Senior 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

Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Head of Programme (HoP), the Project Manager (PM) will be responsible for all aspects of the project life-cycle in accordance with the Project Document, the legal agreement between UNOPS and the donor, and in compliance with Organizational Directives and Administrative Instructions on Project Management. 

The PM must be able to undertake independently, the following tasks:

Project Delivery and Performance 

• Ensure the preparation and delivery of all the project’s elements and activities mentioned in the project document/ legal agreement;

• Ensure timely planning and implementation of the project activities, ensuring that goals and objectives are accomplished within the prescribed project time frame and the available funding parameters/budget;

• Develop, complete and update implementation plan(s);

• Implement the approved plan (including the establishment of milestones) within tolerances set by the Project Board;

• Follow up and report on the project objectives and plans including any delineation of scope, budgeting, scheduling, and setting performance requirements;

• Study and/ or prepare the standard operating procedures (SOPs), budgets, terms of reference, contracts and all technical requirements for the project activities;

• Analyse and review all project documents, including documents for the UN and Member States, and ensure compliance with specifications utilizing research, development, relevant codes and standards;

• Ensure agreements with Member States and stakeholders are correctly implemented.

• Embed sustainability dimensions including social, gender , environmental and economic aspects into the 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 and report to the supervisor potential business opportunities for UNOPS

Procedures

• Comply with all organizational policy and specifically the Project Management Manual, and OneUNOPS Projects System requirements .

• 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.

Monitoring and reporting

• In coordination with Partnerships Section , prepare and issue regular project and/or financial reports in accordance with each donor and/ or UNOPS requirements for reporting an d as stipulated in contribution agreements;

• Analyse, monitor, and review key economic indicators on commercial trade in Yemen including, but not limited to, statistics, economic projections and trends;

• Monitor and assess the developments in Yemen related to the UNVIM Mechanism and keep the Operational Hub Director, Head of Programme, Partnerships Advisor, and UN OCHA, informed;

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

• 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.

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;

• In coordination with Amman Hub Director, Head of Programme, and Partnership Advisor (as relevant), maintain regular contact with the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) and convene Steering Committee meetings;

• Ensure donor visibility as stipulated in the approved project document/ legal agreement;

• Prepare for and participate in Project Steering Committee Meetings.

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.)

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.

Personnel Management 

• Lead, supervise, and motivate the project management team;

• Ensure that behavioral 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, harassment, sexual harassment 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.

Impact of Results

Senior 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.

• Master’s Degree in Project Management, Business Administration, International Relations, Law, Political/ Development Studies, or any other relevant discipline;

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

• Seven years of progressive experience in project development and management, with a focus on monitoring, reporting, development and coordination in either public or private sector organizations is required;

• At least 3 years of previous experience in the humanitarian/ post-conflict/ development context in the Middle East and/ or Africa region is required;

• Experience with an international/humanitarian organization and/or UN agencies is required.

• Track record of national and regional working experience with increasing managerial responsibilities.

• Experience in writing reports, developing action plans, performing data analyses, and drafting documents is an asset.

• Knowledge of quality assurance methodologies is an asset.

• Experience in managing teams is an asset.

• Strong communication, presentation, and client service skills is an asset.

• Fluency in English is required. Fluency in Arabic is desired.

• Certified Senior Project Manager - International Project Manager Association (IPMA Level B) or Project Management Professional (PMP - PMI) or PRINCE2 foundation is an asset.

• Successful candidates will be required to complete the UNOPS Project Management Foundation course within the first year of their assignment;