Programme Management Intern

Background Information – Job-specific

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects around the world.  Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement, and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors, and United Nations organizations.  With over 6,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical, and management knowledge they need, where they need it.  By implementing around 1,000 projects for our partners at any given time, UNOPS makes significant contributions to results on the ground, often in the most challenging environments.

AUMCO (Austria Multi Country Office)

• The Austria Multi-Country Office (AUMCO) is part of the UNOPS Europe and Central Asia Region (ECR). Specifically, AUMCO aims to enable achievement of Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement through global programmes and tailored interventions in the Balkans, South Caucasus, and Central Asia, focused on:
• Infrastructure
• Procurement
• Project Management (full service, back on track)
• HR and Transactional Services
• Grants Management
• Technical and Advisory Services
• Project Information

The primary role of Programme Management Office (PMO) is to provide AUMCO with the structures, tools and techniques needed to ensure effective governance, management, decision making and resourcing at the portfolio level, including when it comes to project development, inception and delivery. 

In doing so, the PMO works to ensure that project management policies, processes and methods are followed and practiced according to the organization standards, while acting as the overall Quality Assurance capacity, covering both the substantive and administrative elements of projects, under the AUMCO business units on behalf of senior management. The PMO strongly contributes to moving the Multi Country/Country Office toward achieving its priorities and objectives.

The functions and services of the PMO include:

• Strategic Planning & Portfolio Management Support: Facilitating the planning/development, operationalization and delivery of projects, programmes and portfolios.
• Delivery oversight support: Ensuring UNOPS projects adhere to laid down policies, methodologies, and guidelines including coordinating the quarterly assurance tasks, performing monthly compliance checks  and coordination project board governance  reviews.
• Best Practices: Facilitating the application of UNOPS standards in project management, encouraging consistent working practices and ensuring appropriate application.

Functional Responsibilities

At UNOPS, interns join our teams as equal members and are offered a good mix of support work and independent assignments with substantial responsibility.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Programme Management Office (PMO), the intern role is to support the activities aimed at increasing project management office capacity. 

Duties and Responsibilities

The main functions of the Programme Management Office (PMO) Intern include: 

• Providing support to the Programme Management Office Team with the extraction and collection of data from different sources. Assist in the analysis and structuring of data, and compiling periodic updates to management.
• Support in conducting periodic project health checks of projects against an established success criteria, coordinating the quarterly and monthly assurance of projects, as well as improving the Project Management maturity within the MCO.
• Provide support to PMO in setting up regular and ad-hoc meetings; prepare minutes and summaries of actions to be taken, and track progress on planned issues and follow-up with focal points.
• Assist in coordinating knowledge sharing sessions, as required, in terms of preparing learning materials, presentation slides etc.
• Assist with the compilation and distribution of progress reports, lessons learned and best practice; and periodic newsletters.
• Support in developing program management dashboards, updating and administering of the dashboard.
• Prepare analysis reports, data visualization and other resources to support the PMO Team and the Head of Programme in monitoring and decision making.
• Support in the harmonization of Programme Management Office templates and rollout of tools. Support in documentation management processes through review of projects’ documentations.
• Supporting the PMO in providing routine oversight and analysis of project financial data within the available dashboards and oneUNOPS tools available.
• Assist in rolling out of the capacity building and training plan on program management.
• Support in the design and roll-out of necessary systems and processes to strengthen programme management.
• Participate in HoP or PMO-led meetings and initiatives with the aim of building experience around  Project Management. Perform support duties by taking meeting minutes during senior management meetings. Meeting preparation.
• Provide administrative support to the Head of Programme when required.
• Perform other tasks as assigned by the supervisor.

Learning elements

• The incumbent will have full access to the AUMCO portfolio project files, in particular to files and products developed in the context of the implemented activities at the country level.
• The incumbent will also have full access to UNOPS intranet, the Project ERP system and the Communities of Practice (COPs) in Project Management, Gender Mainstreaming, Innovation and Research, Sustainable Infrastructure, etc.
• The incumbent will have the opportunity to join any relevant high-level meetings, and get exposure to key stakeholders such as other UN agencies (UNFCCC, UNEP, UNDP, UNU), several country and multi-partner donors, international non-governmental organizations and representatives from country beneficiary.

Participation in training courses

• The incumbent will have access to the UNOPS Learning Zone and can access training in Programme Management, Gender Mainstreaming, Coaching, and mandatory training as per UNOPS policy.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

• The applicant should have completed a Minimum First level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) , or be enrolled in a postgraduate program or have graduated from such studies within three (3) years prior to the start date of the intern assignment.
• Area of study should preferably relate to International Affairs, Social Sciences, Business Administration, Project Management or Engineering background with some programme management experience is desirable.
• Prior project management certification is highly desirable.

Internship – Related Experiences

• While no prior work experience is required, some experience in programme/project management, administration or related fields would be an asset.

Language Requirements

• Excellent command of written and spoken English is required.
• Any other UN language would be an asset.

Source: https://jobs.unops.org/Pages/ViewVacancy/VADetails.aspx?id=29103