Portfolio Manager

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world.  Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations. With over 6,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, where they need it.  By implementing around 1,000 projects for our partners at any given time, UNOPS makes significant contributions to results on the ground, often in the most challenging environments.

AUMCO 

The Austria Multi-Country Office (AUMCO) was set up in August 2019 as a part of the UNOPS Europe & Central Asia Region (ECR). Specifically, AUMCO aims to enable achievement of Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement through global programmes and tailored interventions in the Balkans, South Caucasus, and Central Asia, focused on:

• Infrastructure

• Procurement 

• Project Management (full service, back on track)

• HR and Transactional Services

• Grants Management 

• Technical and Advisory Services

Project Information

The UNOPS Uzbekistan Project Office currently has two ongoing projects both of which are major contributions to SDG3 (Good Health and Wellbeing). 

The first project, “Support to Development of Oncology Services in Uzbekistan” is funded through a major loan from the Islamic Development Bank. UNOPS will support the Government of Uzbekistan in strengthening the preparedness of its national healthcare system, and preventing and treating oncological cases in an effective and timely manner. By identifying, procuring, delivering and operationalizing urgently needed medical, laboratory, radiological and ICT equipment, the project will significantly contribute to improved access and quality healthcare services for local communities in 14 regional locations including Tashkent and throughout the country.

The second project is the “Uzbekistan COVID-19 Emergency Response Project” with the Republic of Uzbekistan's Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health Service (SES). Funded through two major loans from the Asian Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. In this project UNOPS will support the Government of Uzbekistan to upgrade up to 54 existing laboratory and treatment facilities across the country, procure diagnostic equipment and supplies, and establish an ICT system for monitoring the epidemiological situation to strengthen preparedness and resilience to the COVID-19 pandemic and other epidemics.

The Portfolio Senior Manager is expected to report to and work closely with the Head of Portfolio on day-to-day operations of the relevant projects and provide services to the appropriate donors, partners and beneficiaries. The main responsibility of the Portfolio Manager is to manage the relevant portfolio of projects, including their delivery, issues and risks. This role will serve as a deputy to the Head of Portfolio and will focus on leading and coordinating UNOPS participation and inputs in Uzbekistan and is expected to contribute specifically on the following aspects:

1.Project delivery and performance

• Plan and propose to the Head of Portfolio required project resources (human and financial).

• Assist the Head of Portfolio to develop, update and complete implementation plan(s). 

• 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 the project life span.

• Ensure that quality of work packages and deliverables complies with the quality requirements defined in the Implementation Plans of the projects.

• Manage the acceptance and delivery of work packages.

• Monitor project progress ensuring that work packages are being executed properly and changes are properly managed.

• Identify, and anticipate in a timely manner, potential risks and issues and advise mitigating measures to the Head of Portfolio/ Project Board.

2. Project processes and quality assurance

• Ensure implementation of project financial management guidelines and control mechanisms, in conformity with UNOPS rules and regulations. 

• Ensure that project management governance, policies, processes and methods are complied with and practiced according to the UNOPS standards, best project management practices are promoted, and overall assurance of projects is provided.

• Prepare/adapt all relevant plans for approval by the Project Board.

• Comply with the reporting obligations defined in the Legal Agreement(s) and in the Implementation Plan

• Review draft requirements definitions for procurement processes. 

• Approve and evaluate requisitions and requests for non-purchase order payments.

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

• Ensure maintenance of the project files and lessons learned are recorded

• Manage budgets, cash flow and obligations to ensure that deliverables are met and payments to contractors and personnel are received on time.

• Manage expenditures against the budget (based on accurate financial reports)

• Support project audit activities, including planning, preparation and coordination during the audits and follow up on audit observations/recommendations.

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

• Conduct quality reviews of project documents and deliverables.

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

• 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.

3. Stakeholder engagement

• Support coordination with national authorities, including the Ministry of Health and UN partners.

• Coordinate, engage and manage stakeholder relationships and communication as delegated by the Head of Portfolio.

• Prepare regular project and/or financial reports in accordance with Partner and UNOPS requirements for reporting.

• Establish and maintain solid working relationships with the Project Board (Executive, Senior Users and Senior Suppliers), client and key stakeholders.

• Prepare, coordinate and monitor project communications plans to support stakeholders awareness of project activities, progress and exceptions.

• Liaise with any external suppliers or account managers.

3. Personnel management  

• Supervise and motivate the team leads of the projects’ core teams of subject matter experts.

• Ensure that behavioral expectations of team members are established.

• Ensure that performance reviews are conducted fairly, accurately and timely.

• Help select, recruit and train personnel as required with due consideration for gender parity and diversity objectives.

• Ensure safety and security for all project personnel and comply with UNDSS standards.

• Create, foster and role model a culture of respect and zero tolerance for discrimination, abuse of authority, harassments, sexual harassments and sexual exploitation and abuse. 

• Ensure accountability for actions and perform duties in accordance with protection mechanisms and action plans, as expected by UNOPS policies, standards and commitments.

3. Knowledge management and knowledge sharing

• Encourage routine and effective capacity building activities are conducted in order to build the long-term and sustainable capacity of personnel.

• Actively interact with the project/portfolio management community in UNOPS and beyond to share case studies, lessons learned and best practices.

• Contribute to the oversight of lessons learned procedures, ensuring that lessons learnt are logged and shared in a timely and appropriate manner throughout the project life span.

Education

• An advanced university degree (e.g. Masters) in Project Management, Business Administration, Development Studies, Supply-Chain Management or related disciplines is required. 

• A first-level university degree (e.g. Bachelor) in the above mentioned subjects, in combination with two (2) additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree. 

• A minimum of seven (7) years of experience in management and/or delivery of projects or programmes in an international development sector in either public or private sector organizations is required.

• Expertise in projects or programmes involving health systems strengthening, procurement of biomedical equipment and supplies, and/or construction and rehabilitation of medical facilities, are highly desired.

• Experience with stakeholder and partner management, including interacting with government officials and/or donors is an asset.

• Experience working on project management in a UN organization or a similar international organization, preferably in UNOPS, would be considered a strong asset.

• Experience working in Central Asia is an asset.

Languages

• Proficiency in English is required.

• Working knowledge of Russian and/or Uzbek is an asset.

1. Contract type: International Individual Contractors Agreement 
2. Contract level: I-ICA 3 and
3. Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds, satisfactory performance, and project duration.