Senior Project Manager (Health Infrastructure and Procurement)

About UNOPS

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is a United Nations body responsible for infrastructure, procurement and project management. Our mission is to deliver practical solutions, making projects happen and responding where needs are greatest. For three decades, UNOPS has  helped people improve their living conditions and countries achieve peace and sustainable development.

UNOPS is driven by the values of Inclusion, Integrity, Humility, and Humanity, working to build strong foundations for peace and sustainable development. Emphasizing diversity, the organization brings together people of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities, fostering an inclusive and equitable work environment for all.

About UNOPS in Guatemala

UNOPS activities in Guatemala started 27 years ago, in 1997. Since then our main partners are public institutions and our focus of contributions has always been characterized by strengthening the local institutions by intervening in a variety of sectors and projects of varying complexities. From accompanying the peace process following the armed conflict, promoting productive activity in regions of extreme poverty, to modernizing the state in terms of reducing infrastructure gaps, procurement, and more recently, supporting efforts in transparency and efficiency of public institutions, in line with the priorities of the government and the well-being of Guatemalans.

As of 2024 the new elected government identified UNOPS as its partner of choice to support the implementation of the 2024-2028 Government Plan, by strengthening government institutions leading to the adoption of a Fair Public Management approach, that allows the transition towards the modernization of the country's health procurement and infrastructure systems.

The first milestone of this new era is the signature of a major programme with the Ministry of Health and Social Assistance of Guatemala (MSPAS). The programme aims to collaborate with the enhancement of the various mechanisms of access to medicines, medical equipment, and supplies by implementing alternative procurement channels for up to USD 943M, following the best practices in public procurement and strengthening institutional capabilities. 

Quite advanced are also the negotiations of another programme with the Ministry of Communications, Infrastructure and Housing of Guatemala (MICIVI) which is focused on health infrastructure, roads infrastructure, community infrastructure and public administration infrastructure. UNOPS is also supporting other Ministries and institutions with the implementation of relevant public infrastructure projects.The abovementioned portfolio makes Guatemala one of the biggest UNOPS country operations in the world.

It must be noted that the political context in Guatemala is very complex, changing and fragile, therefore requiring UNOPS to be constantly engaging with high-level government representatives, UNRC and UNCT, as well as other international and civil organizations in the country. The projects UNOPS is being asked to support are quite strategic for the country and therefore have high visibility and exposure. 

Project Information

Since 2007, UNOPS has been supporting the Guatemalan Social Security Institute (IGSS) in the development and strengthening of its capacity to provide better care to its 3.2 million beneficiaries, through the expansion and modernization of its infrastructure. In April 2020, the IGSS and UNOPS signed the Memorandum of Agreement on UNOPS Support Services for the implementation of the Second Phase of the IGSS Master Plan for the Modernization and Expansion of its Hospital Network and Services.

INFRAIGSS is a highly complex Program with an original budget of $430 million dollars and a length of 64 months. Its scope included three highly technically specialized components covering: a) the provision of a variety of infrastructure services such as technical studies, designs, architectural and engineering plans, procurement of specialized services for the construction of two high complexity hospitals (level 4), and supervision of the construction works; b) replacement of medical, mechanical, and low, medium, and high-tech equipment that has reached the end of its useful life or that became obsolete. In addition to the acquisition of new and advanced healthcare technologies, ambulances, medical devices and related services; and c) a technological modernization component, through which complex hardware and software solutions are procured and implemented by UNOPS to improve and update the IGSS information technology, and new health services modalities like telehealth are introduced.

The launch of the INFRAIGSS Program, in April 2020, coincided with the first cases of coronavirus infection reported in Guatemala. The circumstances arising from the global pandemic led the Guatemalan government to declare a State of National Public Calamity. In this context, the implementation plans and the original scope of the INFRAIGSS Program were impacted by requests from the IGSS for variations and inclusion of new projects urgently needed to address the pandemic response.

Five years later, with the program approaching its ending, IGSS and UNOPS have maintained permanent consultation, resulting in the joint development of a proposal for the extension of the Memorandum of Agreement to allow the continuity of the INFRAIGSS program. Once signed, this amendment to the Memorandum of Agreement will increase INFRAIGSS program budget to $710 million dollars and extend its validity by 53 additional months, for a total term of 117 months, in order to keep advancing towards the achievement of the original expected result: to improve access to health care for the Guatemalan social security user population, by expanding the coverage of comprehensive hospital health services and updating technology.

Furthermore, a new Technical Assistance component is included within the abovementioned amendment. This component includes the development of a situational and geographic assessment of the Institute's current capacity versus the needs it must address to provide adequate access to outpatient and inpatient health attention to its beneficiaries.

The Role

The Senior Project Manager is responsible for the project's day-to-day operations ensuring that

project outputs are delivered within specified tolerances of time, cost, quality, scope, risk, and benefits, optimizing resources, and maintaining high standards of quality and performance. Reporting to the Deputy Country Director and collaborating closely with the office’s Senior Management team, the Senior Project Manager manages high-level stakeholder Engagement.

He/She expertly navigates the complexities of project operations and decision-making. Key responsibilities include developing and executing the Implementation Plan and a comprehensive understanding of the terms, conditions, and respective roles and responsibilities of key partners and stakeholders. Acting on behalf of the Project Board, the Senior Project Manager ensures that project outputs align with the business cases for both UNOPS and partners, maintaining strategic alignment with organizational goals. He/she is expected to lead projects through their entire lifecycle, providing continuous oversight, risk management, and strategic direction to achieve successful project delivery. This role demands a high degree of expertise in managing complex projects, balancing multiple priorities and delivering results in a dynamic and challenging environment. It involves defining the project strategy, implementing the plan, and building and maintaining trust with relevant stakeholders including high-level government authorities, providers, industry chambers, and associations. Success is measured by meeting a defined set of Success Criteria, achieving organizational performance goals, and ensuring stakeholder satisfaction. The Senior Project Manager will supervise the Project Managers of each of the big project components.

***For more information about the UNOPS Office in Guatemala, please review the Factsheet attached to this publication.** (Enlace)

Summary of functions:

1. Project Delivery and Performance

2. Procedures

3. Monitoring and reporting

4. Stakeholder engagement

5. Quality assurance

6. Knowledge management and innovation

7. Personnel management

1. Project Delivery and Performance

● Develop, complete and update implementation plan(s).

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

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

● Manage the production of the required outputs, taking responsibility for overall progress and use of resources and initiating corrective action where necessary.

● Ensure that quality of work packages and deliverables complies with the quality requirements defined in the Implementation Plan.

● Liaise with external suppliers, Government and other relevant stakeholders.

●Ensures that all project components Managers submit and periodically update specific milestones and objectives throughout their lifecycles; monitors progress. Oversees the submission of reports (phase, development, issues, etc.) by the Managers of each component.

● Guides the Manager of each project component on the development of project and phase plans, including scope, hierarchical work breakdown, activity sequence, schedules, resource estimates, budgets, risk management, and lessons learned.

● Manage acceptance and delivery of work packages.

● Monitor project progress ensuring that work packages are being executed properly.

● Control project and work packages changes.

● Coordinates the acceptance of 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 advise 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.

2. Procedures

● Comply with all organizational policy and specifically the Project Management Manual and local PMO Guidelines.

● Coordinate, prepare/adapt all relevant plans for approval by the Project Board.

● Manage the reporting obligations defined in the Legal Agreement(s) and in the Implementation Plan.

● Coordinate the requirements definitions for procurement processes by working closely with national stakeholders.

● Lead the project implementation teams focusing on (i) the efficient implementation of the procurement strategy and planning; (ii) the effective monitoring of the schedule of deliveries, timely payments to suppliers and assessment of suppliers performance; and (iii) ensuring appropriate quality assurance for pharmaceuticals and medical devices.

● Ensure full compliance with both UNOPS and national/local healthcare facility design standards and regulations, overseeing all phases of the projects from planning to construction, and proactively integrating medical equipment requirements into the facility infrastructure development process to ensure seamless functionality and regulatory compliance.

● Ensure the development and implementation of project financial management guidelines and control mechanisms, in conformity with UNOPS rules and regulations.

● 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.

● Understand the unique structures of the UN and budget appropriately for personnel.

● Manage expenditures against the budget (based on accurate financial reports).

● Where the Senior 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.

● For project closure purposes, provide a formal handover of the project to the closure manager.

● Support project audit activities, including planning, preparation and coordination during the audits and follow up on audit observations/recommendations.

3. Monitoring and reporting

● Prepare and issue regular project and/or financial reports in accordance with Partner and UNOPS requirements for reporting, according to the Legal Agreement.

● 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.

4. Stakeholder engagement

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

● Establish and maintain solid working relationships with the Project Board (Executive, Senior Users and Senior Suppliers), clients, and key stakeholders.

● Enable the formulation of project communications strategies and 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, and exceptions and are in a position to accept handover outputs.

● Collaborates with the Country Director, Deputy Country Director and the Country and Regional Communications Units on the management of crisis communications and inherent reputational risks.

5. Quality assurance

● Establish and assure robust quality control and assurance mechanisms for the Project, with

clear processes, roles, and responsibilities.

● Work with internal stakeholders to ensure projects comply with internal processes and audit

requirements.

● Work with the procurement team to ensure effective interface with suppliers' quality systems.

• Provide the necessary technical expertise for project implementation to ensure compliance with quality plans, materials, test procedures, and specifications. 

• Oversee and monitor all QA/QC activities related to the infrastructure projects including the revision of the work plans of contractors, conducting quality control reviews, and revising related reports.

• Monitor the implementation of works by scheduling periodic site visits to key projects/stages and providing guidance for improvements when necessary.

● Work with technical and logistics staff to ensure implementation of the quality assurance protocol for medical equipment.

● Coordinate, in alliance with the PMO team, the quality review of project documents and deliverables and implement proactive and corrective actions as needed.

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

6. Knowledge management and innovation

● 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 learned 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.

7. Personnel Management

● 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, working in coordination with the UNOPS Security officer.

● Create, foster and role model a culture of respect and zero tolerance for discrimination, abuse of authority, harrasment, 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.

Impact of Results

The Senior Project Manager directly impacts on 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 (equivalent to a Master or PhD Degree) preferably in Engineering, Architecture, Public Health, Public Procurement, Business, Economics, Supply Chain, Project Management, or other relevant discipline related to the nature of the project.

• University Degree (bachelor’s degree / first level) with a combination of 12 years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

• Certification: *Certification in Project Management (PRINCE2, PMI-PMP, or equivalent) is mandatory.

Experience:

a. Is required:

• Minimum 10 years (or more based on academic credentials) of progressive responsible experience in managing   vertical infrastructure projects is required.

• Experience supervising mid-to-high complexity projects. 

• Experience in leadership roles in large-scale organizations

• Experience in project strategic planning and project risk management.

b. Is an asset:

• Experience leading, coordinating or supervising public health sector projects.

• Experience in managing multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.

• Experience managing public procurement processes, both national and international.

• Experience working with UN System and / or International cooperation organizations.

• Experience managing multiple stakeholders including national public partners in Latin America.

Language Requirements: 

• Fluency in Spanish and English is required.

• A working knowledge of any other language of the Organization as French or Portuguese is an advantage.

• 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. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. 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.