Senior Project Manager

The EU is currently funding the Resilience Programme for Somalia which is based on the objective “to revitalise and expand the Somali economy with a focus on livelihood enhancement, employment generation, and broad-based inclusive growth”, financed from the European Development Fund (EDF). Under this project UNOPS has been requested by the EU to provide support by filling in the identified gaps with flexible tools and mechanisms to implement the National Development Plan structure by establishing a Partnership Coordination Facility for Somalia. Coordinated efforts are essential in order to transform Somalia into a more resilient, and improved, economic sector with greater security, gender equity, improved human development, stronger infrastructure, and better access to basic services that is delivered by accountable governmental institutions. This transformation is hindered by slow institutions that are unable to respond quickly to emerging needs. The project will allow these needs to be identified by the Pillar Working groups, and to be satisfied in a timely, strategic manner. More specifically UNOPS will provide support to the coordination of resilience interventions, disaster management, and contribution to the implementation of the upcoming recovery and resilience framework in support of Result Number 3 of the resilience programme focusing on enhancing the capacity for the implementation and monitoring of a National Resilience Strategy. In addition UNOPS will be further engaged by the EU to play a critical role in the support of the governance sector where we will be facilitating institutional capacity building, logistical support and additional activities  on the basis of EU demand.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Programme (HoP), the Senior Project Manager (EU Partnership Programme) is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the project(s) and provides services to the different donors, partners and beneficiaries. He/she is expected to meet and exceed the organizations performance and delivery goals. The Senior Project Manager (EU Partnership Programme) is responsible to produce/read the project initiation documents (PID), Legal Agreement and have a thorough understanding of the terms, conditions, and the respective roles and responsibilities of the partners/stakeholders to ensure the project(s) products are capable of meeting the business cases for both UNOPS and the client. The Senior Project Manager is responsible for all aspects of the project life cycle. S/he must be able to apply, independently, the below duties and responsibilities of the project success criteria:

• Establish solid working relationship with the project board (Executive, Senior Users and Senior Suppliers), client and key stakeholders
• Manage communications and ensure stakeholders are aware of project activities, progress, exceptions and are in a position to accept handover products
• Advise the client on issues that may impact the achievement of their outcomes (including issues of sustainability and post project requirements such as maintenance)
• Manage the information flows between the Project Board/OC Director and the project(s)

Delivery and Performance:

• Develop and maintain project plans
• Implement approved project plans (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 cycle.
• Manage the production of the required products, taking responsibility for overall progress and use of resources and initiating corrective action where necessary
• Liaise with any external suppliers or account managers
• Authorize Work Packages
• Advise the Project Board and OC Manager of any deviations from the plan
• Identify and manage risks so that maximum benefit to client and stakeholders is achieved
• Manage and review product quality and ensure products are accepted
• Monitor and evaluate performance of service providers
• Identify and report potential business opportunities for UNOPS to supervisor
• Identify and report threats to UNOPS internal business case to supervisor

Procedures:

• Follow the Project Management Cycle Instructions and ensure that all organizational policy is complied with (Organizational Directives and Administrative Instructions)
• Prepare/adapt the following plans for approval by the Project Board:  I. Project Initiation Documentation; II. Stage/Exception Plans and relevant Product Descriptions
• Prepare the following reports:

• Maintain the following: i. Electronic Blue File; ii. Procurement, HR and Finance files as required by those practices as per OD12.
• Ensure that all expenditure comply with UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations (FRR).
• 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 and remain accountable for expenditures against the budget (based on accurate financial reports)
• Where the 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.

Knowledge Management:

• Participate in the relevant Communities of Practice
• Actively interact with other PMs and the PM community to share case studies, lessons learned and best practice on the Knowledge System.
• Provide feedback to Practice Leads on policy, supporting guidance with an aim towards continuous improvement of UNOPS policies
• Complete lessons learned as per reporting format
• Incorporate lessons learned from others as per planning format

Personnel Management:

• Lead and motivate the project team
• Ensure that behavioural expectations of team members are established
• Ensure that performance reviews are conducted
• Identify outstanding staff and bring them to the attention of the Head of Programme
• Have a thorough understanding of UNOPS personnel contract modalities (including ICA and Staff)
• Select, recruit and train team as required by project plans
• Perform the Team Manager role, unless appointed to another person(s)
• Perform Project Support role, unless appointed to another person or corporate/programme function
• Ensure safety and security for all personnel and comply with UNDSS standards

Core Values and Principles:

• Understand and respect UNOPS sustainability principles

           - Look for ways to embed UNOPS sustainability principles in day to day project management

           - Seek opportunities to champion gender equality at work place

           - Champion and communicate project’s sustainability aspects with key stakeholders

• Understand and Respect National ownership and capacity

          - Understand the principles of the Paris Declaration on aid effectiveness and mainstream them into the project plans

          - Seek opportunities to recruit qualified local staff

           - Look for ways to build capacity of local counterparts

          - Partnerships and Coordination Understand the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and UNOPS, the project’s place in the UN system

         - Strive to build strong partnerships and effective coordination among relevant project actors (e.g. United Nations, governments, and non-governmental organizations or other relevant partners)

• Accountability for results and the use of resources

       - The project management processes are designed to deliver maximum accountability, transparency and results. If a project or processes is not in line with this, it is the responsibility of the PM to raise the issue to a supervisor

• Excellence

   - Contribute to innovation and the adaptation of best practice standards of sustainability and quality.

General: 

Ensure that the project(s) produces the required products within the specified tolerance of time, cost, quality, scope, risk and benefits. The Senior Project Manager is also responsible for the project producing a result capable of achieving the benefits defined in the Business Case and contribute to the overall business targets and needs.

A.  Education

• Master’s Degree in Project Management, Business Administration, International Relations, Political/Security/Development Studies, or other relevant discipline is required.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Project Management, Business Administration, International Relations, Political/Security/Development Studies, or other relevant discipline with a combination of two (2)  additional years of relevant professional experience in may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree

• A relevant combination of academic credentials and/or industry certifications and qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the university education.  

Certifications

• PRINCE2® Foundation is an asset
• PRINCE2® Practitioner an asset, but required completion within first 6 months of on boarding
• Certified Senior Project Manager - International Project Manager Association (IPMA Level B) or Project Management Professional (PMP - PMI) an asset.

B. Work Experience

• A minimum of seven (7) years of  progressive experience in either Project Management or Programme Management planning and operations in a large international and/or corporate organization is required.

• Experience working in a conflict or post-conflict environment is an asset.

• Experience in capacity building is an added advantage.

• Experience working in a National/Government ministry is highly desirable.

• Experience in delivery of multilateral projects is an asset. 

• Some experience in UN system organizations preferably in a developing country is desirable.

• Previous work experience in a hardship duty station is highly desirable.

• Experience in managing multi-donor relations and stakeholder engagement is as asset.

• Experience in the disaster, risk and resilience sector is an asset.

• Experience in the governance sector is desirable.

Language requirement

• Fluency in written and oral English required.

• 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.
• Work life Harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types.
• Nairobi is a Family Duty Station. (However, if and when  the security situation in Somalia is improved and allows for the position to be based in Mogadishu,  the duty station will be changed to Mogadishu).

• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon   request.
• 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.

1. Contract type:International Individual Contract Agreement (IICA)
2. Contract level: IICA 3 /ICS 11
3. Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

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.

Somalia Country Office:

UNOPS Somalia Country Office (SOCO) has had a solid and continuous in-country expert presence successfully implementing programs since the mid-1990s, where it is currently undertaking various projects and initiatives in close collaboration with the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), Federal Member States (FMS) and partners from the global donor community. UNOPS’ projects in Somalia focus on several key sectors that include infrastructure development, institutional capacity building, project management, advisory services, and procurement services. These projects cut across multiple sectors, including education, healthcare, national security, law enforcement, immigration services, justice, transport, and public works among others. UNOPS work in Somalia is geared towards driving growth and development in the country, a process that requires developing a close relationship with the FGS and the other development partners.
  
Through its involvement in Somalia’s development process, UNOPS is providing transparent and accountable solutions in the country’s state and nation-building process. In addition, UNOPS is also committed to implementing the United Nations Strategic Framework Somalia 2017 – 2020, with the aim of helping Somalia achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. UNOPS work within the context of these commitments means that the projects it implements in Somalia are specifically designed to provide long-term solutions in the country, leading to sustainable and inclusive growth.

What drives us is a passion to fight inequalities and to provide opportunities to those most vulnerable. This means we often work in the most challenging environments, building foundations for communities to function and people to live with dignity and respect.

To succeed here, he/she need to be able to combine creativity with the organizational skills to manage numerous different projects to tight deadlines simultaneously, as well as working with the different units to meet their expectations.