Oct 18, 2015

Project Manager – Military Stipends Project


Employer:UNOPS - United Nations Office for Project Services
Location: Mogadishu , Somalia

Closing date: Wednesday, 22  October 2015
Vacancy code VA/2015/B5311/8652
Duration 1 year (renewable subject to performance and funding)

Background Information - UNOPS
UNOPS 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.

Within these three core areas of expertise, UNOPS provides its partners with advisory, implementation and transactional services, with projects ranging from building schools and hospitals, to procuring goods and services and training local personnel. UNOPS works closely with governments and communities to ensure increased economic, social and environmental sustainability for the projects we support, with a focus on developing national capacity.Working in some of the world's most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices in development, humanitarian and peacebuilding contexts, always satisfying or surpassing partner expectations.

We employ more than 6,000 personnel and on behalf of our partners create thousands more work opportunities in local communities. Through our headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark and a network of offices, we oversee activities in more than 80 countries.


Background Information - Kenya
Located in Nairobi, Kenya, the East Africa Hub manages a growing portfolio of engagements, including associated strategic and operational risks. The East Africa sub-region currently consists of an established Operations Center in South Sudan, an Office in Somalia and a portfolio of engagements managed by the Kenya based East Africa Hub office. This includes primarily transactional projects in partnership with the Nairobi based UN Agencies UN-Habitat and UNEP, and multiple 'operational' projects in Tanzania, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya and several Atlantic and Indian Ocean island states.

The East Africa Hub is currently being reconfigured to ensure, in keeping with the regional strategy, an enhanced scope of engagements and improved operational excellence in the growing area of responsibility. The Advisor is a member of the hub management team and reports to the East Africa Hub Director. Her/his main responsibility is advising the Hub Director and overseeing regional performance. This entails optimizing the organizational structure required to deliver a multi-country and multi-faceted portfolio of projects, and the requirement to strictly monitor management results - in particular with regards to financial stewardship, people excellence and process excellence. It also entails development and delivery of infrastructure operations in a multi-country context.

Somalia Office

The UNOPS Somalia Office is being established in Mogadishu. At present UNOPS manages a significant portfolio of projects in Somalia through a hybrid system that combines a light country footprint and resources provided by the Nairobi based East Africa Hub. UNOPS is now shifting direct representational and oversight functions to Somalia, while maintaining a technical and administrative support capacity at the hub level.

UNOPS works with multiple partners including the Governments of Somalia, bilateral and multilateral donors, and United Nations Agencies, Funds and Programmes. In keeping with the New Deal architecture UNOPS is particularly interested in strengthening its coordination and liaison capacity with relevant Government institutions, Government led mechanisms and emerging trust fund instruments.

Current Somalia operations are largely focused on assisting partners with the implementation of physical infrastructure projects including construction and rehabilitation of rule of law infrastructure, transport infrastructure (roads, airports) and public administration infrastructure. UNOPS also plays a leading role in supporting the Somali Government and the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia in Rule of Law Programming, including through the delivery of military stipends projects.

Military Stipends Project

The Military Stipends Projects aims to support Rule of Law in Somalia through strengthening the systems in place to pay stipends to military officers in Somalia.

General Background
The Project Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the project and provides services to the different donors, partners and beneficiaries. He/she is expected to meet and exceed the organizations performance and delivery goals.

Functional Responsibilities
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 the client.

Success of the project(s) and hence project manager will be based on the success criteria of UNOPS engagements which are linked to the below responsibilities. The project manager is responsible for all aspects of the project life cycle. S/he must be able to apply indepentently, the below duties and responsibilities of the project success criteria:

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:
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 and OC Manager of any deviations from the plan
Identify and manage risks so that maximum benefit to client and stakeholders is achieved
Manage and review product quality and ensure products are accepted
Monitor and evaluate performance of service providers
Identify and report potential business opportunities for UNOPS to supervisor
Identify and report threats to UNOPS internal business case to supervisor

3. 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 Reports

iii. Operational Closure Checklist

iv. End Project Report

v. Handover Report

Maintain the following: i. Electronic Blue File; ii. Procurement, HR and Finance files as required by those practices as per OD12.
Ensure that all expenditure comply with UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations (FRR).
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 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.

4. 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

5. Personnel Management: if applicable
Lead and motivate the project management team
Ensure that behavioral 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 standards6. Core Values and Principles:

(i). 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 stakeholder(ii). 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(iii). Partnerships and Coordination
Understand the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and UNOPS, the project's place in the UN system
Know the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and seek to contribute within the deliverables of the project
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(iv). 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 to a supervisor(v). Excellence
Contribute to innovation and the adaptation of best practice standards of sustainability and quality.

Monitoring and Project Controls

Ensure that the project produces the required products within the specified tolerance of time, cost, quality, scope, risk and benefits. The Project Manager is also responsible for the project producing a result capable of achieving the benefits defined in the Business Case and contribute to the overall business targets and needs.

Competencies
Ability to work to meet tight schedules under stressful environment and varied cultural context.
Knowledge and capacity to manage project documentation to professional and accurate standards.
Flexibility and ability to quickly grasp complex structures.
Good team player attitude.
Ability to perform with professionalism, integrity and commitment to project demands.
Ability to work accurately, control quality and multitask.
Ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines.
Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
Familiarity and advanced user level with software's such as MS project, MS Office and other relevant software's.Skills

The following skills are required:
Budget Management
Client Management
Contracts Negotiation
Monitoring & Evaluation
Project Development
Stakeholder Management
Experience in Management
Experience in International Organizations

Education
Advanced University Degree (Master's) in Project Management, Business Administration, International Relations, Political/Security/Development Studies, Criminology, Law or other relevant discipline, or
University Degree (Bachelor's / first level) with a combination of 2 additional years of relevant professional experience in Project Management, Business Administration, International Relations, Political/Security/Development Studies, Criminology, Law or other relevant discipline, may be accepted in lieu of the advance university degree
PRINCE2 Practitioner 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.

Work Experience
A minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in project development and management with focus on monitoring, reporting, development and coordination in either public or private sector organizations. Experience in Rule of Law and/or Stipends Projects will be an asset.

Languages
Fluency in written and spoken English is essential; working knowledge of additional UN or regional languages is considered an asset.

Certifications
PRINCE2® Foundation is preferred
PRINCE2® Practitioner is an asset, but completion will be required within first 12 months of on-boarding


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