Senior Project Manager (Wastewater Management)

Contract

This is a IICA-3 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 7 years of experience, depending on education. More about IICA-3 contracts.

Background Information - Job-specific

Austria Multi-Country Office (AUMCO)

The Austria Multi-Country Office (AUMCO) is part of the UNOPS Europe and Central Asia Region (ECR). Specifically, AUMCO aims to enable achievement of Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement through global programmes and tailored interventions in the Balkans, South Caucasus, and Central Asia, focused on: - Infrastructure - Procurement - Project Management (full service, back on track) - HR and Transactional Services - Grants Management - Technical and Advisory Services - Project Information

UNOPS Pristina Office UNOPS’ Pristina Office is part of the UNOPS Austria Multi Country Office in Vienna. UNOPS presence in Pristina was established in 1999 to support the Kosovo* Government and other partners achieve their development, peace and security goals and aims to contribute to the achievement of UN-SDG Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement through projects and tailored interventions by providing a broad spectrum of services, including sustainable project management, procurement and HR Services.

The main work location for this role is in Pristina, Kosovo*. This job posting might also be utilized to fill similar positions in Western Balkan countries. * All references to Kosovo are made in the context of UNSCR 1244.

Functional Responsibilities

The Project Manager for the Wastewater Treatment Plants Project will be responsible for managing all aspects of the project providing guidance to ensure the successful planning, design, construction, and operation of a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plants.

The role will involve collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, overseeing the project's technical aspects, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and environmental considerations, will be the key technical authority and will work closely with stakeholders, engineers, and contractors to achieve project objectives efficiently and effectively.

1. Project Delivery and Performance - Develop, complete and update implementation plan - 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. - 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. - Act as the Employer’s Representative within the FIDIC works contracts. - 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

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 - 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

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. - 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

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 - 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 - 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.)

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 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

7. Personnel Management - Lead 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 a 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

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education: - An Advanced University Degree in environmental studies, engineering, or other relevant field or a first-level University Degree (Bachelor's) in combination with 2 additional years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the Advanced University Degree

Experience: - Minimum 7 years experience in managing construction projects in industrial and other wastewater treatment plans is required. - Within the 7 years experience, at least 5 years must be in preparing project plans, writing project progress reports, project communications, engaging stakeholders, and conducting monitoring and evaluation. - Proven extensive continuous experience in sector of industrial wastewater management - Prior experience working with UNOPS, UN, or other humanitarian/development agencies, and previous experience on EU financed projects would be desirable. - Expertise on Energy & Environment Wastewater, Data Analysis and Project Management is desirable.

Language Requirements: - Excellent (written and oral) English language skills are required.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: ICA Contract level: I-ICA-3 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

Please note that this vacancy announcement is posted for outreach and collection of potential candidates purposes for now. The official selection process will commence once the project has been signed and approved. The tentative timeline early 2024.

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 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.