INTERNAL VACANCY - Senior Regional Portfolio Manager

 NOTE:  ONLY INTERNAL UNOPS APPLICANTS WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION.

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale. 

The Geneva Office, is under the UNOPS Regional Office for Europe and CIS countries and provides management services for sustainable development ranging from full-scale management of programs and projects to the provision of selected services as required by its clients.

UNOPS was  selected in April 2008 as the Trust Fund Manager (TFM) of the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) in Geneva and has been re-selected through another competitivew process as TFM for EIF Phase 2 from 2016-2022. EIF is a partnership that involves Governments of around 50 Least Developed Countries, over twenty donor countries and institutions, and eight partner Agencies: ITC, IMF, UNCTAD, UNDP, UNIDO, WB, UNWTO and WTO. The EIF aims at enabling Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to build and strengthen their trade capacities, better integrate trade in their national development strategies and use trade as a tool for growth and poverty reduction. The second phase of EIF was launched in 2016 and is fully operational.

The EIF is financed through a multilateral Trust Fund managed by the TFM who works closely with the EIF Executive Secretariat (ES) and is responsible to the EIF Board through the ES. The TFM acts as a trustee, receives funds from donors, disburses financial resources allocated to projects, provides reporting on all financial aspects of the Trust Fund, and fulfills other functions as mutually agreed with the EIF Board.

The TFM operates with its central operational office in Geneva and three field offices in Bangkok, Dakar and Nairobi. These field offices have the primary responsibility of appraising making recommendations on the capacity of project implementing entities proposed by beneficiary LDCs, supervising the fiduciary management and implementation of projects and providing capacity building in fiduciary matters to main implementing partners of the receipient countries.

Under the supervision of the TFM Executive Officer (TFM EO) and in accordance with UNOPS policies, procedures and practices, the Senior Regional Portfolio Manager is responsible:

(i)             From strategic and programmatic perspective, for developing in the region under the constituency of the cluster high level communication and policy dialogue within the context of EIF global program orientation and structure bearing in mind the necessity to portray UNOPS values and enhance its image;

(ii)            From the fiduciary and technical perspective, for providing leadership on EIF policy, technical, institutional development and coordination matters, assessing capacity of the implementing entities, facilitating capacity building, monitoring and supervising the implementation of projects funded by the EIF in the countries assigned to him or her;

The detailed responsibilities of the Senior Regional Portfolio Manager include the following.

1. High Level Communication and Policy Dialogue

• Promote and ensure cooperation and dialogue with high level decision makers (Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Directors of departments) of LDC governments, regional partners and funding sources in the region for support to EIF;
• In line with EIF Phase 2 policies, guide LDCs in their implementation of these policies in particular related to fiduciary matters;
• Advise  LDCs in identifying and maintaining good working relationship with donor facilitators and other potential funding sources for their projects in particular and for EIF in general;
• Network with clients and counterparts to strengthen the good image of EIF and UNOPS.

Expected Results

• High level network and communication promoted;
• Advice provided to LDCs for EIF phase 2 policies and its challenges;
• Assistance provided to LDCs for identifying potential funding sources for tier 2 projects;
• EIF programme and UNOPS advocated and image strengthened.

2. Portfolio Management

• Carry out the initial assessment of the Main Implementing Entities including the assessment of the implementation capacity, financial management and IT Systems, procurement, monitoring and supervision capacities
• Negotiate, design, and contribute to the drafting for the Executive Officer’s signature cooperation agreements with Government institutions of the Least Developed Countries and/or agencies that are within the cluster portfolio.
• Lead field missions for the appraisal from fiduciary perspective of Tier 1,  Tier 2 projects and other projects’ modalities within EIF;
• Encourage national ownership of projects by the beneficiary countries and facilitate it through fiduciary interventions;
• Ensure proper cooperation and  consultations with the ES counterpart staff to facilitate country project development;
• Contribute to the development of all the tools required by TFM in carrying out its taks and as required by the Executive Officer.
• Analyze portfolio trend of challenges from fiduciary perspective and develop actions to prevent/address such challenges;
• Identify operational risks and preventive measures related to fiduciary matters for the overall portfolio and on a country by country basis;

Expected Results:

• An efficient and effective  mechanism for implementation assessment  and project management  is established and operational for LDCs under the cluster;
• TFM Project capacity assessments are carried out and reports submitted to Executive Officer’s review onwards to the EIF Executive Board through the ES;
• TFM  tools for Phase 2 developed and implemented;
• Effective and coordinated actions and interventions with ES for the portfolio under responsibility;
• Tier 1 and Tier 2 projects  appraised by TFM as per its established tools and submitted for approval by the EIF board in close collaboration with ES;
• Cooperation agreements reviewed and clarified for LDCs for their signature.
• National ownership is reflected in the implementation and control of the project by the national structures (NIA);
• Fiduciary risks and challenges for the overall portfolio identified and addressed through preventive measures;

3. Programme and Project Management and Supervision

• Coordinate, with ES staff, programme delivery to beneficiary LDCs in West and Central Africa and supervise their fiduciary performance;
• Monitor all aspects of project progress and implementation from a fiduciary perspective;
• Undertake supervision, review and other periodic missions to assess the physical and fiduciary  progress of the projects and reflect observations and recommendations in mission reports and aide-memoirs;
• Advise on capacity building and training with the aim of building on and leveraging local human resources and skills;
• Ensure regular monitoring and oversight of fiduciary actions in project in order to prevent occurrence of issues that would delay or stop implementation;
• Ensure and contribute to achieve the delivery target for TFM as far as ECR targets are agreed upon for EIF/TFM;

Expected Results:

• Supervision missions undertaken for all active countries following a mission plan foreseeing joint missions with ES staff as much as possible;
• Reports finalized as per the agreed upon format within TFM in less than a month following the mission;
• Capacity building programme developed and implemented by LDCs for fiduciary aspects;
• Project technical and quarterly financial reports received and reviewed following new formats for EIF phase 2;
• Disbursements to projects performed efficiently, effectively and on time  as per agreements signed with MIEs;
• Financial reviews and external annual audits performed on time;
• Delivery target achieved for the portfolio and support for other portfolios as requested by Executive Officer;

4. EIF TFM office  Management

• Coordination and responsibility for and reporting to the TFM EO on all administrative, procurement and coordination issues with the UNOPS/DOH (Dakar Operation Hub) based  in Dakar;
• Supervise personnel in the Cluster office in Dakar and  responsibility for all personnel  issues as required by TFM and/or ECR;
• Conduct  Performance evaluation for Dakar  Office cluster personnel in accordance with current UNOPS HR Policies, and initiate appropriate actions;
• Initiate the recruitment process of EIF personnel  for Dakar Regional Office in coordination with TFM, ECR  including finalizing TORs, review of applications and chairing or participating in selection  panels;
• Encourage and assist EIF employees to develop their technical and project management and communication skills and attitude.

Expected Results

• Coordination of administrative and financial matters with Dakar Operational Hub  undertaken and reported to TFM EO;
• EIF TFM  personnel mentored on LDCs, communication, EIF objectives, TFM policies and working tools;
• Cluster Personnel  performance evaluation undertaken as per UNOPS rules and procedures;
• Cluster Personnel  recruitment facilitated as needed by TFM EO

5. Coordination and networking

• Participate in the TFM Project Review committee (PRC) and ES/TFM workshops
• Collaborate with  other RPMs and ES coordinators to ensure the development of working tools and smooth delivery of EIF objectives in the LDCs under the cluster
• Coordinate closely with the EIF core agencies, partners, project implementation units and focal points of LDCs under  responsibility to continuously improve interface processes;
• Promote experience sharing and lessons learnt exercices to facilitate inter clusters cooperation and enhancement;

Expected results:

• TFM PRCs and ES/TFM workshops prepared and attended;
• TFM working tools prepared participatorily and approved;
• Enhanced coordination with EIF agencies, NIUs, ES staff and government partners;
• Knowledge shared among TFM personnel and lessons learnt drawn to be used for improvement of TFM intervention;

• Minimum 10 years or- of progressively responsible experience in public sector, trade, development projects management in international cooperation and policy dialogue.
• Proven track record in monitoring, evaluation and supervision of programs at country levels.
• Significant knowledge and experience in the use of relevant financial rules, contracting and procurement modalities and procedures, as well as UNOPS policies.
• Important international exposure to project design, formulation and management and demonstrated managerial performance.
• Experience in managing multi-donor and multi-agency programs.
• Knowledge of donors and resource mobilization.

• Proven ability to handle a complex, multi-dimensional portfolio, particularly in challenging and complex socio-political environments.
• Ability to handle politically sensitive issues and experience in dealing with governmental institutions and high level decision makers. 
• Ability to work in an environment based on UNOPS culture and work ethics that is both responsive to client needs and respectful of internal and external colleagues and partners, diligence, attention to critical details, keen sense of work priorities and resourcefulness in obtaining and researching important information.
• Proven experience in networking and developing fruitful communication with high level government officials and international development finance institutions;
• Ability to handle complex and multi-dimensional portfolios with demonstrated managerial and capacity building skills
• Demonstrated intellectual leadership and ability to integrate knowledge with broader strategic, policy and operational objectives;
• Independent judgment and discretion in arriving at complex and delicate decisions
• Ability to apply and guide staff in the application of knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside of UNOPS
• Knowledge of UNOPS/UNDP/UN regulations, rules, procedures and practices a must
• Ability to deal with senior government officials and interest and capacity to interact with
• Implementing partners (Agencies, Private corporations, NGOs, etc...).
• Proven experience in orienting and mentoring staff and partners in dealing with government officials, clients and UN agencies
• Familiarity with African countries, particularly development challenges of LDCs
• Capability to conduct solely and/or lead missions and field visits in difficult environments
• Strong organization skills, with experience with project management tools and methodologies.
• Must have the ability to multi-task and prioritize work schedules
• Excellent oral, written, and structured presentation skills with the ability to address government senior officials (ministerial level), senior public, private, business and technical audiences.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

APPLICANTS MUST INCLUDE A COVER LETTER STATING THEIR MOTIVATION FOR THE POSITION AND ALSO IF THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO BE CONSIDERED FOR SIMILAR POSITIONS WHICH MAY ARISE IN FUTURE.

APPLICANTS SHOULD ALSO ATTACH A COPY OF THEIR CURRENT CV.