Project manager - Iraq IDP Information Centre

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. 

General Background – Project Manager

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 will perform their duties with transparency and integrity, and in adherence to the humanitarian standards as provided by the Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance (ALNAP), the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), and the Sphere Handbook.

General Background – UNOPS

UNOPS’ mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects/programmes, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner. UNOPS provides its partners with advisory and implementation services for projects ranging from building infrastructure, to procuring goods and services. UNOPS works closely with governments and communities to ensure increased economic, social and environmental sustainability for the projects with a focus on developing national capacity.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, UNOPS vision is to always satisfy partners with project services that meet world-class standards of quality, speed and cost effectiveness to advance sustainable implementation practices in development, humanitarian and peace building contexts.

General Background – Job Specific

The Iraq IIC was launched in 2015 following an inter-agency assessment into the information and communication needs of displaced populations in Iraq. Responding to one of the most complex humanitarian crises in the world, the Humanitarian Country Team agreed to the establishment of an inter-agency two-way communication and accountability mechanism that allows affected populations to shape their own relief and recovery.

Since its launch, the Iraq IIC has handled more than 60,000 calls, giving information to more than 360,000 individuals. Call content ranges from requests for information on humanitarian services, including how to register for food vouchers, to requests for help in dealing with gender-based violence. Feedback ranges from comments on how aid is distributed to suggestions on how to improve humanitarian programmes. The Iraq IIC conducts monitoring calls to evaluate UN assistance programming. Through established referral pathways, the centre channels caller feedback, complaints, and data to the humanitarian community to improve the way information is shared and to shape how humanitarian assistance is organised and delivered.

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, partners, and key stakeholders

•               Manage communications and ensure stakeholders are aware of project activities, progress, exceptions and are in a position to accept handover products

•               Represent the project in the county, national, regional and international meetings related to the project when necessary

•               Lead on the development of relations with key government and humanitarian partners - including but not limited to: clusters, the Inter-cluster Coordination Group (ICCG), the Humanitarian Country Team, and bi-lateral partners, to establish and maintain accurate and timely two-way information flow, and document impact of information sharing and improved collective accountability

•               Leverage the Iraq IIC to help strengthen collective accountability in Iraq by supporting Communicating with Communities partners and to engage with other accountability coordination mechanisms

Delivery and Performance:

•               Develop, maintain, and implement the approved project plans

•               Embed sustainability dimensions including social and gender inclusion, environmental, and economic aspects into project life cycle.

•               Manage the  project resources and initiate corrective action where necessary

•               Liaise with any external suppliers

•               Authorize Work Packages

•               Advise the Project Board and Head of Programme of any deviations from the project plan

•               Identify and manage risks so that maximum benefit to stakeholders is achieved

•               Monitor and evaluate performance of service providers

•               Identify and report potential partnership opportunities for UNOPS to Partnerships Advisor and Head of Programme

•               Identify and report threats to UNOPS internal business case to Head of Programme

•               Oversee the update of internal and external information structures, policies and standard operating procedures to facilitate, support, and promote data and information sharing to/from affected populations and the humanitarian and wider community

•               Oversee the maintenance and development of data collection, data sharing, and reporting processes

•               Adhere fully to international standards for data protection

•               Lead on the development of an integrated database for handling, storing, archiving data in line with international data protection standards

•               Ensure the implementation of monitoring against the Iraq IIC’s Accountability and M&E Framework. Maintain and advance quality assurance and monitor and evaluate procedures to ensure stakeholder satisfaction and professional service provision

•               Lead the coordination of a countrywide, multi-media, multi-pronged, inclusive visibility campaign to raise awareness of the Iraq IIC among humanitarian actors and affected populations. The campaign must target vulnerable members of affected communities and should be culturally and language appropriate

Procedures:

•               Ensure that all organizational policy is complied with (Organizational Directives and Administrative Instructions)

•               Prepare the required narrative and financial reports, as per the legal agreements with the donors.

•               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.

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 Head of Porgramme

•               Have a thorough understanding of UNOPS personnel contract modalities (including ICA and Staff)

•               Select, recruit and train existing and/ or new team members as required by project plans

•               Ensure safety and security for all personnel and comply with UNDSS standards

 Core Values and Principles:

•               Understand and respect UNOPS sustainability principles

•               Look for ways to embed UNOPS sustainability principles in day to day project management

•               Seek opportunities to champion gender equality at work place

•               Champion and communicate project’s sustainability aspects with key stakeholders

•               Understand and Respect National ownership and capacity

o   Understand the principles of the Paris Declaration on aid effectiveness and mainstream them into the project plans

o   Seek opportunities to recruit qualified local staff

o   Look for ways to build capacity of local counterparts

•               Partnerships and Coordination Understand the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and UNOPS, the project’s place in the UN system

•               Strive to build strong partnerships and effective coordination among relevant project actors (e.g. United Nations, governments, and non-governmental organizations or other relevant partners)

•               Accountability for results and the use of resources

•               The project management processes are designed to deliver maximum accountability, transparency and results. If a project or processes is not in line with this, it is the responsibility of the PM to raise the issue with a supervisor

•               Excellence

•               Contribute to innovation and the adaptation of best practice standards of sustainability and quality.

·         Technical knowledge, skills, managerial competencies or other personal competencies relevant to the performance of the assignment. Clearly distinguish between required and desired competencies.

·         Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization. (Applicable only for levels ICS-10 and above)

·         Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same.  Upholds organizational and ethical norms.  Maintains high standards of trustworthiness.  Role model for diversity and inclusion.

·         Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilising appropriate leadership styles

·         Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).

·         Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them.  Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.

·         Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behaviour. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.

·         Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions.  Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.

·         Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner.  Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

·         Advanced University Degree in Project Management, Business Administration, International Relations, Political/Security/Development Studies, or other relevant discipline.

·         University Degree (bachelor’s degree / first level) with a combination of 2 additional years of relevant professional experience  in Project Management, Business Administration, International Relations, Political/Security/Development Studies, or other relevant discipline, may be accepted in lieu of the advance university degree.

·         PRINCE2 Practitioner Certification – Preferred

·         A relevant combination of academic credentials and/or industry certifications and qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the university education.                                                 

·         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;

·         Previous experience with the UN in a humanitarian or conflict/post-conflict setting is preferred;

·         Experience working with contact/ information centres, databases, and archive systems in humanitarian crisis is preferred;

·         Knowledge of protection principles and data protection standards;

·         Experience in developing proposals and understanding donor reporting requirements;

·         Excellent interpersonal communication and networking skills with fluency in English is required; Working knowledge of Arabic is highly desirable

·         Experience in handling projects that use call handling technologies, including Cisco and Motorola, data analysis and visualisation solutions such as PowerBI and Tableau, and professional-grade design software (e.g. Adobe Creative Suites) is preferred.

·         Fluency in written and spoken English is required.

·         Fluency in Arabic is an asset.

·         Fluency in Kurdish is an asset.

• 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.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• 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.