Senior Consultant for Project Management System Modernization

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 194

• Its mission is to provide assistance and protection to approximately 5.9 million registered Palestine refugees across Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. UNRWA operates with a workforce of around 30,000 staff members and is primarily funded through voluntary contributions. The agency mobilizes resources through three main funding streams: the Programme Budget (PB), Emergency and Flash Appeals (EA/FA), and Projects stream, which collectively support its diverse portfolio of services including education, healthcare, social services, and emergency assistance. UNRWA is committed to enhancing its operational efficiency and effectiveness, particularly in project management, to better serve the needs of the Palestine refugee population.

Job Overview:
The Senior Consultant will play a crucial role in modernizing UNRWA's project management systems. This position involves conducting a comprehensive assessment of the current project management environment, identifying gaps and inefficiencies, and benchmarking against best practices from comparable UN agencies. The consultant will be responsible for developing a detailed business case and roadmap for a unified project management digital platform that integrates with UNRWA's existing ERP system (SAP REACH) and supports results-based management. The consultant is expected to utilize a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative analysis, to gather insights from stakeholders, document current workflows, and propose solutions that enhance project planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting. The end goal is to enable UNRWA to adopt a lean and cost-effective project management solution tailored to its operational context.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant's duties will include conducting a comprehensive assessment of UNRWA's current project management systems and processes, identifying gaps and redundancies, and benchmarking against best practices in comparable UN agencies. The consultant will produce several key deliverables, including an inception report, assessment and gap analysis report, benchmarking analysis report, draft business case for a modernized project management system, system requirements and specifications document, and a roadmap for system rollout and adoption. The consultant will also be responsible for stakeholder consultations, process mapping, and validation workshops to ensure that the proposed solutions align with UNRWA's needs and objectives. Additionally, the consultant will maintain regular communication with UNRWA stakeholders, provide progress updates, and incorporate feedback throughout the assignment.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Project Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, Information Systems, or a related field. A first-level university degree combined with additional qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree. The consultant should have at least 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in project/programme management, business process analysis, and information system implementation, with substantial experience leading or advising on the design and/or implementation of project management systems or enterprise solutions in large organizations. Experience with UN agencies or international organizations is highly desirable, particularly in relation to results-based management and donor-funded projects. The consultant should demonstrate a successful track record of conducting organizational assessments and developing business cases or strategic plans for system improvements.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Project Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, Information Systems, or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with additional qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree. Certification in project management methodologies such as PMP or PRINCE2 is considered an asset.

Experience:
The position requires at least 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in relevant areas such as project/programme management, business process analysis, and information system implementation. Candidates should have substantial experience leading or advising on the design and/or implementation of project management systems or enterprise solutions in large organizations. Experience with UN agencies or international organizations is highly desirable, especially work involving results-based management and donor-funded projects. A successful track record of conducting organizational assessments and developing business cases or strategic plans for system improvements is essential.

Languages:
Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Working knowledge of Arabic would be an asset, given UNRWA’s regional context. The consultant must possess excellent analytical writing skills and the ability to synthesize complex information into clear, structured reports and actionable recommendations. The ability to present findings to both technical and non-technical audiences and facilitate discussions/workshops is essential.

Additional Notes:
The Senior Consultant will be employed full-time for a period of five months, with the duty station located at UNRWA Headquarters in Amman, Jordan. Partial remote working modalities can be considered. The remuneration will follow the UN international salary scale, with a P4-level salary of approximately $US 116,000-118,000 per year (all-inclusive). The consultant must adhere to UN standards of conduct, demonstrating neutrality and professionalism. Willingness to travel to UNRWA areas of operation if required and to adapt to different time zones for remote consultations is necessary. The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.