Background Information – Job-specific
The Rural Accessibility Assessment Project will conduct a technical evaluation of accessibility to basic rural services in two regions of Uganda. In partnership with WFP and the Government of Uganda, UNOPS is responsible for the design and execution of the assessment and the development of recommendations from the assessment findings.
The Assessment Project Manager will work under the direct supervision of the Head of Implementation, Kenya East Africa Operations Hub, and will perform the following duties and responsibilities:
Stakeholder Management:
- Establish solid working relationship with the technical committee, the implementing partners and other key stakeholders
- Manage communications and ensure all stakeholders are aware of activities, progress, exceptions and are in a position to accept handover products
- Advise the management on issues that may impact the achievement of the project outcomes (including issues of sustainability and post project requirements)
- Manage the information flows between the Project stakeholders, UNOPS Hub in Kenya and the donor as needed
Delivery and Performance:
- Develop and maintain project and subproject plans
- Implement approved project plans (including the establishment of milestones) within tolerances set by the technical committee
- 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
- Liaise closely with the established project governance structures and, as relevant, advice the project Technical Committee and UNOPS Hub management of any deviations from the plan
- Identify and manage risks so that maximum benefit to the 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
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 technical committee: 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 and (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)
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
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 country manager
- Have a thorough understanding of UNOPS personnel contract modalities
- Select, recruit and train team as required by project plans
- Ensure safety and security for all personnel and comply with UNDSS standards
Coordination:
- Engage and coordinate with other UN agencies, as well as national and international partners, as needed
- Represent UNOPS in the relevant coordination forums
- Facilitate programmatic and operational synergies and alignments with other interventions in the four sectors
- Perform other related duties as required.
Monitoring and Progress Controls
The Project manager will comply with the UNOPS monitoring processes and procedures.
General:
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. Contribute to the overall business targets and needs.
- Advanced University Degree in Project Management ,Business Administration, International Relations, Political Science/Security Management/Development Studies, or other relevant discipline is required.
- University Degree (bachelor’s degree / first level) with additional 2 years of relevant experince may be accepted in lieu of the advance university degree.
- Minimum of Master’s degree with five (5) years of relevant experience in programme/ project management and implementation or related is required.
- At least four (4) years of experience in a supervisory role required.
- Previous similar experience in Uganda or similar duty stations is an asset.
- Full working knowledge of English language is required.
- Strategic Perspective: Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization.
- Integrity and Inclusion: Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.
- Leading Self and Others: Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.
- Partnering: Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).
- Results Orientation: Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.
- Agility: Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.
- Solution Focused: Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.
- Effective Communication: Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.
- 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.
- Work life harmonization – UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
- 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.
Contract type, level and duration
Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA)
Contract level: IICA-2
Contract duration: Short-term ICA – Maximum duration 3 months
For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-of…
Background Information – UNOPS
UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.
UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.
Working with us
UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.
Diversity
With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.
Work life harmonization
UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.
Background Information – East Africa Hub (EAH)
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 Operation Centre in South Sudan 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, southern Africa and several island states.
More Information
- Job City Kampala
