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

Montenegro is entering a defining phase of its development, characterized by the acceleration of European Union accession, implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and increasing demand for integrated, locally driven development solutions. While alignment with the EU acquis remains a national responsibility, successful implementation will increasingly depend on the capacity of municipalities and local institutions to translate national policies into tangible improvements in people's lives.

At the same time, Montenegro faces a range of interconnected development challenges, including climate change, demographic decline, growing demand for quality public services, increasing investment needs, technological transformation and pressures on natural resources. Addressing these challenges requires integrated territorial approaches that simultaneously strengthen local governance, mobilize sustainable investments, accelerate the green transition and promote inclusive local economic development.

In response, UNDP Montenegro is expanding its local development portfolio, positioning municipalities and communities at the centre of the country's green, resilient and inclusive transformation. Building on long-standing partnerships with national institutions, local governments, academia, civil society, the private sector and international financial institutions, the portfolio supports municipalities in strengthening institutional capacities, preparing and implementing strategic investments, advancing climate and environmental action, promoting innovation and sustainable finance, and preparing for future access to EU Structural and Cohesion Funds.

The portfolio encompasses a broad range of initiatives, including integrated municipal development programmes and Engagement Facilities, climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction, circular economy and industrial symbiosis, sustainable finance, just transition, energy efficiency, biodiversity conservation, innovation and digital transformation, community resilience, and human capital development. It also supports implementation of several Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Adaptation Fund-financed initiatives that contribute to national environmental priorities while strengthening local capacities and community-based action.

Among these are the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP), which empowers civil society organizations and local communities to pilot innovative environmental solutions and generate global environmental benefits, and the regional Balkan Adaptation Innovation project, financed by the Adaptation Fund, which promotes innovative, locally led adaptation approaches and regional knowledge exchange across the Western Balkans. Together with a growing pipeline of national and regional initiatives, these programmes contribute to an integrated territorial development portfolio that connects national policies with local implementation and supports Montenegro's transition towards a greener, more resilient and prosperous future.

To support the continued growth and effective coordination of this portfolio, UNDP Montenegro is recruiting a Project Associate, Local Inclusive Green Development, who will provide programmatic and operational coordination across multiple initiatives, with a primary focus on local development while supporting implementation of selected projects. Working closely with project managers, national and local partners, and the Green and Inclusive Growth Cluster, the Project Associate, Local Inclusive Green Development will contribute to ensuring coherence across interventions, facilitating knowledge exchange, strengthening partnerships and supporting high-quality delivery of integrated development solutions.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Team Leader for Inclusive and Green Growth in UNDP Office in Montenegro, the incumbent will support the coordination and implementation of the Green and Inclusive Growth Portfolio and contribute to the effective delivery of the following assigned projects and initiatives:

Strong and Resilient Local Communities
City Experiment Fund
Strengthening capacities for increasing EE in residential sector in Montenegro

In performing this responsibility, the incumbent will carry out the following tasks:

Support the Portfolio Team Leader in coordinating the implementation of the Green and Inclusive Growth Portfolio of assigned projects, ensuring effective communication, knowledge management, coordination and synergies across projects and initiatives:

Support the Team Leader and respective Project Analysts in coordinating the day-to-day implementation of portfolio activities and monitoring progress against approved workplan.
Assist in the preparation of project reports, briefing notes, presentations and other documentation required for portfolio management and donor reporting.
Facilitate coordination and information exchange across the Green and Inclusive Growth Portfolio and with other Country Office teams to strengthen programme coherence and identify opportunities for collaboration.
Support respective projects monitoring, results tracking and knowledge management, in close cooperation with the Data, Monitoring and Evaluation Analyst.
Maintain complete, accurate and well-organized project documentation, ensuring that programme and technical files, reports, meeting records and other project documentation are properly archived and readily accessible.
Provide administrative, logistical and coordination support for respective project/portfolio activities, including meetings, workshops, consultations, missions and other events.
Facilitate communication and coordination among project teams, the UNDP Operations Unit, government counterparts, municipalities, development partners and other stakeholders to support effective programme implementation.
Contribute to the application of innovative approaches and methodologies across the portfolio of projects, including systems thinking, portfolio management, sensemaking, design thinking, behavioural insights and other approaches that strengthen integrated programme design and delivery.
Support the integration of gender equality, social inclusion and the Leave No One Behind principle across portfolio activities, including collection of sex-disaggregated data and support to gender-responsive programme implementation and monitoring.
Liaise with government institutions, municipalities, development partners, academia, civil society organizations, the private sector and UN agencies to facilitate implementation of portfolio project activities and strengthen partnerships.
Contribute to knowledge management by documenting lessons learned, good practices and innovative approaches, and support knowledge exchange across the portfolio.

Provide support to implementation/delivery of all aspects of the respective projects’ annual workplan:

Contribute to the preparation and implementation of project workplan, technical and administrative documents, procurement plans, progress reports and other project deliverables.
Provide programme, technical and administrative support for implementation of assigned projects and portfolio activities, in coordination with respective Project Analysts and technical teams.
Assist in the preparation of project documentation, including concept notes, Terms of Reference, procurement documentation, workplan, reports, presentations, briefing materials and other programme documents.
Support preparation of narrative and results-based reports, progress updates, donor reports and other reporting requirements.
Monitor implementation progress, maintain implementation tracking tools, identify delays or operational bottlenecks, and promptly inform the Team Leader and respective Project Analysts to facilitate timely corrective actions.
Support portfolio monitoring by maintaining project information, risks, issues, results and milestones in Quantum and other monitoring systems, ensuring timely updates and accurate documentation.
Support implementation of communication, visibility and knowledge-sharing activities in cooperation with the Communications Unit, including preparation of communication materials, organization of events and dissemination of project results.
Coordinate day-to-day implementation of assigned project activities and support timely execution of workplans through regular communication with project teams, partners and contractors.
Conduct regular field visits to monitor implementation progress, identify challenges, collect information, verify completion of activities against agreed plans, and prepare monitoring reports for Project Managers.
Facilitate coordination among municipalities, national institutions, contractors, consultants, utilities, civil society organizations, donors and other stakeholders to support smooth implementation of project activities.
Maintain regular coordination with the UNDP Operations Unit on procurement, recruitment, finance, contracting and other project implementation matters, ensuring timely follow-up of administrative processes.
Support implementation of procurement and recruitment processes by coordinating documentation, follow-up actions and communication with consultants, contractors and service providers, in accordance with UNDP rules and procedures.
Support preparation of technical Terms of Reference, procurement documentation and other implementation documents in close cooperation with Project Managers and technical experts.
Monitor implementation timelines, identify risks or bottlenecks, promptly inform Project Managers of emerging issues, and propose practical solutions or corrective actions where appropriate.
Prepare routine project documentation, including correspondence, meeting minutes, progress updates, mission reports, briefing notes and other implementation records, ensuring accurate filing and documentation.
Coordinate the organization of meetings, workshops, consultations, study visits, site visits and other project events, providing logistical and administrative support as required.

Support day-to-day Implementation of assigned projects:

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 Associate will be supervised by the Team Leader for Inclusive in Green Growth in UNDP Office in Montenegro. The incumbent will be based in UNDP Country Office in Podgorica.

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 Management - Communications
- Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and chose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.
Business Management - Project Management
- Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
Business Management- 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.
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 taken into consideration potential wider implications.
External Relations and Advocacy General- Event Planning and Execution
- Ability to plan, manage and execute public and private events to ensure that they support and amplify individual communications and advocacy initiatives, as well as UNDP’s overall brand and mandate.
2030 Agenda: Prosperity- Inclusive Growth
- Economic Diversification
2030 Agenda: People- Gender
- Gender and Environment

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Secondary education is required.
University Degree (bachelor's degree) in Environmental, Social, Natural or Technical Sciences will be given due consideration but is not a requirement.

Experience:

Minimum 7 years (with secondary education) or 4 years (with Bachelor’s Degree) of relevant project coordination working experience.

Required skill:

Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc), advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages.

Desired skills:

University Degree in Environmental, Social, Natural or Technical Sciences
Experience in developing project proposals, experience in project coordination, reporting, and project monitoring and evaluation
Experience in designing and coordinating complex and multi layered development activities and projects; experience in complex multi-stakeholders’ initiatives
Experience in working in the area of environment, climate change, sustainable development
Experience in working on projects with an international organization, government institutions or an NGO.

Languages:

Fluency in English and Montenegrin is 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

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

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Project Associate, Local Inclusive Green Development [Open to internal and external applicants]