Partnerships Advisor EU Accession and Integration – retainer position

Partnerships Advisor EU Accession and Integration – retainer position
Job categories: Partnerships
Vacancy code: VA/2025/B5110/29860
Level: ICS-11
Department/office: ECR, RSMCO, Serbia MCO
Duty station: Home based
Contract type: International ICA
Contract level: IICA-3
Duration: Up to 60 w/days in one year period with possibility of extension
Application period: 11-Mar-2025 to 01-Apr-2025

Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement.

Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.

Background Information – Job-specific

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ development, humanitarian and peacebuilding projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development. UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

In Serbia, where UNOPS has been active since 2000, and North Macedonia and Montenegro where UNOPS works since 2017, the organisation provides support in conducting demanding socio-economic reforms and facilitating accession to the European Union and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The projects focus on sustainable socio-economic development, good governance, rule of law, social cohesion, environment and emergency response. Major projects have been implemented with the funding from the European Union (EU), Kingdom of Norway, Governments of Switzerland, Sweden, North Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, as well as UN organisations such as UNHCR and UNEP. UNOPS Serbia Multi-Country Office (RSMCO) also covers Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the need for support and potential engagements are being assessed in parallel to establishing in-country presence.

The work of UNOPS and the projects it implements is contextualised within the broader Sustainable Development Goals frameworks and objectives of the countries of its operations.

In the light of accelerated EU accession of the Western Balkans along with the Eastern Partnership Countries, and based on the multiple needs for assistance identified by national governments and the ministries in charge of EU affairs, the RSMCO needs to mobilise additional expertise in EU integration for better shaping support of the Multi-Country Office capacity, resources and experience to partners.

Functional Responsibilities

• Under the supervision of the RSMCO Director, with the guidance and in close coordination with the Partnerships Specialist (PS) and Head of Programme (HoP) and in collaboration with Project Managers and Team Leaders, the Partnerships Advisor for EU Integration will provide strategic advice for ongoing and future UNOPS operations, contribute to defining the RSMCO approach and actions, and provide guidance in application of knowledge, lessons, best practices and experience for optimising the initiatives related to the requested area of expertise.

  She/he will provide substantial contribution in identification, design, and implementation of the programmes and projects contributing to the EU accession of the aforementioned regions.

  The candidate is expected to possess knowledge in the areas including, but not limited to, the below listed:

  1. EU institutional framework and policies (institutional set-up and decision-making processes of EU institutions, enlargement policies and integration mechanisms, harmonisation requirements)
  2. EU accession process & enlargement policy (Strategies and negotiation frameworks, including Copenhagen Criteria and revised Enlargement Methodology)
  3. EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans and Reform and Growth Facility Instrument
  4. Economic integration and EU funding mechanisms ( Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA), EU Single market, Cohesion Policy, and Structural Funds)
  5. Upgrading capacities of national institutions on the countries’ EU accession paths
  6. Creating platforms for engagement and cooperation mechanisms public institutions, businesses, academia and civil society on EU integration matters.
  7. Communications and visibility of the EU assistance
  8. Inter- and intra-regional networking and cooperation

  The incumbent will undertake the following specific tasks/responsibilities:

• Advise the RSMCO Director, HoP, PS and other senior RSMCO personnel on the EU accession and integration matters and the directions for UNOPS, in particular the most recent issues and future developments in EU main policies and financial frameworks

• Provide guidance for strategic and operational engagement in EU accession and integration of the Western Balkans countries

• Provide regular or ad-hoc analyses of EU enlargement and Western Balkans accession and integration trends, policies and institutional frameworks

• Monitor and provide updates on funding opportunities for projects supporting EU accession and integration in the Western Balkans

• Facilitate the expansion of the RSMCO network of national and international stakeholders relevant for the countries’ EU accession and integration, including the local EU delegations and Brussels based EU institutions

• Contribute to development/writing of programmes and projects supporting EU accession

  The candidate will provide technical support on all the aforementioned areas and aspects through
  narrative inputs to documents including concept notes, project proposals, analyses, presentations and other

• participation in internal and external meetings, events and other fora relevant for the RSMCO and the Western Balkans countries’ EU accession and integration

• advisory and capacity building through on-the-job advisory or training sessions, in person or online

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

• Advanced University Degree preferably in EU integration, International Relations, Public Administration, Management, Developments Studies, Sociology, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, Law or other relevant field is required
• Bachelor’s degree with a combination of two additional years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the Master degree

Work Experience

• Minimum seven years of relevant work experience in the field of EU integration in national and international sector within Western Balkans countries is required
• Within these 7 years, a minimum three years in leadership or key expert positions in EU integration matters are required
• Experience in the Cluster 1 – Fundamentals of the EU Acquis Communautaire is an asset

Language Requirements

• Fluency in English is required
• Knowledge of Serbian, Montenegrin, Macedonian, Bosnian will be asset

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: International Individual Contractor Agreement (IICA) Retainer*
Contract level: I-ICA 3 (ICS11)
Contract duration: Up to 60 w/days in one year with possibility of extension

*If the selected candidate is based in a duty station where there is a national scale, s/he may be offered the local equivalent position.

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

Additional Information

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions

• 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.
• 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.

Background information – UNOPS Serbia
The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an independent United Nations (UN) organisation since 1995 (Resolution 48/501, 1994), which succeeded two decades of its operations as a part of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) since 1974 when it was established.

The mission of UNOPS is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development. As a part of the United Nations family, and as the only self-financed UN organisation, UNOPS is committed to UN values and private sector efficiency.

In Serbia, UNOPS has been active since 2000 and the organisation provides support in conducting demanding socio-economic reforms and facilitating accession to the European Union. The projects focus on sustainable local development, good governance, the rule of law, social cohesion, environment and emergency response. The projects are implemented with funding from the European Union (EU), the Governments of Switzerland, Sweden, Serbia, and the UN organisations.

UNOPS Serbia Multi-Country Office (RSMCO) also covers Montenegro and North Macedonia, as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the need for support and potential engagements are being assessed. The work of UNOPS and the projects it implements is contextualised within the broader Sustainable Development Goals frameworks and objectives of the countries of its operations.