Project Manager - Infrastructure (Integrated Solid Waste Management)

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development. UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

UNOPS Sri Lanka is part of the Sri Lanka Multi Country Office in the Asia Region. The Office provides technical, operational and administrative support to multiple countries in the Asia Region, including India, Pakistan and Bangladesh and Nepal to enable these country offices to deliver their project more efficiently and effectively. As part of this support, the UNOPS Office in Sri Lanka also provides programmatic support in the areas of project management, communications, reporting and partnership development.

In Sri Lanka, UNOPS operates within the overall framework of the UN Sustainable Development Framework (UNSDF) and is working with UN Agencies to better support the Government of Sri Lanka within the focus areas of the UNSDF. UNOPS Sri Lanka currently manages infrastructure projects in health, solid waste management and supports public institutions governance.
    

This UN Volunteer assignment is part of the UNOPS South Asia Multi-Country Office (SAMCO) operations in Sri Lanka. The UNV will lead the project management team responsible for
delivering impactful infrastructure solutions in the region.
Project Context: In partnership with donor (KOICA) and the Government of Sri Lanka, UNOPS is leading an infrastructure project aimed at providing integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) in the Badulla and Vavuniya districts. The project includes the construction of a new sanitary landfill, Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), and Composting facilities, alongside the improvement of existing facilities and capacity building for local authorities and communities.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Programme , the Project Manager (Infrastructure) will be responsible for the day-to-day management and effective delivery of the ISWM
infrastructure project. Key tasks include:
● Project Delivery & Management:
○ Develop, update, and implement comprehensive project implementation plans and baselines in alignment with UNOPS standards.
○ Oversee the design and construction of sanitary landfills, MRFs, and composting facilities.
○ Ensure project outputs are delivered within established tolerances of time, cost, scope, quality, risk, and social/environmental impact
○ Embed sustainability, including gender equality, social inclusion, and environmental considerations, throughout the project life span.
● Monitoring, Risk & Quality Assurance:
○ Maintain a robust Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) framework with clear indicators and targets.
○ Identify, anticipate, and manage project risks in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment, implementing appropriate mitigation measures.
○ Coordinate quality reviews of technical designs, specifications, and construction deliverables
○ Prepare regular technical, narrative, and financial reports for the Project Board, donors, and UNOPS management.
● Stakeholder Engagement & Governance:
○ Act as the primary focal point for coordination with donors, local government authorities, community representatives, and contractors
○ Develop and execute stakeholder engagement and communication plans to build consensus and ensure smooth operations
● Team & Operations Management:
○ Lead, structure, and supervise the project team, ensuring high performance, adherence to health and safety standards, and UNDSS security compliance.
○ Facilitate knowledge sharing, capture lessons learned, and foster capacity-building initiatives for local partners.