Project Management Support - Senior Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, established to support the successful implementation of peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects worldwide. UNOPS aims to enhance the efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of these projects by providing a range of services, including project management, procurement, and infrastructure services. The organization operates in over 130 countries, collaborating with various partners, including governments, international financial institutions, and UN agencies. UNOPS is committed to advancing sustainable development, climate action, and peacebuilding, leveraging its global expertise and networks to deliver impactful results.

Job Overview:
The Project Management Support - Senior Officer plays a crucial role in ensuring the effective implementation, coordination, and monitoring of project activities. This position is responsible for driving project delivery by providing analytical and operational support throughout the project lifecycle, from planning to execution and reporting. The Senior Officer will contribute to risk and performance management, ensuring that projects are delivered within the defined scope, time, cost, and quality parameters. This role requires proactive engagement with clients and stakeholders to facilitate efficient project delivery and achieve results that align with organizational and donor expectations. The Senior Officer will also support the integration of sustainability, social inclusion, and gender equality considerations into all project stages, ensuring that the projects not only meet immediate goals but also contribute to long-term positive impacts.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Project Delivery and Performance: Develop, execute, and update detailed implementation plans, ensuring timely delivery of project outputs within budget and quality standards. Provide organizational and operational support for missions, workshops, and dialogues, including preparation of materials and reports. Integrate sustainability, social inclusion, and gender equality considerations into all project stages. Conduct or participate in field missions in other West African countries to support and monitor implementation.
• Monitoring, Reporting and Quality Assurance: Coordinate the preparation and submission of narrative and financial reports, ensuring compliance with UNODC and donor standards. Track project progress against scope, schedule, cost, and quality indicators, providing early warnings on deviations and proposing corrective actions. Conduct regular reviews of project data and performance indicators to assess delivery status. Maintain dashboards and monitoring tools to support evidence-based decision-making. Provide quality assurance for project deliverables and documentation. Support internal and external audits to ensure compliance.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination: Build and maintain productive relationships with national and local authorities, donors, partners, and other stakeholders. Facilitate communication and coordination among program teams and partners. Organize steering committee meetings, technical workshops, and stakeholder consultations. Ensure stakeholders are informed of project progress through timely communication.
• Knowledge Building and Sharing: Organize and facilitate training and learning sessions on project management. Participate in knowledge-sharing initiatives and contribute insights and lessons learned. Conduct research on project management topics and assist in drafting reports and summaries.

Required Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in International Relations, Sociology, Law with 4 years of relevant experience, or a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Law with 2 years of relevant experience is required. A globally recognized professional certificate or membership in Project Management is desired. Relevant experience in project development, management, and monitoring, or related areas is essential. Proficiency in collaboration and productivity tools (e.g., MS Office, G-Suite) and web-based management systems is required. Experience collaborating with national stakeholders and international partners in Niger or other West African countries is necessary. Understanding of UNODC’s mandate and its implementing partners in the region is also required.

Educational Background:
A Bachelor’s degree in International Relations, Sociology, Law, or a related field is required, with a minimum of four years of relevant experience. Alternatively, a Master’s degree in Law with at least two years of relevant experience is acceptable. A professional certification in Project Management is preferred but not mandatory.

Experience:
The position requires relevant experience in project development, management, and monitoring, with a strong emphasis on collaboration with national and international stakeholders. Experience in grant management and organizing meetings at various levels is essential. Familiarity with UNODC’s mandate and the ability to navigate multicultural environments is highly desirable. Experience in development or humanitarian contexts is also beneficial.

Languages:
Fluency in French is required for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset but is not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The contract type is ICA - LICA - Specialist - Regular, with a duration of two months and the possibility of extension based on funding availability and performance. The position is classified at the mid-level (ICS 09). UNOPS emphasizes diversity and equal employment opportunities, encouraging applications from underrepresented groups. All applications must be submitted before the deadline, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further assessments. UNOPS has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual exploitation and abuse, and background checks are conducted for all final candidates.