UNDP Jobs - 52062- Project Assistant (Turkish Nationals Only)

Project Assistant (Turkish Nationals Only)

Location :

Istanbul, TURKEY

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

15-Dec-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SB-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

UNDP’s Regional Hub for Europe and the CIS is UNDP`s advisory hub for the Europe and CIS region tasked with the responsibility to provide policy and programmatic support to UNDP´s development activities in the region. Throughout UNDP´s focus areas, it works towards increasing the impact of UNDP´s activities in the region by assisting Country Offices in development of country-level initiatives and by implementing regional-level projects in partnership with a wide range of partners supported to a global network of expertise.

Under the leadership of the Manager, the RBEC Regional Hub employs a multi-disciplinary team of specialists and advisors, project managers, operations and programme support staff and project personnel.

Under the overall guidance of the designated supervisor the Project Assistant provides implementation and operational support services ensuring high quality, accuracy and consistency of work.

The Project Assistant focuses on the Water Governance projects portfolio and also works in close collaboration with the operations, programme and project staff in the Regional Hub and the country offices as well as implementing partners as required to exchange information and support program portfolio implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions

Support to formulation of regional projects
Support to management and implementation of regional projects
Administrative and operational support
Support to knowledge building and knowledge sharing

Supports formulation of regional programmes and projects focusing on achievement of the following results:

Assist in preparation of background information for project formulation, in preparation of project documentation, work plans, budgets and implementation arrangements in line with the UNDP procedures.

Supports management and implementation of regional projects within a portfolio focusing on achievement of the following results:

Assists in creation of projects in Atlas, prepares budget revisions, revisions of project award and project status, determines unutilized funds and donor balances, carries out operational closure of projects.
Compiles donor financial reports, monitors use of cost sharing funds and other resources. Tracks and reports on mobilized resources.
Assists in liaison with project implementation agencies to ensure that Project Delivery Reports (PDRs) are correct. Generates Combined Delivery Reports (CDRs), checks for correctness and uploads into ATLAS. Generates financial transaction detail reports.
Facilitate implementation of project activities according to the project workplan, organizes events, procures expertise and equipment.
Drafts standard correspondence for project implementation.
Maintain project files.

Provides effective administrative and operational support to the project and its personnel focusing on the following:

Maintains an internal expenditure control system including timely corrective actions on unposted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers, journal vouchers. Makes budget check for requisitions and vouchers.
Prepares Non-PO and purchase orders (PO) based vouchers in Atlas
Make draft entries of new Vendors in Atlas
Assists in procurement and contracting processes. Compiles contract documentation
Prepares documents for the HR unit as well as for the Contracts, Assets and Procurement Panel (CAP) meetig
Contributes to the preparation of the projects’ recruitment and procurement plans;
Assists in organization of internal meetings, drafts minutes as required.
Assists in organizing external project meetings, including travel arrangements and communication with participants and UNDP country offices
May serve as the leave monitor for the attendance records and leave management
Provides administrative support to the team as requested.

Supports knowledge building and knowledge sharing focusing on achievement of the following results:

Participates in trainings for the operations/ projects staff on various programme/project related issues
Contributes knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Provides information and documentation on specific stages of projects/programme implementation
Analyzes general information and selects materials in support of partnership building initiatives
Documents and tracks innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches
Understands the main processes and methods of work regarding to the position
Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks
Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments
Reports to internal and external clients in a timely and appropriate fashion
Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines
Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients
Responds to client needs promptly

Core Competencies:

Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity
Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment
Self-development, initiative-taking
Acting as a team player and facilitating team work
Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively
Creating synergies through self-control
Managing conflict
Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member.
Informed and transparent decision making

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Secondary Education, preferably with specialized certification in Accounting and Finance. University Degree in Business or Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences and Social Sciences would be desirable, but it is not a requirement. Prince2 training and certification, RMG will be an asset.

Experience:

5 years of relevant administrative or programme experience is required at the national or international level. Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web based management systems.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English and Turkish.
Knowledge of Russian or other language spoken in Europe and the CIS region would be an asset

Qualified women and members of minorities are strongly encouraged to apply. UNDP is a non-smoking work environment.