Project Manager [Open to internal and external applicants]

Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life, as envisaged by 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We are on the ground in more than 170 countries and territories, working with governments and people on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners that can bring about results.

UNDP Turkmenistan has Health programme that includes projects funded by the Global Fund and by the Government of Turkmenistan (GoT). The Government of Turkmenistan is the principal donor to UNDP in Turkmenistan. During the previous programme cycle (2021–2025), the total volume of UNDP cooperation in the health sector amounted to approximately USD 207 million, of which USD 196 million was provided by the Government of Turkmenistan. For the new programme cycle (2026–2030), health projects totalling more than USD 56 million have already been signed, including USD 54 million in Government funding. Through these joint projects, UNDP supports a range of infectious diseases (TB, HIV, viral hepatitis, blood safety, and reproductive health), non-communicable diseases, maternal and neonatal care, rare diseases, and laboratory services.

In 2023-2025 UNDP implemented a project "Strengthening clinical laboratory services in Turkmenistan" (Lab-1), and upgraded 121 clinical laboratories across Turkmenistan. Those laboratories have been equipped with modern diagnostic equipment and can perform 9 categories of diagnostic testing covering more than 85 clinical laboratory parameters. This ensured that people throughout the country, regardless of their location or remoteness, now have access to timely and reliable diagnostic services. Based on successful implementation of Lab-1 project the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan and UNDP signed a new project "Strengthening clinical laboratory services in Turkmenistan in 2026-2027" (Lab-2). The goal of the Lab-2 project is to strengthen the potential of national healthcare system in clinical laboratory diagnostics of diseases. The project will support healthcare services to ensure the availability, accessibility, reliability and modern laboratory analyses for accurate and timely diagnosis of the most common illnesses, including infectious and noncommunicable diseases, surgery, emergency, maternal and child healthcare and others. The project will focus on laboratory capacity in primary healthcare facilities, but will also support secondary and tertiary care facilities.

UNDP Turkmenistan is seeking the Project Manager (PM) to coordinate the implementation of the project, provide strategic direction for the programme, ensure institutional capacity development and health system strengthening for wider health system issues. 

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Manager will be in charge of the following:

Ensure overall project management:

• Management of the project a daily basis to achieve the performance indicators agreed with the donor and in line with the approved Budgets and Work Plans; Management and supervision of project implementation and evaluation across all components. 
• Assess the programmatic impact and oversee the appropriateness and the accuracy of methods used to verify progress and the results.
• Analyse programmatic impact and takes decisions to correct possible deviations from targets. 
• Assurance of successful completion of the project in accordance with the stated outcomes and performance indicators summarized in the Project Appraisal Document.
• Regular communication and coordination with the National Partner, members of the Project Board, and all other partners and interested stakeholders, with regard to all project activities. Organization of Project Board meetings at least twice a year.
• Regular communication with senior UNDP management with regard to all project activities. Assurance of coordination with other UNDP projects and broad strategic initiatives.
• Preparation of Annual Work Plans (AWP), including monthly targets and deliverables as well as annual spending targets in accordance with the Project Document. Tracking of work outputs throughout the year in light of these Annual Work Plans.
• Tracking and managing of project spending in accordance with the project budget, as well as UNDP rules and procedures, to ensure transparency, responsibility, and timely fulfilment of both program targets and budget targets.
• Preparation of regular progress reports (programmatic and financial) as per the requirements of UNDP and National Partner.
• Preparation and submission of annual Project Implementation Reviews and other required progress reports to the Project Board and UNDP in accordance with applicable requirements, in all required languages (English, Russian, and/or Turkmen, using outside translation as needed).
• Coordination of the work of international and national consultants engaged in the project.
• Supervision of regular data collection and analysis, as well as reporting and public outreach via the mass media, events, and other means, to disseminate the results of the project.
• Oversight of the overall administration of the project office.
• Travel to the project sites within Turkmenistan if required; possible travel outside the country for participation in directly relevant international meetings.
• Support during the project evaluations, if any.
• Plan the detailed actions according to annual work plans of the project approved by the Project Board and monitor progress against the initial quality criteria.
• Mobilize goods and services to initiate activities, including drafting Terms of References (ToR) and work specifications.
• Performs functions of Project Manager in Quantum (UNDP online system) for approval of requisitions. Manage requests for the provision of financial resources by UNDP, using advance of funds, direct payments, or reimbursement. Monitors financial resources and accounting to ensure accuracy and reliability of financial reports.
• Ensure the project activities are covered by the UNDP communication means regarding the project events, deliverables and key achievements.
• Prepare Final Project Review Reports to be submitted and presented to the Project Board.
• Identify follow-on actions and submit them for consideration to the Project Board.
• Manage the transfer of project deliverables, documents, files, equipment and materials to national beneficiaries.
• Prepare final CDR (Combined Delivery Reports) for signature by UNDP and the National Partner.
• In cooperation with the Head of Portfolio/ Programme Specialist, lead the process of developing and mobilizing resources for new projects in the areas of Project Manager’s expertise. 

Ensure project financial resources management

• Act as financial manager and retain the ultimate responsibility for financial resources for accountability purposes.
• Ensure total accuracy and the highest level of transparency in the management of the Project financial resources in accordance with UNDP and national regulations and procedures.
• Ensure timely preparation of all necessary financial reports, including the Annual and Final Donor Reports, Quarterly Combined Delivery Reports, etc.
• Serve as the Project’s ambassador and advocate within the broader stakeholder’s community and beneficiaries.
• Create and foster a good working relationship with the media (print, radio and television).
• participate  at national and international meetings.
• Contribute to the production and publication of public information material.
• Establish and maintain good working relationships and cooperation with peer project managers from other related projects within Turkmenistan and the Central Asia region.
• Lead the process of quarterly and annual planning of project activities, with the participation of all Project personnel; retain the ultimate responsibility for the finished plans and submit them to the UNDP for their concurrence.
• Build effective working relationships with the main national partner and the project’s key stakeholders and UNDP’s other teams.
• Lead the implementation of the Project M&E (Monitoring and Evaluation) Plan.
• Carry out monitoring visits to Project sites on a regular basis.
• Collate the results of monitoring, analyze them, and formulate proposals for adaptive management measures for consideration by the Project Board.
• Implement the decisions and advice of the Project Board.
• Provide a report to each Project Board meeting noting progress and achievements, acknowledging difficulties and proposing possible solutions for consideration and guidance by the Project Board.
• Assume the lead responsibility for the preparation and content of the annual Project Progress Report.
•  Prepare quarterly and annual project plans and reports and present them to the Project Board, donor, etc.
• Respond to request for reports on Project management and performance from any key stakeholders.
• Identify, synthesize and document best practices and lessons learned that are generated from the project and implementing partners. 

Project outreach

Ensure Project planning and implementation

Monitoring and adaptive management

Reporting and accountability and facilitate knowledge sharing 

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

The Lab project is integrated into the health programme of UNDP country office. UNDP Health Programme Specialist is assigned with the responsibility for the overall supervision of the health programme. The day-to-day administration of the Lab project is to be carried out by a Project Manager (PM), assisted by the team of Procurement Specialist, Lab Specialist, Admin & Logistics Assistant, Driver & Customs Clerk. The project is supported by UNDP’s Global Fund Partnership and Health Systems Team based in Copenhagen and this team performs procurement of health products in accordance with the UNDP Quality Assurance Policy. 

Competencies

Core Competencies

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work.
   
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking.
   
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning.
   
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process.
   
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously.
   
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships.
   
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making. 
   

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies

Business Direction & Strategy    

• System Thinking
  • Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Finance    

• Financial Planning and budgeting
  • Ability to create and manage processes to achieve UNDP’s long and short-term financial goals, including through planning, budgeting, forecasting, analyzing and reporting.

Business Management    

• Project Management
  • Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
    Partnership Management     
• Relationship Management
  • Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/ or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding
• Monitoring & Evaluation
  • Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively; Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between
    planned activities and programme management and results.
    Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming. 
  • Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools. Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results.

2030 Agenda: People    

• Health
  • Health Resilience and Sustainable Systems for Health 
  • Procurement services of health products 
     

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced University degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Medicine, Public Health, Biology, Chemistry, Laboratory systems, or another related field is required, or
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree

Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services, and/or hands-on experience in design or implementation of development projects.  

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to set forecasts and refine/review them in the light of experience and further analysis.
• Experience in management of a medical or public health project.
• Experience working with clinical or public health laboratories, including familiarity with laboratory operations and quality management systems, 
• Experience in procurement, supply, or maintenance of lab equipment and supplies 
• Languages:
  Fluency in English, Russian and Turkmen is required.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

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