Infrastructure and Project Management Specialist - Engagement Assurance

Contract

This is a IICA-2 contract. This kind of contract is known as International Individual Contractor Agreements. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's an external contract. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education. More about IICA-2 contracts.

Background Information - UNOPS

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

Background information - Implementation Practices and Standards (IPS)

Within UNOPS, Implementation Practices and Standards (IPS) is responsible for the UNOPS delivery practices. IPS provides thought leadership, standards and oversight as support to the successful delivery of programmes and projects within UNOPS service lines (infrastructure, procurement, project management, human resources and financial management services).

IPS comprises the Infrastructure and Project Management Group (IPMG) and the Procurement Group which aims to reduce organizational risks, improve project performance, and promote excellence across UNOPS projects through organisational oversight. These units also support the positioning of UNOPS in the UN system and development sector in Infrastructure, Project Management and Procurement.

Background information – Engagement Assurance

The Engagement Assurance unit, as part of IPMG, provides an organizational oversight function and considers the application of standards, guidance and best practice throughout the execution of programmes and associated projects.

This unit delivers oversight functions through three teams, that of the Risk Based Performance Assessment team (RBPA), the Organisational Portfolio Management Office team (OPMO) and the Infrastructure Design Review Team (DR).

IPMG's Risk-based Performance Assessment (RBPA) process aims to assist UNOPS Operational Hubs (OH), Operation Centres (OC), and Project Centres (PC) in understanding how portfolios, programmes and projects are being delivered in line with UNOPS systems and processes. These assessments look to define both the organisational and operational risk exposure of the office and support not only the mitigation of risk but also the development of organisational systems, process and standards.

IPMG’s Organizational Portfolio Management Office (OPMO) also assists in the identification of risks and issues associated with portfolios, programmes and projects. The team has a central function of overseeing system-based engagement / programme and project activity and monitoring adherence to policy, process, systems and tools across the organization with a specific focus on infrastructure and project management.

IPMG’s Design Review team has the role of assuring the quality of all infrastructure designs developed and delivered within UNOPS. The primary aims are to ensure that minimum requirements for life safety and functionality of design is maintained and to achieve a consistent, effective and efficient approach in infrastructure activities for our donors and beneficiaries.

The new Infrastructure and Project Management Specialist will work with the RBPA team.

Background Information - Job-specific

Under the direction of the RBPA Team Lead, the successful incumbent will be responsible to support and in some cases undertake field based and remote risk based assessments..

More specifically, the Infrastructure and PM Specialist will be responsible for:

• Undertake desk review analysis on Portfolios, Programmes and Projects before the RBPA assessments;
• Participate / be responsible to lead the implementation of the field or remote risk based performance assessments, including all the outputs related which such assessments;
• Provide RBPA Action Plan follow up to assessed business units.

Functional Responsibilities

Functional Responsibilities

With the responsibility to facilitate consistent and accurate support to the RBPA team, upholding high standards and providing critical feedback/recommendations, the Infrastructure and PM Specialist will undertake the following specific responsibilities including but are not limited to:

Risk Based Performance Assessments (RBPA) methodology and scoping

• Undertake preparatory analysis to understand the context of Country Offices, projects and programmes, supporting the definition of the scope and the preparation of capacity assessments.
• Carry out analysis of data/information and desk reviews for projects and programmes, contribute to the assessments of capabilities within established framework/Standards and to the classification of the assessed gaps by level of risk and the quantification of resultant exposure.
• Develop, maintain and keep up to date RBPA dashboard database and information/data collected.
• Develop internal SoPs describing internal processes; drive process improvements based on lessons learned.
• Contribute to the analysis on the assimilation and application of organizational of Policies and Standards in UNOPS Country Offices.

Risk Based Performance Assessments (RBPA) of selected Country Offices and Projects

• Undertake the data collection and analysis, and any other preparatory work, including coordination activities, to prepare RBPA missions.
• Participate on and/or lead missions to different UNOPS Country Offices and Project Sites to undertake Risk Based Performance Assessments (RBPA). The Incumbent will be responsible for data/information collection and analysis and provide contributions for mission reports and any other support documentation.
• Carry out post mission’s activities, such as: support on mission follow-up activities, inputs collection/analysis for UNOPS Enterprise Risk Management, provision of inputs to Country Offices/Regions and to Shared Service Center for their Risk Management activity follow up and support.

Technical inputs and Knowledge sharing

• Provide technical inputs for the development and delivery of training, workshops and webinars.
• Provide technical inputs and review internal technical documents as well as any policy and guidance material included in the Standard Management Framework as a part of the RBPA assessment.
• Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for risk management and knowledge building in project management.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education:

• A Master’s degree in Civil Engineering is required.
• A Bachelor degree in Civil Engineering combined with 2 years of additional relevant work experience can be accepted in lieu of the Master’s degree.
• A certification in Project Management is required.

Work Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience (or more depending on academic credentials) working in a Project Management role applied to the Infrastructure projects is required.
• A minimum of 1 year of experience on civil engineering or infrastructure projects in a developing context is required.
• Understanding or knowledge of Risk Management is required.
• Experience working in a multicultural environment is an asset.
• Partnerships/Business Development experience is desired.
• Consulting background dealing with data/information analysis, preparation of dashboards and report drafting is an asset.
• Previous experience on Portfolio/Programme/Project Management maturity is an asset.
• Proficiency in Google Suite is an asset.

Languages:

• Fluency in English and French is required.
• Fluency in Spanish and/or Arabic is an asset

Certifications:

• PRINCE2® Foundation or other recognized Project Management Certification, is required
• PMI Project Management Professional Certification is desired
• PRINCE2® Practitioner Certification is desired
• MSP® Foundation Certification is desired

Competencies

Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization. Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles. Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role). Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries. Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements. Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving. Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Additional Considerations

Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• 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
• 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.
• Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

This recruitment process may be used to fill other vacancies including short-term placements and retainer contracts.

Work environment

IPS offers a unique work environment in UNOPS headquarters, in Copenhagen, Denmark, located in the UN City building, one of Copenhagen’s landmarks. UNOPS HQ offers a safe, family-friendly lifestyle environment with multiple opportunities for networking and active lifestyle, in a city known for its excellent urban design and planning.

The IPS team is a diverse team in terms of age, nationalities and family situations. IPS is keen on strengthening diversity in the team with a current focus on gender equality and geographic diversity. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. IPS is very dynamic and welcomes agility, autonomy and self-drive. The work of IPS is oriented towards exciting opportunities which have a corporate, global impact and is in touch with the whole of UNOPS.

UNOPS has a host country agreement with the Government of Denmark, and as such both national and international candidates are eligible for HQ-based positions. UNOPS officials are exempt from Danish taxes on UN incomes. EU citizens may opt to be registered with the Danish State Administration as EU migrant worker and keep the rights associated with that status or register through UNOPS with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. EU Citizens may apply for the public Danish health insurance or special health card depending on their choice of registration, while the non-EU citizens will be registered by UNOPS under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: ICA Contract level: I-ICA2 Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link: https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx