Project Manager (Coastal Engineering)

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, Governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner. Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations. With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it. A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale.

UNOPS South East Asia and Pacific Multi Country Office

The South East Asia and Pacific Multi Country Office (SEAMCO) supports, develops and oversees the UNOPS portfolio of projects in South East Asia and the Pacific. SEAMCO was established in January 2023 following the merger of the Thailand Multi-Country Office, which covered 20 countries across  North East Asia, South East Asia and the Pacific, and the Cambodia Multi-Country Office, which covered 4 countries South East Asia - 3 countries in the Mekong Sub-region (Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam) and the Philippines.  SEAMCO currently covers 24 countries across North East Asia, South East Asia and the Pacific. With its head office in Bangkok, the Multi-Country Office comprises nine business units: SEAMCO Thailand, SEAMCO Indonesia,  SEAMCO Pacific Operations Cluster, SEAMCO Papua New Guinea, SEAMCO China, SEAMCO Vietnam, SEAMCO Lao PDR, SEAMCO Philippines and SEAMCO Cambodia.

In 2022, the UNOPS SEAMCO implemented projects worth more than USD 95 million, in the areas of Energy Transition, Digital Transformations, Sustainable Environmental Management, Climate Change, Waste Management, Rule of Law and Access to Justice, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Post Conflict Reintegration, Emergency Relief, Post COVID19 Economic Transformations, and Health, through HR, procurement, construction, contract management, fund and program management services.  

The Multi Country Office head office in Bangkok provides strategic direction, operational support, delivery oversight and assurance of the excellence of business processes and quality standards across all of the entire Multi Country Office locations. It is also responsible for developing, delivering and managing the portfolio of engagements in the country of the MCO location itself.

UNOPS in Kiribati

Kiribati is one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change and climate-related disasters. Its ability to respond to climate risks is hampered by its highly vulnerable socio-economic and environmental conditions and geographical situation. Low atolls, isolation, small land areas separated by a vast expanse of ocean, a highly concentrated population, and the costs of providing basic services make Kiribati, like all Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), especially vulnerable to external shocks including the adverse impacts of climate change and disasters. Sea-level rise and exacerbated natural disasters, such as drought and extreme weather fluctuations, pose significant and direct additional threats to sectors and resources central to the provision of basic services and national development. UNOPS has been supporting the Government of Kiribati in mitigating the impacts of climate change through the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Small Grants Program (SGP), with a focus on community led development interventions. Despite these efforts, more needs to be done to strengthen Kiribati’s long term resilience to the impacts of climate variability. 

Building on UNOPS activities, and in order to support Kiribati’s Climate Change Policy, coastal protection has been identified as one of the key policy themes for UNOPS future assistance to the country, as coastal areas in Kiribati are extremely vulnerable due to the low-lying atoll topography, and higher spring tides and more frequent and stronger storm surges coupled with sea-level rise significantly increase the country’s exposure to flooding and coastal erosion. This has already affected food crops and fresh groundwater lenses, and caused loss of land, loss of habitats, increased vulnerability to invasive alien species, physical damage to, or loss of assets, and economic and non-economic impacts for the government and communities. The projected rise in sea level, with the already limited land area of a typical atoll and the current human-induced degradation of the environment, will further jeopardize the country’s ability to continue to support the livelihoods of the growing population. This may result in unavoidable migration from Kiribati, threatening its future existence as a nation. It is therefore critically important to include coastal security measures and actions in long-term integrated development plans that are collectively put in place to protect and reinforce Kiribati’s current coastal systems and increase the natural resilience of its islands in the face of the imminent challenges of rising sea levels.

Against this background and to support the Government of Kiribati, UNOPS, in collaboration with Australia and Kiribati Government Partners, have established a new program on coastal adaptation to support in restoring the dignity and safety of communities most at risk of floods and coastal erosion. The program will enhance the safety of flood and coastal erosion affecting populations through a mix of infrastructure and nature based solutions.

Job-Specific Information

In order to support the effective delivery of the Australia-Kiribati Climate Security Program (AKCSI), SEAMCO is recruiting the position of Project Manager (Coastal Engineer) to oversee the day to day implementation of the program. The Project Manager (Coastal Engineer), will be based in Tarawa, Kiribati, for the full duration of the program and will be the senior most UNOPS personnel in the country.

Reporting to the Head of Program, who provides overall guidance, supervision and quality assurance to all programmatic activities across the MCO, the Project Manager (Coastal Engineer) will be responsible for overseeing the day to day implementation of the AKCSI project, including monitoring project activities, budgets, identifying issues, and providing strategies to overcome challenges, leading programmatic problem analysis, solution identification, effectively managing stakeholders and preparing program reports.

1. Coastal protection

2. Programme implementation

3. Operational and logistical support

4. Procedures

5. Knowledge management

• Lead the implementation of AKCSI in collaboration with the Government of Kiribati (Ministry of Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy, MISE; Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resource Development, MFMRD; the Office of the President, Office of Te Berititenti, or OB; the Ministry of Finance and specifically the Climate Finance office and the Planning office, MOF) and other stakeholders including communities and development partners to maximize impacts through targeted program delivery.

• Identify measures to develop coastal adaptation measures under AKCSI, building on the groundwork UNOPS has done to establish the project.

• Work with technical experts and LTA partners to implement program activities to establish seawall solutions and nature based coastal defense measures.

• Oversee the construction and deployment of coastal adaptation measures.

• Day to day monitoring of coastal protection activities in Kiribati.

• Work with contractors, communities and other implementing partners to deliver on all AKCSI programmatic outputs .

• Ensure buy in by all stakeholders in programmatic activities throughout the life of the project.

• Strengthen relationships with the GOK to expedite program delivery.

• Propose program implementation strategies, leveraging on local physical works contractor, availability of construction materials, best international practices.

• Coordinate with UNEP on technical nature based solution aspects of the program.

• Lead the implementation of AKCSI, in line with UNOPS policies and procedures, financial rules and regulations (FRR), Project Management Manual procedures, in view of ensuring effective implementation and program delivery.

• Monitor AKCSIs financial data and alert the head of program on issues and inaccuracies in the implementation of program activities.

• Track expenditure and take relevant action when required to revise budgets through re alignment and amendments.

• Lead project procurement activities and ensure that procurement processes are undertaken according to the procurement manual and in line with established procedures.

• Support the implementation of work plans and work packages within the project.

• Lead programmatic monitoring of project quality indicators, log-frame, theory of change and lead monthly AKCSI assurance tasks in collaboration with the MCO.

• Coordinate stakeholder management, communication, meetings and reports as necessary.

• Proactively coordinate with support units on all administrative matters related to contract management.

• Monitor HR requirements and related activities under the project.

• Prepare TORs for required inputs for technical backstopping support if and when required.

• Manage workshop and stakeholder consultations as needed with the GoK.

• Prepare and maintain project files, including internal and external project reports.

• Manage information flows, and oversee change controls, risk registers and issue management by establishing document control procedures.

• Advise  the head of program, donor and government on deviations to program plans, and manage risks.

• Maintain all supporting project financial documents for audit and review processes.

• Ensure accurate data entry into UNOPS ERP system and One UNOPS projects as needed and appropriate in compliance with UNOPS PMM.

• Monitor project budget and financial expenditure and all administrative procedures in line with the work plan.

• Progress payments and advance requests and prepare project budget revisions.

• Procure financial reports including developing financial monitoring and reporting formats as per UNOPS requirements.

• Monitor budgets and cash flows and report on expense obligations to ensure that deliverables are met.

• Address financial shortfalls and shortcomings in collaboration with the project steering committee, and propose budget revisions and initiate corrective actions as required.

• Draft project reports and documents, ensuring compliance with contractual obligations and UNOPS policies, processes and procedures.

• Prepare amendments of agreements, grants and budget where applicable.

• Maintain records including: quality register; configuration item record; and other registers/logs.

• Work with the support services team to deliver HR, procurement, finance and other operational services for the project.

• Actively participate in communities of practice and share lessons learned and information across the organization.

• Contribute to expertise in tools and techniques.

• Compile lessons learned as per defined reporting formats.

• Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for knowledge building in UNOPS.

In addition to the above, the Project Manager (Coastal Engineer) will support the expansion of the UNOPS portfolio in Kiribati in the area of climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Education

• An advanced university degree (e.g Master) preferably in coastal engineering or civil engineering field of study required.

• A first university degree (e.g Bachelor) in above-mentioned fields with two (2) additional years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of an advanced degree.

Experience

• A minimum of five (5) years engineering experience in the relevant field is required. 

• Specific experience in the investigation, planning, design and construction monitoring of coastal engineering and protection measures is desirable.

• Experience in the Pacific or other small island countries is highly desirable.

• Professional license and or registration with a recognized professional body or institution is highly desirable.

• Prior experience working in UN agencies and/or UNOPS is an asset.

Language 

●  Fluency in English is required.

1. Contract type : International Individual Contractual Agreement (IICA)
2. Contract level : ICS-10/IICA-2
3. Contract duration : Ongoing ICA – ‘Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.’
   

• If the selected candidate is a national of the duty station, a Local Individual Contractor Agreement (LICA) will be issued.
• The contract will only be issued upon project signing.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.