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 programme "Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment in Medium-Sized Municipalities in Serbia VI” is envisaged as a programme focusing on the improvement of the quality of receiving water bodies in Serbia and the enhancement of living conditions of the population in selected medium-sized Serbian municipalities/towns (> 30.000 inhabitants), through investments in wastewater infrastructure. The overarching objective of the programme is to ensure environmentally sound and hygienically safe discharge, collection and treatment of wastewater at affordable prices in selected Serbian municipalities. The programme will also make a substantial contribution to the implementation of the EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, thereby supporting Serbia's aspiration to join the EU. The planned investment measures include the rehabilitation/extension of existing wastewater treatment plants for complying with EU standards, construction of new wastewater treatment plants, rehabilitation/replacement of collectors, construction/extension of wastewater transmission mains and further investments in the sewage system. In addition to investments, the programme will also finance activities for institutional strengthening of Public Utility Companies in the selected municipalities to improve their operational capacities and increase the quality level of their service as well as to plan and implement the necessary investments in the wastewater infrastructure.

Taking into account the large number of participating Municipalities (6) as well as the comprehensiveness and volume of both preparatory tasks as well as the subsequent physical investments, the existing capacities in the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure (Programme Implementation Unit – PIU) will be improved through this proposed Project in order to ensure the proper assumption of the role of overall coordination and monitoring of all programme activities. In that sense it was jointly decided that the human resource capacities in the Sector for Communal activities, Housing and Architectural Policy, Energy efficiency аnd Construction Materials of the PIU will be strengthened through engagement of qualified experts simultaneously with the initiation of the overall programme.

This Project aims at providing experts with relevant qualifications and experience, through a cooperation scheme between KfW, UNDP and MCTI. The necessary experts engaged through UNDP in consultation with the MCTI will join the existing team in the Sector for Communal activities and will perform tasks and duties mainly related to the preparation and implementation of investment programmes in the water and wastewater sector, and other tasks as requested by Sector for Communal activities management.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Project Specialist (Engineer), the Project Analyst (Engineer) has the responsibility to support infrastructure activities related to the design, supervision and quality assurance. The Project Analyst (Engineer) should provide technical expertise and support assuring that the projects produce the results specified in the Project Documents for the infrastructure components, to the required standard of quality and within the specified constraints of time and cost.

Provide Technical Support for Project Implementation:

• Review and approval of infrastructure project design documentation such as pre-feasibility and feasibility studies, preliminary design, main design, and revision of design documentation.
• Facilitation of the needs assessment process with the beneficiary, support in the design of tender documentation, preparation, and execution of tender processes for the procurement of goods and services, procurement guides, and providing inputs for contracts for goods and services.
• Support to project management of works with adherent installations aimed at energy efficiency improvements, and related environmental management issues.
• Suggesting and advising on how to resolve problems and/or conflicts and recommending corrections in terms of design, materials, or the quality of work, and managing these corrections upon approval by the Project Manager (Engineer).
• Ensuring full compliance with activities established project management rules, regulations, and policies.
• Responsible for activities related to contract management, which include overseeing the implementation of contractual obligations, monitoring contract execution, ensuring compliance with agreed terms, and facilitating communication and coordination among relevant stakeholders involved in the contract.

Support Coordination and Stakeholder Communication:

• Liaising with contractors, municipalities, and other partners on project matters.

Supervision of Design and Construction Works:

• Assisting in the supervision of the project design development process, as well as the coordination and supervision of construction works.
• Support during the on-site monitoring of quality and quantities of works, costs, schedule, safety, and environment issues, in full compliance with the applicable laws, bylaws, regulations, technical standards, and legal requirements in the Republic of Serbia.

Support Monitoring, Reporting, and Technical Analysis:

• Reporting on on-site monitoring.
• Providing early warning to the Project Manager (Engineer) of potential problems and/or critical issues regarding the infrastructure improvement and execution of the works.
• Collection, analysis, and presentation of background information for the preparation of project annual work plans and progress reports.
• Providing inputs for the creation of the project monitoring and evaluation framework.

Administrative and Documentation Support:

• Drafting correspondence on project engineering issues for the Project Manager (Engineer), as required.

Support knowledge building, knowledge sharing:

• Make sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
• Support compiling and systematizing project knowledge, products, and tools as well as their wide distribution to partners

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 Project Analyst (Engineer) will work under the guidance and direct supervision of the Project Specialist (Engineer) and in cooperation with the National Project Director (NDP) and the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure.

Competencies

• 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 and Technical Competencies:

• Business Direction and Strategy - Effective Decision Making
  • Take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one's authority, area of expertise and resources and take into consideration potential wider implications.
• Business Management - Monitoring and evaluation
  • Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively.
  • Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results.
  • Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming.
  • Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools.
  • Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks.
  • Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.
• Digital - Tech literacy
  • Ability to apply new digital tools or adapting their original use to create new insights, fresh perspectives or develop solutions. Understand the potential as well as the limitations of certain technological developments; being able to identify how technology can add value when it's used as a ""means to an end"".
• Digital - Systems thinking & transformation
  • Understand that complex problems need a non-reductionistic, holistic approach. Ability to explore challenges from multiple perspectives by zooming in and out, with a focus on relationships and flows rather than individual elements; understand how certain dynamics and conditions are driving and influencing an issue.
  • Ability to develop a collective understanding by a mapping systems and their dynamics (e.g. flows or resources, information; power relations); is able to handle ambiguity and can help others navigate it.
  • Being able to identify intervention points to leverage change and system transformation by setting out a coherent collection of multiple interventions to probe the system for desirable effects. Understand that change is non-linear and unpredictable; being comfortable and able to work with emergence.
• 2030 Agenda: People - Gender
  • Communication and Advocacy for Gender Equality
• Business Direction & Strategy - System Thinking
  • Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Civil Engineering (including water supply and sewerage engineering) or Mechanical Engineering or related field is required or,
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor´s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master`s degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor´s degree) of experience in implementation of infrastructure projects (design, supervision, etc.).

Required skills:

• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and use of spreadsheet and database packages, and experience in handling of web-based management systems.

Desired skills:

• Experience in coordination and/or management of large-scale projects.
• Experience in preparation of design in accordance with the Law on Planning and Construction requirements.
• Work experience with WWTP (design and/or supervision).
• Work experience in/with international organization and/or government institution.
• Experience in projects that require knowledge of FIDIC.
• Experience in project planning, monitoring and/or reporting.
• Experience with contract management principles and with international procurement processes, preferably within EU or KfW frameworks.
• Experience with Law on Planning and Construction requirements.

Languages:

• Fluency in Serbian and English is required.

Important Information

The online application form must be fully completed. Applicants are required to carefully complete their online application form and reflect all of their work experience history in the application.

Only attaching a CV is not sufficient for applicants to be considered for positions. All applicants have to complete the Experience, Education, Language, and Nationality & Permanent Residence fields fully.

Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials.

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

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.