Project Manager- Urban Planning and Design

General Background: 

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 Nepal context: 

During 2015 – 2022 UNOPS Nepal has engaged closely with the Government of Nepal and several development partners in the reconstruction efforts of the government of Nepal including assessment of damaged buildings and enrolment of beneficiaries into housing grant schemes. UNOPS supported homeowners engaged in the reconstruction process, modernization and improving policing services, retrofitting damaged houses and reconstruction of disability-friendly schools, and delivering some essential equipment to support COVID-19 response efforts. The functional objective of UNOPS Nepal is to deliver its projects efficiently and effectively in alignment with government priorities following UNOPS rules and regulations, to achieve the outcomes sought by the Government and funding partners, and contribute to the achievement of SDGs.

While ensuring gender, diversity and inclusion is mainstreamed in all its projects, UNOPS Nepal is currently working on several new engagements to support the government of Nepal under Health, Rule of Law, Climate Change, DRR, Urban development, procurement support among others and create new opportunities and jobs for the people of Nepal.

Assignment Context:

In alignment with government priorities, the UNOPS Nepal country office looks forward to providing long-term strategic and advisory support to the country by enhancing the capacity of national and sub-national governments and partners within all three tiers of government. By prioritizing evidence-based planning, capacity building, and developing model projects for creating sustainable and inclusive cities UNOPS Nepal country office also aims to build strong relationships with urban municipalities at the local level. Aiming to create sustainable cities by promoting a green and resilient, climate adaptive, and socially inclusive development approach the assignment will focus on integrating urban planning and design in municipal infrastructure implementation processes, focusing on public spaces.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment:

Cities in Nepal are growing rapidly, with a significant population moving to urban areas in search of better opportunities. This growth and the increasing climate vulnerability are leading to significant challenges, including the need for inclusive and resilient public infrastructures and urban services. The assignment assists in addressing these challenges by raising the demand for gender-responsive climate-resilient public space, piloting public urban infrastructure, enhancing the urban planning and design capacity of the selected municipalities, and recommending policy reforms. The Project Manager- Urban Planning and Design, will work closely with the Federal Government, Local Governments, communities, and knowledge institutions of Nepal to integrate inclusive and resilient urban planning and design into municipal infrastructure processes.

The Project Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the project(s) and provides services to the different donors, partners, and beneficiaries. The Project Manager acts on behalf of the Project Board to manage the project on an ongoing basis during the Implementation Stage. The main responsibility of a Project Manager is to ensure that the project outputs are delivered within the specified project tolerances of time, cost, quality, scope, risk, and benefits. He/she is expected to meet the organization’s performance and delivery goals. The Project Manager has the authority to assign, as per the Project Plan, work packages to Team Managers and approve deliverables produced by them. The Project Manager is responsible for creating the Implementation Plan, using the Project Initiation Document (PID), Legal Agreement, and having a thorough understanding of the terms, conditions, and the respective roles and responsibilities of the partners/stakeholders, to ensure the project(s) outputs are capable of meeting the business cases for both UNOPS and the partner(s). The success of the project(s) and hence of the Project Manage will be based on the defined Success Criteria. 

The project manager is responsible for all aspects of the project life cycle. S/he must be able to apply, with some degree of autonomy, the below duties and responsibilities of the project success criteria.

Summary of Functions:

1. Stakeholder Management

2. Delivery and Performance

3. Procedures

4. Knowledge Management

5. Personnel Management

6. Monitoring and Reporting

7. Quality Assurance

Stakeholder Management:

• Establish solid working relationships with the project board (Executive, Senior Users, and Senior Suppliers), client, and key stakeholders

• Manage communications and ensure stakeholders are aware of project activities, progress, and exceptions and are in a position to accept handover products

• Advise the client on issues that may impact the achievement of their outcomes (including issues of sustainability and post-project requirements such as maintenance)

• Manage the information flows between the Project Board/OC Director and the project(s)

Delivery and Performance:

• Develop and maintain project plans

• Implement approved project plans (including the establishment of milestones) within tolerances set by the project board

• Embed sustainability dimensions including social and gender inclusion, and environmental and economic aspects into the project life cycle.

• Manage the production of the required products, taking responsibility for overall progress and use of resources and initiating corrective action where necessary

• Liaise with any external suppliers or account managers

• Authorize Work Packages

• Advise the Project Board and OC Manager of any deviations from the plan

• Identify and manage risks so that maximum benefit to clients and stakeholders is achieved

• Manage and review product quality and ensure products are accepted

• Monitor and evaluate the performance of service providers

• Identify and report potential business opportunities for UNOPS to the supervisor

• Identify and report threats to UNOPS internal business case to a supervisor

Procedures:

• Follow the Project Management Cycle Instructions and ensure that all organizational policy is complied with (Organizational Directives and Administrative Instructions)

• Prepare/adapt the following plans for approval by the Project Board:  I. Project Initiation Documentation; II. Stage/Exception Plans and Relevant Product Descriptions

• Prepare the following reports:

1. Highlight Reports

2. End Stage Reports

3. Operational Closure Checklist

4. End Project Report

5. Handover Report

• Maintain the following: i. Electronic Blue File; ii. Procurement, HR, and Finance files as required by those practices as per OD12.

• 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

• Manage and remain accountable for expenditures against the budget

• 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.

Knowledge Management:

• Participate in the relevant Communities of Practice

• Actively interact with other PMs and the PM community to share case studies, lessons learned, and best practices on the Knowledge System.

• Provide feedback to Practice Leads on policy, supporting guidance with an aim towards continuous improvement of UNOPS policies

• Complete lessons learned as per reporting format

• Incorporate lessons learned from others as per the planning format

Personnel Management: 

• Lead and motivate the project management team

• Ensure that behavioral expectations of team members are established

• Ensure that performance reviews are conducted

• Identify outstanding staff and bring them to the attention of the OC Director

• Select, recruit, and train team as required by project plans

• Perform the Team Manager role, unless appointed to another person(s)

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 the projects' lifespan

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.)

Impact of Results

Ensures that the project(s) produce(s) the required products within the specified tolerance of time, cost, quality, scope, risk, and benefits. The Project Manager is also responsible for the project producing a result capable of achieving the benefits defined in the Business Case(s). Contribute to the overall business targets and needs.

Education

• Master's Degree in Urban Planning, Architecture, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or other relevant discipline.

• Bachelor's Degree with a combination of 2 additional years of relevant professional experience in Urban Planning, Infrastructure Planning, Policy, Infrastructure Implementation, Capacity Building, or other relevant discipline, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

• PRINCE2 Practitioner Certification – Preferred

• Complete the UNOPS Project Management Foundation course (within one year after signing this TOR)

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

Work Experience

• Minimum five years of progressive experience in project development and management, particularly in the field of Urban Planning, Infrastructure Planning, Policy, Infrastructure Implementation, and Capacity Building, with a focus on monitoring, reporting, development, and coordination in either public or private sector organizations.

• Good understanding of development issues; policies and programs relating to urban development and their impacts on gender equality, socio-economic growth, poverty reduction or climate action is an asset

Additional Requirements:

• Experience working in Nepal – preferred.

Language 

•  Fluency in written and oral English and Nepali is required

• Contract type: Local Individual Contract Agreement (LICA)
• Contract level:  LICA Specialist 10
• Contract duration: Ongoing ICA – ‘Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance'.

• 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.