Project Manager

Organizational 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.

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 Mekong, and EAPMCO Philippines.

In 2023, the UNOPS EAPMCO implemented projects worth more than USD 76 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.

Local Context: UNOPS in Papua New Guinea

The EAPMCO Papua New Guinea (PNG) 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, health infrastructure, sustainable procurement and governance support to the Government of PNG in its service delivery obligations to the people. 

UNOPS has been instrumental in delivering essential services in PNG. Notable initiatives include implementing off-grid energy solutions that have benefited over 20,000 individuals in Telefomin and Daru, and improving access to clean water for approximately 3,000 people in Banz, Jiwaka Province. These projects not only provide vital resources but also promote safe sanitation and hygiene practices within communities.

Collaboration with various partners, such as the Australian Government, the European Union, and the World Bank, has been central to UNOPS's operations in PNG. Through these partnerships, UNOPS continues to support the government's efforts in delivering quality healthcare services and advancing sustainable development initiatives throughout the country. In addition to seeking enhanced visibility of its partners’ programs implemented via UNOPS, UNOPS aims to refresh and update the development community and the government of its capacities and develop a strong forward looking business development plan.

Project Background

The Project manager will manage a Water, Sanitation, Hygiene Project funded by the European Union located in Banz in the Jiweka province of Papua New Guinea. The project facilitates improved equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water in Banz, focusing on vulnerable groups and locations of higher human concentration (schools, healthcare facilities, markets) and improved adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene, with a focus on locations of higher human concentrations (schools, healthcare facilities, markets) and the needs of women and girls in vulnerable conditions. It focuses on two outcomes: (1) Improved equitable access to safe and sustainable drinking water and sanitation services in community facilities, targeting schools, healthcare facilities/urban clinics, and marketplaces; and (2) sustained use of safe water and sanitation services and adoption of improved hygiene practices among people living in targeted urban towns at personal, household, community and institutional levels, including people affected by humanitarian situations (i.e. COVID-19). The project is implemented in collaboration with UNICEF and will support the Department of National Planning and Monitoring (DNPM), Water PNG National Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Authority (NWSHA) to deliver, on a sustainable basis, clean water and sanitation services in Banz. The project team is composed of a field engineer and engineering and WASH retainers, and will involve setting up a project office in Banz. UNOPS is responsible for the technical implementation of the infrastructure component.

• 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

• Develop stakeholder profiles and facilitate the formulation of stakeholder engagement strategies

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

• Enable the formulation of project communications plans. Coordinate internal project communications. Monitor the effectiveness of project communications

• Coordinate stakeholder engagement and communication, ensuring effective timing and interdependency management of communications. Ensure stakeholders are aware of project activities, progress, exceptions and are in a position to accept handover outputs.

• 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.)

• Encourage routine and effective capacity building activities are conducted in order to build the long-term and sustainable capacity of staff.

• Actively interact with other Project Managers and the wider PM community to share case studies, lessons learned and best practices 

• Contribute to the oversight of lessons learned procedures, ensuring that lessons learnt are shared in a timely and appropriate manner. Participate in the relevant Communities of Practice

• Research and logging of lessons learned throughout the project life span.

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

• Lead and motivate the project management team

• Ensure that behavioral expectations of team members are established 

• Ensure that performance reviews are conducted fairly, accurately and timely

• Select, recruit and train a team as required and take into account gender parity and diversity objectives.

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

• 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.

• An Advanced University Degree in a relevant discipline (Project Management, Architecture, Civil Engineering or related field) is required.

• A combination of a Bachelor’s Degree with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the education requirement outlined above.

• A minimum of 5 years' working experience in managing and providing advisory services on Infrastructure preferably in the services of design and technical supervision of WASH  Infrastructures.

• Experience working with the UN/UNOPS and EU is an advantage.

• Experience in contracts management and developing Procurement strategies is an asset.

• Experience in risk management is an asset.

• Experience working in conflict and/or post-conflict areas is an asset.

• Experience working with multicultural teams is an asset.