Project Management Support - Senior Assistant

In Latin America and the Caribbean, UNOPS operates across 23 countries, delivering high-impact solutions that drive sustainable development. UNOPS focuses on building and improving resilient infrastructure—including roads, bridges, public facilities, sanitation systems, and housing—to enhance quality of life and foster inclusive growth. UNOPS also supports public health by procuring essential medicines and medical equipment, ensuring broader access to healthcare services. By strengthening institutional capacities, UNOPS promotes transparent, efficient, and equitable public management. As a trusted partner to governments and development stakeholders, UNOPS aligns its interventions with national priorities, helping countries advance the Sustainable Development Goals through practical, results-driven support.

Based in Brazil, the UNOPS Southern Cone Multi-Country Office (SCMCO) also oversees operations in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, supporting national priorities and development goals across the subregion. In Argentina, UNOPS strengthens public institutions by providing technical assistance in planning, procurement, and oversight of infrastructure projects—particularly in public buildings—and building capacity in public procurement, with a focus on technological innovation. In Brazil, where UNOPS has operated since 2012, the office collaborates with UN agencies, financial institutions, and government bodies at all levels to deliver services in health, education, urbanization, social rehabilitation, PPPs, and institutional strengthening. UNOPS has played a key role in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and currently manages 17 active projects across the country. Its work emphasizes transparency, operational efficiency, and results-driven management while aligning with the strategic and operational needs of its partners. Across the Southern Cone, UNOPS promotes sustainable development by enhancing national capabilities and supporting the delivery of high-impact, inclusive infrastructure.

Maceió

UNOPS is supporting the implementation of the Nosso Chão, Nossa História Programme in Maceió, which seeks to address collective immaterial damages resulting from the socio-environmental disaster caused by mining activities in the capital of Alagoas. The Programme stems from a public civil action brought by the Federal Public Prosecution Service in Alagoas. Over a four-year period, BRL 150 million will be invested in projects aimed at supporting reparation efforts.

Brazil-UN Fund for the Sustainable Development of the Amazon

The overarching goal of the Brazil-UN Fund for the Sustainable Development of the Amazon is to promote a coordinated response to accelerate the sustainable development of the Legal Amazon in an integrated and cooperative manner, as well as considering the regional opportunities and challenges. Within the Fund, UNOPS is supports The Technical Secretariat.

The Technical Secretariat is responsible for the operational aspects of the Fund as well as to ensure the proper discharge of quality assurance functions. The Technical Secretariat provides technical and administrative support to the Steering Committee and the Technical Committee and is responsible for organizing the Fund's call for proposals and appraisals processes, as well as its monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and risk management processes.

The Project Management Support Senior Assistant provides critical support to the development and lifecycle management of grants, as well as procurement and administrative processes. The incumbent assists in drafting calls for proposals, managing selection processes, and conducting technical and financial monitoring and evaluations to ensure seamless project implementation and compliance with organizational standards.

There are 4 positions for this vacancy: two in Brasília and two in Maceió.

The Project Management Support Senior Assistant provides administrative support to ensure effective delivery of projects. The role supports project planning, monitoring, reporting, logistics, communications and documentation.

Project Support

• Provide administrative and coordination support for project planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting in compliance with UNOPS rules, regulations and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Assist in tracking project progress, deliverables, contracts, travel, workshops, and grants, ensuring timely follow-up and accurate documentation.
• Support the preparation of reports, briefing materials, and internal meeting notes for management and stakeholders.
• Maintain tracking tools and ensure that project and operational data are up to date and properly archived.
• Participate in regular team meetings to report on progress, upcoming priorities, and coordination needs.

Travel, Logistics and Workshop Support

• Coordinate and organize logistics for meetings, workshops, conferences and steering committee events, including travel, accommodation, catering and security arrangements.
• Process travel authorizations, expense claims, and reimbursements for personnel and partners in line with UNOPS policies and procedures.
• Prepare and distribute workshop and mission materials, ensuring all logistical and administrative arrangements are completed in advance.
• Liaise with vendors, venues and participants to ensure smooth execution of events and timely resolution of logistical issues/committee events, including travel, accommodation, catering and security arrangements.

Procurement and Administrative Support

• Support procurement processes, including preparation of requisitions, purchase orders (POs) and payment requests in the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.
• Verify supporting documentation, invoices and contractual deliverables for accuracy and compliance with UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations.
• Assist in the review of tenders, evaluation processes and contract administration, including amendments and extensions.
• Maintain accurate and organized documentation of all procurement, financial and administrative activities for audit and reference.
• Support operational and financial monitoring by updating procurement and payment tracking systems.

Administrative and Logistical Support to Senior Management

• Provide administrative and logistical support to senior management, including scheduling, mission planning and preparation of travel documentation.
• Support coordination of senior-level meetings, donor/partner engagements, and high-level visits, including minute-taking and follow-up on action items.
• Process operational advances, minor procurement requests, and other administrative transactions in line with established protocol.

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

• Secondary school (or equivalent) with 5 years of relevant experience OR
• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 1 year 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 are 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.