Project Manager

The Inclusive Governance of Natural Resources Project (IGNR) aims to support greater inclusiveness in natural resource governance especially for women and youth to reduce conflict in the Solomon Islands. Such natural resources include land management and ownership, forestry and logging rights, mining and fishing.

 

Under the overall guidance and in coordination with the UNDP Sub-Office in the Solomon Islands, UN Women, the Solomon Islands Government stakeholders, the Project Manager will implement the agreed project activities and ensure that objectives are reached as set out in the project document. The Project Manager will report directly to UNDP Country Manager and UN Women Deputy Head and be in close working partnership with Ministry of Traditional Governance, Peace and Ecclesiastical Affairs (MTGPEA), Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey (MLHS), Ministry Women, Youth and Children Affairs (MWYCFA), and the Prime Minister Office. The Project Manager will also serve as an advisor to the Solomon Islands Government team.

 

The PM will be responsible for the overall management and administration of the project in close consultation with UNDP and UN Women country team and will have the following responsibilities under the guidance of the project board. The PM’s tasks will entail support to formulation, implementation issues, evaluations and lessons learned exercises. The lessons learned in this project will feed into the implementation of the long-term governance and youth programme.

Summary of key functions:

 

The specific duties and responsibilities during the assignment will include, but not be limited to, the following:

Coordinate and provide technical advice in peacebuilding related issues;

•Lead the strategic planning, formulation and monitoring of programmatic issues and is a senior advisor to MNURP, MLHS, MWYCFA and the PMO on issues related to peacebuilding activities.

•Provide institutional and policy advice on all aspects of capacity building of the government team working on sustaining peace in Solomon Islands.

•Identify programme development challenges and highlights key peacebuilding issues and provides policy advice based on best global experiences and practices.

•Provide substantial advice in formulating policy options for SIG on peace and transition related issues.

•Design and develop concept on inclusive dialogues and mechanisms for strengthening coordinating with the Government, national and international stakeholders on peace building activities. 

•Develop analysis on key national issues that hinders/affected ability of the country to maintain peaceful coexistence and stability and post conflict transition in Solomon Islands and incorporate them as topics/themes into national dialogues at the national and the provincial level.

 

Provide technical lead for project planning, management and implementation of IGNR and Peacebuilding Fund programme;

 

•Ensure effective design, organization and implementation of agreed activities under PBF and assisting in the identification of short-term experts on specific subject areas.

•In coordination with UN and SIG team provide direct guidance to national and international technical staff working with the project;

•Ensure the overall relevance, and performance of the project, the effective realization and quality of outputs, and adherence to applicable UNDP and SIG standards, rules and regulations;

•Promote gender equality and women’s participation in the dialogues and peacebuilding work;

•Ensure strong partnerships and coordination between the project, MNURP, MWYCFA, PMO, PBF team, and other stakeholders, by facilitating communication and exchange of lessons learned and good practices;

•Provide technical advice to the project in developing baselines and indicators for project monitoring and evaluation, as well as in preparing project reports focused on capturing results, lessons learned and good practices for possible wider application;

•Exercise overall responsibility for planning, implementation, management, monitoring and coordination aspects of the project operations and personnel;

•In close consultation with the Project Board, ensure the efficient functioning of the project management assurance;

•Coordinate with other international organizations that provide support to the peacebuilding activities;

•Manage the activities of the project team, as well as local and international experts;

•Manage UNDP and UN Women support and advise SIG in all areas of peacebuilding;

•Ensure timely production and submission of progress reports to UN PBF;

•Organize the Project Board Meeting, project review and/or evaluation meetings;

•Follow-up on the implementation of Project Board decisions and recommendation;

•Perform other duties as required.

 

Provide technical lead and senior level advice regarding capacity building to SIG Government.

•Identify priorities and capacity development needs of MNURP and MWYCFA in the design of the peacebuilding programme, technical assistance support, quarterly work plans, and establish a timely and participatory work planning process; and

•Provide technical advice to enhance the capacity of the SIG team.

 

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates high moral integrity by modeling the UN's values and ethical standards, sound political judgment, as diplomacy, impartially and discretion and proved capacity of initiative, leadership and autonomy.

Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic, goals of UNDP.

Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitively and adaptability.

Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies

 

Strategic Policy Direction

Be able to lead the strategic planning, formulation and monitoring of programmatic issues and is the key senior policy advisor to SIG

Ability to identify programme development challenges and highlights key peacebuilding issues and provides policy advice based on best global experiences and practices.

Demonstrates capacity to provide substantial advice in formulating policy options for SIG on peacebuilding and transition issues.

Programme Support

To be able to advise SIG leadership on strategies in preparing a long-term capacity building strategy.

To be able to provide advice and recommendations to the UN team on how UN can further strengthen and support the government after the end of PBF project.

To be able to guide and advise, in close consultation with the Project Board in preparation of the project activities and budgets of the project.

Management

Demonstrates proven team-working skills, specific experience of mentoring colleagues and of other aspects of capacity development.

Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback.

Effective communication skills and ability to establish good working relationships with national and local authorities, and donor partners.

Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure.

Ability to work and act under pressure and with discretion in a politically sensitive environment, with a minimum of comfort.

Proven negotiation, analytical, networking and organizational skills.

Development and Operational Effectiveness

Demonstrates capacity to plan, prioritize and deliver tasks on time to meet goals in a highly pressured environment and to support other colleagues in achieving similar goals.

Demonstrates capacity to respond flexible and positively to change through active involvement and generation of innovative, practical solutions to challenging situations.

Ability to facilitate strategic planning, results-based management and reporting.

Ability to facilitate implementation, monitoring and evaluation of project interventions as well as resource mobilization in close consultation with local counterparts and transferring knowledge.

Knowledge Management and Learning

Promotes knowledge management and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example: Excellent knowledge of capacity building theory and the application of methodology: good understanding of capacity assessment methodologies;

Excellent ability to identify significant capacity building opportunities, ability to get capacity built, excellent ability to demonstrate national capacities built (mastery of the tools and their application);

 

Communications and Networking 

Has excellent oral communication skills in English and conflict resolution competency to manage inter-group dynamics and mediate conflicting interests of varied actors.

Has excellent written communication skills in English, 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.

Leadership and Self-Management

Capacity to perform effectively under pressure.

Good inter-personal and teamwork skills, networking aptitude, ability to work in multicultural environment and awareness of gender issues in the workplace.

Focuses on result for the client.

Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.

Demonstrates openness to change.

Responds positively to feedback and differing points of view.

Education:Masters with 6 years and/or bachelor’s degree with 10 years’ experience equivalent in international relations, project management, Peace and development, Law, Public Administration or a related field. 

 

 

Experience:At least six years of progressive experiences in working in the field of community security, peacebuilding, development or humanitarian programmes.

 

Extensive experience working within a Government Institution at senior or higher levels;

 

Previous experience with UN systems and good knowledge of UNDP rules and procedures is preferable.

 

Strong management skills in handling counterparts and stakeholder relationships and partnerships.

 

Experience in donor coordination, donor-government relations and managing a multi-donor basket fund is an asset;

 

Computer proficiency, including working knowledge of ATLAS, MS Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Front Page, Adobe In-Design; web-based management systems.

 

Language Requirements:Full working knowledge of English, including excellent drafting and presentation skills

 

Pidgin is desired