Regional Infrastructure and Project Management Specialist

The Office of the Regional Director for Africa is located in Copenhagen and leads a geographically-defined portfolio of engagements, leads strategy and business development for the region, follows management of operations, and ensuring appropriate risk management.

The Africa region (AFR) currently consists of eight Offices or Multi-Country Offices located in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Ethiopia, Ghana, Tunisia, Kenya, Somalia and South-Sudan. 

Within UNOPS, the objectives of the Infrastructure and Project Management Group’s (IPMG) and Shared Service Centre’ (SSC) Project Management & Infrastructure (PMI) unit are to serve the organization’s personnel and partners by broadening their infrastructure and project management capabilities, while disseminating best-practices in both of these areas. Through this work, the two groups help facilitate the successful delivery of programmes and projects around the world. The incumbent will play a meaningful role working within the Africa Region (AFR) while working closely with IPMG and SSC’s PMI unit.

The  incumbent will be responsible for providing technical advice and support in infrastructure and project management to the UNOPS offices across the Africa Region in line with the Regional Strategy. 

This role will support the Africa region with quality assurance, support and advice regarding the implementation of infrastructure projects, and partnerships development. The incumbent will support the partnerships development agenda in Africa through their expertise, regional contacts and ability to demonstrate a depth of experience in their field. 

The Regional Infrastructure and Project Management Specialist will be a critical link between AFR and its operations in the field, as well as IPMG and SSC’s PMI unit. This position will report to the Regional Infrastructure and Project Management Advisor. The  incumbent will be required to work in a collaborative manner, with colleagues at all levels across the organization. 

This role will be based in Copenhagen, Denmark but should business needs change, the duty station may be re-located within the Africa Region. 

The Regional Infrastructure and Project Management Specialist will be responsible for representing all aspects of the practice within the Africa region as delegated by the Regional Infrastructure and Project Management Advisor.  Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to: 

1. Partnerships Development Support

• Support countries in addressing identified operational risk, review of potential infrastructure engagement as appropriate, and advice to the Multi-country Directors on risk identification and mitigations measures accordingly;
• S/he will provide advice and support on new initiatives, with focus on quality assurance and quality control of project documents, costing and cost implications, implementation plans, achievements and benchmark indicators;
• S/he will advise and assist with technical input to proposals, including project planning, governance, and approach considerations.

2. Technical Advice & Quality Assurance

• Provide technical advice and a quality assurance framework in relation to infrastructure projects
• Provide advice to the preparation of  technical specifications, Bills of Quantities, bidding documentation, engineering drawings, construction methodologies, construction planning and programming, and assessments of contractors' technical capacity to deliver;
• Assessment of the quality of design and construction;
• Advising the UNOPS Country management teams regarding compliance with UNOPS Health and Safety and Environmental Management System. 

3. Knowledge Sharing and Technical leadership

• Ensure best practice guidance is disseminated and communicated throughout the region and within the organisation more generally;
• Conduct missions to and undertake assessments of Country Offices and projects to review and advise on quality and progress related issues, and highlight operational risks, within the region.

4. Project Management Technical Advice and Implementation Support  

• The incumbent will provide substantive support to country offices in the planning and implementation of projects and programmes (particularly infrastructure related ones) throughout their whole life cycle within the region he/she is assigned;
• Advising the Country management Teams regarding design considerations and design review requirements, and being aware of the capacity and capabilities of the various in-house units across the regions;
• Support with the identification, engagement and management of local and regional consultancy firms providing these services;
• S/he will be responsible for providing advice to projects or programmes that may need to be brought back to stability;
• Provide advice to country offices on how to embed best practices of project and programme governance, risk management, project and programme management in their Country Offices.
• Advise and provide expertise/support in the implementation of UNOPS Project and Programme Management methodologies, which are based on best practices as recommended by PMI and PRINCE2®;
• Play a crucial role in advising UNOPS Programme and Project Managers on measures to strengthen national capacity building with regards to sustainable project management best practices, as well as other cross cutting issues, and support a stronger focus on benefit management of projects;
• In coordination with IPMG and SSC’s PMI unit, the incumbent will assist countries in the development of work plans and provide tangible support, where relevant, in addressing risk mitigation measures identified through relevant corporate internal Assessments, follow-up on progress and and provide advisory support to field staff on UNOPS best practices, engagement risks, management models, and use of PM tools and systems.

Education:

• An advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent such as MEng, MASc) in Civil Engineering (CEng, PE, P. Eng.) or relevant field is required;
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor's or equivalent such as BEng, BASc) in combination with 2 additional years of experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree;
• A relevant professional certification or technical diploma in combination with 9 additional years of experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
  

Certifications:

• Certification in a recognized project management methodology, e.g. PRINCE2® or PMP is a strong asset. 

Work Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years’ progressive work experience in an Engineering and/or Construction Management role is required (with an advanced university degree);
• A minimum of 2 years’ progressive work experience in Project Management is required;
• Experience dealing with government officials is an asset;
• Experience  working in developing countries (especially Africa) in an international environment is highly desired;
• Experience working in and providing creative technical solutions for post-conflict and/or, post-disaster environments is an asset;
• Experience working on energy programmes (especially solar power), health infrastructure, water & sanitation and waste to energy is an asset.

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required;
• Fluency in French 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.
• 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
• 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.

Contract type: ICA Contract level:  I-ICA 2
Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance

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.