Project Management Support - Senior Officer

Job Highlight

This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to private sector development in a challenging environment, working with a diverse team and international partners to achieve significant impact.

About The Project Office

Since 1995, UNOPS has maintained an active presence in Afghanistan, delivering efficient, agile services in support of both humanitarian response and development efforts. Prior to August 2021, the Afghanistan Country Office (AFCO) implemented projects across a broad range of sectors, including infrastructure, procurement, capacity building, and environmental protection. In response to evolving humanitarian needs, AFCO has shifted its focus to supporting life-saving initiatives and basic human needs. Current priorities include managing large-scale cash-for-work programmes, procuring emergency supplies, and providing inter-agency coordination, communication, and accountability support.

Role Purpose

To provide comprehensive operational, administrative, and project management support to the Private Sector Resilience Program (PSRP). The role assists in the smooth implementation of project activities, supports the monitoring of financial and procurement processes, facilitates effective stakeholder coordination, and contributes to accurate reporting, ensuring alignment with project objectives and compliance with UNOPS and donor requirements.

Functions / Key Results Expected

• Project Planning & Implementation Support
• Advise Project management on UNOPS Policies and Procedures, Financial Rules and Regulations (FR&R), and World Bank donor requirements for efficient project implementation;
• Support the annual project planning process, workplan updates, and operational readiness tracking in line with PSRP objectives;
• Identify and advise on alternative options and innovative approaches according to Activity needs within UNOPS FR&R;
• Manage work packages within the project as and when required by Project management;
• On behalf of the Project and as directed by Project management, participate in periodic visits to project sites to review compliance with recognized procedures;
• Establish and monitor an internal control system for all administrative actions and project workflows.
• Financial Management & Budget Tracking
• Monitor project financials, track commitments and disbursements, and advise Project management on expense obligations and cash flow to ensure deliverables are met;
• Track overall project expenditure, alert Project management to financial shortfalls or over-expenditures, and propose budget realignments, amendments, and revisions when necessary;
• Ensure accurate data entry and review of financial information and expenditures in the oneUNOPS ERP system;
• Produce routine financial reports, budget forecasts, and administrative reports according to UNOPS and World Bank reporting frameworks;
• Ensure full maintenance and organization of supporting project financial and operational documents for audit and review processes in compliance with UNOPS and World Bank guidelines;
• Ensure conformity of project disbursement requests with procedures, work plans, and resource availability, liaising with the Finance Unit for processing.
• Procurement & Operational Support
• Support procurement processes for specialized technical services, including document preparation, submission review for Purchase Orders/Contracts, and tracking through oneUNOPS;
• Assist in managing the grant-making lifecycle, including proposal evaluations, grantee screening, Call for Proposals support, grantee monitoring, and drafting Grant Support Agreement amendments;
• Prepare Terms of Reference (ToR) for required project inputs (personnel, consultancy services, procurement of goods/services, training/seminars) with expert or client support as required;
• Assist Project management in monitoring HR requirements, providing induction briefings to newly recruited personnel, and supporting consultants throughout their assignments;
• Manage travel for all Project Team personnel in accordance with UN and UNOPS Security Policies;
• Proactively coordinate with internal support units (Finance, Procurement, HR, ICT and Cost Recovery) and support UNOPS management information systems for real-time asset and operational tracking.
• Project Monitoring, Data & Reporting
• Continuously monitor project quality indicators and undertake monthly assurance tasks on behalf of Project management;
• Maintain project registers (Risk Register, Quality Register, Issue Logs, Decision Logs) and manage information flows to support quality assurance processes;
• Manage the compilation, consolidation, and analysis of relevant project data;
• Provide substantive administrative and data inputs to assist Project management in preparing World Bank and UNOPS progress reports, weekly activity reviews, and quarterly reports;
• Support Project management in maintaining the Electronic Blue File, Procurement, HR, and Finance files, standard filing structures, and official records to preserve institutional memory;
• Assist Project management in the preparation of project completion reports and ensure compliance with contractual obligations.
• Stakeholder Coordination & Knowledge Management
• Organize, facilitate, and keep minutes for internal PIU, World Bank task team, and key stakeholder meetings, workshops, and consultations;
• Liaise with Programme Management Office (PMO) team members to complete project assurance tasks and resolve operational bottlenecks;
• Support the compilation of lessons learned as per defined reporting formats and contribute to expertise in tools and techniques;
• Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for planning and knowledge building across organizational channels
  
  

• An advanced university degree (e.g. Master), preferably in Accounting, Business Administration, Project Management, Finance Development studies, Economics, Commerce or related field discipline
• A first-level university degree, preferably in the above-mentioned areas or related field, in combination with additional two (2) years' experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
  
  

• Knowledge of UN systems/policies/norms and the World Bank’s ESF for social safeguards
  
  

• A minimum of two (2) years’ professional experience in project management, project support, support services, or administration with a Master’s Degree or four (4) years with a first-level university degree.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (e.g. MS Office newer versions, Google Suite Applications)
  
  

• Experience working with the World Bank, UN agencies or other donor agencies, government ministries, and/or non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
• Experience working with private sector partners, grant programmes, grievance redress mechanisms, and stakeholder engagement.