Project Manager (Office Based) [Open to all applicants]

Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Office/Unit/Project Description

Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) face significant challenges to transitioning towards a net-zero, nature-positive (NZNP) economy. The country’s economy is heavily reliant on oil and gas production as it is the biggest oil and gas producer and petrochemical exporter in the Caribbean. It is also a major exporter of ammonia, urea, methanol, and fertilisers. The energy sector plays a key role in achieving emission reductions, as it accounts for 42% of national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, mainly stemming from power generation, transportation, and industrial processes. For instance, electricity is primarily generated by burning natural gas. Additionally, T&T is highly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, especially in cities.

For tackling the NZNP transition, the Government of T&T has already taken action, e.g. with the establishment of a Climate Change Focal Point Network (CCFPN) in 2012, comprising over two hundred representatives from government ministries, agencies, academia, private sector and civil society that is facilitating information sharing with and raise awareness of stakeholder activities focusing on climate change action. Nevertheless, T&T faces three key barriers that prevent the accelerated switch towards sustainable economic activities and livelihoods. These are:

• Limited long-term strategy and coherent policy framework for a national transformation towards a NZNP economy.
• Missing NZNP-aligned enabling framework limits investments in nature-positive low-emission energy technologies and solutions.
• Limited local experience with nature-positive low-emission technologies and solutions (especially in terms of renewable energies and green mobility projects).

The project’s overall objective is to significantly accelerate the reduction of Trinidad & Tobago’s dependency on oil and gas production while contributing to a national transition towards a net-zero, nature-positive economy. This objective will be achieved through a three-fold approach.

• (i) Project activities aim to reform the national policy environment to maximize synergies between climate, biodiversity and human well-being. Hence, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago commits and takes nature-positive action to decarbonise its economy towards a net-zero target.
• (ii) Also, project activities address barriers to finance such that T&T’s public and private sector will deploy financing mechanisms to mobilize investments for the decarbonization of the economy with a particular focus on the energy sector. This involves the implementation of sectoral and thematic reforms and plans for the energy sector in line with a developed NZNP strategy.
• (iii) It is further envisaged that interventions will showcase the feasibility of low-carbon, nature-positive technologies by implementing NZNP-aligned demonstration projects on Trinidad as well as on the island of Tobago.

The project is organized in three Components, each designed to address one of the three identified barriers, Upstream component, downstream component and investments towards a NZNP economy.

The Project Manager will be responsible for day-to-day management of the project, guiding project implementation and ensuring overall facilitation of activities with UNDP, implementing partners and the donor. The general objective of the position will be supporting, promoting and coordinating the actions required for the successful development and the achievement of the results, outputs and targets, envisioned by the project, ensuring effective linkages between the beneficiaries and national institutions.

Scope of Work

The main task of the Project Manager is to provide technical supervision, coordination and management of all aspects of the project. The Project Manager will prepare TORs, technically supervise and provide first stage clearance of project deliverables. Main duties include the following:

1. Coordinate effective project planning and implementation

• Manage the delivery of outputs and outcomes of the project in accordance with the approved design, timeframe and budget, ensuring the required standards of quality
• Consolidate all technical and financial progress reporting obligations as per the established M&E Plan.
• Organize and facilitate the inception workshop, project steering committee meetings, and other project events, ensuring donor and partner representation
• Lead and coordinate administrative and planning functions across project implementation and execution, including the preparation of annual workplans, budget revisions, updates to the procurement plan, development of terms of reference as needed and timely reporting;
• Liaise with the Finance team to ensure administrative requirements, budgets and use of financial resources are managed and executed in a timely and appropriate manner and within UNDP and donor rules and regulations.
• Supervise staff, experts, consultants, subcontractors and implementing partners engaged in project activities
• Manage and coordinate the project consultancies as well as on communication and gender-sensitive community engagement, including the review of regulatory reform proposals
• Ensure proper operational and financial closure of the project.

2. Establish partnerships and open channels of communication

• Support coordination and collaboration with governmental agencies, co-finance partners, Project Sterring Comittee members, working groups and other key stakeholders,
• Provide timely communication, technical assistance and guidance to ensure effective participation and alignment at local, national and international levels, as appropriate

3. Monitor and report on progress in implementing project activities and achieving the targets set

• Provide leadership in the identification of risks and prepare mitigation strategies, ensuring implementation of mitigation measures
• Track project achievements against the Results Framework, Core Indicator Worksheet, and Gender Action Plan
• Manage the Mid-Term and Terminal Evaluations, capture lessons learned during implementation,
• Ensure indicators in the Results Framework are monitored annually ahead of the GEF PIR deadline for reporting, and assess project amendments within UNEP-GEF parameters
• Monitor implementation and progress in achieving goals and targets in accordance with the established quality criteria and UNDP rules, regulations, and standards. Conduct field visits to project location sites.

4. Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing and advocacy relevant to the assigned thematic area(s).

• Participate in high-level events and outreach activities,
• Contribute technical input to training materials and capacity-building initiatives,
• Manage project knowledge through effective dissemination on the project information platform and other channels.
• Identify, synthesize and document best practices and lessons learned that are generated from the project and implementing partners.
• Participate in and ensure sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice on project related issues.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

The Project Manager will report to the UNDP Programme Officer, Energy, Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction or assigned designate. See Annex A for Organigram.

Competencies

Core

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making

People Management

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

PROCUREMENT Supplier/relationship management

Knowledge of supplier management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations

PARTNERSHIP MANAGEMENT Relationship management

Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT Project Management

Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT Risk Management

Identify and organize around reducing, mitigating and proactively managing risks

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT Communication

Ccommunicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience
Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels

BUSINESS DIRECTION & STRATEGY System Thinking

Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT Monitoring and evaluation

Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively; Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results. Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming. Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools. Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.

Minimum Qualifications of the Successful NPSA

Min. Education requirements

Advanced University degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in a subject related to Economics, Finance, Civil or Energy Engineering, Environmental Management, or related fields is required, or

A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the ares mentioned above in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Min. years of relevant work experience

Minimum 5 years (with master´s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor´s degree) of demonstrable experience in project/programme management, specifically in fields related to natural resource management, environmental policy, or climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Required skills

• Experience in the national environmental context.
• Experience managing and coordinating a complex, multi-stakeholder project and leading, managing and motivating teams of consultants to achieve results.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

• At least five years of proven experience in managing and coordinating cross-ministerial or multi-sectoral initiatives, particularly those concerning environmental management, climate change mitigation, net zero or sustainable development.
• At least two years of proven experience with GEF funded projects.
• Prior work experience with UN Agencies or other Multilateral or International Development Agencies.
• Experience in socio-economic analysis and scenario modeling for environmental and sustainability projects.

Required Language(s)

Fluency in English is required.