Project Management Support Specialist (Capacity Building)

Sri Lanka

UNOPS has supported Sri Lanka’s development since 1998, expanding operations in 2005 to support the post-tsunami response and reconstruction process. Within the organization’s mandate in project management, infrastructure, and procurement, UNOPS Sri Lanka implements customized socio-economic development projects that benefit vulnerable people and develop national capacities. Achievements in Sri Lanka include the development of sustainable and climate-resilient infrastructure, procurement services & capacity building, and project management in education, fisheries, roads, health, water supply systems; flood control and sanitation, and integrated solid waste management sectors. UNOPS works closely with Government counterparts and communities to ensure increased ownership, sustainability, and accountability of Projects. 

UNOPS Sri Lanka facilitated over $22 million worth of procurement of COVID-19 protection equipment and services in partnership with the World Bank, the Government of Japan, and the United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund. Currently, UNOPS is conducting about $5 million pharmaceutical procurement to strengthen the  Sri Lanka health system and support the people in need. 

In June 2022, UNOPS signed a legal agreement with the South Asia Cooperative Environment Program (SACEP), an intergovernmental organization in South Asia, to support its implementation of the Plastic Free Rivers and Seas for South Asia (PLEASE) project that is funded by the World Bank. The PLEASE project encompasses three components: 

• Component 1: Supporting Competitive Block Grant Investments to Reduce Plastic Waste;

• Component 2: Leveraging Public and Private Sector Engagement and Solutions; and

• Component 3: Strengthening Regional Integration Institutions.

UNOPS is expected to provide advisory services and implementation support, which entails project management, grant management, procurement, logistics, infrastructure, institutional capacity building, and communications and public advocacy, to the SACEP Project Implementation Unit (PIU).

• Analyze existing assessment reports to identify capacity building needs and gaps; research and propose additional assessments to bridge the gaps;

• Liaise with stakeholders, including through key stakeholders of SACEP to understand strategic perspectives and capacity building directions; act as a bridge between SACEP stakeholders and SACEP by providing analysis and proposing approaches;

• Develop a work plan within the available budget and timeline in response to findings of needs assessment and address stakeholder concerns;

• Responsible for planning and timely delivery of all activities under the institutional capacity building initiative, including ensuring work-package plan is integrated with the overall project plan, interdependencies duly identified and planned for, and risks and issues are escalated and managed effectively;

• Explore and propose different human resource strategies to implement activities with a deep understanding of the long term expectation and strategy of key stakeholders;

• Identify capacity building expertise that are needed, and lead the team to deliver agreed activities;

• Ensure timely implementation of the work plan within quality expectations of the clients; strive to increase stakeholder satisfaction through effective communication, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms;

• Effective team management, including managing their performance through quarterly assessment to confirm the effectiveness of activities designed and the improvements of institutional systems and processes;

• Design key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor implementation, project impact, and its alignment with the stakeholder expectation;

• Take into consideration of project sustainability and UNOPS exiting strategy, propose initiatives for continued improvement and capacity building for SACEP;

• Promotion of Good Governance principles of accountability, transparency, participation, non-discrimination and efficiency including linking these with the implementation of the PLEASE project, adoption of local/regional policies and/or regulations;

• Facilitate the provision of a long term capacity building plan for SACEP including KPIs, provide analysis on resource requirement, and propose ways to meet such requirement through close stakeholder consultations;

• Gain understanding of the overall PLEASE project, the strategy of key stakeholders, and seek to provide solutions that create synergies and overarching support.

Education:

• Advanced University Degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture, Project Management, Business Administration or other relevant field is required;
• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering, Project Management, Architecture, Business Administration or other relevant discipline combined with 2 additional years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the Master degree.

• Minimum 5 years (or less depending on academic credentials) of relevant progressive experience in the development sector involving project development and management, with focus on institutional capacity building, project planning, monitoring, reporting and coordination in either public or private sector organizations;
• Experience in conducting institutional governance and processes analysis, and building institutional capacity is required;
• Proven experience of project implementation in close collaboration with government/intergovernmental authorities preferred; 
• Previous work experience with the UNOPS or any of the United Nations agencies is preferred; 
• Knowledge of UN/UNOPS rules and regulations is an advantage;
• Experience in team management is required.

• Fluency in English is required

Contract type: International Individual Contract Agreement.
Contract level: I-ICA 2
Contract duration: 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.