Project Management Support Officer

The UNOPS Regional Office for Africa, based in Nairobi, Kenya, supports African governments, UN partners and donors by providing infrastructure, procurement and project management services. In the Africa region, UNOPS focuses on helping countries strengthen resilience, improve the delivery of public services and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in fragile, conflict-affected and rapidly growing contexts. UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations. A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale.

The UNOPS Multi-Country Office for Central Africa (CAMCO), based in Yaoundé, Cameroon, oversees operations in 11 Central African countries. CAMCO is responsible for developing, delivering, managing and implementing a portfolio of projects and programmes across 11 countries — Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic (CAR), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo and Rwanda — and includes two small island developing states (SIDS) — Cabo Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe. This MCO manages an active project portfolio of USD 600 million, with a strong focus on infrastructure, fund management, HR and procurement services. Over the years it has built solid partnerships with international stakeholders, UN entities (including UN missions) and national governments in the region. The office provides technical assistance and capacity building in key development sectors such as the rehabilitation and construction of health, education, public works and governance infrastructure. Its services also cover procurement, project management, policy advisory, peace and security, and environmental sustainability.

The Project Management Support Officer provides operational, analytical and administrative support to ensure effective planning, implementation and monitoring of projects in line with UNOPS policies and client/partner requirements. The incumbent supports data management, reporting, procurement, financial and/or logistical activities that contribute to efficient project delivery. The role collects, validates and analyzes project data, generating insights and reports to inform evidence-based decision-making and enhance performance. The Project Management Support Officer facilitates coordination among project teams, partners and support services units, ensuring timely implementation of activities and compliance with established procedures. The incumbent may also undertake field missions to support data collection, training and stakeholder engagement, helping strengthen project systems, processes and reporting tools.

Data Management, Analysis and Reporting

• Collect, clean, structure and validate project data to ensure accuracy, consistency and reliability.
• Develop and maintain databases, dashboards and information management systems for real-time project tracking.
• Conduct statistical and qualitative analysis to identify trends, generate insights and inform decision-making.
• Support preparation of analytical and visual reports, briefs and presentations for internal and external stakeholders
• Implement automated tools and visualization systems, e.g. Power BI, Looker Studio, etc, to enhance data accessibility and interpretation.
• Ensure rigorous data quality checks and validation of data sources and tools.

Project Implementation and Operational Support

• Support project planning, budgeting and execution, ensuring adherence to UNOPS procedures and client/donor requirements.
• Prepare project documentation, including Terms of Reference (ToRs), agreements, budgets and procurement requests
• Assist in the coordination of workshops, missions, and stakeholder consultations, including travel and logistical arrangements
• Liaise with support service units on procurement, contracting and payment processes, ensuring compliance with UNOPS standards.
• Track project milestones, outputs and deliverables, and alert management to delays or risks.

Procurement, Financial and Administrative Coordination

• Support the preparation and monitoring of procurement and workshop plans, ensuring alignment with project needs.
• Conduct market research, support solicitation processes, and assist in bid evaluation and contract administration.
• Monitor project budget utilization, review financial reports, and maintain accurate documentation for audits and reporting.
• Process travel, expense claims, and related financial transactions in compliance with organizational policies.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Strategic Decision Support

• Develop and maintain monitoring systems and tools to track progress against work plans and performance indicators.
• Contribute to the development of predictive and analytical models to support strategic planning and forecasting.
• Support internal evaluations and data-driven performance reviews to assess project outcomes and impact.
• Provide timely inputs for donor and corporate reporting, ensuring analytical rigour and compliance with reporting standards

Knowledge Building and Sharing

• Support the organization, facilitation and delivery of training and learning sessions on project management.
• Participate in knowledge-sharing initiatives and Communities of Practice (CoPs), contributing insights and lessons learned.
• Conduct research on project management-related topics and contribute to the drafting of reports, summaries and briefing notes

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 2 years of relevant experience OR
• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 0 years of relevant experience is required.

Desired

• A globally recognized professional certificate or membership in Project Management is desired.

Required

• Relevant experience is work in project management or related areas.
• Demonstrable proficiency in the use of collaboration and productivity tools (e.g. MS Office, G-Suite, etc) and web-based management systems is required.

Desired

• Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in a developing country is desired.
• Experience in development or humanitarian contexts is desired.

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
  

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.