Overview
Lead projects that drive partner goals, ensuring successful delivery within set tolerances and fostering strong stakeholder relationships. The role will support the effective implementation of programme activities, ensuring day-to-day coordination, delivery, and oversight of a portfolio spanning innovation, research, and digital initiatives.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop, complete and update the project implementation plan.
- Implement the approved plan (including establishment of milestones) within tolerances set by the Project Board.
- Embed sustainability dimensions, including social and gender considerations, and environmental and economic aspects, into the project life span.
- Manage the production of required outputs, taking responsibility for overall progress and use of resources while initiating corrective action where necessary.
- Ensure that quality of work packages and deliverables comply with the quality requirements defined in the implementation plan.
- Liaise with external suppliers or account managers to ensure quality and timely delivery of outputs.
- Manage acceptance and delivery of work packages.
- Monitor project progress, control project variances (if any), and manage changes.
- Identify, anticipate and advise senior management and the project board on mitigating measures against project risks to ensure that benefits to partners and other stakeholders are maximized.
- Advocate and promote UNOPS service offerings, identify and report potential growth opportunities for UNOPS.
- Comply with the organization’s policies and standards, and ensure project information is kept updated in project management systems.
- Be aware of applicable local laws and regulations, and ensure adherence.
- Prepare and adapt all relevant plans for approval by the project board, and manage baselines.
- Manage the reporting obligations defined in the implementation plan and legal agreements.
- Maintain project documentation in an orderly manner for accessibility and audit support when needed.
- Understand and apply the UNOPS financial rules and regulations.
- Be accountable for the use of delegation of authority (where applicable) and ensure compliance with relevant policies and standards of ethics.
- Provide a formal handover of the project to the closure manager when applicable.
- Support project audit activities, including planning, preparation and coordination during audits and follow-up on audit observations/ recommendations.
- Include a results framework and M&E plan in the project implementation plan with clearly defined indicators and agreed targets, ensure regular monitoring and tracking of project results.
- Prepare and issue regular project and financial reports in accordance with partner and UNOPS requirements for reporting.
- Regularly review project status and evaluate performance criteria (scope, cost, schedule, and quality).
- Maintain diaries and progress reports as required by UNOPS standard operating 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 the project life span.
- Develop stakeholder engagement strategies and plans.
- Actively engage stakeholders, take feedback, and adjust as necessary.
- Establish solid working relationships with the project board (executive, senior users and senior suppliers); clients; and key stakeholders.
- Enable formulation of project communication plans and monitor effectiveness of project communications.
- Coordinate stakeholder engagement and communication, ensuring effective timing and interdependency management of communications.
- Ensure stakeholders are aware of project activities, progress, and exceptions, and are in a position to accept handover outputs.
- Work with internal stakeholders to ensure projects comply with audit requirements.
- Work with procurement/ purchasing personnel to ensure effective interface with suppliers’ quality systems.
- Coordinate quality reviews of project documents and deliverables.
- Provide quality control for management outputs (e.g. project documents, reports, etc).
- Create a learning environment for the project team, encourage knowledge sharing and training to contribute to longer-term capacity building.
- Actively interact with other project managers and the wider project management (PM) community, share case studies, lessons learned and best practices.
- Stay abreast with latest updates and good practices of the profession, participate in training and learning activities for self to advance proficiency and competency.
- Ensure lessons learned are shared in a timely and appropriate manner.
- Provide feedback to corporate practice groups on policy and systems, when needed.
- Provide feedback to functional groups on policies and related guidance to support the continuous improvement of UNOPS policy framework.
- Organise and structure the project team, ensure clearly defined roles and responsibilities.
- Provide regular guidance and direction, as needed, and support the team in effectively performing their tasks.
- Lead and motivate the project management team, and manage performance.
- Ensure performance reviews are conducted fairly, accurately, and on time.
- Select, recruit, and train project teams as required, taking gender parity and diversity objectives into account.
- Ensure safety and security for all project personnel in compliance with the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) standards.
Required Experience
- A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) with 7 years of relevant experience is required.
- An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) with 5 years of relevant experience is required.
- Relevant experience is work in the implementation of complex projects/ programmes, or related areas.
- Experience in project planning, implementation, and control, including project communication and reporting, is required.
- Experience coordinating activities across multiple partners, including public institutions, international organisations, academia, or private-sector actors is required.
- Experience of managing project risks in a multi-stakeholder context is required.
- Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations is desired.
- Experience supporting partnerships involving research institutions or academic collaboration (e.g. joint research, fellowships, knowledge exchange) is desirable.
- Experience working on initiatives related to innovation, digital transformation, data, or technology-driven programmes is desired.
Qualifications
- A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent), preferably in international development, public policy, project management, international relations, economics, social sciences, or a related field.
- An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent), preferably in international development, public policy, project management, international relations, economics, social sciences, or a related field.
- Project management certification from a globally recognised institute is desired.
- Specialisation or training in one or more of the following areas is an asset: innovation, digital transformation, data and technology policy, or partnership development.
