Project Manager

UNDP in Uzbekistan in partnership with the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations (MELR) of the Republic of Uzbekistan initiated a project “Promoting Youth Employment in Uzbekistan”. The initiative is funded by the Russian Federation - UNDP- Trust Fund for Development (TFD) under its Youth Window. The project is aimed at promoting youth employment in Uzbekistan, particularly among college and university graduates, young women, returning migrants, and other vulnerable groups by helping the Government implement a number of active labour market initiatives stipulated in the government’s medium-term Employment Promotion Programme and policies. The project will concentrate its work in three major directions:

• Support to and promotion of youth employment through active labour market policies
• Promoting youth and women entrepreneurship and business start-ups
• Increasing the capacities of MELR to deliver services in support of youth employment

UNDP is now seeking an experienced Project Manager to run the project and manage project activities in order to fulfil the outcomes and objectives as set out in the Project document, as well subsequent decisions made by the Project Board.

Project Manager will work under the direct supervision of the UNDP Head of Sustainable Cluster and close collaboration with 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:

Overall project management:

• Manage the realization of project outputs;
• Provide direction and guidance to project team in implementing project activities;
• Liaise with the Project Board/ its appointed Project Assurance role (UNDP Sustainable Development Cluster) to assure the overall direction and integrity of the project;
• Identify and obtain any support and advice required for the management, planning and control of the project;
• Take full responsible for project administration;
• Liaise with any suppliers;
• May also perform Team Manager and Project Support roles.

Running the project

• Plan the activities of the project and monitor progress against the initial quality criteria;
• Manage the project in accordance with the Project document, UNDP rules and procedures;
• Coordinate and manage Project’s day-to-day activities and its overall implementation process, including planning and monitoring towards optimal use of resources to ensure successful achievement of the projects’ objectives;
• Supervise the accomplishment of the Project work-plans, analyze emerging problems and take adequate measures to ensure timely fulfillment of envisioned tasks;
• Oversee selection, recruitment and supervision of the Project task teams and their activities, including full-time and part-time national and international consultants;
• Mobilize goods and services to initiative activities, including drafting TORs and work specifications;
• Determine and implement partnership and fund raising strategy to further strengthen Projects’ activities, deliver concrete results/proposals on resource mobilization efforts for key project outputs;
• Ensure that project contributes to the promotion of gender equality by reaching, involving and benefiting both women and men in its activities (gender mainstreaming);
• Monitor events as determined in the Monitoring & Communication Plan, and update the plan as required;
• Monitor financial resources and accounting to ensure accuracy and reliability of financial reports;
• Manage and monitor the project risks as initially identified in the Project Document appraised by the Local Project Appraisal Committee, 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 Project Quarterly Progress Report (progress against planned activities, update on Risks and Issues, expenditures) and submit the report to the Project Board and Project Assurance (UNDP Sustainable Development Cluster);
• Prepare the Annual Review Report, and submit the report to the Project Board and Project Assurance (UNDP Sustainable Development Cluster);
• Prepare and update Quality Assurance report;
• Based on the review, prepare the AWP for the following year, as well as Quarterly Plans if required.

Closing 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 Combined Delivery Report for signature by UNDP and the Implementing Partner.

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity;
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
• Self-development, initiative-taking;
• Acting as a team leader and facilitating team work;
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
• Creating synergies through self-control;
• Managing conflict;
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others;
• Informed and transparent decision making.

Functional Competencies:

Communications and Networking

• Has excellent oral communication 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.

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;
• Focuse 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.

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.

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.

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:

• University degree in the following areas: labour economics, business management, management, public policy or other related fields.

Experience:

• At least 3 years of progressive work experience in the field of economics and/or project management in the sphere of economic development / social development/employment promotion.

           Work experience in any development organization is an advantage;.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English, proficiency in Uzbek and Russian languages.

Others:

• Good understanding of  private sector development issues, business related legislation, business regulatory environment;
• Proven experience in development of research papers and reports, publications and analytical notes;
• Understanding of Gender equality concept and women empowerment issue and youth/employment issues
• Initiative and strong leadership skills;
• Result and client-orientations;
• Strong analytical, writing, presentation and communication skills;
• Ability to use information and communication technology as a tool and resource;
• Experience in handling web-based management systems.

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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