Senior Project Manager

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

1. Project Delivery and Performance 

• Develop and maintain updated implementation plan to deliver the substantive and managerial elements of the project.

• Implement the approved plan (including the establishment of milestones) within tolerances set by the Project Steering Committee and UNOPS quality assurance mechanisms. 

• Embed sustainability dimensions including social and gender inclusion, environmental and economic aspects into project life span. 

• By overseeing the project team, manage the delivery 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, including engagements with civil society and young leaders, as well as the respective capacity development elements, complies with the quality requirements defined in the Implementation Plan.

• Liaise with any external implementing partners, grantees, suppliers or account managers.

• Manage acceptance and delivery of work packages, including in connection with implementing partners.

• Monitor project progress ensuring that work packages are being executed properly.

• Control project and work packages changes.

• Identify, and anticipate in a timely manner, potential risks and issues and advise mitigating measures to senior management/Steering Committee, so that maximum benefit to partner(s) and other stakeholders is achieved.

• Identify and report to the supervisor potential partnerships opportunities.

• Oversee the project team and their efforts to comply with all organizational policy and specifically the UNOPS Project Management Manual.

• Prepare/adapt all relevant plans for approval by the Project Steering Committee.

• Manage the reporting obligations defined in the Legal Agreement(s) and in the Implementation Plan.

• Direct the project team to ensure maintenance of the project files and that lessons learned are recorded.

• Work with the project team to plan and manage budgets, cash flow and financial reporting 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, in line with UN budget and HR rules.

• Manage expenditures against the budget (based on accurate financial reports), ensuring monitoring and management of 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.

• 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 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

• Act as the coordinator and liaison between stakeholders, including CSOs, young leaders, government partners, and the EU, ensuring effective coordination and collaboration, including towards the delivery of substantive activities and management requirements such as reporting.

• Ensure stakeholders are aware of project activities, progress, exceptions and are in a position to accept handover outputs.

• Develop stakeholder profiles and facilitate the formulation of stakeholder engagement strategies.

• Establish solid working relationships with the Project Steering Committee and other key stakeholders.

• Enable the formulation of project communications plans. Coordinate internal project communications. Monitor the effectiveness of project communications.

• Work with the project team and internal stakeholders to ensure projects comply with audit requirements.

• Work with procurement/purchasing personnel through the project team 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.).

• Encourage routine and effective capacity building activities are conducted in order to build the long-term and sustainable capacity of staff.

• Provide support to CSOs in building their internal control and governance structures.

• 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

• Lead and motivate the project management team including experts provided by the implementing partner.

• Ensure that behavioral expectations of team members are established 

• Ensure that performance reviews are conducted fairly, accurately and timely

• Select, recruit and train the  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.

• Advanced University Degree International Relations, Political Science, Public Administration, Development Studies, or a related discipline is required.

• Certification in Project Management (PRINCE2, PMI, etc.) would be an asset

• A minimum of 7 years of project management experience, preferably in the development sector, is required.
• A minimum of 2 years of experience with civil society organizations (either employed by a CSO or working with a public organization that engaged with/supported CSOs) is mandatory.
• Experience working with the UN or other international organizations is desired. 
• A proven track record of managing projects funded by international donors or development agencies, such as the EU, is desired. 
• Experience working with and managing multicultural teams is crucial. 
• Prior working experience in the Central Asia region and/or post-Soviet countries is a strong asset. 
• Willingness and ability to frequently travel within the Central Asian region as needed by the project is expected, including at times on short notice.