Project Manager (Re-advertisement)

The Government of Cameroon, the World Bank and UNOPS have jointly developed the PRECASEM project, focusing on infrastructure construction and procurement to support the capacity reinforcement of the Ministère des Mines, de l’Industrie et du Développement Technologique in the mining sector.

The Government has appointed UNOPS for the implementation of the 24 months project, consisting in the rehabilitation/construction of the building for the Directions des mines et de la géologie in Yaoundé, the Vina Departmental Delegation and Adamaoua Regional Delegation in Ngaoundéré, and the Kadéï Departmental Delegation in Batouri.

Based in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since 1991, the UNOPS Operational Hub in Central Africa (CDOH) covers eleven countries: Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Comoros, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of Congo, Madagascar, and Rwanda. The Hub is operational in nine of the eleven countries to date, has a portfolio of over 30 projects and employs over 260 personnel.

The Hub has built strong working relationships with international partners, United Nations Agencies, including United Nations missions, and Central African governments.  It provides technical support and capacity building in areas of strategic national development, including sustainable infrastructure development in the fields of health, education, public works, governance and public administration, as well as in sustainable procurement, project management and sectoral advisory services in the areas of peace and security, preservation and protection of the environment, program/project revitalization among others.

The PM  will report directly to the Senior Programme Manager based in Cameroon and to Head of Programme based in Kinshasa (as a secondary supervisor). Support of PRECASEM  activities in Yaoundé

The Project Manager is responsible to read all project initiation documents (PID), Legal and Financial Agreements and have a thorough understanding of the terms, conditions, and the respective roles and responsibilities of the partners/stakeholders to ensure the projects products are capable of meeting the business cases for both UNOPS and the client.

The Project Manager is responsible for all aspects of the project life cycle and project implementation delivery against an aggressive timeline. S/he must be able to apply, at a mastery level, the below duties and responsibilities of the programme and projects’ success criteria

Stakeholder Management:

• Establish a Project Board and solid working relationship with the 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 Partners 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, OH Director and the project;
• Contract management: supervision of UNOPS’s subcontractor for the provision of services;
• Assure that services are delivered with quality (according to World Bank and UNOPS ‘s standards) and on time.

Delivery and Performance:

Detect further new business possibilities for UNOPS with supervisor and other relevant partners and liaise with UNOPS CDOH Partnership Unit in Kinshasa.

Execution:

• Implement approved project plans (including the establishment of milestones) within tolerances set by the project board;
• 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 Senior Project 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 and promotes information sharing with other actors in the sector;
• 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 (UNOPS Organizational Directives and Administrative Instructions);
• Prepare/adapt the following plans for approval by the Project Board:  Project Initiation Documentation;  Stage/Exception Plans and relevant Product Descriptions;
• Prepare the following reports: Highlight Reports for the client and CDOH management;  Weekly reports for Senior Programme Manager, Head of Programme and CDOH Director in Kinshasa;

  * End Stage Reports

  * Operational Closure Checklist

  * End Project Report

  * Financial progress report/final financial report (in cooperation with UNOPS CIOH/ UNOPS HQ and project team)

 Reporting:

• 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 UNOPS 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 management team (international and national personnel);
• 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 Senior Programee Manager;
• 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;
• Perform regular field visits to UNOPS teams.

 Core Values and Principles:

• Understand and respect UNOPS sustainability principles

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

2. Seek opportunities to champion gender equality at work place

3. Champion and communicate project’s sustainability aspects with key stakeholders

• Understand and Respect National ownership and capacity

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

  2. Seek opportunities to recruit qualified local staff

  3. 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

  1. 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

  1. 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 with  a supervisor

• Excellence

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

• Advanced University degree (Master's or equivalent) in Project Management, Civil Engineering or other relevant discipline required.
• First level University degree (bachelor’s or equivalent) with a combination of two (2) additional years of relevant professional experience in Project Management Civil Engineering, or other relevant discipline, may be accepted in lieu of the advance university degree.
• PRINCE2 Practitioner Certification – Preferred
• An academic credential and/or industry certifications with a combination of 9 years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the university education.

• A minimum of five (5) years of project management in the area of construction and/or civil/rural engineering management is required
• Experience working in emergency, post-crisis environment and/or with UN missions is a strong asset.
• Proven experience in management  of complex projects is an asset.
• Proven experience in financial management is an asset

• Fluency in French is required  
• Working Knowledge (Intermediate) of English is 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.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• 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
• The position is based on a family Duty Station, Younde is a Family Duty Station
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• 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 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.