Project Management Support Specialist

The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) brings together diverse expertise to help partners deliver impact worldwide. With hubs in New York, Geneva, and Vienna, and expert teams operating globally, GPO leads multi-regional initiatives that advance sustainable development, climate action, and peacebuilding - including in some of the world’s most challenging environments.

By leveraging our collective expertise and global networks, GPO supports UNOPS’ strategic priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals across more than 130 countries. We work closely with major global partners - including governments, international financial institutions, and UN agencies - to deliver a wide range of services, such as project management, fund management, hosting services, and HR support.

Our thematic focus spans climate action and energy, health, peace and security, sustainable development, and humanitarian action, supporting high-impact initiatives across critical global priorities.

UNOPS Development and Special Initiatives team works with UN partners and Member States. This portfolio offers support for various initiatives and priorities of the UN Secretary-General in pursuit of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. Additionally, it helps the UN Secretariat in implementing global programs in areas such as political affairs, climate, counterterrorism and peacebuilding, among others.

Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. It was formed by combining the following portfolios: Grants Management Services (GMS), UN Technology Support Services (UNTSS), Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio (DSIP) It provides Services to partners' programmes that are designed, structured, and managed with a global perspective and primarily serving partners that are headquartered in New York. The SDC has a footprint of approximately 125 countries.

DSI supports the delivery of several UN Secretariat partners, including the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT). UNOCT was established by the General Assembly in June 2017. The Office has five main functions:

1. provide leadership on the General Assembly counter-terrorism mandate across the United Nations System;
2. enhance coordination and coherence across the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact to ensure the balanced implementation of the four pillars of the Strategy;
3. strengthen the delivery of United Nations counter-terrorism capacity-building assistance to Member States;
4. improve visibility, advocacy and resource mobilization for United Nations counter-terrorism efforts; and ensure that due priority is given to counter-terrorism across the United Nations System and that the important work on preventing violent extremism is firmly rooted in the Strategy.

The Project Management Support Specialist coordinates and supports the effective planning, implementation and monitoring of projects, ensuring delivery of results within the agreed scope, time, cost, quality and risk parameters. The role supports day-to-day project operations, liaises with partners, donors and beneficiaries, and ensures that project activities are in line with UNOPS policies, donor/partner requirements, and quality standards. The Project Management Support Specialist provides analytical and operational support, tracks financial and performance data, identifies risks or implementation challenges, and coordinates timely solutions in collaboration with stakeholders. The role therefore contributes towards ensuring that projects achieve their intended objectives, strengthen partner relationships, and contribute to UNOPS’ operational goals.

1. Project Delivery and Performance

• Support in the planning, implementation and monitoring of project activities in line with approved work plans, budgets and quality standard.
• Coordinate day-to-day project operations to ensure timely delivery of outputs and adherence to UNOPS and donor/partner requirements.
• Manage and monitor progress against scope, time, cost and quality tolerances; Identify risks and deviations, propose corrective actions, and escalate when required.
• Oversee project contracts and supplier performance to ensure compliance and value for money.
• Embed sustainability principles - including gender equality, social inclusion and environmental considerations - across project activities.
• Contribute to the identification and development of new project opportunities or extensions of existing engagements.

2. Financial and Procurement Management

• Support financial planning, monitoring and reporting to ensure effective budget utilization and cost control in line with UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations.
• Manage cash flow, expenditures and financial commitments, ensuring timely disbursements and accurate financial reporting.
• Support procurement and grant management processes, including preparation of Terms of Reference (ToRs), evaluation of bids, and contract administration.
• Coordinate with finance and procurement teams to ensure compliance, transparency, and proper documentation of transactions.
• Prepare and review financial reports and participate in project audits, ensuring implementation of recommendations.

3. Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination

• Maintain effective working relationships with donors, partners, national authorities and other stakeholders to ensure coordinated delivery and alignment with project objectives.
• Support the development and implementation of stakeholder engagement and communication plans, ensuring timely and consistent information sharing.
• Facilitate internal coordination among project teams, technical experts and support functions.
• Represent the project in meetings, consultations and external engagements as delegated by the supervisor.

4. Monitoring, Reporting and Quality Assurance

• Monitor project performance against agreed indicators, preparing progress, financial and completion reports in accordance with UNOPS and donor/partner standards.
• Conduct data analysis and provide inputs for management decisions and strategic planning.
• Ensure quality assurance processes are applied to all deliverables, documents and outputs.
• Support compliance with internal audit and quality standards, coordinating corrective action as required.

5. Personnel Management (as applicable)

• Assist in supervising, guiding and motivating project team members to achieve high performance and accountability.
• Contribute to recruitment, onboarding and performance management of personnel, ensuring gender balance and diversity principles are upheld.
• Promote a respectful, inclusive and safe working environment that aligns with UNOPS’ zero-tolerance policy for misconduct, discrimination and harassment.
• Ensure compliance with United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) safety and security standards for all project staff and operations.

6. 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:

Advanced University Degree (Master's or equivalent) in Business Administration & Finance, International Relations, Political Sciences, Supply Chain Management & Logistics (5) years of relevant experience is required; OR

A first level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in any discipline with (7) years of relevant experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Desired:

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

Required:

• Relevant experience is defined as progressively responsible experience working 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.