Project Associate

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 primary mission is to provide assistance and protection to approximately 5.8 million registered Palestine refugees. UNRWA operates in five areas: Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip, aiming to help these refugees achieve their full potential in human development while awaiting a just resolution to their plight. The agency is the largest UN operation in the Middle East, employing over 30,000 staff members and is primarily funded through voluntary contributions from UN member states, regional bodies, business foundations, and individual donors. UNRWA's services include education, healthcare, relief and social services, camp infrastructure improvement, microfinance, and emergency assistance. The organization is committed to making a tangible difference in the lives of one of the most vulnerable communities in the world, and it welcomes applications from individuals who are passionate about contributing to this mission.

Job Overview:
The Project Associate position is a critical role within UNRWA, reporting directly to the Senior Project Manager. The individual in this role will be responsible for a variety of administrative and operational tasks that support the successful execution of projects aimed at assisting Palestine refugees. The Project Associate will manage day-to-day administrative functions, including correspondence, filing, and record-keeping, while also supporting the preparation and distribution of project communications, reports, and documentation. This position requires a proactive approach to maintaining organized systems for project files, contracts, and operational records. Additionally, the Project Associate will coordinate logistics for meetings, workshops, and field visits, ensuring that all necessary arrangements are made for successful project implementation. The role also involves monitoring procurement and inventory of project supplies and equipment, ensuring compliance with internal operational procedures and donor requirements. The Project Associate will play a key role in maintaining project calendars and timelines, tracking deliverables and deadlines, and supporting resource allocation to optimize project execution. Effective stakeholder engagement is essential, as the Project Associate will act as a central point of contact for project team members and external stakeholders, facilitating communication between departments to ensure alignment on operational needs. The position also includes responsibilities for reporting and documentation, preparing meeting minutes, status updates, and operational summaries, and ensuring that all documentation accurately reflects project progress. Collaboration with various departments, including Health and Education, is crucial for the coordinated implementation of projects.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Project Associate include:

• Administrative Coordination: Manage day-to-day administrative tasks such as correspondence, filing, and record-keeping; support the preparation and distribution of project communications, reports, and documentation; maintain organized systems for project files, contracts, and operational records.
• Operational Support: Coordinate logistics for meetings, workshops, and field visits, including venue booking, travel arrangements, and materials preparation; monitor procurement and inventory of project supplies and equipment; ensure compliance with internal operational procedures and donor requirements.
• Project Scheduling & Tracking: Maintain project calendars and timelines, ensuring alignment with key milestones; track deliverables and deadlines, providing reminders and updates to relevant teams; support resource allocation and scheduling to optimize project execution.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Act as a central point of contact for project team members and external stakeholders; facilitate communication between departments to ensure alignment on operational needs; assist in organizing stakeholder consultations and follow-up actions.
• Reporting & Documentation: Prepare meeting minutes, status updates, and operational summaries; support the development of presentations and briefing materials for internal and external audiences; ensure documentation is up-to-date, accessible, and accurately reflects project progress.
• Collaboration: Work closely with focal staff from the Health Department and Education Department to ensure coordinated implementation; liaise with Finance, Procurement, and HR teams to support operational needs.

Required Qualifications:
The required qualifications for the Project Associate position include:

• A first university degree from an accredited educational institution in management, administration, business, accounting, engineering, or another related field.
• At least 3 years of experience in project support and management.
• Experience in project administration and operational management.
• Experience in the humanitarian sector, UN sector, or NGOs is required.
• Very good computer skills in Microsoft Office, especially MS Excel.
• Knowledge of Palestine refugees and/or humanitarian response and development in the Middle East is desirable.
• Experience in report and business writing is desirable.
• Excellent command of spoken and written English and Arabic is required.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a first university degree from an accredited educational institution in management, administration, business, accounting, engineering, or another related field. This educational background is essential to ensure that the candidate has the foundational knowledge necessary for effective project support and management.

Experience:
Candidates are required to have at least 3 years of relevant experience in project support and management. This experience should include project administration and operational management, ideally within the humanitarian sector, UN agencies, or non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The candidate should demonstrate a strong understanding of project dynamics and the ability to navigate the complexities of working in a challenging environment.

Languages:
The mandatory languages for this position are English and Arabic. Candidates must have an excellent command of both spoken and written English and Arabic, with a minimum proficiency level of UN Level III in all language skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking). Knowledge of French is considered an asset but is not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
This position is offered as a Limited Duration Contract (LDC), Band E, with a duration of 8 months, subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory performance, and continuing need. The monthly basic salary for this position is JD 897.0

• Additional benefits include compulsory medical insurance, 30 days of annual leave, and a dependency allowance if applicable. The agency also provides 2 days of sick leave for each complete month of service and 12 weeks of maternity leave. This job opening is open to both internal and external candidates, but only those residing in Jordan and within commuting distance of the duty station with authorization to work in Jordan at the time of application are eligible to apply. The agency will not support or facilitate the issuance of work permits in Jordan, and without a valid work permit, the appointment may be rescinded. Candidates may be required to work outside normal duty hours and on a call basis. Preference will be given to registered Palestine refugees and candidates who assist the agency in meeting its commitment to gender parity. Only applications completed in UNRWA's online e-recruitment system, Inspira, will be considered, and late applications will not be accepted. Candidates must ensure that their Personal History Profile (PHP) is fully completed with work experience and educational qualifications as per the job requirements. UNRWA personnel must include their contract type and grade level in their applications. Given the high volume of applicants, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further assessment.