National Programme Management Officer – General

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. 

Located in Dakar, the UNOPS office in Senegal has developed a strong working relation with the Governments of West Africa and international partners over the years. It provides technical support in strategic development areas including elections; procurement and related capacity building; environmental protection, as well as infrastructure rehabilitation and development.

The functions and services of the National Programme Management Officer General include:

Strategic Planning/Portfolio Support: Ensuring UNOPS is focused on doing the right projects by supporting management decision-making.

Delivery Support: Ensuring UNOPS is doing projects the right way, through the effective delivery of the programme and projects.

Best Practices: Applying UNOPS standards in project management, encouraging consistent working practices and ensuring appropriate application

1. Development and planning

As a part of the PMO team, the Programme Management Officer responsibility is to:

Provide analytical support for the strategic direction and oversight on programme and project management activities in line with service agreements and project documents

Contribute to maintaining and implementing appropriate standards and best practices in line with UNOPS policies and procedures

Identify key programme and project resource requirements in close coordination with the Hub Director/ Head of Programme

Provide analytical support to the proper development, implementation and, as and when appropriate, amendments, of project budgets and staffing resources, ensuring synergies across the UNOPS Senegal Hub

Contribute to the development and establishment of resource tracking systems for use within the PMO, complementary to UNOPS' online tools, to ensure effective planning, forecasting and tracking of delivery across the UNOPS Senegal Hub

Participate in the identification and anticipation in a timely manner of the potential risks and issues and propose mitigating measures to the Director of Hub and Head of Program

2. Projects Set-up and closure

Contribute to the development of the programme/project plans, including the collation of lower-level plans into programme/project-level milestones

Analyze to the development, tracking and maintaining of dependencies

Liaise closely with the Finance Manager regarding all project assets and finance related issues.

Support the process of project closure. If being nominated as Engagement Closure Manager (ECM), oversees supports and coordinates all project closure activities

Ensure appropriate disposal of project assets

Ensure timely and effective final (operational) reporting and initiation of financial disbursements as appropriate during Defects Notification Period

Ensure the updating of information on the UNOPS MIS, and effective handover of closed projects to UNOPS HQ for financial closure processes

3. Monitoring and reporting

Provide analytical and technical support in the development and implementation of Processes, Management and Information Management Systems to ensure proper monitoring and evaluation of Programme and project activities

Support preparation of the regular project reports in accordance with donor guidelines for reporting

Contribute to the regular review project status, evaluating performance criteria (scope, cost, schedule and quality)

Maintain diaries and progress reports as required by UNOPS standard procedures

Participate in the routine oversight and analysis of delivery data within the dashboard system, using UNOPS ERP system (OneUNOPS) as required

Participate in the routine maintenance and implementation of effective monitoring and evaluation systems of programme and project activities, in line with logical frameworks

4. Stakeholder engagement

Provide analytical support to the development of the stakeholder profiles and to the formulation of stakeholder engagement strategies

Support the formulation of programme and project communications plans

Contribute to the stakeholder engagement and communication, ensuring effective timing and interdependency management of communications across programmes and projects

5. Quality assurance

At the request and in conjunction with the Head of Program, support PMO oversight of UNOPS Senegal Hub programme and project portfolio as assigned, establishing a direct relationship with relevant project managers to facilitate efficient delivery and management of portfolios

Conduct regular financial variance analysis for the UNOPS Senegal Hub programmes and projects

Ensure compliance with UNOPS defined standards for programme/project management

Provide support to Programme and Project Managers with planning and execution of project deliveries according to best practices

Assist Programme and Project Managers in the implementation of standard Project Management processes and tools

Contribute to the quality reviews of programme/project documents and deliverables

Contribute quality control for management products (project documents, reports, etc.)

Work with internal audit and finance to ensure the programme complies with audit requirements

Work with procurement/purchasing staff to ensure effective interface with suppliers' quality systems

6. Knowledge management and innovation

Support routine and effective capacity building activities are conducted in order to build the long-term and sustainable capacity of staff and personnel

Participate in, and advocate PMs' participation in, relevant Communities of Practice

Actively interact with PMs and the wider PM community to share case studies, lessons learned and best practices in the Knowledge System

Provides feedback to Practice Leads on policy and supporting guidance working to achieve continuous improvement of UNOPS policies

Contributes to the oversight of lessons learned procedures, ensuring that lessons learnt are shared in a timely and appropriate manner

Performs other related duties as assigned

A Master’s degree in engineering  and/or civil works, and/or public administration, and/or social science or other relevant related field is required.

A combination of Bachelor’s degree in engineering and/or civil works, and/or public administration, and/or social science or other relevant related field with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the education requirements outlined above.
Certifications

PRINCE2® Foundation/Practitioner an asset,  

Programme/Project Management Professional (MSP® or PMI- PgMP/PMI-PMP) an asset.
B. Experience

A minimum of 2 years relevant experience in the field of Project Management or Operations Management.

Previous experience of working within a PMO environment is an advantage.

Skills in Project Management and Reporting are essential.

Experience in humanitarian emergency operating contexts including humanitarian coordination mechanisms, donors, security, and operations management is an added advantage.

Experience of UN rules and procedures is a considerable advantage

Finance, HR Management and administrative rules and regulations will be an advantage.

Working experience in West Africa Region will be an added advantage.

Experience working in an international environment is highly desired

Experience dealing with government officials is an advantage

Experience working on infrastructure project is an advantage

Fluency in French is required

Working knowledge of English is a strong advantage

• 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.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• 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.