Project Associate

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Job Description

The project “Advancing Meteorological Observations System for Resilient Development (AMOS- RD)”, funded by the Systematic Observation Financing Facility (SOFF), is an initiative aiming to support and strengthen Salomon Island’s capacities to provide reliable and effective meteorological observation services. Implemented in close collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM) over five years period between August 2024 to July 2029, the project aligns and contribute to the overall objective of supporting the mandate of the Solomon Islands Meteorological Services (SIMS) as the lead government entity for the administration of the meteorological information and services in the country.

The overall goal of the AMOS- RD Project is to improve weather and climate prediction products by localizing and implementing the Global Basic Observing Network (GBON) in the country. GBON, an initiative under the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), aims to strengthen and standardize the global collection of essential weather and climate data. Its primary objective is to ensure that all countries, especially those with limited resources, contribute consistent, high-quality observational data that can be used for accurate weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and early warning systems. GBON sets specific requirements for the minimum density and frequency of surface and upper-air observations, ensuring that critical data, such as temperature, humidity, and pressure, are standardized and regularly reported. This network is vital for improving global data exchange and supporting more reliable, timely weather predictions, which are essential for disaster risk reduction and climate resilience.
Within this framework, the AMOS-RD Project will enhance local observation systems by providing, installing, and maintaining the necessary infrastructure. Additionally, the project will foster an enabling environment for data collection, monitoring, and exchange by promoting the development of essential human and institutional capacities. It will also offer the necessary coordination and expertise to complement existing in-country capacities and systems.
To ensure effective and timely implementation of the AMOS-RD project, UNDP Solomon Islands office is in the process of setting up the Project Management Unit (PMU) and a National Project Associate is required to support necessary administrative, logistics and financial functions for effective implementation of the project. The incumbent will perform his/her duties under the supervision of the AMOS-RD Project Manager.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Associate works under the general supervision of AMOS-RD Project Manager, in close collaboration with the rest of the PMU and coordinate with project key partners and institutions as necessary, including SIMS and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.

The Project Associate will be responsible for the following roles and responsibilities: Provide guidance and oversight to the project team for effective planning and implementation
Ensure the development and refinement of project work plans, budgets, and implementation proposals, ensuring alignment with organizational strategies, partner expectations, and sustainable development goals. Oversee the analysis of data and information to support evidence-based decision-making and project adaptation.
Supervise and guide all aspects of project implementation, ensuring timely delivery of results and adherence to project documents, annual work plans, and agreements with partners. Drive accountability and performance among consultants, beneficiaries, and contractors, addressing challenges proactively and ensuring high-quality outputs.
Ensure full compliance with UNDP Project Operational Policies and Procedures (POPP) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). Act as a key advisor to the project team, providing guidance on operational, administrative, and procedural matters.
Promote and ensure the integration of gender equality and social inclusion in all stages of project design, planning, and execution. Lead the preparation of gender-responsive analyses, strategies, and materials to support equitable and inclusive outcomes.
Oversee project administrative and logistical activities, ensuring alignment with organizational best practices. This includes providing strategic direction for event management, procurement processes, recruitment of project personnel, and contract management, while maintaining project documentation and reporting standards.
Build and sustain partnerships with government institutions, development partners, civil society, and private sector actors to ensure alignment of project objectives, mobilization of resources, and scalability of results.
Foster knowledge sharing and capacity building within the project team, promoting continuous learning and development to strengthen team performance and align with evolving organizational priorities.

Drive monitoring, evaluation, and reporting to ensure effective project implementation and accountability

Design and oversee the implementation of the project monitoring system, ensuring its alignment with the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework and organizational priorities. Facilitate information sharing and data-driven feedback and contribute to producing high-quality progress and impact reports for diverse stakeholders.
Guide the collection, analysis, and presentation of data to evaluate project implementation against set targets, audit requirements, and strategic objectives. Proactively identify performance gaps or challenges and coordinate the development of actionable solutions with supervisors, partners, and the project team.
Coordinate and manage field and study visits, missions, and high-level project-related events, including workshops, roundtables, and conferences.
Oversee and continuously refine the project’s risk management framework, ensuring risks are effectively identified, monitored, and mitigated. Lead the preparation and regular updating of comprehensive risk mitigation plans, addressing both anticipated and emerging risks.
Monitor and evaluate project expenditures and commitments, ensuring alignment with budgets, annual work plans, and financial guidelines. Provide strategic recommendations for corrective actions when necessary and produce high-level finance-related analyses and correspondence.
Supervise the preparation, consolidation, and submission of all required project reports, ensuring compliance with internal monitoring guidelines, donor requirements, and established deadlines. Provide strategic insights to improve reporting quality and impact.

Support knowledge management, capacity building and partnerships, as relevant under the project implementation

Sustain strategic partnerships with UN agencies, government institutions, NGOs, academic institutions, and other relevant stakeholders. Provide support in updating the database of the relevant public and development partners, and other stakeholders who are counterparts for the project.
Design and implement communication and coordination mechanisms with partners, stakeholders, and beneficiaries to ensure their feedback and insights are systematically integrated into project planning and delivery.
Contribute to the creation and dissemination of impactful visibility and communication materials, ensuring messaging reflects the socio-political and development context of host countries while enhancing stakeholder engagement and awareness of project achievements.
Promote the dissemination of lessons learned and best practices within the Country Office (CO) and at regional and global levels. Share knowledge products and insights that contribute to innovation and replication of successful project approaches.
Establish and lead knowledge management systems, ensuring compilation, documentation, and sharing of project knowledge, tools, and products. Collaborate with partners to co-create resources that amplify impact and foster sustainability.
Stay ahead of emerging trends and best practices nationally, regionally, and internationally, integrating cutting-edge knowledge into the project to enhance its relevance, effectiveness, and adaptability.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Secondary education is required.
University Degree (Bachelor´s degree) in Business Administration, Public Administration, or equivalent field will be given due consideration, but is not a requirement.

Experience:

A minimum of 7 years (with secondary education) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible administrative or project experience is required.
Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and web-based management systems, and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages.
Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section
Experience in preparation of financial reports and overviews
Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation tools
Knowledge of project management processes
Experience in procurement procedures of national / international organizations
Previous experience with works and administrative support provided in construction would be a strong advantage

Required Languages: