Project Manager, Multiple positions

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) helps the United Nations (UN) and its partners provide peace and security, humanitarian, and development solutions. UNOPS services cover infrastructure, project management, procurement, financial management and human resources. 

UNOPS in Ukraine provides a broad spectrum of services to the Government and the people of Ukraine with a portfolio of projects in the areas of rule of law, environment, energy efficiency, crisis recovery, good governance, human resources management, procurement, and logistics. 

Support for Rule of Law Reforms in Ukraine (PRAVO POLICE) Project

The European Union funded ‘Support for Rule of Law Reforms in the Areas of Police, Public Prosecution and Good Governance Project’ (known as PRAVO POLICE) has the overall objective of supporting Rule of Law in Ukraine through strengthening the systems in place to support policing, prosecution and civilian governance in Ukraine and to align its functioning with the best European and International practices. 

This PRAVO POLICE Project supports the creation of an efficient law-enforcement system respectful of human rights in support of the people of Ukraine, through the provision of necessary support to the National Police and other Ukrainian authorities in charge of civilian law-enforcement. On substance matters, the project relies on the EU Advisory Mission (EUAM) to Ukraine which is a Rule of Law and Police Mission, based in Kiev and with presences in Kharkiv and Lviv. 

The PRAVO POLICE Project further provides support to law enforcement agencies (LEAs) capacity to upgrade their Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) supported processes and infrastructure, as well as ICT management capacity through the provision of ICT assessments, procurement of ICT equipment, and a range of other ICT solutions. This in turn will contribute to enhanced efficiency and effectiveness of LEAs’ services, while improving their accountability, transparency, and respect of human rights. 

The Project Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the packages assigned by the Programme Manager and provides services to the different donors, partners and beneficiaries. He/she is expected to meet and exceed the organisations performance and delivery goals.

The Project Manager reports directly to the Deputy Programme Manager who provides broad supervision and guidance. The Project Manager is responsible to read the Description of Actions (DoA), 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 products are capable of meeting the business cases for both UNOPS and the client. Success of the project and hence Project Manager will be based on the Success Criteria of UNOPS engagements which are linked to the below responsibilities. A Project Manager is responsible for all aspects of the project life cycle. S/he must be able to apply, with some degree of autonomy, the below duties and responsibilities of the project success criteria: 

1. Project Delivery and Performance 

• Develop and maintain packages’ plans 

• Implement approved packages’ 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 

• Advise the Programme 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 

2. 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: 

• Highlight Reports 

• End Stage Reports 

• Operational Closure Checklist

• End Project Report 

• Handover Report 

• 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 Lead 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.

3. Monitoring and reporting

• 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

4. Stakeholder managment

• 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

5. Quality assurance

• Work with internal stakeholders to ensure projects comply with audit requirements

• Work with procurement/purchasing staff to ensure effective interface with suppliers' qualities systems

• Coordinate quality reviews of project documents and deliverables

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

6. Knowledge management and innovation 

• Participate in the relevant Communities of Practice 

• Actively interact 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 

• 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

7. Personnel Management

• Lead and motivate the work support package team 

• Ensure that performance reviews are conducted, when applicable 

• Identify outstanding staff and bring them to the attention of the Deputy Programme Manager (Operations)

• Have a thorough understanding of UNOPS personnel contract modalities (including ICA and) select, recruit and train team as required by project plans 

• 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 

 Impact of Results

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 

● A Master’s Degree in a relevant field, preferably in Business Administration, Management, International Relations, Economics, Law, Humanitarian Studies, etc. is required 

● A Bachelors’ degree in combination with two additional years of relevant experience may substitute for the Master’s degree

Work Experience 

● With a Master's degree a minimum of five years or with Bachelor's degree a minimum of seven years of relevant and progressive professional experience, specifically in the field of Project Management and Implementation with focus on development, coordination, monitoring, and reporting is required. 

● Demonstrated understanding of the functioning of the state institutions and the rule of law sector in Ukraine would be an advantage

Language Requirements

Oral and written fluency in English, Ukrainian 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
• 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 (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• 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.