Job categories: Project Management, Programme Management
Vacancy code: VA/2024/B5317/27758
Level: ICS-10
Department/office: AFR, GHMCO, Sierra Leone
Duty station: Freetown, Sierra Leone
Contract typeInternational ICA
Contract level: IICA-2
Duration: Open-ended
Application period: 21-Mar-2024 to 04-Apr-2024
Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement.
Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
 Background Information – Job-specific
Organisational Context
The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organisations. With over 6,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, where they need it. By implementing around 1,000 projects for our partners at any given time, UNOPS makes significant contributions to results on the ground, often in the most challenging environments.
Diversity
With over 5,000 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 â a strength that helps us better understand and address our partnersâ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.
Project Information:
Freetownâs water supply system has been hugely impacted by a disproportionate trend in water supply as against the number of consumers. This has resulted in an intermittent water supply system to be able to serve consumers through rationing. Even though this is the most viable option to sustainably carry out the mandate of the GVWC, potential downsides to this include the risk of waterborne diseases through potential intrusion of contaminants into the distribution system from pressure transients during off-supply hours when the pipes are empty and pressures below atmospheric.
With funding from the Japanese government, the project ending in March 2025 covers technical studies including mapping of customer databases, validation and update of the existing network, procurement of pipes and fittings for leakage management, and establishment of well-defined DMAs to enable GVWC to carry out proper water balance. The main focus on leakage management will be the prevention of water ingress into the water supply system thereby improving the water quality reaching the consumers and subsequently incidences of waterborne and water-related diseases. Interventions will be developed taking into consideration the priorities for people in Freetown in collaboration with the Guma Valley Water Company. This intervention will benefit 250,000 people directly and 15,000 meter connections in Freetown
Overall objective
The project aims at increasing access to safe water and reducing waterborne diseases in Freetown.
Outcome
- Improved and increased access to safe water in priority areas (beneficiaries: 250,000 people in Freetown)
- Reduced Non-Revenue water (water loss, from current 45% to 35%, 10% reduction)
- Improved network system resilience
Job Specific Information
Project Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the project(s) and provides services to the different donors, partners and beneficiaries. Project Manager acts on behalf of the Project Board to manage the project on an ongoing basis during the Implementation Stage. The main responsibility of a Project Manager is to ensure that the project outputs are delivered within the specified project tolerances of time, cost, quality, scope, risk and benefits. He/she is expected to meet the organizationâs performance and delivery goals.
Project Manager has the authority to assign, as per the Project Plan, work packages to Team Managers and approve deliverables produced by them.
Project Manager is responsible for creating the Implementation Plan, using the Project Initiation Document (PID), Legal Agreement and having a thorough understanding of the terms, conditions, and the respective roles and responsibilities of the partners/stakeholders, to ensure the project(s) outputs are capable of meeting the business cases for both UNOPS and the partner(s). Success of the project(s) and hence of the Project Manager will be based on the defined Success Criteria.
S/he must be able to apply, independently, the below duties and responsibilities of the project success criteria:
 Functional Responsibilities
Summary of functions:
- Project Delivery and Performance
- Procedures
- Monitoring and reporting
- Stakeholder engagement
- Quality assurance
- Knowledge management and innovation
- Personnel management
| Project Delivery and Performance Develop, complete and update implementation plan(s) Implement the approved plan (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 span. Manage the production of the required outputs, taking responsibility for overall progress and use of resources and initiating corrective action where necessary.Ensure that quality of work packages and deliverables complies with the quality requirements defined in the Implementation Plan.Liaise with any external suppliers or account managersManage acceptance and delivery of work packagesMonitor project progress ensuring that work packages are being executed properlyControl project and work packages changesAccept goods, services or works delivered by suppliers. Lead contract management duties including supplier performance evaluation. Act as the Employerâs Representative within the FIDIC works contracts. Identify, and anticipate in a timely manner, potential risks and issues and advises mitigating measures to senior management/ Project Board so that maximum benefit to partner(s) and other stakeholders is achievedIdentify and report to the supervisor potential business opportunities for UNOPS |
| 2. Procedures Comply with all organizational policy and specifically the Project Management ManualPrepare/adapt all relevant plans for approval by the Project Board.Manage the reporting obligations defined in the Legal Agreement(s) and in the Implementation PlanDraft the requirements definitions for procurement processes. Approving requisitions and requests for non-purchase order payments; Evaluating submissions received, if appointed to the evaluation team.Ensure maintenance of the project files and lessons learned are recordedEnsure the development and implementation of project financial management guidelines and control mechanisms, in conformity with UNOPS rules and regulations.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 projectUnderstand the unique structures of the UN and budget appropriately for personnelManage 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.For project closure purposes, provide a formal handover of the project to the closure managerSupport project audit activities, including planning, preparation and coordination during the audits and follow up on audit observations/recommendations |
| 3. Monitoring and reportingPrepare and issue regular project and/or financial reports in accordance with Partner and UNOPS requirements for reporting.Regularly review project status, evaluating performance criteria (scope, cost, schedule and quality).Maintain diaries and progress reports as required by the organizationâs standard procedures.Provide routine oversight and analysis of delivery data within the dashboard system.Ensure all project team members track and regularly update milestones and targets for the duration of projects’ life span |
4. Stakeholder engagement Develop stakeholder profiles and facilitate the formulation of stakeholder engagement strategiesEstablish solid working relationships with the Project Board (Executive, Senior Users and Senior Suppliers), client and key stakeholdersEnable the formulation of project communications plans. Coordinate internal project communications. Monitor the effectiveness of project communicationsCoordinate stakeholder engagement and communication, ensuring effective timing and interdependency management of communications. Ensure stakeholders are aware of project activities, progress, exceptions and are in a position to accept handover outputs |
| 5. Quality assurance Work with internal stakeholders to ensure projects comply with audit requirementsWork with procurement/purchasing staff to ensure effective interface with suppliers’ quality systemsCoordinate quality reviews of project documents and deliverablesProvide quality control for management outputs (project documents, reports, etc.) |
6. Knowledge management and innovation Encourage routine and effective capacity building activities are conducted in order to build the long-term and sustainable capacity of staff.Actively interact with other Project Managers and the wider PM community to share case studies, lessons learned and best practices Contribute to the oversight of lessons learned procedures, ensuring that lessons learnt are shared in a timely and appropriate manner. Participate in the relevant Communities of PracticeResearch and logging of lessons learned throughout the project life span.Provide feedback to Practice Groups on policy, supporting guidance with an aim towards continuous improvement of UNOPS policies |
| 7. Personnel Management Lead and motivate the project management teamEnsure that behavioural expectations of team members are established Ensure that performance reviews are conducted fairly, accurately and timelySelect, recruit and train team as required and take into account gender parity and diversity objectives.Ensure safety and security for all project personnel and comply with UNDSS standardsCreate, foster and role model a culture of respect and zero tolerance for discrimination, abuse of authority, harrasement, sexual harrasement and 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. |
Impact of Results
Project Manager directly impacts on achievement of project results by adhering to project management methods and strategies, reducing risks, cutting costs and improving success rates. This consequently reinforces the visibility and image of UNOPS as an effective service provider in project services and management and strengthens its competitive position as a partner of choice in sustainable development and project services.
 Education/Experience/Language requirements
A. Education
- Masterâs Degree (Advanced University Degree) in Architecture, Civil Engineering, Water Resources Project Management, or other relevant disciplines is required.
- Bachelorâs Degree in Architecture, Civil Engineering, Water Resources, Project Management, or other relevant disciplines with a combination of additional two (2) years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of a Master’s Degree.
B. Work Experience
- A minimum of five (5) yearsâ relevant work experience in Project Management in a large International and/or corporate organization is required.
- Experience working on Japanese government funded projects is a distinct advantage.
- Experience in budget management, construction management monitoring & evaluation is a distinct advantage.
- Experience with management of operations in remote locations is an asset.
- Experience with the UN and/or private sector infrastructure development is an asset.
- Experience managing projects with multiple sites and complex logistical dimensions in remote locations is an asset.
- Experience with the design, procurement stages of the infrastructure life cycle is a distinct advantage.
- Knowledge of the UN system and familiarity with UNOPS procedures is a distinct advantage.
C. Language Requirement
- Full working knowledge of English is required.
D. Certification
- PRINCE2ÂŽ Practitioner Certification is an asset.
- Managing Successful Project (MSP) Practitioner Certification is an asset.
 Contract type, level and duration
- Contract type: International Individual Contract Agreement (I-ICA)
- Contract level: IICA 2/ ICS 10
- Contract duration: Ongoing ICA â âOpen-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
 Additional Information
- Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
- Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
- Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
- UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
- Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
- We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.
Terms and Conditions
- All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
- It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.
