Project Manager (Roster Vacancy Announcement)

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.  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 organisations.  With over 6,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, where they need it.  By implementing around 1,000 projects for our partners at any given time, UNOPS makes significant contributions to results on the ground, often in the most challenging environments.

Kenya Multi Country Office manages a growing portfolio of engagements, including associated strategic and operational risks. The KEMCO sub-region currently consists of an established Operation Centre in Nairobi/Kenya which manages a portfolio of engagements in multiple countries in East and South Africa. This includes primarily transactional projects in partnership with the Nairobi based UN Agencies, UN-Habitat and UNEP, and multiple ‘operational’ projects in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and several island states.

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

• Develop, complete and update implementation plan(s)

• 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

  Procedures  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

  Monitoring and Reporting 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

  Stakeholder Engagement 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

  Quality Assurance 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.)

  Knowledge management and innovation 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

  Personnel Management 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 the 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, harrasement, sexual harrasement 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.

• Advanced University Degree in  Project Management , Finance, Economics, Supply Chain, Business Administration, International Relations, Political/Security/Development Studies  or other relevant discipline  is required;

• A   Bachelor’s degree with an additional 7 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree;

• A relevant combination of academic credentials and/or industry certifications and qualifying experience  may be accepted.

• A minimum of 5 years working experience implementing projects/programmes in the development sector is required;

• A minimum of 1 year of experience working with multidisciplinary  and multicultural teams in a leadership role is required;

• A minimum of 1  year of experience with budget management responsibilities is required;

• Exposure to procurement processes is an added advantage;

• Knowledge of the UN system and familiarity with UNOPS procedures is an advantage;

• Experience with logistical aspects of project implementation such as organizing travel arrangements, workshops, customs clearing etc. is a distinct advantage;

• Experience working with Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) on Donor funded projects is an asset;

• Experience working on projects with infrastructure components is an advantage;

• Knowledge of international norms in Health and Safety is highly desirable.

• For this job opening, fluency in English (write, read, speak) is required; 

• Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.

• 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.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• This is a local post. As such, it is only open to Kenyan Nationals or applicants with valid residence.
• This position is based in a family duty station.
• 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 (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• 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.

1. Contract type: local Individual Contractor Agreement ( LICA)
2. Contract level: Local ICA 10/ ICS10
3. Contract duration: Ongoing ICA – ‘Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.’

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.