Senior Programme Manager

Job Description

This role provides strategic leadership and direction for an innovative and complex programme, ensuring that project teams deliver results in line with organisational frameworks, governance requirements, and best practices.

Under the oversight of the SAMCO Director and the SAMCO Head of Programme for programmatic matters—and in coordination with the SAMCO Head of Support Services on operational requirements—the role provides strategic leadership and direction for a diverse and high-impact portfolio in Sri Lanka. The incumbent ensures effective performance and delivery of complex programmes, guiding project teams to meet legal obligations, Steering Committee guidance, and UNOPS’ legislative framework, while promoting best practices and achieving defined project success criteria.

1. Stakeholder Management

• Establish a solid working relationship with the Project Board/Steering Committee, current and potential partners and other key stakeholders to ensure effective delivery, as well as partner and issue/risk management.
• Manage the programmes’/projects’ communications and ensure stakeholders are aware of the programme activities, progress, exceptions.
• Advise the partners on issues that may impact the achievement of their outcomes and outputs.
• Manage the information flows between the Project Board/Steering Committee, MCO Director as the Engagement Authority, and Head of Programme as the Project Executive, as well as UNOPS’ respective portfolio/programme/project teams.
• Represent UNOPS at external events and meetings, and act as a focal point with respective national authorities, donors, UN partners and other stakeholders, in the respective portfolio/programme/project areas of focus, and as assigned by the MCO Director. 

2. Programme management

• Implement approved programme/project plans (including the establishment of milestones) within tolerances set by the Project Board/Steering Committee. 
• Advise and be guided by the Project Board/Steering Committee periodically on matters including delivery progress and outputs, as well as financial operations such as budgets, cash flow and expenditure.
• Manage delivery of the programmes’/projects’ outputs, taking responsibility for overall progress and use of resources and initiating corrective action where necessary.
• Manage the programmes/projects to ensure performance in the areas of finance (budget/cash flow/expenditure), work planning and resource mobilization, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), programmatic/administrative (including audit results) and procurement operations.
• Authorize, monitor and control work packages to be delivered by the UNOPS team or by implementing partners.
• Advise the Project Board and MCO management of deviations that have or will exceed set tolerances as approved in the respective plans.
• Identify and manage issues and risks so that maximum benefit to clients and stakeholders is achieved.
• Monitor and evaluate the performance of service providers from a fiduciary and contract management perspective.
• Control risks to UNOPS’ internal business case and take corrective actions.
• Represent UNOPS at programme/project related working level meetings on a periodic basis in order to discuss key issues and propose solutions to fiduciary and operational challenges that arise.
• Ensure that mainstreaming of principles of human rights, conflict sensitivity, gender equity, and accountability, ‘doing no harm’ and aid effectiveness in all activities associated with the programme.

3. Procedures

• On behalf of UNOPS, lead the development of the respective implementation plans for approval by the Project Board/Steering Committee, in full adherence with UNOPS’ project management manual.
• In consultation with the MCO HoSS, ensure compliance with UNOPS organizational policy, including UNOPS’ Financial Regulations and Rules.
• Ensure all reporting requirements as per legal agreement as well as ensuring internal UNOPS rules are met. 
• Maintain critical programme records/documents on the UNOPS Google Shared Drives (online audit/record retention folder).
• Manage budgets, cash flow and obligations to ensure that deliverables are met and payments to contractors, grantees/ implementing partners and personnel are received on time.
• Understand and manage UNOPS policy and related corporate charges as they apply to the Programme.
• Ensure supplier and/or implementing partner capacity is commensurate with funding requirements.
• Develop an understanding of the structure and approaches of the UN and manage operations and finances under the respective programmes/projects accordingly.
• Manage and remain accountable for expenditures against the approved plans and budgets (based on accurate financial reports).
• Ensure appropriate measures have been documented in the respective closure plans to facilitate the transition of operations in the final stage of delivery.

4. Monitoring and reporting

• Establish and continuously implement solid reporting mechanisms in the programmes/projects against set targets and indicators.
• Prepare and issue regular reports by coordinating the work of the respective teams in accordance with the funding partner and UNOPS requirements for reporting.
• Regularly review programmes’/projects’ status, evaluating performance criteria (scope, cost, schedule and quality).
• Maintain progress and highlight reports as required by the organization’s standard procedures.
• Provide routine oversight and analysis of delivery data.
• Ensure all team members track and regularly update milestones and targets.
• Coordinate quality reviews of programme documents and deliverables.
• Provide quality control for management outputs (documents, reports, etc.).

 

5. Knowledge building and knowledge sharing

• Establish a framework for monitoring, learning and knowledge management under the respective programmes/projects that is aligned to the country context.
• Build and share knowledge with regards to the development and implementation of the programmes/projects, synthesis of lessons learnt/best practices, and sound contributions to UNOPS Communities of Practice and knowledge management initiatives.
• Provide technical guidance and on-the-job training to ensure work standards are achieved, both in terms of quality and quantity of inputs/outputs processed.
• Support UNOPS’/SAMCO’s efforts in becoming a center of excellence for infrastructure, procurement, project and fund management, particularly in Sri Lanka.

6. Personnel management and leadership

• Plan, recruit, manage and develop portfolio/programme/project personnel with the skills and competencies needed to ensure optimum performance and encourage the formation of diverse teams.
• Promote teamwork, collaboration and diversity by providing the portfolio/programme/project teams with clear direction, objectives and guidance to enable them to perform their duties responsibly, effectively and efficiently. 
• Ensure principles of human rights, gender equity, peace, voice and accountability, ‘doing no harm’ and aid effectiveness in all activities.
• Create, foster and role model a culture of respect and zero tolerance for discrimination, abuse of authority, harassment, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse. Ensure accountability for actions and perform duties in accordance with protection mechanisms and action plans, as expected by UNOPS policies, standards and commitments.
• Continuous assessment of the performance and effectiveness of the portfolio/programme/project implementation, recommending changes and/or corrective actions in the team structure and/or financial operations to enhance and maintain effectiveness in the changing environment.

About the Organization

United Nations Office for Project Services