Dutystation: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Functional responsibilities
The Senior Project Manager will be responsible for the below listed tasks and responsibilities.Project Set-up and closure
Monitoring and Reporting
Delivery Support
Quality Assurance
Knowledge Management and Innovation
Personnel Management
Strategic Planning and Portfolio Support
Provides suggestions to the HoI and HoP for maintaining and implementing appropriate standards and best practices in line with UNOPS policies, guidelines and procedures.
Coordinates with the MCO Head of Infrastructure (HoI) on technical and Infra related matters.
Supports the Partnerships Team providing technical inputs into the development of new Infrastructure project proposals.
In coordination with the MCO Infra Unit, provides advice, oversight and support to all infrastructure projects across the MCO.
Development and planning of new infrastructure projects; promoting best practices and lessons learnt from past experience, including scheduling and covering DNP stages; including planning necessary staffing resources, and logistical resources to implement the infrastructure management systems, contributing to ensuring synergies across the MCO.
Champions the vision and mission of the Programme Infrastructure Unit at the MCO level.
Drives continuous improvement and Assumes custodianship over tools and systems for infrastructure programmes and projects. Ensures application of infrastructure tools and systems for the MCO.
Analyses, identifies and provides solutions to potential risks and issues related to the delivery of infrastructure programmes and projects and advises mitigating measures to the HoI and Infra PMs in a timely manner.
Guides the PMO Specialist(s) with necessary project analysis and information relevant to the PMO (i.e. Direct Costs, Procurement Plans, Resources Plans, Forecasts, etc.).
Provides guidance and advice to the PMs in the development and implementation of Quality/Construction Management and Supervision plans
Contributes to technical assessments and Environmental Screening for all Infrastructure projects.
Provides technical input in the drafting of ToRs for different technical disciplines, as needed.
2. Project Set-up and closure
Actively involved in the start up of new infrastructure projects.
Deploying and organising a team of multi-disciplinary retainers to carry out the technical assessment.
Development of project plans/schedules for infrastructure project delivery (assessment, design, construction and DNP) in coordination with the HoI and the MCO Infra Unit.
Develops, tracks and maintains dependencies between work packages.
Facilitates the uptake and operationalization of performance management tools developed for infrastructure projects.
Facilitates and ensures that all HAMCO Infrastructure Projects have a valid (and agreed) DNP Monitoring plan.
Coordinates and oversees the implementation of requests or initiatives relevant to Infra projects from the Regional Office, IPAS, and HQ Teams, as required.
3. Monitoring and Reporting
Oversees the updating and maintenance of tracking systems and tools to facilitate monitoring of infrastructure project progress and performance.
Provides routine monitoring and suggests corrective measures for infrastructure projects progress and performance.
Oversee monitoring of progress of infrastructure contracts against planned schedules; and raises any deviations to the HoI for corrective actions.
Provides periodic analysis and technical advice on delivery data and shares it with the Infrastructure Project teams and Management, as appropriate.
Prepares and provides regular updates on the work progress to the HoI and upstream to the HAMCO Leadership Team.
Timely identification of potential risks and issues specific to infrastructure delivery, and escalates and suggests mitigating measures.
Oversees the review of Infrastructure project status; evaluation and monitoring of performance criteria (scope, cost, schedule and quality).
4. Delivery Support
Coordinates with HoI on identifying and deploying suitable technical resources and recruitment for the delivery of Infrastructure products.
Leads a team of multidisciplinary engineers/designers (Retainers) for the preparation of design packages according to the UNOPS guidelines and standards.
Outlines the design requirements during the design stage of Infra projects.
Reviews and compiles the prepared design packages and to ensure that they are in line with the UNOPS “Design Planning Manual for Buildings”.
In coordination with the HoI, to support the design review process and with addressing the comments received by the Peer Reviewers/IPMG.
Assumes the role of technical coordinator for infrastructure work-packages including design management, construction supervision, DNP management, etc. as assigned.
Assumes technical responsibility for the preparation of technical assessments, quality plans, scheme programmes and design work, cost estimates, bills of quantities and review of bid documentations.
Provides induction, orientation and continuous technical advice to all Infrastructure practitioners related to the UNOPS Infrastructure management systems, including Planning, Design Preparation,Quality Management, Construction Management, Contract Management, Construction Supervision, etc.
Carries out periodic inspections and site visits to construction sites.
Supports procurement stages, including providing technical assistance during the preparation of tender documents, facilitating pre-bid meetings and taking part in bid evaluations for construction contracts.
Works with the HSSE Specialist in monitoring the implementation of HSSE plans including requirements and guidelines at project sites.
Backstops and/or takes part in surge initiatives for Infrastructure Project Managers and/or technical team members, as required.
Takes part in induction training, incident reporting and investigation, as per UNOPS guidelines.
Identifies gaps, areas to improve and makes recommendations to the HoI, HoP, project teams and PE on appropriate corrective actions.
Supports the implementation of Health, Safety, Social and Environmental measures at the project sites.
Contributes to the achievement of the goal zero of incidents (injury, disease and fatal).
Performs other related duties as may be assigned by the HoI.
5. Quality Assurance
Appraises and facilitates compliance with UNOPS defined standards and international best practices for Infrastructure project management, including Quality Management, Construction Management, Contract Management, Construction Supervision, etc.
Coordinates quality reviews of infrastructure project documents and deliverables, including design review submissions through the platform.
Supports the HoI in providing technical advice to key stakeholders to continuously identify and improve operational processes relevant to Infrastructure projects implementation.
Promotes a culture of compliance on Quality Management, Contract Management and Construction Supervision, Policies, Guidance, Tools and Templates.
Reviews and provides assurance of QMPs and QAPs for Infra projects.
Identifies issues or non-conformity, and recommends necessary actions to enforce where unsafe acts or processes that seem dangerous or unhealthy are detected.
Undertakes reviews and coordinates with HoI and Infra Unit to ensure Infrastructure projects document records are complete and up to date: Design Brief, Design Review Certificates, Substantial Completion Certificates, Final Completion Certificates, Contractor Notices, Materials Testing reports, Non-Conformity Registers, DNP monitoring plans, Defects Registers, As-Built Drawings, etc.
Provides advice to project teams in the application of Contractual Guidance Material.
Develops tools to track compliance of Infrastructure products with relevant policies, guidelines and tools, and undertake assurance over their practices for all Infrastructure projects.
6. Knowledge Management and Innovation
Actively contributes to the HAMCO Infrastructure maturity enhancement initiatives during the delivery stages.
Facilitates training including onboarding/induction of new joiners on UNOPS Design Manual, Quality Management policies, tools and instruments, including Contracts Management and Construction Supervision Guidance.
Ensures routine and effective capacity building activities are conducted in order to build the long-term and sustainable capacity of technical teams.
Participates in, and advocates for Infrastructure practitioners membership in relevant Communities of Practice.
Contributes to HAMCO knowledge networks in infrastructure-related disciplines.
Actively interacts with project teams, Infra Unit and the wider UNOPS Infrastructure community to share case studies, lessons learned and best practices in the Knowledge System.
Provides feedback on policy and supporting guidance related to Design, Quality Management and infrastructure practices.
Contributes to ensuring that lessons learnt are shared and mainstreamed in a timely and appropriate manner.
7. Personnel Management
Manages and coordinates a pool of Expert Resources of Infrastructure practitioners across the MCO and provides functional direction, oversight and feedback to its members.
In coordination with the HoI, monitors the performance, resource and talent management of Infrastructure practitioners under the MCO.
Actively promotes a culture of continuous improvement and lessons learning in infrastructure related disciplines.
Supports the HoI in recruiting quality technical resources internally and externally to UNOPS. Actively supports PMs in doing so, where needed.
Supports on-boarding Infrastructure practitioners for the MCO and provides guidance on performance setting and reviews within the practice.
Promotes and supports a learning culture by empowering individuals and teams to identify critical learning needs and plans/provides easy access to learning opportunities to maintain personnel competency and flexibility.
Fosters a positive work environment, respectful of both men and women, and ensures that the highest standards of conduct are observed.
Impact of Results
The Senior Project Manager directly impacts on achievement of the HAMCO and Infrastructure Unit specifically. Notably, The Senior Project Manager will contribute to implementing best practices in infrastructure delivery systems and overall organizational maturity in the infrastructure products.
This consequently reinforces the image of UNOPS as an effective service provider in Infrastructure project management and strengthens its competitive position as a partner of choice in sustainable development and Project Services.
Education/Experience/Language requirements
Education:
Certification:
AutoCAD certification is desirable.
PRINCE2 Foundation or equivalent is desirable.
Experience:
A minimum of seven (7) years’ experience on implementing complex projects/programmes is required.
Experience in contract management is an asset.
Experience in planning and applying Health & Safety procedures is an asset.
Experience in works contract management, preferably FIDIC contracting is desirable.
Experience in managing projects with multiple sites, in remote locations, with complex logistical characteristics is an asset.
Experience in working with Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies on Donor funded projects is an asset.
Knowledge of the UN system and familiarity with UNOPS procedures is a distinct advantage.
International organizations experience is an added advantage
Language
Fluency in spoken, written and reading English is required
Fluency in spoken, written and reading Amharic is required
Knowledge of other UN languages will be considered an asset
TOGETHER, WE BUILD THE FUTURE
UNOPS – an operational arm of the United Nations – supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by successfully implementing its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world.
Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development.
We are proud of our people and embrace diversity and are committed to equal employment opportunities. Our workforce brings together approximately 160 nationalities, represented by over 5,000 UNOPS personnel as well as some 7,800 personnel recruited on behalf of our partners. Spread across 80 countries from a range of backgrounds, and languages and have different gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities.
We encourage women and candidates from underrepresented groups in UNOPS to apply. These include candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
