National Project Co-ordination Officer (NP1)

Background:

OSCE field operations are the front line of the OSCE’s engagement on the ground, supporting host authorities in fulfilling OSCE commitments and implementing a comprehensive approach to security. The OSCE Mission to Skopje is the Organization's longest-serving field operation working on social cohesion, fundamental rights, gender equality, the rule of law, good governance, integrity and anticorruption, criminal justice and police reform.

* Position proposed to be retitled to National Project Compliance Officer, subject to UB2026 approval.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the guidance and supervision of the Chief, Policy and Programme Support Unit (Chief, PPSU), the incumbent will work closely with Project and Programme Managers, providing assistance and central guidance for the planning, development, implementation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation of all Mission’s UB (Unified Budget) and ExB (Extra Budgetary) projects, more specifically:

1. Assisting the Chief, PPSU to coordinate the preparation, assessment, approval, monitoring and evaluation of the Mission’s projects, ensuring that project proposals are aligned with the programmatic outcomes and budgetary resources available, ensuring input and feedback early in the planning cycle;  

2. Assisting Project Managers in technical aspects of drafting project proposals as required, and in reviewing the Mission’s UB and ExB projects for relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, coherence and impact; Supporting the Project and Programme Managers in planning, drafting, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of their projects and programmes; 

3. Assisting the Chief, PPSU, Project and Programme Managers in assessing how project implementation is coordinated and giving recommendations on improvements; Organizing and participating in regular review meetings on the projects’ progress; Coordinating inputs to the Mission’s Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) matrix; Preparing project monitoring analysis and status overview to the Chief, PPSU; 

4. Advising on and ensuring compliance with the organizational standards and procedures on project management, the regulatory framework and the pertinent financial-administrative instructions; Designing internal workflows, reviewing and drafting amendments to the Mission’s administrative instructions and guidelines on the project management system for approval by the Chief, PPSU; 

5. Reviewing and editing interim and final narrative, financial reports and self-evaluation reports for UB and ExB projects;

6. Ensuring compliance with organizational instructions of the Mission’s Implementing Partner Agreements under UB and ExB in cooperation with the National Legal Officer; Ensuring compliance with the Administrative Instructions on ExB Contributions; Liaising regularly with the Secretariat’s Programming Evaluation and Support Unit (CPC/PESU) and Department for Management of Finances (DMF);

7. Assisting the Chief, PPSU in the preparation and review of the Mission’s programmatic budget cycle documents, with a special focus on identification and definition of mid-term and short-term results, Key Performance Indicators and Means of Verification; Reviewing and uploading the budget cycle documents in the system, ensuring that information stored is accurate, complete and up to date;

8. Acting as the Mission’s ExB Focal Point, ensuring overall coordination and oversight of the Mission’s ExB portfolio throughout the entire project cycle of the ExB projects; Maintaining continuous exchange of information and harmonization of mutual efforts with the Mission’s external donors and partners; In liaison with donors and external partners, coordinating the proposal submissions, project review and approval, pledge management, drafting and reviewing of donor reports;

9. Participating in and monitoring the process of ExB project formulation; Reviewing and assessing project proposals for programmatic, technical and budgetary coherence; Providing support and guidance to Project and Programme Managers on established organizational project management procedures, ensuring compliance with regulations on ExB contributions;

10. Coordinating the project assessment process in the Mission and with the Secretariat (PESU), including presenting project proposals for review and ensuring that programmatic feedback is incorporated in the proposals;

11. Building the internal capacity of mission members on the organization’s project management cycle and ExB management within the Mission;

12. Performing other duties as assigned. 

     

Necessary Qualifications:

• Citizenship of or permanent residence in the Republic of North Macedonia;

• First-level university degree in project management, social science, public administration or related fields;

• Minimum two years of professional experience in the field of project coordination or project management, preferably obtained in an international organization;

• Previous working experience in project development, implementation and evaluation; 

• Established networking and communication skills, mediation and diplomacy/tact in all dealings;

• Knowledge of the OSCE or similar administrative framework;

• Computer literate with practical experience with Microsoft applications; 

• Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English language and in local language(s); 

• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;

• Demonstrated ability and willingness to work as a member of a team, with people of different cultural and religious backgrounds, different gender, and diverse political views, while maintaining impartiality and objectivity;

• Holding a valid driving license.
   

Remuneration Package:

Monthly remuneration, subject to social security deductions, is approximately EUR 2,087.58.

Social benefits will include participation in the Cigna medical insurance and the OSCE Provident Fund. 
 

Appointments are normally made at Step 1 of the applicable OSCE salary scale. In exceptional cases, an initial appointment at up to Step 3 may be considered. This depends on factors such as relevant experience exceeding minimum requirements or higher previous remuneration. Any such request by a candidate must be reviewed and approved by the OSCE before the appointment.

If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE's online application link found under https://vacancies.osce.org/.

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment, to offer an appointment at a lower grade or to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration. 

Only those candidates who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted.

Candidates interviewed and found suitable in the recruitment process for this vacancy notice will be placed on a roster of suitable candidates (valid for three years) for fixed-term posts, should a suitable opportunity arise. The placement on a roster does not guarantee a future appointment or assignment.

Please note that vacancies in the OSCE are open for competition only amongst nationals of participating States, please see https://www.osce.org/participating-states.

The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the Organization.

Candidates should be aware that OSCE officials shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant. This includes avoiding any action which may adversely reflect on the integrity, independence and impartiality of their position and function as officials of the OSCE. The OSCE is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. For more information on the values set out in OSCE Competency Model, please see https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model.

Please be aware that OSCE appointments are subject to medical clearance. 

The mandatory retirement age at the OSCE is 65 years for contracted positions at the general service, professional and director level. The Organization shall apply an age limit of 62 years at the time of appointment. 

Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.