Deputy Project Manager – Infrastructure and Prevention of Juvenile Violence

UNOPS has been selected as the main implementing partner on an ongoing peace project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The bilateral programme "Fund for Peacebuilding - FCP ", which has been supported by the German Government through the KfW Development Bank since 2007, is intended to continue to help promote lasting peace, particularly in Kinshasa with PVJ activities and in the eastern DR with FCP. The project rationale is centered around supporting the peace efforts and initiatives in Eastern DRC through social infrastructures to: 1. Facilitate access to social services and economic opportunities for the beneficiaries, and 2. Use the infrastructure as a way to build and/or reinforce peace and social cohesion within communities and regions, which will ultimately provide further economic and social opportunities for the targeted regions. For the Prevention of Juvenile Violence component in Kinshasa, the focus is on preventing youth violence and strengthening social cohesion through improved youth infrastructure, vocational training, support for entrepreneurship, and access to social services and community activities.

The Deputy Project Manager will support the Senior Project Manager in overseeing day-to-day planning, implementation, coordination, and monitoring of the project, with a strong focus on stakeholder engagement, operational management, and adherence to technical and social safeguards

The Deputy Project Manager is responsible for supporting the overall execution of the project, acting as second-in-command, and ensuring the smooth delivery of project components. This includes supporting infrastructure delivery, team coordination, stakeholder communication, and implementation of project activities related to the prevention of juvenile violence in Kinshasa and peace activities in the eastern part of the DRC.

Under the direct supervision of the UNOPS Senior Project Manager / Senior Programme Manager, the incumbent will perform the following duties:

1 Project Implementation Support:

• Assist the Sr Project Manager in overall planning, scheduling, budgeting, and implementation of project activities across the project target area in DRC.

• Coordinate construction site operations, including supervision of contractors and adherence to safety and quality standards.

• Support the implementation of peace and the integration of juvenile violence prevention objectives into infrastructure works and community engagement strategies.

• Follow up and implement with partners in charge of peace and the implementation of the Junevile violence prevention activities in the target area in Kinshasa.

2. Stakeholder Coordination & Community Consultations

• Serve as the focal point for technical coordination with government entities, local authorities, youth organizations, and other UN agencies in Kinshasa.

• Participate in technical working groups, community forums, and coordination meetings on behalf of the project.

• Assists in developing and applying effective frameworks for measuring social cohesion and the impact of project interventions on community relations, ensuring participatory approaches.

• Analyzes relevant policy documents to align initiatives with national and local policies.

• Conducts stakeholder mapping and power dynamics analysis to inform engagement strategies.

• Facilitates community consultations to gather input and validate evaluation results.

• Assist in establishing mechanisms for inclusive dialogue and participation of diverse community groups.

3. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

• Assist in preparing work plans, procurement plans, and progress reports.

• Monitor and track implementation schedules, risk mitigation plans, and field-level activities.

• Collect and review monitoring data to assess project performance, particularly with juvenile violence prevention outcomes.

• Follow up with third-party independent monitoring to conduct periodical field missions to monitor the delivery of infrastructure and peace activities.

•  Monitor project compliance with UNOPS and donor policies and guidelines on environment, social inclusion, gender, and child protection.
• Ensure that risk mitigation measures are implemented across all workstreams and that grievances are addressed appropriately

• Supervise national and international  technical teams, including engineers, site supervisors,  social mobilizers, and international NGOs in charge of implementing the peace components of the project
• Support recruitment, induction, and performance management of project staff.
• Promote a collaborative working environment that supports knowledge sharing and capacity development.

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Civil Engineering, Project Management, Architecture, Development Studies, in sustainable economic development, economics, human rights, international relations, or a related field.

• A Bachelor’s degree with an additional two years of relevant experience may be accepted instead of the advanced degree.

• At least 5 years of relevant experience in infrastructure project management or implementation, preferably in post-conflict or urban development contexts.

• Demonstrated experience working with youth-oriented or violence prevention programming is highly desirable.

• Experience working in Sub-Saharan Africa, preferably the DRC, is an advantage.

• Full working knowledge of English and French is required.  

• Knowledge of Lingala or other local languages is an asset

• PRINCE2, PMP, or equivalent certification is desirable.

1. Contract type; Individual Contractor Agreement
2. Contract level/ IICA2-ICS10
3. Contract duration:Ongoing ICA – ‘Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.’

• 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. 

• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience requirements outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to considering all candidates in a fair and transparent manner, and we value diverse perspectives and experiences, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals with diverse 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. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. 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.

Located in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) the UNOPS Congo Democratic Multi-Country Office (UNOPS CDMCO) covers 15 countries: Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Comores, Congo Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Madagascar, Mauritius, Rwanda, Sao Tome & Principe, and Seychelles. CDMCO has close to a $400million portfolio, comprising over 42 projects close to 250 personnel. Growth and geographical expansion are key priorities for CDMCO, with special attention to the African SIDS: Cape Verde, Comoros, Mauritius, Sao Tome & Principe, Seychelles as well as on growth and consolidation of those lagging in portfolio development such as Angola, Cameroon, Burundi, and Rwanda.