Project Management Advisor

Within UNOPS, the Infrastructure and Project Management Group (IPMG)’s objectives are to serve the organization’s personnel and partners by broadening their infrastructure and project management capabilities, while disseminating best-practices in both these areas. Through this work, the Group helps facilitate the successful delivery of programmes and projects around the world.

The UNOPS Peace and Security Centre (PSC) is a principal service provider in the field of mine action with the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), UNDP, UNICEF, Governments of mine-affected countries and other mine action partners. The Centre is responsible to administer, provide support and oversight of the day-to-day management of field Programmes, according to both the client’s requirements and in line with UNOPS rules and regulations. PSC is a thematically-based business unit, with a centralized hub in New York and currently 18 field-based programmes.

The Project Management Advisor’s role is to ensure application of UNOPS standards and adopted best practices and will have responsibilities in several areas, as described below:

A. Implementation Support

• Provide advice and support to potential and current engagements of high value and/or risk, supporting PSC Engagement Authorities in strengthening project governance engagement structures and processes to enable the achievement of high standards and consistent UNOPS defined project success criteria;
• Provide advice and support in the planning and implementation of programmes and projects throughout their whole life cycle;
• In coordination with IPMG, deliver portfolio/programme/project maturity model assessments and follow-up missions, and provide specialist support and advice to field staff on UNOPS best practices, engagement risks, management models, and use of PM tools and systems.

• Contribute to the development of IPMG’s knowledge management system by capturing case studies and best practice examples from PSC;
• Make recommendations on policy and tools and contribute to the development of guidance material and tools that advance PSC’s strategic project management goals;
• Disseminate corporate policies, guidance and best practices that impact PSC portfolio, programme and project management practitioners;
• Draft and review portfolio-level SOPs, standards and other technical documents based on evidence from the field and actual programmes and project requirements, and provide support to field office programmes in developing programme-level SOPsTraining and capacity-building.

• Provide advice and support to project management practitioners on how to embed best practices of project and programme governance, risk management, project and programme management in the New York office and field programme offices;
• Support training and internal consulting in project and programme management and provide project and programme development advice and assistance to field staff in support of IPMG initiatives and roll-outs;
• Strengthen the knowledge, skills and career development of project management practitioners.

• Support the business development agenda of PSC through expertise, contacts and depth of experience;
• Represent PSC New York or field office programmes in any programme and project management related forum, and positively influence others on the benefits of best practices of project and programme management.

• Advise project management practitioners on measures to strengthen national capacity building with regards to project and programme management best practices, as well as other cross-cutting issues, and support a stronger focus on benefit management of projects.

Education

• A Master’s degree in business management, project management, public administration, social science or other relevant field is required;
• A combination of a Bachelor’s degree with an additional two years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the Master’s degree

Experience

• Minimum 7 years working in programme or project management experience, when combined with a Master’s Degree is required.
• Minimum of 3 years managing projects in the international development context is required.
• Demonstrated knowledge of mine action projects and/or programmes is an asset.
• Experience in a consultancy role is an asset.
• Experience in conflict and/or post-conflict project management is an asset.
• Experience in the UN is highly desired.

Certifications

• A Project Management related certification is a requirement and certification document must be attached.
• PRINCE2® Foundation is  an asset, but required completion within the first 3 months of onboarding.
• PRINCE2® Practitioner is an asset, but required completion within the first 6 months of onboarding.
• Programme/Project Management Professional (MSP® or PMI-PgMP/PMI-PMP) is an asset.

Languages

• Fluency in English is required.
• Working knowledge of French is an asset.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale.