Project Manager (Health Infrastructure and Equipment), Multiple positions

Myanmar is one of UNOPS leading offices in Asia, acting as fund manager for three of the largest development programmes in the country, namely the Access to Health Fund, the Livelihood and Food Security Fund (LIFT) and the Joint Peace Fund (JPF). In addition, UNOPS Myanmar is Principal Recipient for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Myanmar and Cambodia, and for the Global Fund Regional Artemisinin-resistance Initiative targeting drug resistant malaria in the Greater Mekong sub-region. UNOPS provides procurement, infrastructure and project management services to a wide range of organizations in the country, including the Government of Myanmar, international development partners, other UN agencies, NGOs and INGOs. UNOPS Myanmar plays a critical role in ensuring that the quality of services provided to its partners meets stringent requirements of speed, efficiency and cost effectiveness.  

Through this specific vacancy announcement UNOPS Myanmar is seeking the services of a qualified professional who will take over the management of one or several projects in the health sector.  The(se) project(s) could include both some infrastructure components such as construction and rehabilitation of health facilities and some procurement activities of medical equipment and consumables. 

The Project Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the project(s) and provides services to the different donors, partners and beneficiaries associated with his/her project(s).  He/she is expected to meet and exceed the organization's performance and delivery goals.

Under the overall guidance of the Head of Programme, and in close coordination with the Infrastructure Manager; the Project Manager will be responsible for all aspects of the project life-cycle in accordance with the Project Document, the legal agreement between UNOPS and the donor, and in compliance with Organizational Directives and Administrative Instructions on Project Management. 

The Project Manager acts on behalf of the Project Board to manage the project on an ongoing basis during the Implementation Stage. The main responsibility of a Project Manager is to ensure that the project outputs are delivered within the specified project tolerances of time, cost, quality, scope, risk and benefits. He/she is expected to meet the organization’s performance and delivery goals.

UNOPS operates in complex contexts where resources might be scarce, local capacity low and where professional judgement and experience in these environments are of uttermost importance.

Infrastructure Project Managers at this level are expected to manage infrastructure implementation projects that are of low to moderate complexity from a stakeholder management, financial management,risk management,  governance, resource management and quality management perspectives.

1. 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/OC Director and the project(s)

2. Delivery and Performance:

• Develop, complete  and update project plans

• Implement and control 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 the 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 

• Manage and oversee the production of all deliverables taking responsibility for overall progress and use of resources and initiating corrective actions as needed;

• Liaise with external suppliers, as well as with all internal units of UNOPS MMOC Myanmar for timely planning and execution of project activities;

• Manage acceptance and delivery of work packages

• Monitor project progress ensuring that work packages are being executed properly

• Control project and work packages changes

• Identify, and anticipate in a timely manner, potential risks and issues and advises mitigating measures to senior management/ Project Board so that maximum benefit to partner(s) and other stakeholders is achieved

• Identify and report to the supervisor potential business opportunities for UNOPS

3. Procedures:

• Comply with all organizational policy and specifically the Project Management Manual

• Prepare/adapt all relevant plans for approval by the Project Board.

• Manage the reporting obligations defined in the Legal Agreement(s) and in the Implementation Plan

• Prepare the following reports:

  1. Highlight Reports

  2. End Stage Reports

  3. Operational Closure Checklist

  4. End Project Report

  5. Handover Report

• Ensure maintenance of the project files and lessons learned are recorded

• 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 expenditures against the budget (based on accurate financial reports)

• 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.

• For project closure purposes, provide a formal handover of the project to the closure manager

• Support project audit activities, including planning, preparation and coordination during the audits and follow up on audit observations/recommendations

4. Quality assurance

• Work with internal stakeholders to ensure projects comply with audit requirements

• Work with procurement/purchasing staff to ensure effective interface with suppliers' quality systems

• Coordinate quality reviews of project documents and deliverables

• Provide quality control for management outputs (project documents, reports, etc.)

5. 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

6. 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 OC Director

• 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

7. Monitoring and Progress Controls

• Prepare and issue regular project and/or financial reports in accordance with Partner and UNOPS requirements for reporting

• Regularly review project status, evaluating performance criteria (scope, cost, schedule and quality)

• Maintain diaries and progress reports as required by the organization’s standard procedures

• Provide routine oversight and analysis of delivery data within the dashboard system

• Ensure all project team members track and regularly update milestones and targets for the duration of projects' life span

8. Core Values and Principles:

• Understand and respect UNOPS sustainability principles

1. Look for ways to embed UNOPS sustainability principles in day to day project management
2. Seek opportunities to champion gender equality at work place
3. Champion and communicate project’s sustainability aspects with key stakeholders

A.  Education

• Advanced University Degree in at least one of the relevant technical disciplines such as (Civil Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Medical Equipment Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Structural Engineering, Architecture, etc.).

• A combination of Bachelor’s degree with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience in project management may be accepted in lieu of the education requirements outlined above.

Certification

• PRINCE2 Practitioner Certification or any Project Management professional certification– Preferred

• Complete the UNOPS Project Management Foundation course (within one year after signing this TOR)

• A relevant combination of academic credentials and/or industry certifications and qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the university education.                                                  

B. Work Experience 

• A minimum of 5 years' experience in implementing and managing projects in the health sector (infrastructure and/or equipment and/or technical assistance) is required.

• Experience in contract management is an asset.

• Experience in planning and applying Health & Safety procedures is an asset.

• Experience in developing Procurement strategies is an asset.

• Experience in risk management for infrastructure implementation projects is an asset.

• Prior experience working in international organisations, international development, post-disaster and/or emergency contexts would also be an advantage.

• Experience in developing countries or post conflict environments is an asset.

• Prior experience and a sound knowledge of Myanmar context will be a distinctive advantage.

C.  Language

• Fluency in English is required.

• Knowledge of the Myanmar language (Burmese) would be an asset.

Contract type:         

• Locals (nationals or residents of Myanmar) (LICA)

• Internationals that can settle in Yangon, Myanmar (IICA)

In this vacancy announcement, international or local candidates will be considered. The contractual conditions will be in accordance with the profile of each candidate.

The type of contract (local or international) will depend on the profile of the selected candidate

• 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.