Project Manager- Social and Environmental Safeguards

A specific project has been set up to implement the new Social and Environmental (SE) safeguards framework, with the objective to establish the necessary management tools, expertise and capabilities to roll-out an effective framework of SE safeguards in UNOPS projects, using a risk-based approach. Some details of this project are given below;

The project covers the following safeguard areas: 

1) stakeholders engagement and information disclosure 

2) biodiversity, habitats and management of natural resources 

3) pollution prevention and waste management 

4) labour and working conditions 

5) community and workers health and safety

6) grievance mechanisms

And will work within the following areas;:

• Establish key management tools, guidance and processes in the six selected safeguard areas
• Establish temporary support for safeguarding capacity development for projects
• Enhance SSC/HSSE capacity to develop guidance, provide advice, and support implementation of safeguards
• Establish the guidance and the basic processes for an independent corporate accountability function handling safeguards grievances
• Perform an initial assessment (done by: Legal Group - LG and Infrastructure and Procurement Group - IPMG) on preliminary legal work, and on the needs for PMM alignment, guidance, requirements, templates etc. On the basis of the finding of the initial assessment, additional resources might be required for a second phase, but are not included in this proposal

The following activity areas are necessary for the success of the safeguarding initiative but are not included in the project, but will require comprehensive stakeholder engagement, writing of requirements and collaboration:

• Creating an ICT safeguards monitoring tool/module is necessary for rollout but is planned for a second phase, outside this current project
• Awareness, training and capacity building for relevant personnel in UNOPS is essential but is not included in this project, and will become the object of further activities

The expectation is that at the end of the project, UNOPS will have the technical tools and guidance for implementing basic safeguarding requirements in the 6 identified priority areas. 

The Project Manager (PM) is responsible for managing the full development and roll-out of the UNOPS Social and Environmental Framework project. Reporting to a Programme Board (which combines several interrelated projects), the PM will manage all aspects of the project, including early verification of scope, budget and schedule, as well as convening and working closely with a cross organisational Technical Advisory Board. The PM shall also contribute to and coordinate the work of subject matter experts contributing to the UNOPS SE safeguards and ensure that the work is of high quality and relevance to UNOPS. 

Summary of functions:

1. Project Management

2. Technical deliverables

3. Monitoring and Reporting 

4. Stakeholder Engagement

5. Team Leadership

6. Knowledge management and continuous improvement

1. Project Management 

• Manage the production of the required outputs, take responsibility for overall progress and use of resources, and initiate corrective action where necessary
• Identify, and anticipate in a timely manner potential risks and issues and advise the Programme Board regarding appropriate mitigating measures
• Ensure that the quality of work packages and deliverables complies with the project expectations
• Ensure that the project is completed on time and within the approved budget 

2. Technical deliverables

• Oversee the establishment of  key management tools and guidance in the six selected safeguard areas
• Establish key management tools and guidance in the six selected safeguard areas
• Establish temporary support for safeguarding capacity development for projects
• Enhance SSC/HSSE capacity to develop guidance, provide advice, and support implementation of safeguards
• Establish the guidance and the basic processes for an independent corporate accountability function handling safeguards grievances
• Facilitate the development of an initial assessment on preliminary legal work, and on the needs for PMM alignment, guidance, requirements, templates etc. On the basis of the findings of the initial assessment, additional resources might be required for a second phase of this project
• Contribute to, and coordinate the work of subject matter experts and ensure that there is good quality and relevance across all products of the projects  
• Review SE policy commitments of UNOPS and partners and ensure that the project addresses the current and future needs of UNOPS in the area of SE safeguards

3. Monitoring and Reporting 

• Prepare and issue regular project progress reports to the Programmme Board
• 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
• Ensure all project team members track and regularly update milestones and targets for the duration of the projects' life span

4. Stakeholder Engagement

• Establish solid working relationships with the Programme Board (Executive, Senior Users and Senior Suppliers) and key stakeholders
• Develop project communications plans and coordinate project communications. Monitor the effectiveness of project communications
• Coordinate stakeholder engagement and communication with particular focus on ensuring that stakeholders are aware of project activities, progress, exceptions and are in a position to accept handover outputs

5. Team Leadership

• Give direction, oversight and support to the project team to enable team members to work optimally. 
• Coordinate the interaction between the team members and stakeholders to maximise co-ownership and collaboration with key stakeholders
• 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

6. Knowledge management and continuous improvement

• Ensure that knowledge products developed by the project are appropriately documented, maintained and shared for the benefit of UNOPS and its partners 
• Ensure that lessons learned are shared in a timely and appropriate manner
• Provide feedback to Policy owners and Implementation support units with the aim of supporting the continuous improvement of UNOPS policies and implementation practices

Education:

• An advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in a relevant subject, preferably Environmental Science or Social Development is required

Experience:

• Required: A minimum of 7 years of experience in the Social and Environmental (SE) management sector
• A minimum of 1 year of supervisory experience is required
• Demonstrable experience in the development or implementation of SE safeguards is required. The following are examples of relevant safeguards areas: biodiversity, pollution, resource conservation, waste management, environmental impact assessment, social impact assessment, stakeholder consultation, managing resettlement and livelihood restoration, social inclusion, formulating of social development standards
• Experience with International Organisations is an asset
• Experience of managing projects will be an asset

Language Requirements:

• Full working knowledge of English is required
• Knowledge of either French or Spanish is an asset

• Contract type: ICA
• Contract level: I-ICA 3
• Contract duration: 1 year, extendable to 2 years, subject to satisfactory performance, organizational requirements and availability of funds

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:

• 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
• 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.

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.