National Programme Officer, Freetown

Closing date: Wednesday, 17 February 2016

Vacancy code: VA/2016/B5317/9536
Position title: National Programme Officer
Department/office: AFR, GHOH, Sierra Leone
Duty station: Freetown, Sierra Leone
Contract type: Local ICA Specialist
Contract level: LICA Specialist-9
Duration: 1 year

Application period: 11-Feb-2016 to 18-Feb-2016
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
Background Information UNOPS
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.
With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.
A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale.
Background Information - Job-specific
UNOPS helps its partners in the United Nations system meet the world's needs for building peace, recovering from disaster, and creating sustainable development. UNOPS is known for its ability to implement complex projects in all types of environments around the globe. The UNOPS project Centre in Sierra Leone is responsible for implementing a number of projects on behalf of the Government, UN agencies and other partners. The functional objective of the Sierra Leone Project Centre is to deliver its projects in an efficient and effective manner, achieve the outcomes sought by partners, and assist in the country's broader development goals.
UNOPS Ghana Operational Hub (GHOH), located in Accra, spans across West Africa, covering Ghana, Gambia, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone
GHOH is responsible for managing strategic and operational risks associated with a subset of the regional portfolio of engagements, developing and delivering cost effective services contributing to partners' sustainable results and achievements of UNOPS management results.
The core functions of the Operational Hub are to

• Liaise and develop engagements, and deliver services responding to partner needs.
• Maintain appropriate arrangements and capacity for direct transactional support for delivery of the sub-regional portfolio.

In late 2015 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone over. Since then, the Government and donors have turned to strengthening National Health Systems. In Sierra Leone UNOPS portfolio supports a range of partners in the transition from Ebola Response as well as other health and energy related support projects.
Functional Responsibilities
Under the overall direction of the Head of Programme and the day to day supervision of the Country Manager, the Programme Officer is responsible for the day to day liaison with stakeholders and counterparts in country and ensuring the timely and accurate flow of information according to the stakeholder engagement communications and M&E strategies respectively. The Programme Officer ensures the regular coordination with key partners in support of the timely implementation of project engagements. To this end, he/she serves as the secretary for Project Board as well as ensuring compliance with the UNOPS internal quality assurance mechanisms. The Programme Officer also facilitates the timely compilation of client reports before sending them to supervisors for final approval and leads on all communications and visibility activities related to the project.
It is understood that the Monitoring and Reporting Officer will be working in a dynamic and changing environment with limited resources.
Summary of Key Functions
The Programme Officer will be responsible for the four main areas

• Coordination Support and Stakeholder Management
• Project Monitoring and Performance Analysis
• Strategic Communications and Reporting
• Knowledge Management

Duties and Responsibilities
1. Coordination Support and Stakeholder Management

• Liaise and build relationships with other United Nations (UN) agencies and international non-governmental organizations (I/NGOs) for the purposes of facilitating activities and improving the quality and relevance of information analysis.
• Participate in meetings with UN agencies, NGO's and other Stakeholders as required.
• Provides support to ensure full compliance with UNOPS project management guidance. Promotes good practices in project management within the team;
• Supports in monitoring work packages delivery and takes responsibility for progress;
• Facilitates the timely and effective management of change requests from clients and partners in line with agreed procedures.
• Facilitate the planning and organization of Project Board meetings including preparing agendas, liaising with partners on scheduling, extend invitations to PB members, prepare presentations and briefing materials etc.
• Serve as the secretary for Project Boards. Ensuring up to date records of PB deliberations and decisions, and prepare minutes of meetings on behalf of the Chair;
• Prepare briefing notes for internal and external audiences on program performance and other issues, as and when required;

2. Strategic Communications and Reporting

• Responsible for the planning and implementation of a reporting/communications plan for all internal and external communications;
• Ensure the timely preparation of progress reports to donors and project partners in compliance with grant and coordination requirements;
• Maintain regular contacts with colleagues to ensure timely and accurate data collection relating to portfolio progress;
• Liaise with the various members of the team to elaborate financial forecasts for coming periods;
• Ensure adherence to internal reporting mechanisms;
• Ensure the development of a Communication and Stakeholder Engagement strategy including a communication and visibility plan for the project. Support other projects in the Sierra Leone Country office in doing the same;
• Ensure the implementation of the communications and visibility plan for all projects in the UNOPS Sierra Leone portfolio.
• Prepare project factsheets and other visibility materials in line with the communications and visibility plans including the timely distribution of press releases as required;
• In coordination with the UNOPS' communications office in HQ and focal point at the Operations Hub, ensure the timely update of programme related information
• Prepare briefing notes for internal and external audiences on program performance and other issues, as and when required;

3. Monitoring and Performance Analysis

• Supports the Country Manager and/or Head of Programme in the establishment and maintain results based performance monitoring system in line with existing tools across the portfolio;
• Monitor activities to ensure compliance with MOUs, and propose corrective measures to the Country Manager and/or Head of Programme when needed;
• Monitor progress against project workplans;
• Provide accurate analytical updates on various aspects of project;
• Support the analysis of project performance identifying good practices, lessons learnt and opportunities for improvement. Propose solutions and support in monitoring the implementation of corrective measures;
• Monitors the risks and issues encountered by the project and regularly updates the Risk and Issues logs, recording proposed mitigation measures;

4. Knowledge Management

• Responsible for implementing the daily aspects of the Sierra Leone portfolio's M&E Strategy;
• Support the application of internal process flows for implementing the full and up to date records for the project in accordance with UNOPS' knowledge and document management policies and procedures;
• Execute other duties as assigned

Impact of results
The key results are the timely delivery of project and client services such that contribute to the overall programme objectives. Indicators of success are

• Timeliness and accuracy of project performance analysis,
• Timeliness and accuracy of reporting to donors and partners,
• Number and frequency of Project Board Meetings; and timely availability of minutes

Competencies
UNOPS Core Values/Competencies

• Professionalism
• Client orientation
• Results orientation
• Respect for diversity
• Planning and organization skills
• Strong oral and written communications skills
• Teamwork skills
• Technological awareness

Functional Competencies
Accountability and Results

• Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Collaborates effectively and shows conflict resolution skills;
• Ability to prioritise tasks in the context of a rapidly evolving operational environment;
  • Ability to work in a multi-cultural, multidisciplinary team in a fast paced environment;
  • Takes ownership for all responsibilities and honours commitments
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;

Development and Operational Effectiveness

• Builds strong relationships colleagues;
• Ability to build relationships with clients and external actors;
• Understanding of UN programmes, policies, and coordination mechanisms particularly, rapid response operating contexts;
• Ability to liaise with diverse sets of political and technical stakeholders;
• Strong communication skills and the ability to translate technical issues into language that is understandable to client and field personnel;
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to understand and adapt to changing client demands, and priorities;
• Ability to work under extreme pressure, on occasion in a stressful environment (e.g. humanitarian crisis and rapidly evolving environments);
• Ability to interpret institutional policies/procedures and propose innovative and practical solutions based on good practices and field needs;
• Ability to provide analytical inputs to strategic planning, results-based monitoring and reporting;
• Ability to successfully lead a team of national Finance personnel;
• Ability to maintain strong working relations with people with sensitivity and respect for diversity;
• Ability to juggle competing demands and work under pressure of frequent and tight deadlines;
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills and ability to handle a range of coordination and stakeholder liaison issues;
• Understands the role of technology and business processes and possesses strong computer skills, including database and information management;

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Shares knowledge and experience and contributes to practice areas;
• Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture;
• Seeks knowledge of UNOPS internal policies, procedures and operational tools particularly those related to knowledge management and reporting is an asset;
• Good knowledge of the UN system is an advantage.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

• A Master's degree in International Relations, Journalism, Political Science, Communications Studies or related discipline. Applicants with a Bachelor's Degree and additional 2 years of working experience may be considered.
• 2 years of experience in programmes and/or strategic communications is required. Demonstrated experience in preparing targeted reports for internal coordination and external purposes and experience in external relations and/or strategic communications roles is an advantage;
• Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation principles and experience with Information Technologies and/or database applications is an advantage. Professional certification in journalism or communications is desirable.
• Fluency in written and oral English is required.

Contract type, level and duration
Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement (LICA)
Contract level: LICA - 9
Contract duration: 1 year
For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx
Additional Considerations

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time (CET)
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.