Project Manager

Multi-Country Office Context:

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world.  Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organisations.  With over 6,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, where they need it.  By implementing around 1,000 projects for our partners at any given time, UNOPS makes significant contributions to results on the ground, often in the most challenging environments.

UNOPS Ghana Multi-country Office (GHMCO) located in Accra covers five West African countries namely Ghana, The Gambia, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.  GHMCO is responsible for managing strategic and operational risks engagements portfolio, developing and delivering cost effective services contributing to partners’ sustainable results and achievements of UNOPS management results.

Project Information:

Liberia COVID-19 Emergency Response Project and Procurement of Vehicles for the Ministry of Health, Liberia Project.

The Government of Liberia has fully vaccinated 86% of the country’s total population with an initial protocol, making the country a leader in COVID-19 vaccination coverage in Africa. These successes can be attributed to concerted efforts by the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) during and after the pandemic. 

Since May 2023, there has been a near-zero COVID-19 transmission rate. As the project continues to support the routine immunization program in the country, and provide operational support to human and animal health surveillance teams in the whole country. There is a case to fully equip these teams and augment the transport fleet and ensure that health services are brought to the doorstep of clients, especially in remote communities.

Under the Procurement of Vehicles project, the Ministry of Health contacted UNOPS to procure thirteen (13) vehicles to support mobility and connectivity, which  are an essential aspect of the pandemic response. They will greatly assist in strengthening critical healthcare system elements like surveillance and diagnostics.

• The project is aligned with SDG 3: Health and Wellbeing

The pandemic response aims to ensure access to quality healthcare and promote well-being for all. Specifically, the project will contribute to:  

• Target 3.3: End AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

• Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, access to quality health care services, and access to safe, effective, quality, and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.

If you have experience managing stakeholders and are excited to expand our sustainable project management initiatives, are great at understanding and managing project risks, are always ready to get hands on with the work and can lead partners through best practice in Project Management with Prince 2 certification, then this is your opportunity.

The project will be implemented over a 12-month duration (i.e The Project ends in December, 2024)

Project Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the project(s) and manages relationships with the client, donor, partners and beneficiaries. 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. 

Project Manager has the authority to assign, as per the Project Plan, work packages to Team Managers and approve deliverables produced by them.

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). Success of the project(s) and hence of the Project Manager will be based on the defined Success Criteria.

He/she is expected to meet the organization’s performance and delivery goals.

1. Project Delivery and Performance

2. Procedures 

3. Monitoring and reporting

4. Stakeholder engagement

5. Personnel Management 

• Implement the approved plan (including the establishment of milestones) within tolerances set by the Project Board. 

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

• Liaise with any external suppliers or account managers

• Manage acceptance and delivery of work packages

• Monitor project progress ensuring that work packages are being executed properly

• Accept goods, services or works delivered by suppliers. 

• Lead contract management duties including supplier performance evaluation. 

• Identify, and anticipate in a timely manner, potential risks and issues and advises mitigating measures to senior management/ Project Board so that maximum benefit to partner(s) and other stakeholders is achieved

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

• 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 projects' life span.

5.    Personnel Management  

• Advanced University Degree (Masters Degree) in Project Management, Business Management, Development Studies, Procurement/Supply Chain Management or other relevant disciplines is required.

• A Bachelor's Degree in Project Management, Business Management, Development Studies, Procurement/Supply Chain Management in combination with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the education requirements outlined above.

• A minimum of  two (2) years progressive demonstrated experience in a Project/Programme Management role in the delivery of development projects is required;

• Working knowledge of project management software tools and applications is an asset;

• Demonstrated experience managing multidisciplinary teams is an asset;

• Experience in developing and successfully implementing stakeholder engagement plans is a distinct advantage.

• Past experience with procurement of goods/services/ works is a distinct advantage;

• Past experience in health sector projects is an asset;

• Knowledge of the UN system and familiarity with UNOPS procedures is an advantage;

• Experience in the use of google software packages (Google Doc, Sheets and Slides) and experience in handling web-based management systems is an added advantage.

• Fluency in written, reading and spoken English Language is required.

• Contract type: Local Individual Contract Agreement (LICA)
• Contract level:  LICA 9/ ICS 9
• 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.

• Monrovia, Liberia is a family duty station.
  
  

Terms and Conditions 

• 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.

Africa Region

AFR helps ensure that projects are executed to the highest standards, providing a shared knowledge base and ensuring that best practices and lessons learned are disseminated between projects across the entire region.