Senior Programme Manager

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects around the world.  UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian, and development projects.  Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement, and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors, and United Nations organizations. 

New York Portfolio Office (NYPO) supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management.

The Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development operations. It was formed by combining the following portfolios: Grants Management Services (GMS), UN Technology Support Services (UNTSS), Development and Special Initiatives  (DSI). It provides Services to partners' programmes that are designed, structured, and managed with a global perspective and primarily serving partners that are headquartered in New York.  The SDC has a footprint of approximately 125 countries. 

UNOPS has signed an agreement with the Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO) to implement the project activities for the Partnership Facility on behalf of the PBSO.  

The Partnership Facility, established under the Peacebuilding Fund in 2019, seeks to advance the strategic partnership between the UN and the World Bank as well as other IFIs, in crisis affected situations through small grants to UN entities for dedicated capacities co-located between UN, WB or other IFIs as well as shared analyses, data, and analytical processes, including deep dives, to contribute towards establishing a common and shared understanding of multidimensional risks and root causes of fragility and conflict and identify and address gaps in planning, resources allocation, and programming, amongst UN and IFI country leadership.

Summary of functions:

1. Programme Management
2. Project Delivery and Performance
3. Procedures 
4. Monitoring and reporting
5. Stakeholder engagement
6. Quality assurance
7. Knowledge management and innovation 
8. Personnel management
9. Project Development and Engagement Addition
10. Operational project closure and coordination financial project closure

• Lead operational management and implementation of the Partnership Facility programme;
• Lead operational liaison and oversight of grant implementation, ensuring compliance with UNOPS rules and procedures;. 
• Oversee the development and execution of the program work plan, including budget management, resource allocation, and progress monitoring;
• Facilitate effective communication and collaboration among program partners (RCOs, IFIs, Implementing Agencies etc) and ensure seamless integration of project activities;
• Establish and implement robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks to track program progress, measure impact, and identify areas for improvement;
• Prepare regular program reports and presentations to stakeholders, highlighting key achievements, challenges, and lessons learned.

• Develop, complete and update implementation plan(s) of the Partnership Facility;
• Implement the approved plan (including the establishment of milestones) within tolerances set by the Project Board; 
• Embed sustainability dimensions including social and gender inclusion, environmental and economic aspects into project life span;
• Manage 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 Plan;
• 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;
• Control project and work packages changes;
• Accept goods, services or works delivered by suppliers;
• 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 specifically the Project Management Manual;
• 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
• Draft the requirements definitions for procurement processes. Approving requisitions and requests for non-purchase order payments; Evaluating submissions received, if appointed to the evaluation team; 
• Ensure maintenance of the project files and lessons learned are recorded;
• Ensure the development and implementation of project financial management guidelines and control mechanisms, in conformity with UNOPS rules and regulations; 
• Manage budgets, cash flow and obligations to ensure that deliverables are met and payments to contractors 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;
• 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 Partner and UNOPS requirements for reporting;
• Regularly review project status, evaluating performance criteria (scope, cost, schedule 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 dashboard system;
• Ensure all project team members track and regularly update milestones and targets for the duration of projects' life span.

• Develop stakeholder profiles and facilitate the formulation of stakeholder engagement strategies;
• 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. Monitor the effectiveness of project communications;
• 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.

• 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 reviews of project documents and deliverables;
• 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.

• Lead and motivate the project management team;
• Ensure that behavioural expectations of team members are established;
• Ensure that performance reviews are conducted fairly, accurately and timely;
• Select, recruit and train a team as required and take into account gender parity and diversity objectives;
• 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.

• Identify opportunities for new projects;
• Support project development in all stages, including negotiation with the partners, development of the project document, budget, and legal agreement;
• Support the Senior Portfolio Manager in portfolio growth and partners' diversification.

• Lead operational closure of projects and liaise with other stakeholders accordingly;
• Coordinate financial closure of projects with UNOPS Finance.

• A work plan will be developed based on the UNOPS Performance Evaluation Report (PER) cycle and serve as the overarching document to monitor progress and record performance.
• Regular meetings with the supervisor.

*FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) preferably in Business Administration, Project Management, Engineering, International Relations, Development Studies, Political Science, or in a field related to the post description with seven (7) years of relevant experience is required; OR
• A first level university degree (Bachelor's degree) preferably in Business Administration, Project Management, Engineering, International Relations, Development Studies, Political Science, or in a field related to the post description with nine (9) years of relevant experience is desirable.

Work Experience 

Required experience:

• Relevant experience is defined as working experience in project management, project development, or project operational support.
• Minimum of three (3) years of  International experience in development or humanitarian support working with an international organization is required.
• Experience managing grants is required.
• Previous experience within or working with the UN Secretariat partners, the Resident Coordination system, or the World Bank operations is required.

Desirable experience (the following experience is optional candidates who do not have it are welcome to apply): 

• Previous experience in peacebuilding would be an asset. 

• 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 

• 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.