Deputy Project Manager (Internal candidates only)

Afghanistan

With more than 20 years of experience in the country, UNOPS Afghanistan focuses on providing maximum support to the people of Afghanistan through the delivery of projects and services that improve the lives of people in need. The UNOPS Afghanistan Country Office (AFCO) serves as an organizational mechanism to deliver a range of projects for which UNOPS has been designated as the implementation agency.  At present, UNOPS AFCO activities cover a range of sectors including humanitarian, basic human needs, cash for work, infrastructure, development, procurement and HR services. 

The functional objective of UNOPS AFCO is to contribute to improving the lives of girls, boys, men and women living in Afghanistan. The aim of UNOPS AFCO is to provide efficient and cost-effective implementation services on behalf of all our partners to support the humanitarian response and development of the country. UNOPS AFCO’s mission is to exceed the expectations of all stakeholders in the delivery of AFCO services, at all times, in all places, in all circumstances, in order to improve the lives of Afghans in need. 

Project Information

The project was established due to the significant, ongoing drought exacerbating water access issues which has created an emergency situation in rural areas across southern and central Afghanistan. Inadequate availability of efficient irrigation contributes to the food insecurity crisis. The project objective is to improve access to the quality of water supply and surface water irrigation services in selected rural and drought affected areas and regions.

The project will finance the provision of off-grid solar systems and, where applicable, emergency energy efficient equipment to support surface water irrigation in the selected areas. This will include installation of solar pump systems, and battery systems in high priority areas. These solar water pump systems will be installed to supply for irrigation to meet the needs of farmers pumping the surface water in identified rural areas. Solar pumps used for irrigation purposes will only pump surface water from rivers that have permanent water bodies and not from seasonal rivers.

Job-Specific Information

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Project Manager, the Deputy Project Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the project, liaison and communication with the funding partner, implementing partners, and project beneficiaries. In consultation with the Senior Project Manager, the Deputy Project Manager will also liaise with local and national authorities including with the de facto Authorities, in line with United Nations guidelines. The Senior Project Manager will manage a team with expertise in different areas: program and contract management, social mobilization and training, engineering, reporting, monitoring and evaluation, regional coordination, t. S/he will be responsible for the overall coordination, procurement arrangements with local organizations and contractors, engagement with communities, quality assurance, and monitoring and reporting, and managing technical assistance activities.

The Project seeks to recruit a qualified Afghan national for the post of Deputy Project Manager (DPM) to be based in Kabul and reporting to the Senior Project Manager. The DPM will be supervising the local project staff, including the engineering team, the community mobilization team, and the HSSE and monitoring team, as well as overseeing international staff when the Senior PM is out of office. A DPM  is assigned to the Project Management Office inside UNOCA Compound in Kabul, with frequent visits to project work sites. located in different parts of the country.

Summary of Key Functions  

1. Project Delivery and Performance

2. Procedures

3. Monitoring and reporting

4. Stakeholder engagement

5. Quality assurance

6. Knowledge management and innovation 

7. Personnel management

1. Project Delivery and Performance

Under the direct supervision, guidance and direction of the Senior Project Manager (SPM), the DPM shall:

1. Develop, complete and update implementation of Project plan(s)  and quarterly plans

2. Implement the approved plans (including the establishment of milestones) within tolerances set by the Senior Management/Project Board; 

3. Embed sustainability dimensions including social and gender inclusion, environmental and economic aspects into the project life span; 

4. Oversee the teams to ensure  the production of the required outputs, taking responsibility for overall implementation progress and use of resources and initiating corrective action where necessary;

5. Ensure that quality of work packages and deliverables complies with the quality requirements defined in the Project Plan;

6. Oversee the liaison by the various teams with any external suppliers or account managers, and coordinate external liaison;

7. Advise the Senior Project Manager of any possible deviations from the plan and possible corrective actions;

8. Manage acceptance and delivery of work packages;

9. Review and approve the invoicing and progress verification of works, payments certification, procurement, managing construction companies, construction sites and dealing with Government authorities and other stakeholders. 

10. Monitor project progress, through the monitoring team, ensuring that work packages are being executed properly

11. Control project and work packages changes;

12. Accept works, goods or services delivered by suppliers;

13. Lead contract management duties including supplier performance evaluations;

14. Lead the review of project proposals including technical and economic components;

15. Lead and oversee the planning and implementation of community support through implementing partners;

16. Oversee and coordinate the development and implementation of systems for internal control that ensure compliance with contractual terms and conditions, in collaboration with the procurement team.

17. Act as the Employer’s Representative within the FIDIC works contracts. 

18. Identify, and anticipate in a timely manner, potential risks and issues and advise on mitigating measures to the Senior Management/Project Board so that maximum benefit to partner(s) and other stakeholders is achieved.

19. Identify and report to the supervisor potential new business opportunities for UNOPS.

1. Procedures:

1. Oversee and coordinate the compliance with all organizational policies and specifically the Project Management Manual;

2. Prepare/adapt all relevant plans for approval by Senior Management/Project Board;

3. Manage the reporting obligations defined in the Legal Agreement(s) and Project  Plan;

4. Oversee the drafting of the requirements for procurement processes. Support evaluating submissions received, if appointed to the evaluation team;

5. Oversee the effective implementation of corporate directives, guidelines and strategies, and establishment of relevant management targets, as well as monitoring of achievements and results.

6. Oversee and coordinate the interactions and management of contractors, grantees  and suppliers according to the needs and requirements on site;

7. Provide support and guidance to the grantees and assists in resolving site problems, as necessary;

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

9. Manage expenditures against the budget (based on accurate financial reports);

10. For project closure purposes, support the formal handover of the project to the engagement closure manager;

11. Support project audit activities, including planning, preparation and coordination during the audits and follow-up on audit observations/recommendations;

12. Conduct and supervise Health & Safety, Social & Environmental (HSSE) issues and concerns, including application of UNOPS standards for HSSE;

13. Performs HSSE management and inspections and maintains the required records;

14. Perform other duties as may be assigned by the SPM.

1. Monitoring and reporting:

   1. Support the Senior PM in the preparation and issuing of regular project and/or financial reports in accordance with Partner and UNOPS legal agreement requirements for reporting;

   2. Oversee and review grantee and contractor g compliance with contracts specifications and ensure that contractors and suppliers comply with their work plans to complete work with specified scope of work, time frame, and budget;

   3. Regularly review project status, evaluating performance criteria (scope, cost, schedule and quality)

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

   5. Provide routine oversight and analysis of delivery data within the one UNOPS Project (OuP - internal system) dashboard system;

   6. Ensure all project team members track and regularly update milestones and targets for the duration of projects' life span.

   7. Assess the work activities of contractor/s, measure completed works and make recommendations to the Senior Project Manager for progress payments to contractors.

   8. Review and endorse any design changes that are processed by other parties, and recommend them to SPM for implementation

   9. Assist in building and developing capacity of other technical personnel in construction techniques including good practices and troubleshooting methods

   10. Provide technical advice and assistance to contractors to ensure that economical and quality materials are purchased

   11. Monitor the implementation of the works by conducting site visits and provide guidance for improvement and good results.

   12. Any situation that may require decision making, which will involve variation and or additional cost shall be brought to the notice of SPM with details of issues encountered at site and appropriate recommendation; 

   13. Hold ownership of UNOPS assets at the construction site.

1. Stakeholder engagement:

   1. Develop stakeholder profiles and facilitate the formulation of stakeholder engagement strategies;

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

   3. Enable the formulation of project communications plans. Coordinate internal project communications. Monitor the effectiveness of project communications;

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

1. Quality assurance: 

   1. Develop the project QA strategy and plan

   2. Build capacity in the team to undertake QA

   3. Ensure the project meets the QA requirements

   4. Work with internal stakeholders to ensure the projects complies with audit requirements;

   5. Work with procurement/purchasing staff to ensure effective interface with suppliers' quality systems;

   6. Check all laboratory reports, operation and maintenance manuals, and keep records and report to the SPM accordingly;

   7. Coordinate quality reviews of project documents and deliverables;

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

1. Partnerships and Coordination:

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

   2. Actively interact with other Project Teams (PT) and the wider PT community to share case studies, lessons learned and best practices; 

   3. 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;

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

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

1. Monitoring and Progress Controls

   1. Lead and motivate the project team;

   2. Ensure that behavioural expectations of team members are established; 

   3. Ensure that performance reviews are conducted fairly, accurately and timely;

   4. Select, recruit and train team as required and take into account gender parity, diversity and inclusion objectives;

   5. Ensure safety and security for all project personnel and comply with UNDSS standards;

   6. 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.

Qualifications and Experience

a.  Education

• Master’s Degree in Engineering or similar field is required. 

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or similar field with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be considered in lieu of the Advanced University Degree requirement.

• PRINCE2 Practitioner Certification – an asset.

• A relevant combination of academic credentials and/or industry certifications and qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the university education.                                     

b. Work Experience 

• Minimum 5 years (or less depending on academic credentials) of relevant progressive experience in managing infrastructure projects or water supply projects, or renewable energy projects, with focus on monitoring, reporting, development and coordination in either public or private sector organizations; 

• Proven experience of project implementation in close collaboration with government authorities preferred; 

• Previous work experience with the UNOPS or any of the United Nations agencies is preferred; 

• Knowledge of UN/UNOPS rules and regulations is an advantage.

c.  Languages

• Fluency in oral and written Dari, Pashto, and English is required.

• 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.