Gender-Responsive Project Management Advisor

Under the direct supervision of the Regional Director for UNOPS Asia Region (AR), the Gender-Responsive Project Management Advisor’s (GPMA) role is to provide support to the Office of the Regional Director (ORD) for the Asia Region (AR), AR business units and all other AR operations to increase project management (PM) capacity through learning, recommendations, advice and assistance. The GPMA is expected to provide project management advice specifically utilizing a gender-sensitive lens in order to ensure all AR projects and programmes are gender mainstreamed with appropriate considerations in support of gender equality and SDG 5.

The GPMA will be based in the ORD but will be required to travel within the Asia Region as needed.

The GPMA is responsible for supporting and overseeing the delivery of better projects of AR business units through efficient implementation support; improving project management capacities for strategic business development; reinforcing the use of project management standards, tools and training; and providing the appropriate lens to ensure all UNOPS AR projects, programmes and other activities are gender-sensitive with appropriate considerations taken for gender mainstreaming and parity.

The GPMA will review all proposals submitted by business developers for the Engagement Review process undertaken by Advisors working in the Office of the Regional Director, providing expert comments on any related weaknesses, reputational and/or implementation risks found in the proposals or documents annexed with a specific focus on ensuring the prospective project or programme is sufficiently gender-sensitive. 

The GPMA would be expected to provide expert advice on highly complex or risky multidisciplinary project(s) which will be delivering against aggressive timelines. 

The GPMA is responsible for assuring that all aspects of the project life-cycle are being duly complied with. They must be able to influence and advise Project Managers on project success criteria by undertaking the following actions, among others:

●        Provide the gender lens to enable integration of gender-sensitive needs and requirements in the design of UNOPS projects: Lend expertise and guidance on conducting gender-related stakeholder analysis and needs-assessment as per the requirements of the project in question; where necessary, conduct a horizon-scanning of the local and national context to have a baseline to inform the gender-needs of a project; actively develop action plans and strategies to meet the gender targets of new and ongoing projects

●        Lend gender expertise on the production of technical notes and guidance: Provide advice on incorporating existing technical guidance notes in the context of the Asia Region for gender mainstreaming in projects, programmes, training and capacity-building initiatives and relevant communication products; review the drafting of technical guidance notes with a focus on the gender dimension; lead the development of gender-related content for training and capacity-building activities

●        Stakeholder Management: Relationship with the project board, manage communications, and issues that may impact the achievement of their outcomes; maintain engagement with relevant communities and stakeholders to monitor ongoing activities in support of gender-related targets; carry out community and stakeholder engagement to obtain inputs for the development of gender responsive project proposals

●        Delivery and Performance: Develop and maintain project plans, including the establishment of milestones, embed sustainability dimensions including social and gender inclusion, environmental and economic aspects into project life-cycle, manage products required, advice for any deviations from the project plan, and identify potential business.

●        Procedures: Follow the Project Management Life Cycle Instructions as established by the UNOPS Project Management Methodology, and ensure that all organizational policy is complied with (Organizational Directives and Administrative Instructions)

●        Outreach, Coordination and Knowledge Management: Actively participate in the relevant Communities of Practice, sharing case studies, lessons learned and best practices on the Knowledge Management System; provide feedback to Practice Leads on policy and supporting guidance with an aim towards continuous improvement of UNOPS policies and lessons learned from projects; prepare reports for internal and external dissemination that document the progress of mainstreaming gender and meeting gender targets across the region; represent UNOPS in UN-related gender working groups and other relevant forums; provide support in reviewing and suggesting content for relevant gender-related communication products

●        Advise on the implementation of the UNOPS Gender Parity Strategy/Gender Mainstreaming Strategy: Take a lead in supporting the continuous updating of office Gender Action Plans, as and when called upon for advice; conduct training sessions in UNOPS AR offices to raise awareness on gender mainstreaming and parity; serve as an advisor to senior management on issues related to gender parity across the region

●        Core Values and Principles: Understand and respect UNOPS sustainability principles, understand and respect national ownership and capacity, and promote accountability for results and the use of resources.

The GPMA’s main responsibilities  will also include:

●        Advising the Regional Director and the Office of the Regional Director on the further development of PM capacities in the region

●        Provide the PM perspective as a key member of the Regional Management Team

●        Supporting the Regional Director in positioning UNOPS effectively as an authoritative/recognized regional PM partner

Monitoring and Progress Controls

The following are some of the outcomes that will be used to gauge successful performance:

●        Regional portfolio with planning, process and controls improved: Projects with up-to-date Project Plans including Gender Action Plans (GAPs); projects with established issue registers; projects with established lessons learned registers; projects completed on time; projects with Blue File (Project Documentation) kept up-to-date

●        Project governance and controls improved: Projects having an established governance structure in line with UNOPS Gender Parity objectives; projects being managed and reported by stages

●        Enhanced Regional Client Satisfaction: Project Progress Reports submitted on time; projects issuing regular client/donor satisfaction surveys with questions addressing the gender dimension; communication to partners being distributed according to Project Communication Plan

●        Enhanced Regional Management Team satisfaction: Projects having up to date resource, procurement and HR plans; Projects Managers having PRINCE2 Practitioner Certificate; Project Managers having completed all mandatory UNOPS Learning Zone courses on gender mainstreaming

●        Enhanced Regional Risk Management: Projects with up-to-date risk registers; risk responses being implemented as planned and being followed up on with appropriate consideration for gender-sensitive needs and requirements in projects

●        Enhanced Regional Cost Management: Projects having up-to-date cash flows

●        Enhanced Regional Benefit Management: Projects incorporating sustainability aspects and gender-sensitive considerations from the pre-engagement stage and onwards

●        Enhanced Regional PM Practice: PM capacities enhanced across the region including gender mainstreaming as a key component of all projects and programmes

General

Ensure that the regional portfolio produces the required products within the specified tolerance of time, cost, quality, scope, risk and benefits/impacts. The GPMA is also responsible for monitoring Project Management and gender-sensitive KPIs as defined by IPMG and to contribute to the overall regional business targets and needs.

Education

• Masters degree in Project Management, Business Administration, International Relations, Political/Security/Development Studies, or other relevant discipline with a strong focus on gender and/or inter-sectional studies
• Bachelor’s degree in combination with an additional two years of relevant professional experience  in Gender Programming, Project Management, Business Administration, International Relations, Political/Security/Development issues, or a related field may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree
• A relevant combination of academic credentials and/or industry certifications and qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the university education.                                                  

Work Experience

• Seven years (or more based on academic credentials) of progressive experience in project development and management with a gender dimension, focusing on monitoring, reporting, development and coordination in either public or private sector organizations, and 3 years of experience at a senior management level

• Fluency in English is required; fluency in another UN language is considered a valuable asset

• PRINCE2® Foundation required
• PRINCE2® Practitioner is desired (the successful candidate will be required to obtain the certification within the first 6 months of onboarding)
• Certified Senior Project Manager - International Project Manager Association (IPMA Level B) or Project Management Professional (PMP - PMI) is desired

• 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
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• 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.