Project Associate

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women is an organization established in July 2010 by the United Nations General Assembly, with a mission to promote gender equality and empower women globally. It was created as part of the UN reform agenda to consolidate resources and mandates for greater impact in the area of gender equality and women's empowerment. UN Women merges the work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system that focused on gender issues, namely DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW, and UNIFEM. The organization operates in over 14 countries, including Fiji, Samoa, and several others in the Pacific region, and collaborates with more than 20 other UN agencies. UN Women is dedicated to eliminating discrimination against women and girls, empowering women, and achieving equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action, and peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security.

Job Overview:
The Project Associate position is integral to the Markets for Change (M4C) Project, which aims to promote gender equality through the economic empowerment of women market vendors in the Pacific region, specifically in Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. The Project Associate will report to the National Project Manager – Country Lead - Samoa and will be responsible for providing comprehensive administrative, financial, and operational support for the M4C project in Samoa. This role requires close collaboration with the M4C Samoa Team, the Country Programme Coordinator, and staff from the Fiji Multi-Country Office to ensure effective service delivery and project implementation. The Project Associate will play a key role in managing financial resources, supporting project tracking and reporting, and facilitating knowledge sharing within the project team.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Project Associate will have a diverse set of responsibilities, including:

• Supporting the management of the M4C Project by assisting the Country Lead and Regional Finance Officer in financial management, tracking financial resources, and providing necessary information for audits.
• Providing administrative, secretarial, financial, and operational support, including preparing non-PO vouchers, maintaining internal expenditure control systems, and ensuring timely corrective actions on unposted vouchers.
• Creating requisitions in the financial management system, processing payment requests, and preparing monthly financial reports.
• Organizing and providing logistical support for conferences, training workshops, and other project-related activities.
• Facilitating knowledge building and sharing by supporting the creation of a knowledge hub for the M4C Project and organizing training for project staff.
• Maintaining records of narrative and financial reports, audits, and other critical documents related to the project.
• Performing other duties as necessary for the efficient functioning of the office and organization.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a minimum of secondary education, with a Bachelor’s degree in Business or Public Administration considered an asset but not mandatory. Candidates should possess strong administrative and program management skills, with a focus on financial management and budgeting. Proficiency in using multiple office software packages and experience with ERP systems, preferably Oracle Cloud, is desirable. The ability to manage data, documents, and correspondence effectively is essential, along with good IT skills.

Educational Background:
Candidates must have completed secondary education as a minimum requirement. A Bachelor’s degree in Business or Public Administration is advantageous but not a strict requirement for this position.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least six years of progressively responsible experience in administrative or program management support. Experience in a computer environment using various office software packages is required, and familiarity with ERP systems, particularly Oracle Cloud, is desirable. Experience in supporting a team and managing financial resources is also beneficial.

Languages:
Fluency in written and spoken English is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of the local language in the duty station is considered an asset, enhancing communication and collaboration within the community.

Additional Notes:
This position is likely to be full-time, and while specific contract duration details are not provided, candidates should be aware that UN Women adheres to a zero-tolerance policy regarding conduct incompatible with the organization's aims, including discrimination and harassment. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, including verification of academic credentials and employment history. It is crucial for applicants to complete all sections of the application form to avoid disqualification from the recruitment process.