Project Manager

The overall goal of the project is to provide support to the Government in implementation of its national development agenda on PAR and Digital Transformation with the aim to deliver public services with greater accountability, transparency and responsiveness to citizen’s needs and ensure better access to legal information. In a parallel, the project will assist the Government in its strategy to increase the IT outsourcing capacity with the aim to create more job opportunities and increase the quality of life and living standards of the population of Uzbekistan.

The project builds on success of previous initiatives by significantly expanding the scope of support within the implementation of key activities of the Action Strategy on Five Priority Areas of Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2017-2021, e-Government master-plan for 2013-2020, and the Government decisions to develop IT Outsourcing capacity of Uzbekistan.

The goal of the project will be achieved through the following activities:

1. Assistance to support further reforms of public administration;
2. Support in improving access to legal information and public services;
3. Strengthening national capacities in the areas of ICT, STEM and e-Government. 

Project Manager will work under the direct supervision of the UNDP Cluster Leader on Good Governance, Policy and Communications and the overall guidance of the National Project Coordinator. The Project Manager will ensure smooth and timely delivery of operations in accordance with annual and quarterly work plans of the Project through performing the following duties and responsibilities according to UNDP corporate rules and procedures:

• Responsible for day-to-day management, administration and decision-making for the project;
• Oversees strategic planning process for the project and ensures its implementation in accordance with the signed project document;
• Responsible for ensuring that the project produces the results specified in the project document, to the required standard of quality and within the specified constraints of time and cost;
• Manage the realization of project outputs through activities;
• Ensures that project contributes to the promotion of gender equality by reaching, involving and benefiting both women and men in its activities (gender mainstreaming);
• Provide direction and guidance to project team(s)/ responsible party (ies);
• Identifies partnership strategies with regard to providers of specialised expertise and possible co-financiers, and leads resource mobilisation for project components;
• Identify and obtain any support and advice required for the management, planning and control of the project;
• Plan the activities of the project and monitor progress against the initial quality criteria;
• Mobilize goods and services to initiative activities, including drafting TORs and work specifications;
• Manage requests for the provision of financial resources by UNDP, using advance of funds, direct payments, or reimbursement using the IPSAS;
• Regularly updates project progress information about activities and results against annual targets in Atlas;
• Manage and monitor the project risks as initially identified in the Project Document, submit new risks to the Project Board for consideration and decision on possible actions if required; update the status of these risks by maintaining the Project Risks Log;
• Be responsible for managing issues and requests for change by maintaining an Issues Log;
• Prepare the Quarterly Project Report (progress against planned activities, update on Risks and Issues, expenditures in UNDP format) and Quarterly Operational Report (AF format) and submit the reports to the Project Assurance team;
• Prepare the Annual Review Report (UNDP format), Project Implementation Report (AF format) and submit reports to the Project Assurance team;
• Based on the ARR, prepare the Annual Work Plan (AWP) and Annual Plan of Activities and Procurement Plan for the project years;
• Monitors the implementation of project components, analyses problems that hamper their implementation and takes appropriate measures to ensure timely delivery of required inputs and achievement of project-wide results;
• Monitor financial resources and accounting to ensure accuracy and reliability of financial reports, including proper utilization of funds and delivery, budget revisions, availability of funds, reconciliation of accounts, establishment of internal control mechanisms. Acts as a focal point to liaise with auditors and ensures follow-up actions. Ensures the accuracy and reliability of financial information and reporting;
• Monitors and facilitates advocacy and mass media outreach activities, writing of success stories, newspapers coverage, PR campaigns;
• Organize workshops, seminars and round tables to introduce project outputs to all stakeholders involved. Render support to related UNDP thematic activities such as publications, sharing of knowledge and group discussions;
• Undertake resource mobilization activities to be built on the project achievement that contribute to project scaling-up and replication
• In cooperation with the UNDP CO and national project experts, develop a suitable project exit strategy during the last year of the project;
• Ensure proper operational, financial and programmatic closure of the project;
• Prepare Final Project Review Reports to be submitted to the Project Board;
• Identify follow-on actions and submit them for consideration to the Project Board;
  Manage the transfer of project deliverables, documents, files, equipment and materials to national beneficiaries;
• Prepare final CDR for signature by UNDP and the Implementing Partner
• Perform other duties related to the scope of work of the PM as required.

Functional Competencies:

Communications and Networking

• Has excellent oral communication, presentation skills and conflict resolution competency to manage inter-group dynamics and mediate conflicting interests of varied actors;
• Has excellent written communication skills, with analytic capacity and ability to synthesize project outputs and relevant findings for the preparation of quality project reports;
• Maturity and confidence in dealing with senior and high ranking members of national and international institutions, government and non-government.

2) Knowledge Management and Learning

• Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the team through leadership and personal example;
• Actively mentoring project staff under her/his supervision;
• Leadership and Self-Management;
• Focus on result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
• Competent in leading team and creating team spirit, stimulating team members to produce quality outputs in a timely and transparent fashion.

3) Development and Operational Effectiveness

• Ability to organize and complete multiple tasks by establishing priorities;
• Ability to handle a large volume of work possibly under time constraints.

4) Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

• Understands the main processes and methods of work regarding to the position
• Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning;
• Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments.

5) Leadership and Self-Management

• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills.

Education:

• Master’s degree in Public Administration, Public Policy and IT or other related fields;
• Master's degree might be substituted with Bachelor's degree in above fields with 2 additional years of relevant work experience.

Experience:

• Proven track of at least 3 years of professional experience in project management in the field of e-governance, public and business administration or IT. Previous experience in international development organizations would be considered as an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English, proficiency in Uzbek and Russian

Others:

• Ability to use information and communication technology as a tool and resource;
• Experience in working and collaborating with governments;
• Initiative and strong leadership skills;
• Result and client-orientation;
• Strong analytical, communication, writing, presentation and communication skills;
• Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills, ability to work in a team and to work under pressure and with tight deadlines, ethics and honesty;

Important applicant information

All posts in the SC categories are subject to local recruitment.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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