Project Management (and Infrastructure) Specialist - Surge Capacity Team (maternity cover - 4 to 6 months)

Mid Senior Programme & Policy

Overview

Provide technical guidance and PM support to UNOPS field offices globally

You have:

• Advanced University degree (Master's or equivalent) in Civil Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, or relevant discipline is required.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in functions related to Project and Programme Management and Operations support is required.
• Minimum 2 years managing projects in the international development context is required.
• Certification in PRINCE2® Practitioner and/or other PM certification is required.
• Perfect command of both written and spoken English is a strict requirement.
• Knowledge of another UN language such as French or Spanish would be a strong asset.
• Availability to travel to different locations around the world, including hardship locations, is required.

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 - Job-specific

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale.

**This is a 4 to 6 months opportunity (maternity cover); candidates with prior or current UNOPS experience are strongly encouraged to apply as this is a strong asset.

Background Information - IPAS

Based in Copenhagen, Denmark, the UNOPS Integrated Practice Advice and Support (IPAS) serves all the regions and headquarters, primarily with advice and solutions to everyday implementation challenges. IPAS consists of a diverse team of subject matter experts in the six practice areas of HR, Administration, Legal, Finance, Procurement, Project Management and Infrastructure. IPAS has three main roles:

Support to operations in the field offices: IPAS provides timely advice and supports actively finding of solutions to everyday implementation challenges, based on policy and best practices. It also provides operational support in specific areas.

Business efficiency: IPAS recommends changes to policies, processes and operating standards based on the feedback and experience of the field offices. IPAS also ensures transparent and efficient project implementation, in line with policy and business needs.

Body of knowledge: IPAS contributes to research and coordination within the policy groups and project practitioners. It provides structured knowledge and subject matter expertise which is used across practice areas to provide coherent and tailored advice to the requesting offices.

Background Information - Job-specific

As a Infrastructure and Project Management Practice Specialist - Surge Capacity Team, you will be providing technical guidance and PM support to UNOPS field offices globally. You will be assigned to surge missions with the objective to support projects and offices that require rapid Project Management and/or Infrastructure support.

Frequent travel to field offices, including to hardship locations is expected. Remote support may also happen, depending on the nature of the assignment and clients’ preferences, as well as potential limitations to travel due to external factors and/or global context.

As the face of IPAS in the field, you will be required to be a role model by leveraging a business partnering approach in every assignment. You will be responsible for providing strategic and technical advisory services to ongoing projects, including infrastructure projects, operational support and capacity building in field offices, always with the aim of increasing quality, professionalism and creating efficiencies. Your work will focus on identifying challenges and providing innovative solutions to ensure high quality and expert services across the organisation. This also involves the analysis of ongoing projects to support the successful delivery in time, cost and quality of UNOPS projects, with full compliance with the UNOPS policies and guidelines in infrastructure and project management.

When not supporting a field office, the Infrastructure and Project Management Specialist will work with the IPAS Project Management and Infrastructure (PMI) team based in Copenhagen.

You will report to the IPAS Manager, and have a secondary reporting line to the IPAS PMI Specialist when not deployed to a field assignment. When deployed to a field assignment, your primary reporting line will be to the Manager of the position you will occupy during that time.

Functional Responsibilities

The functions/responsibilities/key results of this job description are generic and may not always be applicable, nor be comprehensive, for all missions. The specific tasks and deliverables for each assignment may vary and will be detailed in the terms of reference developed for each assignment by the requesting office/unit.

Summary of Key Functions: 1. Primary: PM and Infrastructure hands-on support and implementation to projects and field offices -with travel and sometimes remotely. 2. Secondary: Support to IPAS PMI - PM & infrastructure advice and support to field offices

Primary responsibilities: While on assignment in a country office, the PMI Specialist will report to the Head of Programme (HoP) or another senior position in the country office. The incumbent is expected to provide temporary project management support to ongoing or start-up projects, following UNOPS policies and guidelines. In their role, they will advise the country office on project management capacity, quality and progress related issues, and highlight operational and compliance challenges to projects and field offices whilst tailoring appropriate mitigation approaches. The findings will be addressed in a mission report.

He/she will be assigned specific tasks within the areas of responsibilities of a UNOPS Project Manager, these are:

1 Project Delivery and Performance 2 Procedures 3 Monitoring and reporting 4 Stakeholder engagement 5 Quality assurance 6 Personnel management

These areas include the following tasks:

1. Project Delivery and Performance - Develop, complete and update implementation plan(s) (If applicable) - Work with other project personnel and the HoP to identify, and anticipate in a timely manner, potential risks and issues whilst advising appropriate mitigating measures; - Support with the overview of project progress, delivery of the required outputs and allocate 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. - Support the HoP to identify project milestones, manage acceptance and delivery as well as changes of work packages - Ensure that proper Health & Safety standards are being implemented at all project sites and work with the contractor on relevant risk mitigation measures (if applicable) - Monitor project progress ensuring that work packages are being executed properly - Provide technical support to the management of contractor(s) including the certification of progress payments, programme accomplishment and other as required by the Employer’s Representative within UNOPS works contracts (If applicable)

2. Procedures - Comply with all organizational policy and specifically the Project Management Manual - Prepare/adapt all relevant plans as required and for approval by the Project Board. - Ensure maintenance of the project files and lessons learned are recorded - Support the HoP and other project personnel with the overall management of project budget, cash flow and obligations to ensure that deliverables are met;

3. Monitoring and reporting - Prepare relevant project progress reports in accordance with agreed requirements for reporting. - Regularly review project status, evaluating performance criteria (scope, cost, schedule and quality). - Monitor and review progress reports, issues and lessons learned as required by the organization’s standard procedures. - Ensure all project team members track and regularly update milestones and targets for the duration of projects' life span

4. Stakeholder engagement - Establish solid working relationships with the project and field office personnel including Project Board and key stakeholders if relevant; - Support with the formulation of project communications plans; - 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

5. Quality assurance - Work with internal stakeholders to ensure projects comply with audit requirements - Support quality reviews of project documents and deliverables as well as internal Quarterly Assurance processes - Provide support to quality control for management outputs (project documents, reports, etc.)

6. Personnel Management ( if applicable) - Provide overall supervision to the project management team; - Select, recruit and train personnel 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, harrasement, sexual harrasement 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

Secondary responsibilities:When not on assignment, ensures efficient support to IPAS PMI, focusing on advising the field on:

• Act as a surge capacity for IPAS PMI in the delivery of dedicated support to field colleagues as well as in tailoring specific solutions to complex / high risk challenges.
• Support capacity building efforts working with other IPAS PMI colleagues in the development and delivery of tailored learning sessions;
• Contribute to proactive risk management by identifying and capturing critical risks and support field offices and projects in mitigating such risks and support to field offices and projects
• Provide consistent support on the application, interpretation and adoption of corporate policies, methodologies, guidance and processes related to UNOPS infrastructure; and how to embed best practices in infrastructure project and programme management, with an emphasis on risk management;
• Actively support IPAS PMI in the development of and sharing of knowledge by leveraging from the field exposure, capturing case studies and lessons learned and contribute to the identification of appropriate improvements by making recommendations on policy, guidance and tools;
• Actively interact with other Project Managers and the wider PM community to share case studies, lessons learned and best practices;
• Undertake other related tasks as deemed necessary by the IPAS PMI Team Leader.

Competencies

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.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education:

An Advanced University degree (Master's or equivalent such as MEng, MSc) or professional certification preferably in Civil Engineering (CEng, PE, P. Eng.), Architecture, Construction Management or relevant discipline is required; or

For non infrastructure projects: A Master’s Degree preferably in Project Management, Business Administration or related field (e.g. International Relations)

A Bachelor degree combined with 2 years of relevant work experience can be accepted in lieu of the Master’s degree;

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of experience in functions related to Project and Programme Management and Operations support;
• Proven technical leadership and expertise in project and programme management is required;
• Within these 5 years , a minimum 2 years managing projects in the international development context is required;
• Certification in PRINCE2® Practitioner and/or other PM certification is required;
• Prior experience in a UN Agency will be a strong asset;
• Current or prior experience as a UNOPS PM is strongly preferred given the nature of the surge capacity role;
• Prior experience working in a developing country, conflict and/or post-conflict project management environment would be a strong asset.

Languages: Perfect command of both written and spoken English is a strict requirement. Knowledge of another UN language such as French or Spanish would be a strong asset.

Others: The person in this position will be required to frequently travel to different locations around the world, including hardship locations. Missions abroad may last for several weeks/up to a maximum of 3 months. Availability to travel is therefore a prerequisite for this position, even though some of the missions may be conducted remotely.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: ICA Contract level: IICA-2 Contract duration: 4 to 6 months (maternity cover).

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

Additional Information

• 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.
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority 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. 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.

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Potential interview questions

Added 3 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: jobs.unops.org