Job Description:
Background Information - Afghanistan
With more than 20 years of experience in the country, UNOPS Afghanistan focuses on providing maximum support to the people of Afghanistan through the delivery of projects and services that improve the lives of people in need. The UNOPS Afghanistan Country Office (AFCO) serves as an organizational mechanism to deliver a range of projects for which UNOPS has been designated as the implementation agency. At present, UNOPS AFCO activities cover a range of sectors including humanitarian, basic human needs, cash for work, infrastructure, development, procurement and HR services.
The functional objective of UNOPS AFCO is to contribute to improving the lives of girls, boys, men and women living in Afghanistan. The aim of UNOPS AFCO is to provide efficient and cost-effective implementation services on behalf of all our partners to support the humanitarian response and development of the country. UNOPS AFCO’s mission is to exceed the expectations of all stakeholders in the delivery of AFCO services, at all times, in all places, in all circumstances, in order to improve the lives of Afghans in need.
Background Information - Job-specific
Project Information:
The project aims to promote social and economic development at the local level by creating sustainable infrastructure that meets the needs of the local population In October 2023, Herat Province was struck by four significant earthquakes, each with a magnitude of 6.3. This natural disaster has left over 275,000 individuals in dire need of humanitarian aid across more than 380 villages. More than 10,000 houses have been completely destroyed, 20,000 severely damaged, and over 17,000 moderately damaged. Around 40% of the earthquake's total damage has affected non-residential buildings, including health facilities, schools, government offices, and private sector structures. The quakes have impacted nine districts with Injil and Zinjadin districts bearing the brunt of the devastation. This destruction severely hampers access to critical services for the affected population. The project will have an Inception period of four months, during which the project will be refined. In addition, UNOPS will identify small-scale quick interventions in consultation with KfW to implement during the inception phase. Outputs may include shelter and housing rehabilitation, enhancement of health centers, restoration of drinking water supplies, reconstruction of market structures, rehabilitation of small canals and irrigation systems, retaining walls and flood protection, rehabilitation of pavements such as village footpaths, potholes, drainage, etc. focusing mainly on cash for work implementation modalities, restoration and improvement of primary/ community-based education facilities, technical capacity building of communities and job creation. The focus will be on the restoration of services to meet basic human needs through rehabilitation efforts that take into consideration safety requirements, earthquake resilience, and the principles of building back better, while being mindful of the local cultural context. Any reconstruction needs to contribute to jobs creation in the communities. Procurement of essential supplies and equipment, including energy solutions such as generators and renewable energy systems, may be included, to guarantee people's access to basic services UNOPS will implement the works, wherever possible, using local suppliers, companies and NGOs or directly by the community through procurement of goods and services, grants and cash for work. UNOPS will take responsibility for the activities, providing supervision to ensure quality, management of E&S risks and impacts, and fiduciary control.
Job Requirements:
Summary of functions:
Project Delivery and Performance
Procedures
Monitoring and reporting
Stakeholder engagement
Quality assurance
Knowledge management and innovation
Personnel management
1. 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 managers
Manage acceptance and delivery of work packages
Monitor project progress ensuring that work packages are being executed properly
Control project and work packages changes
Accept goods, services or works delivered by suppliers.
Lead contract management duties including supplier performance evaluation. Act as the Employer’s 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 achieved
Identify and report to the supervisor potential business opportunities for UNOPS
2. Procedures
Comply with all organizational policy and specifically the Project Management Manual
Prepare/adapt all relevant plans for approval by the Project Board.
Manage the reporting obligations defined in the Legal Agreement(s) and in the Implementation Plan
Draft 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 recorded
Ensure 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 project
Understand the unique structures of the UN and budget appropriately for personnel
Manage expenditures against the budget (based on accurate financial reports)
Where the Senior 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 manager
Support project audit activities, including planning, preparation and coordination during the audits and follow up on audit observations/recommendations
3. Monitoring and reporting
Prepare 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 organization’s 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 strategies
Establish solid working relationships with the Project Board (Executive, Senior Users and Senior Suppliers), client and key stakeholders
Enable the formulation of project communications plans. Coordinate internal project communications. Monitor the effectiveness of project communications
Coordinate 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 requirements
Work with procurement/purchasing staff to ensure effective interface with suppliers' quality systems
Coordinate quality reviews of project documents and deliverables
Provide 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 Senior 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 Practice
Research 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 team
Ensure that behavioural expectations of team members are established
Ensure that performance reviews are conducted fairly, accurately and timely
Select, 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 standards
Create, foster and role model a culture of respect and zero tolerance for discrimination, abuse of authority, harrassment, sexual harrassment 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 Result
Senior 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
Education:
An advanced university degree (e.g. Master's Degree) in Business Administration, Management, Engineering, or other relevant discipline is required.
A first-level degree in combination of 2 additional years and a technical diploma in combination of 4 additional years of progressively relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
A relevant combination of academic credentials and/or industry certifications and qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the university education
Experience:
A minimum of 7 years' working experience (or more based on academic credentials) in managing infrastructure projects in either public or private sector organizations is required
Experience in project or program management is required
Experience in engineering and construction contract management is an asset.
Experience in working in a complex stakeholder environment is an asset
Experience in a hardship duty station, conflict zone, or pre-conflict environment or post-disaster is an asset.
Experience working with UNOPS is an Asset.
Language Requirement:
Fluency in English Language is required
Submission Guideline:
Please click on the below link for actual vacancy announcement to see the complete details and submission guideline as this is only an attempt for attracting female applicants for gender parity in organization. Please make sure you fill your profile/application properly with all relevant details in order to be considered for the next stage of recruitment/selection.
Submission Email: