BACKGROUND INFORMATION – JOB-SPECIFIC

Somalia Country Office:

Located in Aden Abdulle International Airport (AAIA) UNOPS Somalia manages a growing portfolio of engagements, including associated strategic and operational risks.  The office works in conjunction with and in support of the United Nations Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) as well as the Federal Government of Somalia, International Donors and Partners.

The UNOPS Somalia Country Office (SOCO) was established in January 2019 Mogadishu and 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 SOCO. UNOPS works with multiple partners including the Governments of Somalia, bilateral and multilateral donors, and United Nations Agencies, Funds and Programmes.  UNOPS is particularly interested in strengthening its coordination and liaison capacity with relevant Government institutions, Government led mechanisms and emerging trust fund instruments.

Job Specific:
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 police stipends, infrastructure and non-lethal support under the Joint Police Programme (JPP) and Somalia Security and Justice Programme (SSJP).

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Programme (HoP), the Project Manager (Infrastructure) is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the project(s) and provides services to the different donors, partners and beneficiaries. He/she is expected to meet and exceed the organizations performance and delivery goals. The Project Manager (Infrastructure) 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. The Project Manager is responsible for all aspects of the project life cycle. S/he must be able to apply, independently, the below duties and responsibilities of the project success criteria:

2.1      Stakeholder Management:

• In consultation with the HoP, 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
• Report and advise the HoP and 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 HoP, Project Board and Country Director

2.2      Delivery and Performance:

• Implement approved project plans (including the establishment of milestones) within the set tolerances
• 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
• Authorize Work Packages
• Advise the HoP and Project Board 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 demand for UNOPS services to the HoP
• Identify and report threats to UNOPS internal business case to the HoP

2.3      Procedures:

• Follow the Project Management Cycle Instructions and ensure that all organizational policy is compiled with (Organizational Directives and Administrative Instructions)
• Ensure preparation and maintenance of all project planning, monitoring and reporting requirements.
• 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.

2.4      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

2.5      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 relevant performance issues and bring  to the attention of the HoP
• Have a thorough understanding of UNOPS personnel contract modalities (including IICA and LICA 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 standards

2.6      Monitoring and Progress Controls

Ensure that the project(s) 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 to the satisfaction of UNOPS and the Client. Contribute to the overall business targets and needs.

Impact of Results

The effective and successful achievement of results by the Project Manager (Infrastructure) directly impacts the efficient and effective management of financial resources in projects and operations, demonstrating UNOPS’ effective stewardship of donor and partner funds. He/she is also responsible for the project producing a result within the specified tolerance of time, cost, quality, scope and risk capable of achieving the benefits defined in the Business case/s contributing to the overall business targets and needs. These promote the credibility of the organization as an effective service provider in project services and management.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Education:

• Master’s Degree in Architecture, Engineering, Project Management, or other relevant discipline is required.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture, Engineering, Project Management, or other relevant discipline with a combination of two (2)  additional years of relevant professional experience in may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

• A Technical Diploma with additional four (4) years of significant experience associated with relevant academic credentials will also be considered.

Experience:

• A minimum of seven (7) years of professional-level project management (Infrastructure) experience, including major area(s) such as:

– Budget Management,

– Risk Analysis

– Monitoring & Evaluation

– International Organization experience in a public or corporate organization at the national and/or international level is required.

• Experience in stabilization, transition, post –conflict environments is an asset

• Experience with management of operations in remote locations is an asset.

• Experience with the UN and/or private sector infrastructure development is an asset.

Language

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.

COMPETENCIES

CONTRACT TYPE, LEVEL AND DURATION

Contract type: International Individual Contract Agreement (IICA)
Contract level: IICA 3 /ICS 11
Contract duration: Ongoing ICA – ‘Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.’

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES

• Leadership – Ability to lead, build and sustain effective work relationship with subordinates and peers to achieve common goal.
• Planning & Organizing – Ability to plan, organize, manage and implement work assignments, juggle competing demands and work under pressure of frequent and tight deadlines.
• Judgment – Demonstrated ability to apply good judgment and decision making skills.
• Teamwork – Strong interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations with people in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
• Commitment to Continuous Learning – Willingness to keep abreast of new developments in the organizational operations and project management field.
• Proven ability to recognize potential market opportunities and challenges to support UNOPS’ business development in Somalia / East Africa.
• Capacity for persuasive communication, consensus building and obtaining commitments from clients/partners and UNOPS personnel.
• Proficiency in the usage of computers and office software packages.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

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.

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 – AFR

Africa Region

Based in Copenhagen, Denmark, the Africa Region supports UNOPS country offices in the region, providing financial oversight of projects, procuring goods and services and managing human resources.AFR helps ensure that projects are executed to the highest standards, providing a shared knowledge base and ensuring that best practices and lessons learned are disseminated between projects across the entire region.

Somalia Country Office:

UNOPS Somalia Country Office (SOCO) has had a solid and continuous in-country expert presence successfully implementing programs since the mid-1990s, where it is currently undertaking various projects and initiatives in close collaboration with the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), Federal Member States (FMS) and partners from the global donor community. UNOPS’ projects in Somalia focus on several key sectors that include infrastructure development, institutional capacity building, project management, advisory services, and procurement services. These projects cut across multiple sectors, including education, healthcare, national security, law enforcement, immigration services, justice, transport, and public works among others. UNOPS work in Somalia is geared towards driving growth and development in the country, a process that requires developing a close relationship with the FGS and the other development partners.
Through its involvement in Somalia’s development process, UNOPS is providing transparent and accountable solutions in the country’s state and nation-building process. In addition, UNOPS is also committed to implementing the United Nations Strategic Framework Somalia 2017 – 2020, with the aim of helping Somalia achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. UNOPS work within the context of these commitments means that the projects it implements in Somalia are specifically designed to provide long-term solutions in the country, leading to sustainable and inclusive growth.

What drives us is a passion to fight inequalities and to provide opportunities to those most vulnerable. This means we often work in the most challenging environments, building foundations for communities to function and people to live with dignity and respect.

To succeed here, he/she need to be able to combine creativity with the organizational skills to manage numerous different projects to tight deadlines simultaneously, as well as working with the different units to meet their expectations.