Programme Manager

UNOPS in the Cameroon provides services from its main office in Yaoundé (and presently mainly from the Hub office in Kinshasa) and will be opening offices located in several regions of the country. The organization responds to the needs of the Cameroon Government through funding from bilateral donors such as JICA and KOICA, international financial institutions such as the World Bank and African Development Bank and United Nations agencies such as UNESCO, FIDA, and UNDP. UNOPS in Cameroon provides a wide range of procurement, contract management and human resources services and aims to expand into project management, basic service provisions and other related services, specifically in economic and social infrastructure (construction and rehabilitation) and financial management in sectors such as WASH, Agriculture, Health, Environment & Climate Change Mitigation.

Under the direct supervision of the CDOH Director, seconded by the Head of Programme, the Programme Manager is responsible to read all project initiation documents (PID), Legal and Financial Agreements 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 project(s) and hence of the Programme Manager will be based on the Success Criteria of UNOPS engagements which are linked to the below responsibilities.

The Programme Manager oversees the programme/project portfolio of the country of Cameroon and is expected to manage one or more highly complex or risky multidisciplinary project(s) delivering against an aggressive timeline.  Project(s) of this caliber are highly strategic and visible for UNOPS. The Programme Manager is responsible for all aspects of the project life cycle which he/she manages. S/he must be able to apply, at a mastery level, the below duties and responsibilities of the programme and projects’ success criteria:

Special call for Application
Cameroonians (1) Who are residing outside of Cameroon at the time of application (2) Who have been living there five years or more (3) Who are fulfilling the requirements stated on this job advert are strongly encouraged to apply.

Stakeholder Management:

• Represent UNOPS on Project Boards
• Establish solid working relationship with the project board (Executive, Senior Users and Senior Suppliers), client and key stakeholders (Government, Donors/Funders, national beneficiaries);
• 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);
• Providing advice and guidance on specific and general project management issues and where appropriate rule of law and police related project support;
• Manage the information flows between the Project Board and the project(s).

Delivery and Performance:

• Provide senior-level strategic advice for empowering leadership by the UNOPS Cameroon Office and continued enhancements of the vision and strategies pursued for Cameroon by the UNOPS CDOH Hub Office;
• Oversee the country office programme’s projects effectively;
• 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 supervisor of any deviations from the plan(s);
• 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, develop, and report potential business opportunities for UNOPS to supervisor;
• Identify and report threats to UNOPS internal business case to supervisor.
• Manage budgets efficiently;

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;

• Maintain the following: i. Electronic Blue File; ii. Procurement, HR and Finance files as required by those practices as per OD12;
• 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;
• Understand and manage UNOPS overheads, allocable charges, and related corporate charges as they apply to the project;
• Understand the unique structures of the UN and budget appropriately for personnel;
• Manage and remain accountable for expenditures against the budget (based on accurate financial reports);
• Monitor required environmental and social safeguard policies & their implementation;
• Where the Project Manager has no delegation as a committing officer, s/he retains these responsibilities and will monitor and instruct/request others to carry out the relevant commitments and disbursements.

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 programme and 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 supervisor;
• 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 Programme Leader role and that of 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.
• Align with gender parity goals;

• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressive experience in programme/project management in either public or private sector organisations is required.

• At least two (2) experience in public infrastructure development (construction, rehabilitation) especially in the Water and Sanitation (WASH) & Environmental sectors to include waste management experience is required.

• At least three (3) years Team Leader/ Management experience/skills is required.

• Experience in programme and/or project development with a focus on training, and coordination in either public or private sector organizations is an advantage.

• Previous experience in the implementation of complex sector-wide programme will be highly distinct.

• Previous experience with UNOPS or a UN Agency is an advantage.

• At least two (2) years of experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Office) as well as web-based management systems is required.

• Fluent in French is required
• Fluent in English is required

• 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.
• Yaoundé is a Family Duty Station
• 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.