Project Associate

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. 

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. 

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

Core competencies:

• 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 feedback​ 
• Adapt 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, confident​ 
• Engage and Partner: ​​LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships​
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: ​​LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination ​ 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Management

• Working with Evidence and Data - Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting decision-making 
• Digital Awareness and Literacy - Ability to monitor new and emerging technologies, as well as understand their usage, potential, limitations, impact, and added value. Ability to rapidly and readily adopt and use new technologies in professional activities, and to empower others to use them as needed. Knowledge of the usage of digital technologies and emerging trends. 
• Customer Satisfaction/Client Management - Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers' needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients' immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns. 

Procurement

• Contract management - Knowledge of contract management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations 
• Sourcing: Ability to find, evaluate and engage suppliers of goods and services 

Finance

• Financial planning and budgeting - Ability to create and manage processes to achieve UNDP's long and short-term financial goals, including through planning, budgeting, forecasting, analysing and reporting 
• Accounting (General) - Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, frameworks, standards, regulations, policies and trends, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations