Project Manager (Infrastructure)

Project Manager (Infrastructure)

Summary of functions:

1. Project Delivery and Performance

• Develop, complete and update Project Initiation Documents and implementation plan(s)
• Implement the approved plan (including the establishment of milestones and deliverables) within tolerances set by the Project Board
• Embed sustainability and resilience dimensions including social and gender inclusion, environmental and economic aspects into project life span
• Manage, in collaboration with project teams and stakeholders, 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 Plans and the Legal Agreements.
• 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 against performance criteria
• Control project and work packages changes through change management protocols.
• Accept goods, services or works delivered by suppliers (service providers)
• 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 engagement requirements ,specifically the UNOPS Project Management Manual (PMM), and Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Mainstreaming in Projects Strategy
• 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
• Ensure maintenance of the project files and lessons learned are recorded and updated on into the Organization's database system
• Manage budgets, cash flow and obligations to ensure that deliverables are met and payments to contractors, suppliers 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 and engage the stakeholders as required
• 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 Partners and UNOPS requirements.
• Regularly review project status, evaluating performance criteria (scope, cost, schedule, risk, communication, stakeholders, 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 Organization's dashboard system.
• Ensure all project team members track and regularly update milestones and targets for the duration of the different projects' life spans

4. Stakeholder engagement

• Develop stakeholder profiles and facilitate the formulation of stakeholder engagement strategies, and update as necessary
• 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, and highlight visibility opportunities to the EAPMCO level. Monitor and review the effectiveness of project communications, and improve as necessary
• Coordinate stakeholder engagement and communication, ensuring effective timing and interdependency management of external communications. Ensure stakeholders are aware of project activities, progress, challenges, risks and exceptions and are in a position to accept changes or handover outputs.
• Identify and support business development opportunities for further UNOPS projects in SIDS

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 assurance reviews of project documents and deliverables in line with the requirements and guidelines of UNOPS - EAPMCO
• 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 team members as required and take into account gender parity and diversity objectives
• Facilitate a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for project teams
• 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.

Requirements

Education:

• Advanced University Degree in a relevant technical discipline (Architecture, Civil Engineering, Water Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Structural Engineering, etc.).

• A combination of a Bachelor's degree with an additional two (2) years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the education requirements outlined above.

Certification:

• Certification in Project Management (PRINCE2, PMP-PMI, etc.) is desirable
• Professional certification from an accredited institution ( PEng., CEng. , etc) is an asset
• Complete the UNOPS PMM, UNOPS PMM Infra perspective and oneUNOPS Projects training within (3) months from joining UNOPS.

Experience:

• A minimum of five (5) years of experience in implementing and managing infrastructure projects (Roads, Bridges, Health facilities, Buildings, Water services, Renewable energy and distribution, etc.) in combination with an advanced degree is required.
• Experience in contract management is an asset.
• Knowledge of FIDIC contracts is an asset.
• Experience in writing reports, performing data analyses, and writing technical documents is an asset.
• Strong analytical capabilities with the ability to manage tasks associated with the development of projects is desirable.
• Experience in Financial planning, budgeting and resources management.
• Experience in program/project planning and applying HSSE procedures is an asset.
• Experience in developing Procurement strategies is an asset.
• Experience in quality and risk management for infrastructure implementation projects is an asset.
• Experience working in multicultural teams is desirable.
• Experience in managing teams is an asset.
• Experience in establishing partnerships with UN agencies, international development organizations, governments, foundations, international NGOs or private sector organizations is an asset.
• Prior experience working in international organizations, international development, post-disaster and/or emergency contexts would also be an advantage.
• Experience in Asia and the Pacific Region is desirable and a distinct advantage.
• Experience in developing countries or post conflict environments is an asset.
• Knowledge of quality assurance methodologies is an asset.
• Proficient in MS Project and Schedule Analysis is desirable.
• Technical acumen with the ability to understand and speak to technical project plans and documents is an asset.
• Strong problem-solving skills are desirable

Language:

• Fluency in English is required, other UN official languages is an asset