Jobs at United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)

Functions / Key Results Expected

Project Delivery and Performance

• Support in the planning, implementation and monitoring of project activities in line with approved work plans, budgets and quality standards.
• 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Skills

Data Analysis, Project Implementation, Reporting, Stakeholder Management

Competencies

• Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organisation. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organisation.
• Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organisational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.
• Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.
• Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).
• Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.
• Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.
• Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.
• Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Education Requirements

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 7 years of relevant experience OR Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 5 years of relevant experience is required.

Desired

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

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Operations management

• Facilitate the finalisation and adoption of a national framework for air quality monitoring in Timor-Leste, integrating clear protocols for data collection, analysis, and dissemination.
• Provide support in the development of an air quality standard decree law for Timor Leste. 
• Oversee the deployment and operation of a hybrid ambient air quality monitoring network, combining low-cost sensors and reference-grade particle counters (including low-cost sensors for fine particulate matter (PM2.5 / PM10) and nitrogen dioxide diffusion tubes at multiple sites across Timor Leste.
• Oversee the maintenance and calibration of air quality monitoring equipment, including development of SoP/manual for operation and maintenance of the AQM sensors and the Air Quality Monitoring Application, ensuring community ownership for the installed air quality sensors
• Implement innovative deployment of technological resources combining meteorological data and MAIAC/Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) PM2.5 satellite data overlaid on quality sensor data to enhance accuracy of air pollution early warning. 
• Oversee design, development and deployment of an accessible real-time air quality public notification and alert system for proactive public actions, the Air Quality Mobile Application integrated with data from the hybrid air quality monitoring network. 
• Facilitate the integration of sensor-generated data from Timor Leste into UNEP’s Open Data Management System, in coordination with UNEP GEMS Air, and other existing open data sharing platforms.
• Integrate use of open-source environmental monitoring solutions into the air quality framework to enhance the closing of data-action gaps by matching pollutants to upstream causes and sources so they can be forestalled.
• Monitor the effectiveness and efficiency of operational support services to ensure seamless delivery of project outcomes, including data collection, analysis, and reporting.

Project planning and coordination support

• Facilitate definition and agreement of institutional roles and responsibilities (including ownership and operation and maintenance of the network, data sharing) amongst government departments related to air quality monitoring, such as the National Directorate of Pollution Control (Ministry of Tourism and Environment), National Directorate of Meteorology and Geophysics (Ministry of Tourism and Environment) and Department of Environmental health (Ministry of Health). 
• Coordinate and manage engagement of partners for optimal delivery of technical outputs, including Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System for Africa and Asia (RIMES), which is developing the Air Quality Mobile Application. 
• Coordinate stakeholder engagement workshops with the members of the Climate and Health Working Group and other relevant actors, to align multi-stakeholder efforts with project objectives and timelines and to enhance awareness of air pollution, related health risks and actions to reduce impacts on health and well-being.
• Establish targets and timelines for implementing technical training programs and system deployment, ensuring timely achievement of project deliverables

Procurement and logistics

• Manage logistics for stakeholder engagement workshops and technical training sessions, ensuring smooth delivery of all project components.
• Ensure compliance with UNOPS procurement standards for sourcing equipment and services.

Human Resources Development 

• Develop and deliver in-country technical training programs to build the capacity of local stakeholders in air quality monitoring, data management and quality assurance, during installation and post-installation, ensuring they are equipped to manage the air quality monitoring network effectively and implement the air quality monitoring framework. 
• Deliver capacity-building for the National Directorate of Meteorology and Geophysics and the Ministry of Health and other relevant stakeholders, on use of the Air Quality Mobile Application and managing and maintaining the air quality forecasting system. 
• Delivery capacity building for National Directorate of Meteorology and Geophysics and other government stakeholders on how to overlay MAIAC/Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) PM2.5 satellite data and other meteorological data on data from low-cost sensors to generate air quality forecasts, warning alerts and health impact advisories and advocacy.
• Deliver stakeholder engagement workshops to enhance awareness of air pollution, related health risks and actions to reduce impacts on health and well-being.
• Provide supervision and guidance to project staff, including a Local Technician, involved in installation of the air quality monitoring network and undertaking data analysis.

Administration and Information Technology (ICT) 

• Implement a centralized system for managing air quality data, integrated to the Climate Data Information System (CDIS), ensuring data integrity and accessibility for reporting purposes.
• Put in place processes for the flow and sharing of air quality monitoring data from the low-cost sensors, to the CDIS, to the Air Quality Monitoring Application. 
• Facilitate the integration of sensor-generated data from Timor Leste into UNEP’s Open Data Management System, in coordination with UNEP GEMS Air, and other existing open data sharing platforms.
• Facilitate the use of ICT tools to enhance the efficiency and reliability of data collection, analysis, and reporting processes.

Knowledge Management

• Establish a platform for sharing knowledge and best practices in air quality management, encouraging collaboration among stakeholders, to enhance capacity of local stakeholders in managing and interpreting air quality data. 
• Produce detailed reports on the framework's implementation, including insights on air pollution levels and health risk mitigation strategies.

Skills

Air Quality, Capacity Building, Knowledge Management, Operations Management, Procurement, Project Planning

Competencies

• Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organisation. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organisation.
• Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organisational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.
• Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.
• Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).
• Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.
• Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.
• Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.
• Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Education Requirements

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in environmental science, environmental engineering, meteorology, atmospheric science, electrical engineering or a related field with 7 years of relevant experience OR Master’s degree (or equivalent) in the above mentioned fields with 5 years of relevant experience is required.

Experience Requirements

Required

• Relevant experience is work in operations management, preferably in a large international organization, with a focus on Environment projects in developing countries. 
• Experience in hands-on management of complex projects related to air quality monitoring is required.