Project Coordinator [Open to Tier 1 & 2 applicants]

Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

The UNDP project “Albania’s Path to Strengthening Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS)”, financed by the Kunming Biodiversity Fund and implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, aims to make Albania’s ABS framework fully operational, transparent and equitable. The project will strengthen Albania’s legal, administrative and institutional capacities for access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilization, in line with the Nagoya Protocol, the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and relevant EU requirements.

The project will develop practical ABS procedures and guidance, enhance coordination and compliance capacities, promote private-sector and research engagement, and empower local communities to benefit from traditional knowledge and biodiversity-based economic opportunities. It will also support community-based biodiversity enterprises, establish mechanisms for documenting traditional knowledge, and integrate gender-responsive participation, risk management, monitoring and quality assurance throughout project implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Environment and Climate Change Programme Specialist, as well as in close cooperation with the national authorities, the Project Coordinator will be responsible for the day-to-day coordination, implementation, monitoring and reporting of the Project. The Project Coordinator will ensure that the project activities are implemented effectively, efficiently and in accordance with the approved Project Document, annual work plan, budget, UNDP policies and procedures and Kunming Biodiversity Fund requirements.

The incumbent will facilitate coordination among project partners, provide substantive and operational support for implementation, monitor progress against project results framework, and ensure timely identification and management of implementation risks.

The project coordinator is responsible for:

Project Management

• Day-to-day coordination of Project activities, monitoring the financial performance of the Project according to the project budget;
• Coordination with relevant implementing partners and responsible parties to ensure that the expected outputs are delivered in a timely manner, according to the project document;
• Ensure that the project is implemented in compliance with UNDP Procurement, Financial and Human Resources rules and regulations;
• Ensure that the project is implemented according to work plans and within the established budgets;
• Ensure the implementation of the project communication plan and visibility requirements;
• Ensure the results-based implementation of project activities;
• Act as project assets custodian and ensure the project assets are properly inventoried and reported;
• Provide professional advice based upon his/her specific area of expertise that is relevant to the project activities’ goals and objectives.

Coordination, monitoring, evaluation and results management

• Coordinate the preparation of technical inputs, guidelines, procedures and operational tools
• Coordinate and monitor the project implementation process, including effective monitoring of project work plan and relevant activities as per outputs;
• Assess the impact and oversee the appropriateness and the accuracy of methods used to verify progress and the results, undertakes the project’s independent evaluations;
• Review consultants’ and contractors’ deliverables and provide recommendations regarding their technical acceptance, while respecting the applicable approval authorities.
• Coordinate the timely preparation of terms of reference, technical specifications and other documentation required for the procurement of goods and services.
• Prepare timely and high-quality narrative progress reports, annual reports, donor reports, Project Board submissions and other required documents.
• Provide periodic analytical updates on the situation in respective sectors of the project;
• Coordinate the preparation and dissemination of communication and knowledge products in accordance with UNDP and donor visibility requirements.
• Ensure that technical products developed by the project are shared with relevant institutions and integrated into national systems, where applicable.
• Coordinate baseline assessments, reviews, evaluations and other monitoring exercises envisaged under the Project Document.
• Collect, analyze and consolidate general and issue-specific materials, documentation, and contribute to the preparation of policy papers, corporate planning and reporting tools, resource mobilization and advocacy materials.

Ensure Liaison, partnerships and coordination with external and internal partners

• Establish and maintain close working relationships with stakeholders as well as promote the value, comparative advantages, and ensure visibility of the project.
• Maintain a decision and action-tracking system and follow up with responsible parties on agreed actions.
• Provide regular implementation updates to UNDP, the Ministry of Environment and project governance bodies.
• Support institutional ownership and the integration of project results into relevant policies, procedures and institutional arrangements.
• Facilitate coordination with UNDP regional and global technical teams and the Kunming Biodiversity Fund, as required.
• Closely liaise with other teams to ensure coherence and synergy among all projects of UNDP Albania.

Facilitate Knowledge Management and Communication

• Facilitate knowledge building and management in the areas of the project interventions;
• Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned;
• Make sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice including corporate communications repositories;
• Contribute to the design and implementation of appropriate learning strategies for stakeholders and target groups.

Ensure Risk management, safeguards and quality assurance

• Regularly update the project risk register and monitor operational, institutional, environmental, social and sustainability risks.
• Support the implementation and monitoring of applicable UNDP Social and Environmental Standards and safeguard measures.
• Ensure that stakeholder engagement, grievance redress, gender equality and social inclusion considerations are incorporated into project planning and implementation.
• Coordinate quality assurance of technical deliverables and ensure that output meets the standards set out in the Project Document and relevant contracts.
• Support project audits, evaluations and assurance activities and follow up on their recommendations.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

• The incumbent will be responsible for the supervision and development of the Project Assistant
• The incumbent will be given access to relevant information necessary for the execution of the tasks under this assignment;
• The incumbent will be provided with a workstation (i.e. laptop, internet, phone, scanner/printer, etc.) and access to reliable internet connection

Competencies

Core competencies:

• Achieve Results - LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work.
• Think Innovatively - LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking.
• Learn Continuously - LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others, and support their learning.
• Adapt with Agility - LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process.
• Act with Determination - LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously.
• Engage and Partner - LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships.
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion - LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making.

People Management competencies:

• UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross Functional and Technical competencies:

2030 Agenda

• Planet-Nature, Climate and Energy-Ecosystems and Biodiversity
  • Natural Resource Management.
  • Conservation and Sustainable use of Biodiversity, land, forests and oceans.
  • Natural resource management and rule of law.

External Relations & Advocacy

• Event planning and execution
  • Ability to plan, manage and execute public events to ensure that they support and amplify individual communications and advocacy initiatives, as well as UNDP's overall brand and mandate.

Gender Mainstreaming

• Gender Equality standards
  • Ensuring gender considerations and standards are integrated in the programmatic work of the organization.

Partnership management

• UN Partnerships
  • Knowledge and understanding of UN strategies, approached, processes and systems.

Business Management

• Project Management
  • Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Environmental or Natural Resource Management, Environmental Engineering, Economics/Management, Business Administration or a related field is required. OR
• A first level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the above fields in combination with additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Applicants with a master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience.
• Applicants with a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience in managing environment / natural resource management projects / initiatives at national or local levels

Desirable skills:

• Progressively responsible experience in project or programme management or related areas at international and/or national level is desirable.
• Familiarity and experience in working with national and local governments as well as the private sector is an advantage.
• Experience in nature conservation and financing and sustainable use at the national or local level is desired.
• Proven experience working in a sensitive environment requiring liaison and collaboration with multiple actors (e.g. NGOs, CSOs, government, etc.) is desired.

Languages:

• Fluency in English and Albanian language required

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Use of AI by candidates

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