UNOPS Senior Project Manager Job

UNOPS -Somalia Country Office (SOCO) is recruiting this position through an Emergency Recruitment process (EPP) for Parental Leave Cover (Maternity Cover).

This is an exciting and rewarding opportunity to help shape UNOPS’ efforts to support the expansion of affordable, accountable, and effective policing in Somalia.

Background Information – Somalia Country Office

Somalia is amid major new political and security developments that will offer a greater possibility for peace and security than the country has seen in over 20 years. The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), established in 2012, and international community have driven a process of rebuilding of functioning government institutions and processes through Somalia’s peacebuilding and state-building priorities under the Somali Compact (2013-2016), based on the Busan “New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States” agreement. The Somalia National Development Plan (2020-2024), builds on this foundation laid by the Compact and sets the priorities for national recovery and development in full collaboration with national and regional governments. A landmark electoral process in late 2016 and early 2017 resulted in a peaceful transfer of power to a new President and government, in place since February and March 2017 respectively. The government has set out an ambitious agenda for its term (the period to 2021). At the London Somalia Conference in May 2017, a Security Pact was agreed by Somalia and the international community, which will allow for sustainable, long-term security based on mutual accountability.

Background Information – Job-specific

The EU is currently funding the Resilience Programme for Somalia which is based on the objective “to revitalise and expand the Somali economy with a focus on livelihood enhancement, employment generation, and broad-based inclusive growth”, financed from the European Development Fund (EDF). Under this project, UNOPS has been requested by the EU to provide support by filling in the identified gaps with flexible tools and mechanisms to implement the National Development Plan structure by establishing a Partnership Coordination Facility for Somalia. Coordinated efforts are essential in order to transform Somalia into a more resilient, and improved, economic sector with greater security, gender equity, improved human development, stronger infrastructure, and better access to basic services that are delivered by accountable governmental institutions. This transformation is hindered by slow institutions that are unable to respond quickly to emerging needs. The project will allow these needs to be identified by the Pillar Working groups, and to be satisfied in a timely, strategic manner. More specifically UNOPS will provide support to the coordination of resilience interventions, disaster management, and contribution to the implementation of the upcoming recovery and resilience framework in support of Result Number 3 of the resilience programme focusing on enhancing the capacity for the implementation and monitoring of a National Resilience Strategy. In addition, UNOPS will be further engaged by the EU to play a critical role in the support of the governance sector where we will be facilitating institutional capacity building, logistical support, and additional activities on the basis of EU demand.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Programme (HoP), the Senior Project Manager (EU Partnership Programme) is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the project(s) and provides services to the different donors, partners, and beneficiaries. She/he is expected to meet and exceed the organizations performance and delivery goals. S/he is responsible to produce/read the project initiation documents (PID), 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(s) products are capable of meeting the business cases for both UNOPS and the client. The Senior Project Manager is responsible for all aspects of the project life cycle. She/he must be able to apply, independently, the below duties and responsibilities of the project success criteria:

Stakeholder Management:

• Establish solid working relationships 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(s)

Delivery and Performance:

• Develop and maintain project plans


• Implement approved project 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 the 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


• Authorize Work Packages


• Advise the Project Board and OC 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

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


• Monthly 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 expenditures 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 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.

Knowledge Management:

• Participate in the relevant Communities of Practice


• Actively interact with other PMs and the PM community to share case studies, lessons learned, and best practices 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

Personnel Management:

• Lead and motivate the project team


• Ensure that behavioural expectations of team members are established


• Ensure that performance reviews are conducted


• Identify outstanding staff and bring them to the attention of the Head of Programme


• Have a thorough understanding of UNOPS personnel contract modalities (including ICA and Staff)


• Select, recruit and train team as required by project plans


• Perform the Team Manager role, unless appointed to another person(s)


• 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

Core Values and Principles:

• Understand and respect UNOPS sustainability principles


• Look for ways to embed UNOPS sustainability principles in day to day project management


• Seek opportunities to champion gender equality at workplace


• Champion and communicate project’s sustainability aspects with key stakeholders


• Understand and Respect National ownership and capacity


• Understand the principles of the Paris Declaration on aid effectiveness and mainstream them into the project plans


• Seek opportunities to recruit qualified local staff


• Look for ways to build capacity of local counterparts


• Partnerships and Coordination Understand the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and UNOPS, the project’s place in the UN system


• Strive to build strong partnerships and effective coordination among relevant project actors (e.g. United Nations, governments, and non-governmental organizations or other relevant partners**Accountability for results and the use of resources**


• The project management processes are designed to deliver maximum accountability, transparency, and results. If a project or processes is not in line with this, it is the responsibility of the PM to raise the issue to a Supervisor.

Excellence

• Contribute to innovation and the adaptation of best practice standards of sustainability and quality.

General:

Ensure that the project(s) produces the required products within the specified tolerance of time, cost, quality, scope, risk, and benefits. The Senior Project Manager is also responsible for the project producing a result capable of achieving the benefits defined in the Business Case. Contribute to the overall business targets and needs.

Qualifications and Experience

A: Education

• Master’s Degree in Project Management, Business Administration, International Relations, Political/Security/Development Studies, or other relevant discipline is required.


• Bachelor’s Degree in Project Management, Business Administration, International Relations, Political/Security/Development Studies, or other relevant disciplines with a combination of two (2) additional years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree


• A relevant combination of academic credentials and/or industry certifications and qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the university education.

Certifications

• PRINCE2® Foundation is an asset


• PRINCE2® Practitioner an asset, but required completion within first 6 months of onboarding


• Certified Senior Project Manager – International Project Manager Association (IPMA Level B) or Project Management Professional (PMP – PMI) an asset.

B: Work Experience

• A minimum of seven (7) years of experience in either Projects Management or Programme Management planning and operations in a large international and/or corporate organization is required.


• Experience working in a conflict or post-conflict environment is an asset


• Experience in capacity building is an added advantage


• Experience working in a National/Government ministry is highly desirable.


• Experience in delivery of multilateral projects is an asset


• Some experience in UN system organizations preferably in a developing country is desirable


• Previous work experience in a hardship duty station preferably in the Somalia context is highly desirable.


• Experience in managing multi-donor relations and stakeholder engagement is an asset


• Experience in the disaster, risk, and resilience sector is an asset


• Experience in the governance sector is desirable.

C: Language Requirements.

• Fluency in English Language (i.e. writing, reading, and speaking) is required.

D: Additional Considerations:

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time


• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.


• This is an EPP ICA Recruitment


• Only those candidates that are short-listed for Desk Review Process will be notified.


• Qualified female (Women) candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.


• 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.


• Parental Leave Cover (Maternity Cover) of 4months with the possibility of extension.


• Nairobi is a Family Duty Station.


• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.


• UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.

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.