Project Management Specialist

UNOPS strategic focus places increased emphasis on national capacity development and sustainable approaches to project management, procurement and infrastructure services.  A key objective is to be recognized as an organization that delivers world-class infrastructure and project management, which is both economically and socially sustainable, even in the most challenging environments. To achieve this goal, UNOPS has established the Infrastructure and Project Management Group (IPMG).

Within UNOPS, it is IPMG’s objective to serve the organization’s personnel and partners by broadening their infrastructure and project management capabilities, while disseminating best-practices in both of these areas. Through this work, the group helps facilitate the successful delivery of programmes and projects around the world.

To achieve its objectives, IPMG has established three interrelated and interdependent work streams, namely, Strategic Initiatives, Standards, and Engagement Assurance. IPMG is managed overall by the Director of IPMG and supported by a Programme Support Unit.

Engagement Assurance includes the following units: Organizational Project and Programme Management Office (OPMO), Risk-based Performance Assessment (RPA), Infrastructure Design Review (Infra DR) and Engagement Acceptance (EA).

The Engagement Assurance team supports the effective application by the projects and the country offices of the Infrastructure and Project Management policy and associated standards publications. The range of expertise in assurance includes inter alia P3M3 and Infrastructure maturity assessments, Project Management, including in an infrastructure context, Engineering/Architecture, certification of infrastructure designs, identification of the root causes of portfolio level risks associated with partner engagements, and Grants Management.

Engagement Assurance is overall managed by the Head of Engagement Assurance, and directly supervises the four (4) unit/team leaders of OPMO, RPA, Infra DR and EA. The Engagement Acceptance (EA) unit is working on the Engagement Acceptance processes, and is hosting the secretariat for the Agreement Acceptance Committee.

Purpose and scope of the assignment

The Project Management (PM) Specialist will be responsible for the engagement development, acceptance and assurance process and secretariat duties associated with the Agreement Acceptance Committee.  Specifically, the functional responsibilities include:

• The PM Specialist will be responsible for the development and maintenance of UNOPS engagement development and acceptance procedures, including policy, process, system and tools. 
• The PM Specialist will work closely with the IPMG Standards unit, the unit responsible for setting UNOPS’ project management and infrastructure standards, to support the development of an effective Enterprise Portfolio Project Management (EPPM) system in integration of engagement development, acceptance and assurance. 
• The PM Specialist will support the definition of the operating envelope for engagement development, acceptance and assurance processes whilst ensuring alignment with the Project Management Methodology (PMM) and corporate reporting requirements.  This will be carried out in consultation with operations/operations support units and relevant policy units.
• The PM Specialist shall work closely with IPMG Standards, liaise with system design and HQ units/regions to support the development of an iterative process that improves the programme and project development, acceptance / assurance processes and system functionality.
• The PM Specialist shall revise the policy and instructions to reflect the engagement development and acceptance process, and ensure integration in UNOPS Project Quality Management System (PQMS).
• The PM Specialist shall provide support to the development and maintenance of other policy documents as needed.
• The PM Specialist shall provide support to the development and maintenance of other PM and infrastructure standards and conformance activities, such as the risk-based performance assessments, as needed.
• The PM Specialist shall maintain all electronic and hard copy files related to the task.
• The PM Specialist shall carry out other IPMG related tasks as assigned.

• Ensure effective management of the AAC Secretariat, including reviewing submissions (including Grants), coordination of technical reviews, and preparation of submission to the AAC for their consideration.
• The PM Specialist will support integration of improved engagement development, acceptance and assurance processes, including Agreement Acceptance Committee (AAC), into the UNOPS Enterprise Portfolio Project Management (EPPM).
• Guide organizational units in the preparation of AAC submissions for completeness of submissions in line with policy.
• Liaise with IPMG, and other units, to facilitate the assessment of risk, and contribute to knowledge sharing and best practice roll out to operations/operations support units.
• Coordinate with policy units to ensure that decisions of the AAC are communicated and appropriately reflect in UNOPS legislative framework and standards.
• Prepare quarterly reports and specialized reports, as required.

• Setting standard, personal and development objectives (PER) for self;
• Ongoing assessment of task completion, which meets quality expectations;
• Achievement of the targets on IPMG Balance Score Card assigned to the unit;
• Successfully meeting time, cost and quality expectations of the Engagement Assurance work plan;
• Completing progress reports as required.

a. Education

• An Advanced University degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Civil Engineering, Project Management, International Development, Risk Management, or a related field is required;
• A Bachelor’s Degree with two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of a Master’s degree (total 7 years of experience);

b. Work Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in project development, project management, portfolio management, engineering, risk management or any other relevant field is required;
• This should include at least 1 year of experience in UNOPS (required);
• Field experience is desirable.

c. Language

• Fluency in English, both written and verbal, is required;
• Fluency in French or Spanish, written and verbal, is desirable.

• PRINCE2® Practitioner certification is an asset.

• 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.

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.