Project Manager

Background on South East Asia and the Pacific Multi-Country Office (EAPMCO):

UNOPS South East Asia and Pacific Multi Country Office (EAPMCO) supports, develops and oversees the UNOPS portfolio of projects in South East Asia and the Pacific. EAPMCO was established in January 2023 following the merger of the Thailand Multi-Country Office, which covered 20 countries across North East Asia, South East Asia and the Pacific, and the Cambodia Multi-Country Office, which covered 4 countries South East Asia - 3 countries in the Mekong Sub-region (Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam) and the Philippines. EAPMCO currently covers 24 countries  across North East Asia, South East Asia and the Pacific. With its head office in Bangkok, the Multi-Country Office comprises nine EAPMCOs: EAPMCO Thailand, EAPMCO Indonesia, EAPMCO Pacific Operations Cluster, EAPMCO Papua New Guinea, EAPMCO China, EAPMCO Vietnam, EAPMCO Lao PDR, EAPMCO Philippines and EAPMCO Cambodia.

In 2022, the UNOPS EAPMCO implemented projects worth more than USD 95.7 million, in the areas of Energy Transition, Digital Transformations, Sustainable Environmental Management, Climate Change, Waste Management, Rule of Law and Access to Justice, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Post Conflict Reintegration, Emergency Relief, Post COVID19 Economic Transformations, and Health, through HR, procurement, construction, contract management, fund and program management services.

The Multi Country Office head office in Bangkok provides strategic direction, operational support, delivery oversight and assurance of the excellence of business processes and quality standards across all of the entire Multi Country Office locations. It is also responsible for developing, delivering and managing the portfolio of engagements in the country of the MCO location itself.

The EAPMCO Papua New Guinea was formed in early 2020 to support the implementation of design and construction of infrastructure, sustainable procurement, capacity development to support technical and governance excellence, programme management, and to facilitate access to funding sources in Papua New Guinea.  

As an established office since 2022, EAPMCO PNG is demonstrating significant growth and portfolio diversification potential in a short period of time.  Working with an increasing number of development partners, in 2023 EAPMCO PNG is quickly being recognised as a responsive and quality partner in climate change resilient infrastructure, sustainable procurement and governance support to the Government of PNG in its service delivery obligations to the people. 

Background Information on the Rural Service Delivery Project Project:

The Rural Service Delivery Project (RSDP) is designed to improve communities’ access to basic infrastructure and services in targeted rural areas using inclusive, participatory planning and implementation. The Project is funded by the World Bank and has been implemented by the Government of Papua New Guinea through a dedicated Project Management Unit (PMU). The project addresses challenges to service delivery, basic infrastructure and economic integration at local levels through the three components: (i) Preparation and Implementation of Sub-Projects; (ii) Capacity Building of National and Sub‐National Entities; and (iii) Project Management. For the remaining period of project delivery, UNOPS will support the World Bank in the provision  of project supervision and implementation across 5 provinces. 

The supervision of project activities by UNOPS will cover technical assistance for procedural, physical and financial aspects as well as benefit realization aspects. UNOPS services will include an assessment of RSDP implementation, systems and plans, troubleshooting, oversight on implementation process, with a focus on activities at the provincial level through field missions to assess the current status of project activities, and advise the World Bank on needs to ensure the adequate management of resources to address any programmatic bottlenecks in the implementation of RSDPs objectives. 

The expected output of the project, achieved by providing quality program supervision and implementation support of RSDP activities, will result in the timely preparation of new modern critical infrastructure developed across 256 wards which will strengthen public service delivery at the national and local government levels. UNOPS will also contribute to augment the Department of Provincial and Local-level Government Affairs (DPLGA) implementation capacity by identifying procedural challenges in the implementation of RSDP in the areas of health, access to sustainable water resources, and education. 

Background information - Job specific:

Reporting to the EAPMCO PNG Country Manager, the Project Manager will be responsible for UNOPS programmatic, operational and technical backstopping through ensuring that RSDP outputs are delivered within the specific project tolerances of time, cost, quality, scope, risk and benefits. The Project Manager will be responsible for escalating risks identified by the team to the DPLGA and the World Bank. The Project Manager will establish, promote and assure quality in all the work performed by the team and for applying best practices and methodologies for the successful delivery of the program, with a focus on good financial management adhering to strict compliance guidelines and operational management of all project components.

Project Implementation

• Gain a thorough understanding of the RSDP project’s work processes, procurement and financial management arrangements, and the financial reporting requirements of the World Bank

• Prepare the project inception report, including the sub-project implementation plan in 5 provinces

• Define escalation modality and criteria

• Schedule project team implementation activities based on the approved inception report

• Lead the procedural, physical, and financial observation monitoring of sub-projects

• Advise the Project Board and stakeholders of any deviations from the plan

• Monitor whether RSDP outputs are delivered within the specific project tolerances of time, cost, quality, scope, risk and benefits

• Escalate risks identified by the team to the DPLGA and the World Bank

Procedures

• Prepare/adapt all relevant plans for approval by the Project Board

• Manage the reporting obligations defined in the Legal Agreement and in the Implementation Plan

• Ensure that all project expenditure comply with UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations (FRR)

• Manage budgets, cash flow and expenditures of the UNOPS project

• Understand and manage UNOPS overheads, allocable charges, and related corporate charges as they apply to the project

Monitoring and reporting

• Prepare and issue project and/or financial bi-monthly progress briefs and a summary final implementation progress report in accordance with the World Bank and UNOPS requirements for reporting

• Regularly review project status, evaluating performance criteria (scope, cost, schedule and quality)

• Provide routine oversight and analysis of project delivery data within the dashboard system

• Travel to provinces to work closely with provincial level authorities, beneficiaries, and UNOPS personnel to assess implementation progress

Stakeholder engagement

• Establish solid working relationship with the project board, RSDP, DPLGA, World Bank and district and provincial teams 

• 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/stakeholders and the project team

Quality assurance

• Coordinate quality reviews of project documents and deliverables

• Provide quality control for management outputs (project documents, reports, etc.)

Personnel Management

• Lead and motivate the project team

• Ensure high quality recording of results, performance, and services of the team 

• Ensure compliance of team members with existing policies and best practices.  

• Organize, facilitate and deliver training and learning initiatives for personnel on Administration related topics

• Ensure that behavioral expectations of team members are established 

• Ensure that performance reviews are conducted timely and objectively

• Ensure safety and security for all personnel and comply with UNDSS standards

Impacts of results

The Project Manager directly impacts the achievement of project results by adhering to project management methods and strategies, reducing risks, cutting costs and improving success rates.  This consequently reinforces the visibility and image of UNOPS as an effective service provider in project services and management and strengthens its competitive position as a partner of choice in sustainable development and project services.

Education

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s degree)  in Finance, Economics, Project Management, Business Administration, Development Studies, International Relations or related field is required.

• First level University Degree (Bachelor’s degree) with two (2) additional years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

• PRINCE2® Basic or Practitioner certification is an asset.

Work Experience

• Minimum (5) years of experience in programme/project and financial management, public sector administration, project procurement and accounting in a multicultural environment is required. 

• Experience in evaluating and developing internal controls and financial procedures, involving a modern financial management software is preferred.

• Experience in managing development programmes in an international context/field missions using results-based management principles and hands-on experience in programme monitoring, evaluation and reporting for documentation of programme results and impact is preferred. 

• Knowledge of UN rules and procedures in relation to programme implementation, administration and reporting is an asset.

• Experience working on World Bank-funded projects, familiarity with their rules and regulations is an asset. 

• Knowledge of GoogleSuite applications is required. Experience using ERP systems is an added advantage.

• Prior experience in program oversight  including coordination with the relevant stakeholders is an advantage.

• Experience in South East Asia and/ or Papua New Guinea is a strong asset.

Languages

• Full Working knowledge of the English language is required.

1. Contract type: IICA
2. Contract level: ICS 10 / IICA-2
3. Contract duration: until 30 of April 2024 (9 months) with the possibility of extension

• 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.

• Port Moresby is a family duty station with R&R (Hardship leave).
  
  

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.