Project Assistant

1. Position Information

Office/Unit/ProjectDeveloping Women Empowerment Models in Manufacturing IndustryFunctional TitleProject Assistant Classified Level (NPSA 1-12)NPSA 5Duty Station (City and Country)Ankara, TurkeyType (Regular or Short-term)RegularOffice- or Home-basedOffice-basedExpected Starting Date1 May 2024Expected Duration12 months (extendable based on satisfactory performance and availability of funding)Position Number209134

2. Office/Unit/Project Description

The main aim of the project is to showcase pilot transformation cases in manufacturing industry and to establish replicable models for inclusive and sustainable growth with specific focus on women empowerment. The specific objective of the project is to widen women’s possible qualified STEM based employment opportunities by providing sustainable partnerships, capacity development solutions in industry and bring women into traditionally male-dominated sectors and occupations in line with digital and green transformation requirements of the manufacturing industry in post COVID-19 period.

The project will be implemented in the 5 pilot provinces namely Ankara, İstanbul, İzmir, Kocaeli, and Manisa. 

The project period will cover 24 months. Implementation period will consist of two basic components namely financial support to third parties and activities. Activities are formulated in a complementary manner and classified under five components. Some of the sub-activities could go in parallel to match the required needs for the project. “Activity-1 Preparatory Studies” will focus on complementary and quick assessments to formulate pilot cases while enforcing commitment of the local stakeholders. In parallel selection of change agents/operators and companies for pilot implementation will be also completed here. “Activity-2 Capacity Development of Target Groups” will cover a wide range of capacity improvement/development actions targeting change agents/operators, SMEs, and key interface organizations. “Activity-3 Pilot Transformation Cases” will showcase pilot implementation in companies, placement/incentive programs and “Activity-4 Monitoring & Evaluation” will follow up and document implementation experience for replication. “Activity-5 Communication & Visibility” will include key communication-oriented actions. 

The project is mainly linked to “Private Sector Development” action of the Competitiveness and Innovation Sector Operational Programme 2014-2020 (CISOP) with a specific emphasis on transforming the manufacturing industry and increasing the competitiveness through emphasising women employment. Accordingly, Developing Women Employment Models in Manufacturing Industry, the project, is expected to contribute to the achievement of “Activity 1.1: Manufacturing Activity of the CISOP- 2014-2020” by aiming at improvement of the total factor productivity of the national economy with a specific emphasis on transforming the manufacturing industry, and increasing its competitiveness.

The project will focus on addressing the challenge of adoption to the new work patterns of the manufacturing sector with a special focus of women empowerment while showcasing transformation results in the context of recent trends. The project is also designed to support compliance with the EU acquis via interventions that will be contributed through strengthening institutional capacity in the relevant sectors. IPA II aims to assist Türkiye in multiple areas including private sector development and manufacturing sector. The project aims to contribute to the improvement of the total factor productivity of the national economy with a specific emphasis on transforming the manufacturing industry, and increasing its competitiveness trough focusing on women empowerment in employment. In addition, business opportunities will be in transition to a green economy offers. Activities support to respond the requirements of trends on digital transformation and green transformation in accordance with the CISOP.

3. Scope of Work

Project Assistant will be assisting the Project Manager and Project Associates for organization of activities and in accounting, finance, and procurement. In line with the segregation of duties which will be done by the Project Manager, Project Assistant will be critical to carry out administrative procedures helping both the Project Manager and Project Associates as well as short term experts. The Project Assistant will be mobilised for the TISK. Depending on the activity, duration allocation for the Project Assistant role will be more concentrating on accounting and finance due to workload for financial supports to women. The Project Assistant will also assist the Project Associate in the planning, implementation and reporting of trainings and assessment activities that will be conducted by the affiliated entity, i.e., the MESS. 

The NPSA holder are expected to assume the following tasks depending on their assignment location: 

1. Measurable OutputsKey Results Expected/Major Functional Activities% of timeProviding assistance to project implementation 

• Assist in day-to-day implementation of the project 
• Taking minutes of project meetings and conducting the requested distribution
• Maintaining communication with project team, project partners and main stakeholders and responding promptly to requests for information and assistance.
• Providing support in preparing project events, including workshops, meetings, study tours, trainings, etc. 
• Being responsible for project filing
• Taking care of project communication activities especially on design of invitations, creation of social media posts and etc
• Translation of project documents, materials, letter, and papers from/to English and Turkish
• Interpretation during mission meetings, small-scale workshops, and relevant events
• Travel arrangements (air tickets, hotels etc.)

1. 50Supporting the organization, planning, implementation and reporting of training programmes and assessment activities 

• Assisting the preparation of implementation plan of trainings and assessments 
• Assisting the reporting of training and assessment activities
• Assisting the preparation and evaluation of required documentation and monitoring of payments for financial supports to women

1. 40Assisting the procurement processes

• Support to procurement processes and small procurements (canvassing), 
• Provide inputs for project procurement plan

10

4. Institutional Arrangement

The Project Assistant will be reporting to the Project Manager and will be working closely with international senior experts, local senior experts, and local junior experts.

5. Competencies

Core Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline Think Innovatively:LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements Learn Continuously:LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedbackAdapt with Agility:LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confidentEngage and Partner:LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationshipsEnable Diversity and Inclusion:LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

Thematic AreaNameDefinition 

Business Direction & Strategy

Strategic ThinkingAbility to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions 

Business Direction & Strategy

Effective Decision MakingAbility to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources 

Business Management

Working with Evidence and DataAbility to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making 

Administration & Operations 

Building, facilities & office space managementKnowledge and ability to facilitate the renovation and upgrade of offices including review of complex engineering/architectural drawings; negotiate technical agreements to ensure fully operational building infrastructure and services

6. Minimum Qualifications of the Successful NPSA

Min. Education requirementsBachelor’s degree in engineering and/or Economics and/or Administrative science or social sciences 

Min. years of relevant work experience Minimum 2 years of working experience with (Bachelors degree) progressively responsible administrative support experience, preferably in development projects is required at the national or international level

Required skills Microsoft Office, Windows-based applications, integrated web- based management systems, spreadsheets and databases. 

• Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies sectionMinimum of 1 year of professional experience in assisting financial (financial concepts, budgeting, financial analysis, financial reporting, accounting principles and experience in handling financial data and transactions) and/or administrative issues;
• Min. 1 year of working experience in assisting with project management tasks, including coordinating project activities, tracking progress, and reporting will be an asset;
• Min. 1 year of working experience with governmental and/or international and/or academic organizations and/or business associations will be an asset;
• Basic knowledge and implementation experience at human resources principles, practices, and regulations will be an asset;
• Project Cycle Management Certificate is an asset 
• Experience in ERP based HR software in line with Turkish Social Security System is an asset 

Required Language(s) Fluent written and spoken English and Turkish. 

Professional Certificates– Project Cycle Management Certificate 

Read Full Description