Project Manager

This opening expired 2 years ago. Do not try to apply for this job.

UNOPS - United Nations Office for Project Services

Open positions at UNOPS
Logo of UNOPS

Application deadline 2 years ago: Friday 10 Dec 2021 at 23:59 UTC

Open application form

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

The IIC was launched in 2015 following an inter-agency assessment into the information and communication needs of displaced populations in Iraq. Responding to one of the most complex humanitarian crises in the world, the Humanitarian Country Team agreed to the establishment of an inter-agency two-way communication and accountability mechanism that allows affected populations to shape their own relief and recovery.

Since its launch, the IIC has handled more than 60,000 calls, giving information to more than 360,000 individuals. Call content ranges from requests for information on humanitarian services, including how to register for food vouchers, to requests for help in dealing with gender-based violence. Feedback ranges from comments on how aid is distributed to suggestions on how to improve humanitarian programmes. The IICIraq IIC conducts monitoring calls to evaluate UN assistance programming. Through established referral pathways, the centre channels caller feedback, complaints, and data to the humanitarian community to improve the way information is shared and to shape how humanitarian assistance is organised and delivered.

The Project Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the project(s) and provides services to the different stakeholders, including donors, partners, and beneficiaries. He/she is expected to meet and exceed the organization’s performance and delivery goals. The Project Manager will perform their duties with transparency and integrity, and in adherence to the humanitarian standards as provided by the Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance (ALNAP), the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), and the Sphere Handbook.

Functional Responsibilities

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

    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 ,advise and report if any deviations occur from the project plan..
  • Embed sustainability dimensions including social and gender inclusion, environmental and economic aspects into 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 while monitoring and evaluating the services rendered.
  • Lead contract management duties including supplier performance evaluation.
  • Act as the Employer’s Representative within the FIDIC works contracts.
  • Identify, anticipate and escalate 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 Partnerships Team and Head of Programme, in line with the Office Communications Protocol

    Procedures

  • Comply with all organizational policy and specifically the Project Management Manual, UNOPS HSSE policies, and PSEA and Gender mainstreaming throughout the project activities

  • 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. (if applicable)
  • 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. (if applicable)
  • 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

  • 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.
  • 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 the IIC network and 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 - In coordination with Partnerships and Programme Team Coordinate stakeholder engagement and communication with key government, and humanitarian partners, including but not limited to: clusters, the Inter-cluster Coordination Group (ICCG), the Humanitarian Country Team, and bi-lateral partners, 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 and to establish and maintain accurate and timely two-way information flow, and document impact of information sharing and improved collective accountability by supporting all partners with other accountability coordination mechanisms.

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 in OneUNOPS Projects. - Provide feedback to Practice Groups on policy, supporting guidance with an aim towards continuous improvement of UNOPS policies

Personnel Management - Lead , manage and motivate the project management team - Ensure that behavioural expectations of team members are established - Ensure that performance reviews are conducted fairly, accurately and timely, identify outstanding staff and bring them to attention of UNOPS - Select, recruit and train the team as required, have thorough understanding of UNOPS contracts 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.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education - Advanced University Degree in Project Management, Business Administration, International Relations, Political Science, Development Studies, or other relevant discipline is required - University Degree (bachelor’s degree / first level) in the above mentioned areas or other relevant discipline, with additional 2 years of relevant professional experience will be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. - PRINCE2 Practitioner Certification and/ or an equivalent project management certification is preferred;

Experience - Five (5) years of progressive experience (or more depending on academic credentials) in Project Management with focus on team management, Previous experience in the UN system and/or the UN coordination mechanisms (clusters, UNHCT, etc.) is desired; - Previous experience in a humanitarian/development or conflict/post-conflict setting is required - Previous experience in Iraq and/or in the Middle East region is a strong asset; - Previous experience in Accountability towards Affected Populations (AAP) programming is preferred; - Experience of working with contact/ information centres, databases, and archive systems in humanitarian crisis is preferred; - Knowledge of protection principles and data protection standards is preferred; - Experience in handling projects that use call handling technologies, including Cisco and Motorola, data analysis and visualisation solutions such as PowerBI and Tableau, and professional-grade design software (e.g. Adobe Creative Suites) is preferred.

Language - Fluency in English - Working knowledge of Arabic is highly desirable

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.(for levels IICA-2, IICA-3, LICA Specialist- 10, LICA Specialist-11, NOC, NOD, P3, P4 and above) 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.
  • Erbil, Iraq is not a UN Family Duty Station
  • 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
  • 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 (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
  • 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.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: International Individual Contractual Agreement (ICA) Contract level: I-ICA 2 Contract duration: Ongoing ICA – ‘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

Added 2 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: jobs.unops.org