Senior Project Manager

The Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has initiated the "Programme d'Appui au Développement Rural Inclusif et Résilient (PADRIR)" for a total amount of US$130 million with financial support from the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the Fund for International Development and the World Bank.

PADRIR covers Kasai Central, Kasai Oriental, Lomami and Maniema provinces and is expected to target 330,800 people corresponding to 56,800 households, in the provinces of Kasai Central, Lomami and Maniema.

IFAD's funding is intended, among other things, to rehabilitate rural roads and to improve the quality of life of the population.

The main aim of this project is rural poverty alleviation and the improvement of the incomes of small producers (particularly youth and women), food and nutritional security and resilience to climate change.

Specifically, the project aims to improve socio-economic conditions through: (i) the rehabilitation of main roads and rural

(ii) support for the development of agricultural value chains (production and processing)

(iii) market access and basic social services (drinking water, health, education).

The UNOPS Senior Project Manager and his/her team will lead some of the main infrastructure project activities related to the rehabilitation of rural roads in the targeted areas. Detailed designs must be carried out by Design companies then tenders will be launched to engaged local companies to carry out the various construction works. UNOPS will lead and supervise all these activities in close collaboration with the project stakeholders. Meanwhile social and environment safeguards must be considered throughout the project lifecycle. 

Located in Kinshasa, DRC the UNOPS Hub in Central Africa covers eleven countries, including DRC. The office has developed strong working relations with international partners, UN agencies including UN Missions and Governments across Central Africa over the years. It provides technical support and capacity building in strategic development areas including infrastructure rehabilitation and development across health, education, public works, governance/public administration sectors; procurement, project management and sectoral advisory services; peace and security, environmental preservation and protection among others.

1. Project Delivery and Performance 

• Develop, complete and update implementation plan(s) (If applicable)

• Implement the approved plan (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 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 any external suppliers or account managers

• Manage acceptance and delivery of work packages

• Monitor project progress ensuring that work packages are being executed properly

• Control project and work packages changes

• Accept goods, services or works delivered by suppliers. 

• Lead contract management duties including supplier performance evaluation. (If applicable)

• Identify, and anticipate in a timely manner, potential risks and issues and advises 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

• Advanced University Degree (Master's degree) in Architecture, Engineering, Project Management, or other relevant discipline is required;

• University Degree (bachelor’s degree / first level) with a combination of two (2) additional years of relevant professional experience in Architecture, Engineering, Project Management or other relevant discipline, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

• A minimum of seven (7) years of project management in the area of construction and/or civil/rural engineering management is required

• Experience in stabilization, transition, post –conflict environments is an asset

• Experience with management of operations in remote locations is an asset.

• Experience with government and/or private sector infrastructure development is an asset

• Fluent French and Intermediate working knowledge of English are required.

• 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. 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.