Background Information - Job-specific
UNOPS in Albania
UNOPS Office Albania is part of the UNOPS European and Central Asia Regional Office in Geneva and is under the oversight of the UNOPS Austria Multi-Country Office (AUMCO) in Vienna. UNOPS Albania was established in 2020 to develop and implement UNOPSโ growing portfolio of projects in the country, it has been supporting the Government of Albania to Build Back Better in facing the challenges brought by the Covid-19 pandemic and the earthquake prior to it. Currently it also implements a project in the area of digitalisation of the justice system. The office has around 25 personnel. You can read more about the work of UNOPS Albania on our website www.unops.org/albania and on social media.
Austria Multi-Country Office (AUMCO)
The Austria Multi-Country Office (AUMCO) is part of the UNOPS Europe and Central Asia Region (ECR). AUMCO works through its country offices like UNOPS Albania with regional governments, international financial institutions, bilateral donors and other partners to assist in the realization of their development objectives โ making progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and furthering the objectives set forth in the Paris Agreement. Through its country offices, it has administered a diverse portfolio of projects and global programmes. This includes providing support to partners through sustainable infrastructure development, procurement and project management services, partner personnel and transactional services, grant management, and the provision of technical and advisory services.
Project Information:
Albania's land administration system is undergoing a critical transformation to enhance land governance, transparency, and economic development. The modernization of cadastral records and first-time property registration are essential for improving property rights and ensuring legal certainty, both of which are key requirements for EU accession. In addition, the implementation of an EU-compliant Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) is critical for aligning with EU standards. Despite progress in digitalizing ownership records and making land services accessible online, Albania continues to face challenges in data accuracy, incomplete property registration, and legal inconsistencies.
The project will be implemented by UNOPS over a duration of three and a half years, ensuring a structured and efficient approach to capacity building, system development, and service enhancement. UNOPS will collaborate closely with national authorities and stakeholders to facilitate sustainable improvements in land administration.
Key activities under this project include:
Functional Responsibilities
For the \"EU for Property Rights\" project, and reporting to the UNOPSโ Senior Project Manager, the Expert will be providing technical advisory and support to the Project Manager on the key activities of the project. Specifically on Key activity 1, the Incumbent will be responsible for supporting the assessment, optimization, and strengthening of the efficiency, transparency, and integrity of the State Cadastre Agencyโs (SCA) business processes and service delivery mechanisms. Their in-depth expertise in land registration, cadastral systems, and geodetic surveys will help ensure the delivery of high-quality, reliable cadastral information that aligns with European and international standards.
Tasks include, but are not limited to:
Conducting a comprehensive review and analysis of existing business processes and service delivery mechanisms, including those documented in previous assessments and reports. Identifying inefficiencies, bottlenecks, risks, and areas for improvement in current practices, including an assessment of service standards. Mapping and validating major data flows related to public service delivery by SCA, including incoming requests, application types, data processing requirements, fee/payments moments and their level and data shared with other governmental or private partners. Designing and documenting improved business processes that incorporate digitalization opportunities, with consideration of integration and compatibility with Albanian e-government infrastructure, and as well the usage of emerging technologies such as blockchain, where relevant. Assessing how existing processes align with anti-corruption safeguards and integrity objectives and actively integrating integrity measures into the redesigned processes, identifying vulnerabilities and recommending appropriate control mechanisms to mitigate corruption risks and enhance accountability, transparency, and efficiency. Provide advice for the delivery of a detailed proposal for revising key business processes and procedures related to land transactions within the cadastral BVC, with a focus on improving SCAโs internal workflows, including archiving. The proposal will include, among others: a revised list and categorization of cadastral transaction processes and data flows, enhanced internal guidelines and operational manuals for priority procedures, and recommendations for aligning IT-related business processes with digital transformation efforts. It will also identify any necessary legislative amendments, define a validation process with key stakeholders, and outline an action plan for implementation. Supporting the definition of quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) mechanisms for monitoring and implementing contracts under the project and supporting the SCA in reviewing and strengthening processes related to cadastral data digitisation, registration, and data quality improvement. The expert will reconciling legal and technical documentation and conduct quality control checks on cadastral data. Provide advice to the PM in procurement processes, including the development of tender documents and evaluation of tenders. Guiding and providing technical inputs to working groups set-up during the course of the project. Aiding in the provision of targeted training and capacity building activities on revised business processes and internal procedures to effectively implement new technologies, procedures and digital workflows. Identification of best practices at the EU level in view of knowledge transfer and study visits organisation. The Expert is expected to work closely with the State Cadastre Agency and relevant user groups and will collaborate closely with the international Cadastre/PR/Data/BPR Expert, and legal experts (national and international) and any other Project experts. The number of days will depend on the tasks in line with the project implementation as identified by the Project Manager and agreed with the consultant.
Education/Experience/Language requirements
Education:
Advanced university degree (Masterโs or equivalent) preferably in Law, Land Administration, Geospatial Sciences, Geography, Public Administration, International Development, or a related field. A first-level university degree with additional years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of an advanced degree.
Experience:
Minimum 7 years of progressive experience in cadastral services, property rights and land administration is required. Previous work on EU accession is an asset Experience in working with national authorities, government agencies, and international donors in EU accession countries is required. Experience in the area of digitalization processes in regards to property rights and land administration is a strong asset.
Language Requirements:
Fluency in Albanian and English is required. Contract type, level and duration
Contract type: ICA Contract level: LICA-11 (ICS-11) Contract duration: This is a 1-year contract and the specific number of working days will be determined in consultation with the selected candidate, with possibility of extension subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability. Please note that the incumbent will need to have their own laptop for this assignment.
For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx
Competencies
Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization.(for levels IICA-2, IICA-3, LICA Specialist- 10, LICA Specialist-11, NOC, NOD, P3, P4 and above) Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.
Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles. Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role). Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries. Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements. Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving. Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground. Additional Information
Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.
Terms and Conditions
For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses ( they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.
All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.