, documenting best practices and lessons learned.

Required Qualifications:

• Required: Secondary education with 6 years of relevant experience or a university degree in Chemistry, Chemical Sciences, Biochemistry, Pharmacy, Toxicology, Forensic Sciences, or related fields with at least 2 years of relevant experience.
• Desirable: Postgraduate studies, specialization, or advanced training in toxicology, forensic chemistry, analytical chemistry, or related areas. Certification in quality management systems, ISO standards applicable to laboratories, or analytical methodology validation is also desirable.

Educational Background:

• Required: Secondary education with 6 years of relevant experience or a university degree in Chemistry, Chemical Sciences, Biochemistry, Pharmacy, Toxicology, Forensic Sciences, or related fields with at least 2 years of relevant experience.
• Desirable: Postgraduate studies, specialization, or advanced training in toxicology, forensic chemistry, analytical chemistry, or related areas. Certification in quality management systems, ISO standards applicable to laboratories, or analytical methodology validation is also desirable.

Experience:

• Required: Experience in supporting forensic chemistry projects, analytical chemistry, toxicology, and illicit drug analysis. Experience in compiling and systematizing reports and documents related to illicit drugs and chemical precursors. Experience in supporting training activities and knowledge transfer in chemistry and toxicology.
• Desirable: Experience in technical direction or supervision of forensic laboratories, development and validation of analytical methodologies, and collaboration with law enforcement agencies and forensic laboratories.

Languages:

• Required: Fluent in Spanish.
• Desirable: Basic proficiency in English.

Additional Notes:
The contract is an Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA) with a regular support type, set to last until December 31, 2026, with the possibility of renewal subject to funding availability and organizational needs. The position is classified at the Associate seniority level (ICS 06). Applications must be submitted before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes and will not request candidates to make payments during the recruitment process. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.