Project Management Support Associate

In Sint Maarten, UNODC is supporting the Ministry of Justice through the Detention Sector Reform Programme (DSRP), a multi-year initiative aimed at strengthening prison management, rehabilitation and reintegration services, staff professionalization, institutional policies and procedures, and preparations for the transition to a new correctional facility. The programme supports the development of a modern correctional system aligned with international standards, including the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules).

This position is located in the Programme Office in Sint Maarten (POSXM), with duty station in Philipsburg, under the Regional Office for Central America and the Caribbean (ROPAN), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The incumbent will work under the overall supervision of the UNODC Regional Representative for Central America and the Caribbean and the direct supervision of the Programme Coordinator leading the UNODC Programme Office in Sint Maarten.

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.  UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian and development projects.  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.

The Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development operations. It was formed by combining the following portfolios: Grants Management Services (GMS), UN Technology Support Services (UNTSS), Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio (DSIP). It provides Services to partners' programmes that are designed, structured, and managed with a global perspective and primarily serving partners headquartered in New York. The SDC has a footprint of approximately 125 countries.

UNOPS has signed a Global Agreement with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to operationally support the implementation of their mandate through the provision of Human Resources services.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), an office of the United Nations Secretariat established in 1997 to assist Member States in their efforts to combat illicit drugs, crime, and terrorism, is one of the partners under UNTSS.

Headquartered in Vienna, Austria, UNODC operates globally to support the development and implementation of policies and programmes that address a wide range of issues, including drug trafficking and abuse, organized crime, corruption, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, cybercrime, and terrorism prevention. Through research, policy advice, capacity-building, and technical assistance, UNODC works to strengthen justice systems, promote international cooperation, and uphold the rule of law and human rights in the fight against transnational threats.

The Project Management Support Associate provides substantive support to the planning, coordination and delivery of project activities. The role collaborates closely with project stakeholders to maintain effective coordination, facilitate operations and ensure activities are delivered efficiently in line with the project’s results framework and internal processes.

1. Planning and Preparation

• Support senior technical leads or project managers in stakeholder engagement, training needs assessment, and development of capacity-building programmes.

• Contribute to budget preparation, procurement processes, and identification of risks with mitigation measures. 

• Assist in drafting project agreements, amendments, and budget revisions in consultation with relevant stakeholders.

2. Training and Implementation Support

• Coordinate logistics for training sessions, workshops, and meetings (venues, materials, accommodation, catering, assessments, certification)

• Support the development of training materials and the integration of thematic inputs into delivery.

• Liaise with service providers, retainers and project stakeholders to ensure effective project implementation.

• Facilitate internal and external communications to minimize operational disruption and maintain consistent project delivery.

3. Monitoring, Reporting and Compliance

• Develop and update monitoring tools, progress tracking sheets, and risk/ issue registers.

• Collect, prepare and archive documentation related to training and project activities.

• Contribute to drafting and quality assurance of reports, meeting minutes, and donor/partner submissions.

• Track project milestones and alert managers on deadlines and reporting requirements.

• Ensure compliance with UNODC policies, procedures and donor requirements.

4. Operational and Logistical Support

• Coordinate procurement, travel, transport and inventory management in support of project operations.

• Support HR-related project requirements (e.g. drafting terms of reference for positions, monitoring deliverables, recruitment activities, etc).

• Manage project files, shared drives, and document management systems to ensure real-time tracking and accessibility.

5. 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

Required

• Secondary school (or equivalent) with 6 years of relevant professional experience OR 

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in criminal justice, criminology, law, public policy, public administration, social or health sciences, development studies, or a related field, with 2 years of relevant experience is required.

Desired

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in criminal justice, criminology, law, public policy, public administration, social or health sciences, development studies, or a related field.

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

Required

• Relevant experience in supporting processes of criminal justice, rule of law, public sector reform, social policy, or other related areas is required.

• Experience in project management, programme implementation, public policy, criminal justice, institutional reform, or other related areas is required.

• Demonstrable proficiency in the use of collaboration and productivity tools (e.g. MS Office, G-Suite, etc) and web-based management systems is required.

Desired     

• Experience working in the Caribbean, particularly in Sint Maarten, including with government institutions or in the implementation of social, development, or public sector initiatives, is desired. 

• Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in a developing country is desired.

• Experience in development or humanitarian contexts is desired.

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
  

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. 
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.