Senior Project Manager

The Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECR), based in Geneva, is responsible for the effective management, coordination and oversight of UNOPS operations across the region. The ECR region spans the Western Balkans, Ukraine and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, South Caucasus, and Türkiye, where UNOPS works with partners to achieve sustainable impact in health, education, environmental management, housing, rule of law, good governance, economic development, and social inclusion. With a wealth of experience in procurement, infrastructure, project and grant management, UNOPS in the region directly implements projects, provides technical advisory services and capacity building to advance the Sustainable Development Goals in support of national governments.

On 24 February 2022, the military of the Russian Federation invaded Ukraine, with strikes across the territory of Ukraine. Since then, Russia’s invasion imposes a severe humanitarian and socio-economic toll, global energy and food crisis, large-scale destruction of the country's infrastructure, and disruptions in the provision of critical services and degradation of social fabrics and communities’ ties, triggering one of the world’s most significant forced displacements.

Severe attacks on energy and critical infrastructure facilities leave millions of people without electricity, water or heating supply, struggling to access water, food, health services, materials to repair homes, among others. The continued attacks cause substantial damage to the country’s economy and agricultural production, and also affect the poorest countries worldwide.

UNOPS support to partners spans the humanitarian-development nexus from emergency response to building back better, across the housing, health, education, transport, energy and mine action sectors, through infrastructure, procurement and technical assistance / project management interventions, with the ultimate aim of supporting the country on its EU accession and in its achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The UNOPS Ukraine and Eastern Europe MCO (UEMCO) operates in Ukraine, Moldova, and Poland, supporting urgent humanitarian needs while building pathways for recovery and development. In Ukraine, UEMCO delivers large-scale infrastructure, energy, housing, education, and mine action projects in partnership with UN agencies, international financial institutions, the European Union, and bilateral donors. Its agile portfolio responds to fast-evolving needs with strong procurement and implementation capacity. In Moldova, UEMCO supports justice sector reform and is exploring opportunities to expand its role across public sector modernization and infrastructure. In Poland, UEMCO works with government and private sector actors to strengthen ties with UN procurement and contribute to Ukraine’s recovery, leveraging Poland’s EU experience to support Ukraine’s future accession and integration.

The United Nations Office for Project Services supports governments, donors, international financial institutions, and United Nations partners through infrastructure, procurement, project management, grant management, and technical assistance services.

The Ukraine and Eastern Europe Multi-Country Office (UEMCO) operates across Ukraine, Moldova, and Poland, with Ukraine representing a major and evolving portfolio shaped by conflict, recovery needs, institutional reform, and increasing demand for implementation-ready solutions.

Within UEMCO, the Recovery, Preparedness and Mine Action Unit is established as a multidisciplinary platform supporting recovery delivery, preparedness systems, mine action, technical services, and selected strategic initiatives that help unlock complex and scalable recovery outcomes.

Reporting to the Portfolio Senior Manager, the Senior Project Manager is responsible for the day-to-day delivery, implementation, and operational coordination of designated UMA projects and workstreams, including infrastructure, procurement, capacity building and other assigned implementation components.

The incumbent directly manages and coordinates designated Project Managers assigned to the UMA delivery stream by the portfolio Senior Manager. The incumbent undertakes day-to-day coordination of project managers, and may also be responsible for the implementation of one specific project, which may involve the construction of physical assets, technical outputs, or both.

The Senior Project Manager serves as the lead focal point for selected project implementation under the guidance of the Portfolio Senior Manager, and ensures that project outputs are delivered within agreed tolerances of time, cost, scope, quality, risk, and benefits.

1. Project Delivery and Performance

• Under the guidance of the Portfolio Senior Manager, lead and manage the implementation and operational delivery of projects with a focus on infrastructure.
• Develop, complete and update the project implementation plan.
• Implement the approved plan (including establishment of milestones) within tolerances set by the Project Board, including the development of infrastructure designs and coordinating design reviews.
• Embed sustainability dimensions, including social and gender considerations, and environmental and economic aspects, into the project life span.
• Manage the production of required outputs, taking responsibility for overall progress and use of resources while initiating corrective action where necessary.
• Ensure that quality of work packages and deliverables comply with the quality requirements defined in the implementation plan.
• Liaise with external suppliers or account managers to ensure quality and timely delivery of outputs.Manage acceptance and delivery of work packages.
• Monitor project progress, control project variances (if any), and manage changes.
• Identify, anticipate and advise relevant UEMCO technical advisors, including infrastructure and procurement advisors as applicable. on progress, identified risks and mitigating measures against project risks to ensure that benefits to partners and other stakeholders are maximized.
• Identify and report potential opportunities for UNOPS to the supervisor.

2. Procedures

• Comply with the organization’s policies and standards, and ensure project information is kept updated in project management systems.
• Be aware of applicable local laws and regulations, and ensure adherence. This includes international regulations and standards, where applicable, as well as technical standards.
• Prepare and adapt all relevant plans for consultation and approval by the UEMCO relevant UEMCO technical advisors, including infrastructure and procurement advisors as applicable. , and manage baselines.
• Ensure coordination between project managers and the UEMCO infrastructure team, including consultative and collaborative approaches to integrating engineering and architecture into the project management lifecycle.
• Personally support project managers in problem solving and resolution of critical issues: unexpected ground conditions, subcontractor failures, safety incidents, quality non-conformance, supply chain disruptions.
• Ensure that all project managers and site engineers under the incumbent maintain active field presence and are evaluated on their ability to solve physical, on-site problems.
• Coordinate with the Portfolio Senior Manager the reporting obligations defined in the implementation plan and legal agreements with Recovery, Preparedness and Mine Action Unit.
• Maintain project documentation in an orderly manner for accessibility and audit support when needed.
• Understand and apply the UNOPS financial rules and regulations. Be accountable for the use of delegation of authority (where applicable) and ensure compliance with relevant policies and standards of ethics.
• Provide a formal handover of the project to the closure manager when applicable.
• Support project audit activities, including planning, preparation and coordination during audits and follow-up on audit observations/ recommendations.

3. Monitoring and Reporting

• Include a results framework and M&E plan in the project implementation plan with clearly defined indicators and agreed targets, coordinate regular monitoring and tracking of project results through the Mine Action Programme Unit.
• Coordinate project managers, regular review of project status and evaluate performance criteria (scope, cost, schedule, and quality)
• Regularly undertake project site visits to ensure progress monitoring and oversee contractor performance and site specific problem solving.
• Maintain diaries and progress reports as required by UNOPS standard operating 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 the project life span.

4. Quality Assurance

• Work with internal stakeholders to ensure projects comply with audit requirements.
• Work with procurement/ purchasing personnel to ensure effective interface with suppliers’ quality systems.
• Coordinate quality reviews of project documents and deliverables.
• Provide quality control for management outputs (e.g. project documents, reports, etc)

5. Knowledge Management and Innovation

• Actively interact with the relevant UEMCO technical advisors, including infrastructure and procurement advisors as applicable. and the wider project management (PM) community, share case studies, lessons learned and best practices.
• Stay abreast with latest updates and good practices of the profession, participate in training and learning activities for self to advance proficiency and competency.
• Ensure lessons learned are shared in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Provide feedback to corporate practice groups on policy and systems, when needed.
• Provide feedback to functional groups on policies and related guidance to support the continuous improvement of UNOPS policy framework.

6. Personnel Management

• Organise and structure the project team, ensure clearly defined roles and responsibilities. Provide regular guidance and direction, as needed, and support the team in effectively performing their tasks.
• Lead and motivate the project management team, and manage performance.
• Ensure performance reviews are conducted fairly, accurately, and on time.
• Select, recruit, and train project teams as required, taking gender parity and diversity objectives into account.
• Ensure safety and security for all project personnel in compliance with the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) standards

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in civil engineering (water, electrical, mechanical, structural or other applicable engineering disciplines) or related fields with 9 years of relevant experience OR

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any of the above or related fields with 7 years of relevant experience is required

Desired

• Project management certification (e.g. PRINCE2, PMI, PEng, CEng, etc) is desired.

Required

• Relevant experience in implementing and managing complex infrastructure projects (e.g. training compounds, large educational facilities.), in, post-conflict environments, or emergency contexts.
• Significant field-based project management experience, directly overseeing site activities and resolving on-the-ground technical issues is required.
• Experience in defining technical and design requirements is required.
• Experience of infrastructure quality assurance methodologies and tools is required.
• Experience in managing infrastructure projects and coordinating a team toward common objectives is required.

Desired

• Experience working in multicultural environments in a post-conflict environment, or emergency contexts is desired.
• Experience in contract management is desired.
• Experience in supporting the development of procurement strategies is desired.
• Knowledge of FIDIC contracts is desired.

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• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
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