Project Manager, Mogadishu

• Organization: UNOPS - United Nations Office for Project Services
• Country: Somalia
• City: Mogadishu
• Office: UNOPS Mogadishu
• Follow @UNjobs

Closing date: Monday, 15 August 2016

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Vacancy code VA/2016/B5001/10520
Position title Project Manager
Level ICS-10
Department/office PSC, Peace & Security Centre
Duty station Mogadishu, Somalia
Contract type International ICA
Contract level IICA-2
Duration 12 months renewable subject to funds availability and satisfactory performance
Application period 02-Aug-2016 to 16-Aug-2016
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
Background Information - UNOPS
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.
Background Information - PSC
Peace and Security Centre
The UNOPS Peace and Security Centre (PSC) is a principal service provider in the field of mine action with the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), UNDP, UNICEF, Governments of mine-affected countries and other mine action partners. The Centre is responsible to administer, provide support and oversight of the day-to-day management of the Project Field offices, both according to the client requirements and in line with UNOPS rules and regulations.
It is headed by the Centre Director who has the overall authority and accountability for the performance of the Peace and Security Centre on behalf of its clients.
Purpose and Scope of Assignment
The project manager is responsible to produce/read the project initiation documents (PID), Legal Agreement and have a thorough understanding of the terms, conditions, and the respective roles and responsibilities of the partners/stakeholders to ensure the project(s) products are capable of meeting the business cases for both UNOPS and UNMAS. Success of the project(s) and hence Project Manager will be based on the Success Criteria of UNOPS and UNMAS engagements which are linked to the below responsibilities.
Functional Responsibilities
Stakeholder Management:

• Establish solid working relationship with the project board (Executive, Senior Users and Senior Suppliers), UNMAS 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 UNMAS 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)

Delivery and Performance:

• 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, Programme unit and Programme Director of any deviations from the plan
• Participate in coordination meetings with UN including Protection Cluster and UNCT as well as meeting with relevant stakeholders
• Identify and manage risks so that maximum benefit to UNMAS and stakeholders is achieved
• Manage and review product quality and ensure products are accepted
• Work with the Programme team on financial agreements and contribution agreements
• Monitor and evaluate performance of service providers
• Identify and report potential business opportunities for UNOPS/UNMAS to supervisor
• Identify and report threats to UNOPS/UNMAS internal business case to supervisor
• Participate in regular update meetings with UNOPS/UNMAS portfolio managers to discuss progress, risks and issues that may emerge to ensure project stays on track.

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:

i. Highlight Reports
ii. End Stage Report
iii. Operational Closure Checklist
iv. End Project Report
v. Handover Report

• Ensure that all expenditure comply with UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations (FRR) and is coordinated with UNMAS to keep expenditure and deliverables on track.
• 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/UNMAS 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)
• 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 in coordination with UNMAS based on the learning from project deliverables
• Complete lessons learned as per reporting format
• Incorporate lessons learned from others as per planning format

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 management
• 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

Core Values and Principles: 1. Understand and respect UNOPS sustainability principles

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

2. Understand and Respect National ownership and capacity

• Understand the principles of the Paris Declaration on aid effectiveness and mainstream them into the project plans
• Seek opportunities to recruit qualified local staff
• Look for ways to build capacity of local counterparts

3. Partnerships and Coordination Understand the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and UNOPS, the project's place in the UN system

• Strive to build strong partnerships and effective coordination among relevant project actors (e.g. United Nations, governments, and non-governmental organizations or other relevant partners)

4. Accountability for results and the use of resources

• The project management processes are designed to deliver maximum accountability, transparency and results. If a project or processes is not in line with this, it is the responsibility of the PM to raise the issue with a supervisor

5. Excellence

• Contribute to innovation and the adaptation of best practice standards of sustainability and quality.

Competencies
Planning and Organising: develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
Communication: speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language style and format to match the audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed
Client Orientation - Considers all those to whom services are provided to be 'clients ' and seeks to see things from clients' point of view; Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; Identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep; informed and anticipate problems; Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client
Judgement/Decision-making - Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; Gathers relevant information before making a decision; Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the organization; Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; Checks assumptions against facts; Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; Makes tough decisions when necessary
Education/Experience/Language requirements
Education

• Advanced University Degree in Business Administration, International Relations, Political/Security/Development Studies, or other relevant discipline with 5 years of in project development and management, with focus on monitoring, reporting, development and coordination or other relevant discipline in either public or private sector organizations
• University Degree (bachelor's degree / first level) with a addition 2 years (total 7 years) of relevant professional experience in project development and management, with focus on monitoring, reporting, development and coordination or other relevant discipline in either public or private sector organizations may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience

• Five years of progressive experience in project development and management, with focus on monitoring, reporting, development and coordination or other relevant discipline in either public or private sector organizations
• Experience in Project Design, Project Development, Project Management, Project Monitoring, Project Evaluation and Multistage Reporting is desired
• Experience of working with Financial Rules and Regulations as well as Budget Management is desired
• Experience in Capacity Building is desired
• Experience in Client Management, Stakeholder Management, Knowledge Management as well as Contracts Negotiation is desired
• Experience working in Mine action related projects/programmes desired
• Experience working in the humanitarian sector and/or United Nations Country Team (UNCT) desired
• Experience working with Governments to coordinate activities, strengthen capacity and advocate desired
• International organisations experience desired
• Management experience desired
• Prior experience of IMSMA is desired
• Experience working in Somalia would be desired

Language requirements:

• Fluency in written and oral English.

Certifications
PRINCE2® Foundation is required
PRINCE2 ® Practitioner is desired
Contract type, level and duration
Contract type: International ICA
Contract level: IICA-2 (ICS-10)
Contract duration: 12 months renewable subject to fund availability and satisfactory performance.
For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link: https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx
Additional Considerations

• 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.
• 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.