Project Manager

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our 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.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale. 

1.     UNOPS Center for English and Dutch Speaking Caribbean

UNOPS Center for the English and Dutch Speaking Caribbean is based in St Lucia and currently oversees seven infrastructure projects (both implementation and technical assistance) in Belize, Dominica, St Lucia, St Vincent, Grenada, Jamaica and Curacao.

UNOPS has been providing the Government of Grenada with formal Technical Assistance for the Grenada House of Parliament Project since 2015. Through this project the Ministry of Communications, Works, Physical Development, Public Utilities, ICT & Community and UNOPS have developed an effective partnering relationship.

Given the success of the Grenada House of Parliament technical assistance partnership between MoW and UNOPS, MoW has requested UNOPS to provide technical assistance for other key projects and operations specifically in relation to capital works projects and infrastructure management capacity development.

UNOPS will provide support with technical assistance in 3 general areas;

1. Project implementation
2. Technical advice
3. Institutional capacity development

This position relates to the two ongoing projects and future projects within Grenada. The Government of Grenada through the Ministry of Communications, Works, Physical Development, Public Utilities and ICT (MoW) seeks to upgrade the Grenada Western Road Corridor between St Georges and Victoria. The project seeks to repair existing road damage caused by landslips, undertake overdue maintenance and upgrade and protect the road corridor from further storm and climatic related damage. The second live project is for stadium lighting installation at the national stadium and a secondary sports stadium.

The Project Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the project(s) and provides services to the different donors, partners and beneficiaries.  He/she is expected to meet and exceed the organizations performance and delivery goals.

The project manager is responsible to produce/read the project initiation documents (PID), Legal Agreement and have a thorough understanding of the terms, conditions, and the respective roles and responsibilities of the partners/stakeholders to ensure the project(s) products are capable of meeting the business cases for both UNOPS and the client. Success of the project(s) and hence Project Manager will be based on the Success Criteria of UNOPS engagements which are linked to the below responsibilities. The project manager is responsible for all aspects of the project life cycle. S/he must be able to apply, with some degree of autonomy, the below duties and responsibilities of the project success criteria:

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/OC Director and the project(s)

Delivery and Performance:

• Develop and maintain project plans
• Implement approved project plans (including the establishment of milestones) within tolerances set by the project board
• Embed sustainability dimensions including social and gender inclusion, environmental and economic aspects into project life cycle.

• 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:

                        i.         Highlight Reports

                       ii.         End Stage Reports

                     iii.         Operational Closure Checklist

                      iv.         End Project Report

                       v.         Handover Report

• Maintain the following: i. Electronic Blue File; ii. Procurement, HR and Finance files as required by those practices 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

A.  Education

• Advanced University Degree in Engineering, Construction management, quantity surveying or other, Project Management, Business administration, Accounting or related field, or other relevant discipline.
• University Degree (bachelor’s degree / first level) in same disciplines with a combination of 2 additional years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advance university degree.
• 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.                                                  

Additional Requirements:

Recognizsed construction and building design industry related certifications from a mature market would be an asset.

B. Work Experience        

Five years (or more based on academic credentials) of progressive experience in project development and management, with focus on monitoring, reporting, development and coordination in either public or private sector organizations. 5-year project development and management experience should be in engineering and infrastructure related projects. Experience in institutional capacity development would be an asset.

Additional Requirements: 

The candidate will have experience in managing infrastructure related projects. Ideally the candidate will have experience in managing projects related to:

• Road construction
• Design development

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• 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.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.