Project Manager at United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)

United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) plays a critical role in providing management services for life saving, peace building, humanitarian and development operators UNOPS helps its partners in the United Nations System meet the world’s needs for building, peace, recovering from disaster and creating sustainable development. UNOPS is known for its ability to implement complex projects in all types of environments around the globe. Supported by the African Regional Office based in Johannesburg, South Africa

UNOPS 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.

Within these three core areas of expertise, UNOPS provides its partners with advisory, implementation and transactional services, with projects ranging from building schools and hospitals, to procuring goods and services and training local personnel. UNOPS works closely with governments and communities to ensure increased economic, social and environmental sustainability for the projects we support, with a focus on developing national capacity.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices in development, humanitarian and peacebuilding contexts, always satisfying or surpassing partner expectations.

We employ more than 6,000 personnel and on behalf of our partners create thousands more work opportunities in local communities. Through our headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark and a network of offices, we oversee activities in more than 80 countries.

In Nigeria the state of Technical and Vocational Education (TVET) is in need of focussed support. TVET education is characterized e.g. by inoptimal training of TVET instructors, lack of qualified teaching personnel and obsolete infrastructure. The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), with a mandate to contribute to the realization of the local content requirement, has decided to work with UNOPS to embark on human capacity development programmes with a view to improving and strengthening the quality of teaching service provisions of TVET instructors and teachers. To achieve this objective UNOPS, together with PTDF and other partners, would require the services of a suitably qualified individual for the position of Project Manager.

Position Title: Project Manager

Vacancy code: VA/2014/B5302/4565
Level: ICS-11
Department/office: AFO, CIOH, Cote d'Ivoire
Location: Abuja, Nigeria

Functional Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of the Head of Office the Project Manager will provide technical expertise, strategic guidance and capacity building to select TVET teachers /instructors nationwide in addition to:

Stakeholder Management:

• Establish solid working relationship with the project board (Executive, Senior Users and Senior Suppliers), client and key stakeholders
• Manage communications and ensure stakeholders are aware of project activities, progress, exceptions and are in a position to accept handover products
• Advise the client on issues that may impact the achievement of their outcomes (including issues of sustainability and post project requirements such as maintenance)
• Manage the information flows between the Project Board and the project

Delivery and Performance:

• Implement approved project plans (including the establishment of milestones) within tolerances set by the project board
• Manage the production of the required products, taking responsibility for overall progress and use of resources and initiating corrective action where necessary
• Liaise with any external suppliers or account managers
• Authorize Work Packages
• Advise the Project Board and OC Manager of any deviations from the plan
• Identify and manage risks so that maximum benefit to client and stakeholders is achieved
• Manage and review product quality and ensure products are accepted
• Monitor and evaluate performance of service providers
• Identify and report potential business opportunities for UNOPS to supervisor
• Identify and report threats to UNOPS internal business case to supervisor

Procedures:

• Follow the Project Management Cycle Instructions and ensure that all organizational policy is complied with (Organizational Directives and Administrative Instructions)
• Prepare/adapt the following plans for approval by the Project Board: I. Project Initiation Documentation; II. Stage/Exception Plans and relevant Product Descriptions
• Prepare the following reports:

Highlight Reports
End Stage Reports
Operational Closure Checklist
End Project Report
Handover Report

Maintain the relevant files required as per OD12.

• Ensure that all expenditure comply with UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations (FRR).
• 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 and remain accountable for 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.

Knowledge Management:

• Participate in the relevant Communities of Practice
• Actively interact with other PMs and the PM community to share case studies, lessons learned and best practice on the Knowledge System.
• Provide feedback to Practice Leads on policy, supporting guidance with an aim towards continuous improvement of UNOPS policies
• Complete lessons learned as per reporting format
• Incorporate lessons learned from others as per planning format

Personnel Management:

• Lead and motivate the project management team
• Ensure that behavioural expectations of team members are established
• Ensure that performance reviews are conducted
• Identify outstanding staff and bring them to the attention of the OC Director
• Have a thorough understanding of UNOPS personnel contract modalities (including ICA and Staff)
• Select, recruit and train team as required by project plans
• Perform the Team Manager role, unless appointed to another person(s)
• Perform Project Support role, unless appointed to another person or corporate/programme function
• Ensure safety and security for all personnel and comply with UNDSS standards

Education/Experience/Language requirements

A. Education

• Advanced University Degree in Project Management, Business Administration, International Relations, Political/Security/Development Studies, or other relevant discipline.
• Fluency in English
• PRINCE2 Practitioner Certification – Preferred
• Complete the UNOPS Project Management Foundation course (within one year after signing this TOR)
• A relevant combination of academic credentials and/or industry certifications and qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the university education.

B. Work Experience

• Seven years of progressive experience in project development and management, with focus on monitoring, reporting, development and coordination in either public or private sector organizations.
• Previous employment in Vocational Training institution
• Proven conceptual, analytical, and evaluative skills.
• Demonstrated proficiency in data processing techniques and tested excellent command of Microsoft word, Excel, Power point
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with other staff, strategic partners, local, national, international and civil society stakeholders
• Monitoring and evaluation skills experience

Competencies

• Understand and Respect National ownership and capacity
• Understand the principles of the Paris Declaration on aid effectiveness and mainstream them into the project plans
• Seek opportunities to recruit qualified local staff
• Look for ways to build capacity of local counterparts
• Harmonization within the UN and beyond
• Understand the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and UNOPS, the project’s place in the UN system
• Know the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and seek to contribute within the deliverables of the project
• Sound knowledge of Vocational Training Education
• Ability to build skills and facilitate knowledge building and sharing
• Ability to perform a variety of specialized activities related to the duties and responsibilities of the PM
• Sound knowledge of financial rules and regulations
• Focuses on result for the client
• Demonstrates openness to change
• Responds positively to feedback and differing points of view

Additional Considerations

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time (CET)
• 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.
• For staff positions UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

Application Closing Date
7th February, 2014

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online