Project Manager (Township Democratic Local Governance Project)

Yangon

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
Location: Yangon
Grade: Mid level - P-3, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
Occupational Groups:
- Operations and Administrations
- Development Cooperation and Sustainable Development Goals
- International Relations
- Democratic Governance
- Public Policy and Administration
- Civil Society and Local governance
- Project and Programme Management
- Managerial positions
- TOWNSHIP DEMOCRATIC LOCAL GOVERNANCE
Closing Date: Closed

Background

Job Code Title: Project Manager

Department: Township Democratic Local Governance Project , Myanmar Country Office

Approved Grade: P-3

Type of Contract FTA- International

Duty Station: Yangon

The Township Democratic Local Governance Project (TDLG) addresses the institutional challenges in Myanmar’s local governance structures emphasizing participatory planning and greater fiscal decentralization at the township level. It is designed along four work streams (i) to strengthen township administrations’ capacities to meet local needs for public services; (ii) to facilitate participation by the public in planning processes, and vertical and horizontal sharing of information; (iii) to facilitate township administrations engaging with ethnic armed organizations on service delivery coordination; and (iv) to utilize lessons learned by the project to advocate for policy change.

The project applies an institutional approach to strengthen existing systems, structures and processes to gradually improve their performance. It utilizes a discretional Township Development Grant, based on an expenditure needs allocation formula, as a driver for change by enabling township administrations to plan and execute capital investment projects according to an inclusive and participatory local governance model. The project will provide capacity development and on-the-job support to the township administrations throughout its planning and budget execution cycle to ensure that capacities are strengthened to better respond to people’s needs.

The project contributes to the UNDP Country Programme (output 1.1):

Effective public institutions enabled to develop and implement evidence based policies and systems that respond to the needs of the people

The work towards this objective is structured along the four above mentioned result areas:

1. Township administrations have improved capacity to respond to people’s needs

2. Improved engagement between people and township administrations on public service delivery

3. Improved ethnic armed organisation engagement in annual township planning and public service delivery

4. Dialogue on policy and institutional local governance reforms informed by technical support and research

The project is directly implemented (DIM) by UNDP in collaboration with the Responsible Parties (RP): Bago Region Government, Mon State Government and Oxfam in Mon State.

Under the overall supervision of the UNDP - Programme Advisor - Sustainable and Inclusive Growth Chief of Unit, technical leadership of the Local Governance Chief Technical Advisor (CTA), the day-to-day coordination with the Effective Institution Project Manager, the TDLG Project Manager is responsible for ensuring the direction of project activities and the achievement of project targets and results. S/he plans project activities and inputs, manages the day-to-day implementation of the project and supervises project experts and personnel.

The Project Manager supervises a team of international and local project professional and support staff. S/he works in close collaboration with the UNDP CO Programme, Strategy Results, Programme Support and Senior Management to maintain effective working relationships with project IPs, donors and other partners such as UN agencies.

UNDP Myanmar is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

Management of project activities and achievement of project targets and results
Effective day-to-day management of the project
Coordinate provision of high-quality technical advice and build partnerships
Facilitate knowledge building and management

1) Management of project activities and the achievement of project targets and results, by focusing on the following results:

In accordance with the Project Document and in close coordination with IPs and the project specialists, plan and develop project Annual Work Plans (AWPs) and establish Annual Targets according to UNDP CO timelines. Design project budget. Ensure that AWP activities suggested are in line with the overall direction set by the Project Document and lead to achievements of project targets and results.
Coordinate development and formulation of detailed implementation plans, procurement and human resources, communication and risk management plans for the Project. Coordinate and ensure timely updates of all planning instruments in close collaboration with relevant CO units.
Ensure implementation of activities as per AWP and agreed deadlines as well as according to detailed implementation, procurement and HR plans. Identify bottlenecks and develop solutions. Regularly meet with IPs and other project counterparts.
Facilitate assessment of project impact and oversee the appropriateness and accuracy of methods used to verify progress and results.
Support establishment of adequate monitoring procedures and systems throughout project activities in close collaboration with the CO Results Team. Ensure that adequate systems are in place to gather data and information for project monitoring and that systematic monitoring of project progress against targets is undertaken, including regular field trips for monitoring purposes. Develop innovative improvements to enhance performance of the project.
Ensure that UNDP´s results-management systems are kept updated for project results-information including ATLAS project management module.
Manage the accurate and timely high-quality results reporting on the progress of the project and achievement of annual targets to the Project Board and donors. Ensure that reports are prepared according to UNDP’s SOPs, quality standards and in line with the contractual obligations to project donors. Ensure that all internal and external reports are submitted by deadlines.
Coordinate and prepare ad hoc thematic and substantive reports/analysis/briefs.
Implement project communications activities in close collaboration with the CO Communications Team.
Organise and participate in project level coordination meetings and/or technical working groups as per project document and AWP. Share information on technical project-related issues with donors, other partners and stakeholders.
Implement project governance arrangements. Oversee organisation of Project Board meetings and ensure timely preparation of agenda, background materials to agenda items and minutes as per CO SOPs.
Immediately escalate issues with potential to impact UNDP´s effectiveness, financial soundness or reputation to the Programme Team and CO senior management. Ensure that UNDP´s corporate interest and rules are guarded at all times and that appropriate action is taken to immediately address problems and challenges.

2) Effective day-to-day management of the project, by focusing on the following results:

Facilitate compliance of all actions and activities with organizational rules, regulations, policies, strategies and internal control mechanisms.
Mobilize personnel, goods and services, training and micro-capital grants to initiative activities, including drafting and reviewing terms of references and work specifications and overseeing all contractors’ work. Oversee effective provision of services to IPs as required.
Oversee the appropriate use of project funds as well as the consistent application of UNDP rules and regulations. Manage requests for the provision of financial resources by UNDP, through advance of funds, direct payments, or reimbursement using the FACE (Fund Authorization and Certificate of Expenditures).
Develop project budgets. Monitor budget implementation and accounting to ensure accuracy and reliability of project expenditure. Coordinate preparation of financial reports to UNDP, as required.
Supervise and manage project personnel and consultants. Develop ToRs/JDs for project staff positions. Oversee recruitment processes. Establish performance objectives and standards and ensure timely and appropriate feedback, guidance and support to ensure optimum performance. Undertake performance evaluation according to UNDP´s policies and deadlines.
Manage and monitor project risks. In collaboration with the technical project staff, IP’s and donors identify new risks and update risk frameworks for consideration of the Project Board for consideration and decision on possible actions if required. Update the status of these risks by maintaining the project risks log.
Ensure appropriate management of project assets, attendance records, filing system.
Implement audit recommendations for the project. Provide inputs to audit management responses.
Initiate operational closure of the project.

3) Coordinates provision of high quality technical advice and build partnerships, focusing on achievement of the following results:

Coordinate the advisory activities of the project technical staff. Ensure that technical outputs are provided according to plans and up to highest technical standards. Review and clear technical outputs for quality.
Establish, maintain and facilitate strategic dialogue between project staff and Government officials at central and local levels, NGOs, partners, donors and other stakeholders in project´s area of work.
Provide technical advice, draft papers/briefs/proposals in project´s technical focus.
Identify areas of cooperation and coordination with other UN agencies for implementation of joint activities within the area of the project. Implement joint activities with UN implementing partners as per AWP.
Advocate UNDP with the partners and stakeholders. Consistently promote a positive image of the UNDP:
Identify resources mobilization opportunities in close collaboration with the Programme Team. Develop funding proposals and concepts as requested.
Provide inputs to formulation of UNDP strategies such as of UNDAF and CPD.
Coordinate project strategies and activities with other UNDP projects to ensure the effective implementation of the Country Programme Document.
Provide inputs to UN coordination platforms and participate in meetings, as requested.

4) Facilitates knowledge building and management, focusing on achievement of the following results:

Support systematic building of capacities of Implementing Partners through introduction of innovation and best practices, access to knowledge and expertise and promote its application to project implementation.
Promote teamwork, information sharing and collaboration within the Project Team and between the Project Team and the CO Programme Team.
Promote skills development of project staff through coaching and mentoring.
Coordinate capturing and disseminations of lessons learnt during project implementation.
Facilitate the Project’s representation and/or participation in international knowledge networks to draw on and share best practice and lessons learned for application in Myanmar.

Competencies

Competencies and Selection Criteria

Core

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work

Level 5: Creates new and relevant ideas and leads others to implement them

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow

Level 5: Plans and acts transparently, actively works to remove barriers

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

Level 5: Models high professional standards and motivates excellence in others

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

Level 5: Gains trust of peers, partners, clients by presenting complex concepts in practical terms to others

Delivery

Ability to get things done while exercising good judgment

Level 5: Critically assesses value and relevance of existing policy / practice and contributes to enhanced delivery of products, services, and innovative solutions

Technical/Functional

Project Management

Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals t Management
Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Local Governance

Knowledge of local governance systems and institutions, decentralizations policies and laws, basic service delivery and recovery planning and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations
Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Results-Based Management

Ability to manage programmes and projects with a strategy aimed at improved performance and demonstrable results
Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Partnerships

Ability to engage with other agencies, donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships
Level 5:Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Development Planning and Monitoring

Ability to develop business and planning processes at the national and local level and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations
Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Knowledge Management

Ability to efficiently handle and share information and knowledge
Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Secondary

Resource Mobilization

Ability to identify and organize programmes and projects to implement solutions and generate resources (definition is unclear and not well linked to the stated competency)
Level 3: Apply & Adapt (Recognized contributor with demonstrated ability)

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced University Degree in Project Management, Business or Public Sector Administration, International Relations, Political Science, Development Studies, or other relevant discipline.

Experience

Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in project development and management, with focus on planning, monitoring, reporting, and stakeholder and team coordination in international development organisations.
Demonstrated experience in management of a Project of similar complexity
Solid technical knowledge in the field of the Project including knowledge in women in political development, social cohesion would be an asset.
Excellent knowledge of project management principles and best practices. Project Management Certification, either Prince2 or PMP/PMI would be an advantage.
Proven managerial experience including experience in leading multi-cultural teams.
Experience in working at the country level including in post-conflict environments.
Computer literacy – MS office applications, web-based management information systems

Language Requirements:

Fluency in written and spoken English

Disclaimer

Only those candidates in whose qualifications and experience the Organization has further interest will be contacted for subsequent interview(s).

UNDP is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply." UNDP regrets its inability to reply individually or attend to telephone queries on the advertised posts.

This vacancy is now closed.
However, we have found similar vacancies for you: