. POSITION VACANT: Project Assistant, SAMS, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

2. ORGANISATIONAL BACKGROUND:

Our Client, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, and build resilience so countries can sustain progress. As the UN’s development agency, UNDP plays a critical role in helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

UNDP has been working in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development - from systems and institutional strengthening to inclusive growth and sustainable livelihoods, as well as sustainable energy, environment and resilience. With projects and programmes in every state and union territory in India, UNDP works with national and subnational government, and diverse development actors to deliver people-centric results, particularly for the most vulnerable and marginalized communities. As the integrator for collective action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the UN system, we are committed to support the Government of India’s national development vision and priorities and accelerate the achievement of the SDGs for the people and the planet.

UNDP India’s new Country Programme (2023-2027) builds on the prior work and aims to provide an integrated approach to development solutions in three strategic portfolios:  

·       Strong, accountable and evidence-led institutions for accelerated achievement of the SDGs

·       Enhanced economic opportunities and social protection to reduce inequality, with a focus on the marginalized

·       Climate-smart solutions, sustainable ecosystems and resilient development for reduced vulnerability

For more information about UNDP India, please visit https://www.undp.org/india

PROJECT BACKGROUND:

UNDP has entered into a partnership with the State Government of Tamil Nadu by bringing on board required technical sectoral expertise to the Department of Planning and Development to work across departments to drive an integrated development agenda to promote the faster achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in the State. In line with the Indian model of SDG localization led by NITI Aayog, the Government of Tamil Nadu intends to establish a Sustainable Development Goals Coordination Centre (SDGCC) as an attached entity of the Department of Planning and Development. UNDP proposes technical support to SDGCC in Tamil Nadu through the partnership model agreed by the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance.

SDGCC Tamil Nadu is envisaged as a think tank, knowledge centre for providing high quality, cutting-edge policy and integrated advisory services to the State departments to accelerate economic, social and environmental goals. It seeks to bring together government, the private sector, academia, and civil society to create sustainable solutions to social problems. SDGCC work with the government to identify the most pressing challenges, team up with local leaders to develop and test solutions, bring in expertise and technology from the private sector, adopt the skills and tools to build agency and institutional capability, respond to citizen demand for responsive services, enhance government program delivery, capture and disseminate best practice locally and regionally, and ultimately expedite creative, systemic, transformational and sustainable change for the State.

In this aspect, UNDP proposes to engage Project Assistant for facilitating the office management, liaising with the Planning Department and support in research and documentation works in the SDGCC Tamil Nadu.

3. JOB PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF WORK (SOW):

UNDP’s SDGCC Tamil Nadu proposes to engage Project Assistant to provide administrative support to the Project. The position will be based out of Chennai and is expected to coordinate with State and Project offices under the SDG Acceleration unit.

Duties and Responsibilities:

·       Liaise with the Office of Secretary and Additional Secretary Planning Department on day to day administration matters of the project.

·       Assist the project administration and management related routine tasks.

·       Provide support in maintaining project records and files including internal and external communications.

·       Coordinate staff travel arrangements including facilitation of flights booking.

·       Support for creating security clearance for team for travelling.

·       Support in submission of travel requests & travel claims for official meetings.

·       Submit invoices to finance for GST approval.

·       Management of internal inventory related to resource materials, laptops, and other peripherals.

·       Planning of personnel structures.

·       Support in the preparation of project plans.

·       Management of the project office.

·       Preparation and follow-up of meetings and presentations.

·       General organisational tasks

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

4. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES: 

Qualification:

(1)    Bachelor’s degree and equivalent.

Experience:

(1)  Atleast two years to relevant experience in project administration, office management, or coordination roles, preferably within development projects, Liasing with Government.

Skills:

Knowledge and Technical Expertise in:

·       Strong administrative, organisational, and documentation-management skills.

·       Good communication and coordination abilities for interacting with internal teams and external partners.

·       Proficiency in travel and logistics management, including booking arrangements and preparing travel-related documents.

·       Basic financial administration skills, including handling invoices, GST submissions, and expense tracking.

·       Competence in MS Office and general office systems, along with effective teamwork, attention to detail, and time-management skills.

Competencies:

·       Ability to manage multiple administrative tasks, maintain records, and organise travel, meetings, and office operations efficiently.

·       Strong written and verbal communication, with the ability to coordinate effectively with team members, vendors, and external stakeholders.

·       High accuracy in handling documentation, travel requests, financial submissions, and inventory tracking.

·       Ability to anticipate needs, resolve routine administrative challenges, and support smooth project operations.

·       Competence in MS Office Suite and familiarity with organisational systems, documentation tools, and basic financial processes.

5. LANGUAGES:

(1) Tamil and English are essential

6. DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT: Eight months (Renewable based on performance and other factors)

7. CONSULTANCY FEE:

Gross compensation budgeted for the positions is attractive. The offers made to the selected candidates shall be commensurate with qualifications, experience, and salary history.

8. NATURE OF ENGAGEMENT:

The selected candidate shall be engaged as a Consultant on the rolls of SAMS, a third-party payrolling agency, for a full-time consultancy engagement for a period of one year. It is explicitly clarified that this consultancy engagement does not constitute a promise or guarantee of future employment, with SAMS, or our client, or any other organization associated with the project. 

9. LOCATION: Chennai, Tamil Nadu

10. REFERENCE: PA-TN

11. CONTACT INFORMATION:

Team SAMS
Strategic Alliance Management Services P Ltd.
B-18, Sector-06, Gautam Buddh Nagar,
NOIDA, Uttar Pradesh -201301
Phone Nos.: 0120- 4161355/56

www.sams.co.in | www.samsconsult.com

12. APPLICATION PROCESS:

Eligible candidates interested in the position are requested to upload their applications, using the link by or before May 24, 2026.