Project Manager

The Nordic Support for Progress of North Macedonia project is funded by the Kingdom of Norway, through the Norwegian Embassy, and the Kingdom of Sweden, through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. The project aims to enhance the capacity of the Republic of North Macedonia for EU integration by providing technical assistance to state institutions during the accession period. The project activities are aimed toward communication of the benefits of the EU integration process, as well as at strengthening the transparency of the process and strengthening the public awareness by inclusion of CSO’s and media in all phases of the accession process.

At the local level, the project will strengthen the local infrastructure of the less developed municipalities by financially supporting certain infrastructure projects, thus contributing to an improved social inclusion in these regions. Additionally the project will support new employments by embedding project activities within the active labour measures and supporting start-up companies and conducting workplace trainings. 

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 projects products are capable of meeting the business cases for both UNOPS and the client. Success of the projects 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 directions, the below duties and responsibilities of the project success criteria:

Stakeholder Management:

• Establish solid working relationship with the project board (Executive, Senior Users and Senior Suppliers), client and key stakeholders
• Manage communications and ensure stakeholders are aware of project activities, progress, exceptions and are in a position to accept handover products.
• Advise the client on issues that may impact the achievement of their outcomes (including issues of sustainability and post project requirements such as maintenance)
• Manage the information flows between the Project Board/Programme Manager and the project(s)

Delivery and Performance:

• Develop and maintain project plans
• Implement approved project plans (including the establishment of milestones) within tolerances set by the project board
• Embed sustainability dimensions including social and gender inclusion, environmental and economic aspects into project life cycle.
• Manage the production of the required products, taking responsibility for overall progress and use of resources and initiating corrective action where necessary
• Liaise with any external suppliers or account managers.
• Authorize Work Packages
• Advise the Project Board and Programme Manager of any deviations from the plan
• Identify and manage risks so that maximum benefit to client and stakeholders is achieved
• Manage and review product quality and ensure products are accepted
• Monitor and evaluate performance of service providers
• Identify and report potential business opportunities for UNOPS to supervisor(s)
• Identify and report threats to UNOPS internal business case to supervisor(s)

Procedures:

• Follow the Project Management Cycle Instructions and ensure that all organizational policy is complied with (Organizational Directives and Administrative Instructions)
• Prepare/adapt the following plans for approval by the Project Board:  I. Project Initiation Documentation; II. Stage/Exception Plans and relevant Product Descriptions
• Prepare the following reports:

1. Highlight Reports
2. End Stage Reports
3. Operational Closure Checklist
4. End Project Report
5. Handover Report

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 Programme Manager
• Have a thorough understanding of UNOPS personnel contract modalities (including ICA and Staff)
• Select, recruit and train team as required by project plans
• Perform the Team Manager role, unless appointed to another person(s)
• Perform Project Support role, unless appointed to another person or corporate/programme function
• Ensure safety and security for all personnel and comply with UNDSS standards

Core Values and Principles:

• Understand and respect UNOPS sustainability principles

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

II. Seek opportunities to champion gender equality at work place

III. Champion and communicate project’s sustainability aspects with key stakeholders

• Understand and Respect National ownership and capacity

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

ii.  Seek opportunities to recruit qualified local staff

iii. Look for ways to build capacity of local counterparts

• Partnerships and Coordination

i.  Understand the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and UNOPS, the project’s place in the UN system

ii. 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

i. 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 to a supervisor

• Excellence

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

Education

• Advanced University Degree preferably in Project Management, Business Administration, International Relations, Political Science, Social/Development Studies, or other relevant discipline is required
• University Degree (bachelor’s degree/first level) with a combination of two additional years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advance university degree

Work Experience

• Two years (or more based on academic credentials) of experience in project development and management, with focus on implementation and monitoring, reporting, development and coordination is required
• Experience in EU integration process is required
• Experience in dealing with the government, ministries and civil society would be a strong asset

Language Requirements

• Fluency in English and Macedonian is required

Driving license

• Driving license and ability to travel independently is required

• PRINCE2® Practitioner certification will be considered as an asset

This is a local position, it is therefore open to Nationals of North Macedonia and to individuals who have a valid residence/work permit. Contract type: Ongoing ICA
Contract level: Local ICA 9
Contract duration: Open-ended subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and/or to satisfactory performance

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

• 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.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• 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
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• 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.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.