Project Manager (Infrastructure)

South East Asia Multi-Country Office (EAPMCO)

The South East Asia and Pacific Multi Country Office (EAPMCO) supports, develops and oversees the UNOPS portfolio of projects in South East Asia and the Pacific. EAPMCO was established in January 2023 following the merger of the Thailand Multi-Country Office, which covered 20 countries across  North East Asia, South East Asia and the Pacific, and the Cambodia Multi-Country Office, which covered 4 countries South East Asia - 3 countries in the Mekong Sub-region (Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam) and the Philippines.  EAPMCO currently covers 24 countries across North East Asia, South East Asia and the Pacific. With its head office in Bangkok, the Multi-Country Office comprises nine business units: SEMCO Thailand, EAPMCO Indonesia,  EAPMCO Pacific Operations Cluster, EAPMCO Papua New Guinea, EAPMCO China, EAPMCO Vietnam, EAPMCO Lao PDR, EAPMCO Philippines and EAPMCO Cambodia.

In 2022, the UNOPS EAPMCO implemented projects worth more than USD 95.7 million, in the areas of Energy Transition, Digital Transformations, Sustainable Environmental Management, Climate Change, Waste Management, Rule of Law and Access to Justice, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Post Conflict Reintegration, Emergency Relief, Post COVID19 Economic Transformations, and Health, through HR, procurement, construction, contract management, fund and program management services.  

The Multi Country Office head office in Bangkok provides strategic direction, operational support, delivery oversight and assurance of the excellence of business processes and quality standards across all of the entire Multi Country Office locations. It is also responsible for developing, delivering and managing the portfolio of engagements in the country of the MCO location itself. 

Background Information 

The EAPMCO Pacific cluster, established in 2017, was formed to support the implementation of UNOPS projects across the Pacific, dealing with the challenges and constraints associated with a combination of Pacific Islands remoteness, availability of resources, demography, weather or a combination of all these factors. Many Pacific Islands continue to suffer from diseconomies of scale in production and exchange of goods and services, access to export markets, with the main economic activities remaining concentrated around tourism, fisheries, forestry and agriculture, with remittances still playing a significant role in the economy of several Pacific Islands. Currently UNOPS is working across 12 Pacific Island countries, implementing projects in the areas of health systems strengthening, digital transformations, climate change adaptation, sustainable energy, and WASH. 

Against this background, UNOPS EAPMCO Pacific is hiring a portfolio manager to oversee a number of UNOPS projects in the Pacific region, out of Apia, Samoa. 

The  Portfolio Manager is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day implementation of a selected number of UNOPS infrastructure projects in the Pacific extending UNOPS management services to Government partners, donors, UN organizations and beneficiaries. The main responsibility of the Portfolio Manager is to ensure that project outputs are delivered within the specified project tolerances of time, cost, quality, scope, risk and benefits. He/she is expected to meet the organization’s performance and delivery goals.

The  Portfolio Manager oversees Implementation Plans against Project Initiation Documents (PID), and Legal Agreements and is expected to have a thorough understanding of the terms, conditions, and the respective roles and responsibilities of partners/stakeholders to ensure that project (s) outputs are capable of meeting the business cases for both UNOPS and its partners . 

The Portfolio Manager will work with UNOPS pacific based teams to ensure  the delivery of infrastructure physical assets or technical outputs. She/he will oversee technical studies, reviews, designs, supervision or operation and maintenance services of one or several physical infrastructure assets, in one or multiple sites and countries. Projects may include  large procurement volumes of goods, works and services including HR services. UNOPS operates in complex contexts where resources might be scarce, local capacity is low and where professional judgment and experience in these environments is of uttermost importance.

Portfolio Managers at this level are expected to manage infrastructure implementation projects that are of low to moderate complexity from a stakeholder management, financial management, risk management,  governance, personnel and resources management and quality management perspective.

• Develop, complete and update Project Initiation Documents and  implementation plan(s)

• Implement the approved plan (including the establishment of milestones and deliverables) within tolerances set by the Project Board

• Embed sustainability and resilience dimensions including social and gender inclusion, environmental and economic aspects into project life span

• Manage, in collaboration with project teams and stakeholders, the production of the required outputs, taking responsibility for overall progress and use of resources and initiating corrective action where necessary

• Ensure that quality of work packages and deliverables complies with the quality requirements defined in the Implementation Plans and the Legal Agreements.

• Liaise with any external suppliers or account managers

• Manage acceptance and delivery of work packages

• Monitor project progress ensuring that work packages are being executed properly against performance criteria

• Control project and work packages changes through change management protocols.

• Accept goods, services or works delivered by suppliers (service providers)

• Lead contract management duties including supplier performance evaluation.

• Act as the Employer’s Representative within the FIDIC works contracts

• Identify, and anticipate in a timely manner, potential risks and issues and advises mitigating measures to senior management/ Project Board so that maximum benefit to partner(s) and other stakeholders is achieved

• Identify and report to the supervisor potential business opportunities for UNOPS

• Comply with all organizational policy and engagement requirements ,specifically the UNOPS Project Management Manual (PMM), and Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Mainstreaming in Projects Strategy

• Prepare/adapt all relevant plans for approval by the Project Board

• Manage the reporting obligations defined in the Legal Agreement(s) and in the Implementation Plan

• Ensure maintenance of the project files and lessons learned are recorded and updated on into the Organization’s database system

• Manage budgets, cash flow and obligations to ensure that deliverables are met and payments to contractors, suppliers and personnel are received on time.

• Understand and manage UNOPS overheads, allocable charges, and related corporate charges as they apply to the project

• Understand the unique structures of the UN and budget appropriately for personnel

• Manage expenditures against the budget (based on accurate financial reports)

• Where the Project Manager has no delegation as a committing officer, s/he retains these responsibilities and will monitor and instruct/request others to carry out the relevant commitments and disbursements

• For project closure purposes, provide a formal handover of the project to the closure manager and engage the stakeholders as required

• Support project audit activities, including planning, preparation and coordination during the audits and follow up on audit observations/recommendations

• Prepare and issue regular project and/or financial reports in accordance with Partners and UNOPS requirements.

• Regularly review project status, evaluating performance criteria (scope, cost, schedule, risk, communication, stakeholders, and quality).

• Maintain diaries and progress reports as required by the organization’s standard procedures.

• Provide routine oversight and analysis of delivery data within the Organization’s dashboard system.

• Ensure all project team members track and regularly update milestones and targets for the duration of the different projects' life spans

• Develop stakeholder profiles and facilitate the formulation of stakeholder engagement strategies, and update as necessary

• Establish solid working relationships with the Project Board (Executive, Senior Users and Senior Suppliers), client and key stakeholders

• Enable the formulation of project communications plans. Coordinate internal project communications, and highlight visibility opportunities to the EAPMCO level. Monitor and review the effectiveness of project communications, and improve as necessary

• Coordinate stakeholder engagement and communication, ensuring effective timing and interdependency management of external communications. Ensure stakeholders are aware of project activities, progress, challenges, risks and exceptions and are in a position to accept changes or handover outputs. 

• Identify and support business development opportunities for further UNOPS projects in SIDS

• Work with internal stakeholders to ensure projects comply with audit requirements

• Work with procurement/purchasing staff to ensure effective interface with suppliers' quality systems

• Coordinate quality assurance reviews of project documents and deliverables in line with the requirements and guidelines of UNOPS - EAPMCO

• Provide quality control for management outputs (project documents, reports, etc.)

• Encourage routine and effective capacity building activities are conducted in order to build the long-term and sustainable capacity of staff

• Actively interact with other Project Managers and the wider PM community to share case studies, lessons learned and best practices 

• Contribute to the oversight of lessons learned procedures, ensuring that lessons learnt are shared in a timely and appropriate manner. Participate in the relevant Communities of Practice

• Research and logging of lessons learned throughout the project life span.

• Provide feedback to Practice Groups on policy, supporting guidance with an aim towards continuous improvement of UNOPS policies

7. Personnel Management   

• Lead and motivate the project management team

• Ensure that behavioral expectations of team members are established 

• Ensure that performance reviews are conducted fairly, accurately and timely

• Select, recruit and train team members as required and take into account gender parity and diversity objectives

• Facilitate a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for project teams

• Ensure safety and security for all project personnel and comply with UNDSS standards

• Create, foster and role model a culture of respect and zero tolerance for discrimination, abuse of authority, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual exploitation and abuse. Ensure accountability for actions and perform duties in accordance with protection mechanisms and action plans, as expected by UNOPS policies, standards and commitments.

Education:

• Advanced University Degree in a relevant technical discipline (Architecture, Civil Engineering, Water Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Structural Engineering, etc.).

• A combination of a Bachelor's degree with an additional two (2) years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the education requirements outlined above.

Certification:

• Certification in Project Management (PRINCE2, PMP-PMI, etc.) is desirable

• Professional certification from an accredited institution ( PEng., CEng. , etc) is an asset

• Complete the UNOPS PMM, UNOPS PMM Infra perspective and oneUNOPS Projects training within (3) months from joining UNOPS.

• A minimum of five (5) years of experience in implementing and managing infrastructure projects (Roads, Bridges, Health facilities, Buildings, Water services, Renewable energy and distribution, etc.) in combination with an advanced degree is required.

• Experience in contract management is an asset.

• Knowledge of FIDIC contracts is an asset.

• Experience in writing reports, performing data analyses, and writing technical documents is an asset.

• Strong analytical capabilities with the ability to manage tasks associated with the development of projects is desirable.

• Experience in Financial planning, budgeting  and resources management.

• Experience in program/project planning and applying HSSE procedures is an asset.

• Experience in developing Procurement strategies is an asset.

• Experience in quality and risk management for infrastructure implementation projects is an asset.

• Experience working in multicultural teams is desirable.

• Experience in managing teams is an asset.

• Experience in establishing partnerships with UN agencies, international development organizations, governments, foundations, international NGOs or private sector organizations is an asset.

• Prior experience working in international organizations, international development, post-disaster and/or emergency contexts would also be an advantage.

• Experience in Asia and the Pacific Region is desirable and a distinct advantage.

• Experience in developing countries or post conflict environments is an asset.

• Knowledge of quality assurance methodologies is an asset.

• Proficient in MS Project and Schedule Analysis is desirable.

• Technical acumen with the ability to understand and speak to technical project plans and documents is an asset.

• Strong problem-solving skills are desirable

Language:

• Fluency in English is required, other UN official languages is an asset

1. Contract type: International Individual Contractor Agreement (IICA)
2. Contract level: ICS 10 / IICA 2
3. Contract duration: 1 October 2023 - 30 April 2025

• 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. 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.