Project Manager

Summary of functions:

1. Project Delivery and Performance

2. Procedures 

3. Monitoring and reporting

4. Stakeholder engagement

5. Quality assurance

6. Knowledge management and innovation 

7. Personnel management

1. Project Delivery and Performance 

• Develop, complete, and update implementation plan(s), including sub-plans, for procurement, stakeholder management and communication, Gender, etc..l

• 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. 

• 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, mobilise and report to the supervisor potential business opportunities for UNOPS.

1. Procedures 

• Comply with all organizational policy and specifically the Project Management Manual.

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

• Manage the reporting obligations defined in the Legal Agreement(s) and in the Implementation Plan.

• Draft the requirements definitions for procurement processes. Approving requisitions and requests for non-purchase order payments; Evaluating submissions received, if appointed to the evaluation team.

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

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

• For project closure purposes, provide a formal handover of the project to the closure manager.

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

1. Monitoring and reporting

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

• Regularly review project status, evaluating performance criteria (scope, cost, schedule and quality).

• Organise regular meetings with JICA and beneficiaries to provide an update on the project progress.

• 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.

1. Stakeholder engagement

• Develop stakeholder profiles and facilitate the formulation of stakeholder engagement strategies.

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

• Enable the formulation of project communications plans. Coordinate internal project communications. Monitor the effectiveness of project communications.

• Coordinate stakeholder engagement and communication, ensuring effective timing and interdependency management of communications. Ensure stakeholders are aware of project activities, progress, exceptions and are in a position to accept handover outputs.

1. Quality assurance

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

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

• Coordinate quality reviews of project documents and deliverables.

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

1. Knowledge management and innovation

• 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.

1. Personnel Management  if applicable  

• Lead and motivate the project management team.

• Ensure that behavioural expectations of team members are established. 

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

• Select, recruit and train team as required and take into account 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, harasment, sexual harasment 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.

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:

• Master degree preferably in supply chain management,  Business Administration, or other relevant discipline.

• Bachelor Degree with 2 additional years of relevant experience in supply chain may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.  

Certification:

Relevant certificates in supply chain management would be an added value.

Experience:

-A minimum of five (5) years’ professional experience in project management, logistics, supply management, cargo, etc..  

-Experience in implementing or coordinating humanitarian logistics operations and delivery of procured materials is highly desired.

Proven experience of managing large teams in complex environments and experience on UNOPS or JICA procurement projects would be an added value.

-Experience participating in inter-agency coordination mechanisms at the local or national level is desirable. 

-Evidence of coordination and implementation of procurement projects is a strong advantage. 

-Experience working in areas of international development, preferably with the United Nations and/ or International NGOs and donors is a strong asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluent in English as a working language