Senior Project Manager

The Senior Project Manager directly impacts the achievement of project results by adhering to project management methods and strategies, reducing risks, cutting costs, and improving success rates. Consequently, this reinforces UNOPS visibility and image as an effective service provider in project management and services and strengthens its competitive position as a partner of choice in sustainable development and project services.
Under the direct supervision of the Head of Programme, the Senior Project Manager will be responsible for all aspects of the project life-cycle and must be able to undertake independently the following tasks:

1. Project Delivery and Performance 

• Develop, complete and update 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 project life span. 

2. 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.

3. Monitoring and reporting

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

• 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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 practice.

7. Personnel Management 

• Lead and motivate the project management. 

• Ensure that behavioural expectations of team members are established.

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

To access the full list of roles and responsibilities, please download the terms of references attached to the announcement.

• Advanced University Degree (equivalent to a Master's Degree)  in a relevant technical discipline related to the nature of the project is required. Preferably in any of the following disciplines: Arquitecture, Civil Engineering,  Project Management, and/or other relevant field.
• A Bachelor's degree will be accepted preferably in one of the aforementioned areas with a combination of a minimum of nine (9) years of relevant experience.
• PRINCE2 Practitioner, PRINCE2 Foundation or PMP is mandatory.
• Professional certification from an accredited institution (PEng., CEng. , etc) is an asset.

d. Job Requirements

• The position requires the ability to prepare reports using IT tools such as Google Sheets and Google Docs.
• It is required to prepare progress reports of assigned projects using Google Slides and to make presentations both in person and virtually by videoconference.
• The position requires telephone and face-to-face contact with various people related to the projects.
• It is required to plan, develop and deliver training to project collaborators in person and/or by videoconference.
• It is required to make field trips to prison infrastructure works, including travel to the works and construction site.