Project Management Support - Specialist

In Latin America and the Caribbean, UNOPS operates across 23 countries, delivering high-impact solutions that drive sustainable development. UNOPS focuses on building and improving resilient infrastructure—including roads, bridges, public facilities, sanitation systems, and housing—to enhance quality of life and foster inclusive growth. UNOPS also supports public health by procuring essential medicines and medical equipment, ensuring broader access to healthcare services. By strengthening institutional capacities, UNOPS promotes transparent, efficient, and equitable public management. As a trusted partner to governments and development stakeholders, UNOPS aligns its interventions with national priorities, helping countries advance the Sustainable Development Goals through practical, results-driven support.

The Barbados Country Office (CO) functions as a strategic hub to support Caribbean nations in implementing the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS), helping regional leaders advance a global agenda on climate justice and financing.  The primary mandate of the Barbados Country Office is to Speed Up and Scale Up engagements across 17 Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS), ensuring that partner expectations are met with agility and precision. Through dedicated operational presence, UNOPS Barbados Country Office streamlines complex regional logistics and fosters stronger collaboration with sovereign governments and financial institutions in the Caribbean. The office focuses on delivering high-value solutions aligned with the region’s priorities, including the economy, nature and climate, human capital, infrastructure and capacity development.

The Caribbean Resilient Infrastructure Implementation and Skills Exchange (RIISE) Facility is established as a regional mechanism designed to support governments in implementing climate-resilient infrastructure. The Facility provides demand-driven technical assistance, strengthens institutional capacity, and facilitates knowledge and skills exchange across countries in the region. 

The Facility is envisioned as a five-year initiative, initially serving countries in the Eastern Caribbean eligible for Official Development Assistance, namely Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. 

Through a growing number of short‑ and medium‑term technical assistance assignments and surge deployments, the Facility is expected to strengthen the capacity of ministries, project implementation units, and utilities responsible for delivering climate‑resilient infrastructure in these countries. 

The Facility will be implemented through a United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Hosted Entity Partnership, which will provide the institutional platform required for the Facility’s establishment and early operations.

The functions/responsibilities/key results of this job description are generic and may not

always be applicable, nor be comprehensive, for all assignments and/or missions under this job title. The specific tasks and deliverables for each retainer assignment may vary and will be

detailed in the terms of reference developed for each assignment by the RIISE Secretariat.

The RIISE Facility delivers demand-driven technical assistance primarily through two service modalities: the Rapid Helpdesk, which provides short-term remote advisory support for urgent queries, and Surge Deployments, which involve medium-term engagements designed to resolve complex project execution bottlenecks. While RIISE operates on a "remote-first" delivery approach—utilizing digital collaboration tools by default to optimize responsiveness and cost-efficiency—the Consultant must possess the availability and willingness to travel for on-site deployments across participating Caribbean countries. In-country field presence remains a fundamental requirement for complex assignments where direct hands-on engagement, collaborative work with government counterparts, and on-site technical assessments are critical for effective problem resolution. 

While the contract modality for this Vacancy Announcement is an ICA retainer contract on project or assignment basis, UNOPS may offer on a need basis a full-time employment for a specified consecutive period of time (up to one year maximum, with possible extensions) - with the possibility to go back and forth between the two contract modalities, pending acceptance of the incumbent of the assignments proposed to him/her.

The specific tasks for each assignment may vary from one assignment to another assignment. Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the RIISE Secretariat and designated Supervisor, the Specialist will work on a retainer contract and will be called upon for specific projects to fulfill one or more of the following key tasks:

1. Project Delivery and Performance

• Develop, complete and update the project implementation plan.
• Implement the approved plan (including establishment of milestones) within tolerances set by the Project
• Embed sustainability dimensions, including social and gender considerations, and environmental and economic aspects, into the  project life span
• Manage the production of required outputs, taking responsibility for overall progress and use of resources while initiating corrective action where necessary.
• Ensure that quality of work packages and deliverables comply with the quality requirements defined in the implementation plan.
• Liaise with external suppliers or account managers to ensure quality and timely delivery of outputs.
• Manage acceptance and delivery of work packages.
• Monitor project progress, control project variances (if any), and manage changes.
• Identify, anticipate and advise senior management and the project team on mitigating measures against project risks to ensure that benefits to partners and other stakeholders are maximized.
  
  

2. Procedures

• Comply with the organization’s policies and standards, and ensure project information is kept updated in project management systems.
• Be aware of applicable local laws and regulations, and ensure adherence. This includes international regulations and standards, where applicable, as well as technical standards.
• Prepare and adapt all relevant plans for approval by the project team, and manage baselines
• Manage the reporting obligations defined in the implementation plan and legal agreements.
• Maintain project documentation in an orderly manner for accessibility and audit support when needed.
• Support project audit activities, including planning, preparation and coordination during audits and follow-up on audit observations/ recommendations.

3. Monitoring and Reporting

• Include a results framework and M&E plan in the project implementation plan with clearly defined indicators and agreed targets, ensure regular monitoring and tracking of project results.
• Prepare and issue regular project and financial reports in accordance with partner requirements for reporting.
• Regularly review project status and evaluate performance criteria (scope, cost, schedule, and quality)
• Maintain diaries and progress reports as required by the project’s operating procedures.
• Ensure all project milestones and targets for the duration of the project life span are updated.

4. Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop stakeholder engagement strategies and plans. Actively engage stakeholders, take feedback, and adjust as necessary. 
• Establish solid working relationships with the project counterparts (executive, senior users and senior suppliers); clients; and key stakeholders.
• Enable formulation of project communication plans and monitor effectiveness of project communications.
• Coordinate stakeholder engagement and communication, ensuring effective timing and interdependency management of communications. Ensure stakeholders are aware of project activities, progress, and exceptions, and are in a position to accept handover outputs.

5. Quality Assurance

• Work with internal stakeholders to ensure projects comply with audit requirements.
• Work with procurement/ purchasing personnel to ensure effective interface with suppliers’ quality systems.
• Coordinate quality reviews of project documents and deliverables. 
• Provide quality control for management outputs (e.g. project documents, reports, etc).

6. Knowledge Management and Innovation

• Create a learning environment for the project team, encourage knowledge sharing and training to contribute to longer-term capacity building.
• Actively interact with other project managers and teams, share case studies, lessons learned and best practices.
• Ensure lessons learned are documented and shared in a timely and appropriate manner. 

7. RIISEAssignment Deliverables:

a. Primary Assignment Reports (Modality-Specific)

• RIISE Helpdesk Report: for short-term "Rapid Helpdesk" assignments, the incumbent must deliver their response and advisory inputs using the standardized RIISE Helpdesk Report Template.
• Assignment Closure Report / Final Technical Report: for "Surge Deployments" and "Embedded Advisory" assignments, a comprehensive report must be submitted by the incumbent within 10 working days of the assignment's end and must be cleared by the RIISE Technical Adviser before final approval.

b. Mandatory Components of the Final Technical Report

Regardless of the assignment, all final technical outputs must adhere to RIISE’s Deliverable Standards and include the following specific reporting sections:

• Knowledge Transfer Summary: A mandatory section documenting the specific skills, methodologies, or capabilities that were shared with and transferred to the government counterpart staff during the deployment.
• GBA+ / GESI Integration Outcomes: A section explicitly documenting how Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) and Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) considerations were integrated into the expert's analysis, design, and final recommendations.
• Actionable Recommendations & Limitations: Clear recommendations accompanied by prioritized action items, as well as an explicit section noting the limitations and assumptions taken into account during the assignment.

c. Specialized Safeguard & Compliance Reports (Trigger-Based) - if applicable to the assignment

Depending on the nature of the assignment, experts must prepare and submit the following specific compliance reports:

• RIISE CCA (Climate Change Adaptation) Integration Checklist: Mandatory for any assignment involving engineering design reviews or the development of technical specifications. The expert must complete this checklist to confirm the climate hazard profile, the design life of the structure, the applicable climate resilience standards, and any residual climate risks.
• OHS Assessment and ESMP Review: Mandatory for assignments involving on-site technical supervision or construction supervision. The expert's report must include an Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) assessment and verify compliance with the project's Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP).

d. Administrative Closure Deliverables

• Intellectual Property (IP) Handover Confirmation: A mandatory administrative document that the expert must secure before the assignment can be financially closed. It must be signed by the government counterpart, confirming that all relevant technical outputs (reports, drawings, specifications, data) have been successfully transferred to the requesting government.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Project Management, Civil Engineering, Architecture, Business Administration, Public Administration or related with 7 years of relevant experience OR
• Master’s degree (or equivalent) Project Management, Civil Engineering, Architecture, Business Administration or similar with 5 years of relevant experience is required.

Desired

• Project management certification from a globally recognized institute is desired (PRINCE2® Foundation/Practitioner or PMI -Project Management Professional - PMP or similar certification).

Required

• Relevant experience is defined as experience in working in the implementation of complex projects/ programmes, or related areas.
• Experience in project planning, implementation, and control, including project communication and reporting is required.
• Knowledge of quality assurance methodologies is required.
• Experience of managing project risks and issues in a multi-stakeholder context is required.
• Technical and practical experience in planning, managing, and supervising the execution lifecycle of public infrastructure projects. 
• Experience dealing with government officials.

Desired

• Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in a developing country is desired.
• Experience in development or humanitarian contexts is desired.
• Direct prior experience in Caribbean countries (particularly OECS Member States) and a strong understanding of the region's institutional landscape and climate vulnerabilities. 
• Technical and practical experience in planning, managing, and supervising the execution lifecycle of public infrastructure projects in the Caribbean countries. 
• Operational familiarity with procurement procedures and project management standards from Multilateral Development Banks and International Financial Institutions (such as the World Bank, IDB, or CDB) 
• Functional knowledge of standardized international contract models (such as FIDIC conditions of contract).

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
  

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. 
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.