Senior Project Manager

The UNOPS Middle East Region (MR) provides strategic leadership, performance oversight, and support to UNOPS operations across Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and the State of Palestine. MR is responsible for positioning UNOPS as a key development partner in the region through high-level engagement with regional bodies, UN coordination mechanisms, development banks, donors, and intergovernmental organisations. By fostering strategic partnerships and promoting operational excellence, the region supports country teams in delivering sustainable solutions to complex development, peace, and humanitarian challenges

The current conflict in Yemen has resulted in a wide-spread humanitarian crisis, and has left 80 per cent of the population (24.4 million people) in need of assistance. In order to address the impediments on commercial imports to Yemen and facilitate restoration of regular commercial cargo flows into the country, United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) operationalized the UN Verification and Inspection Mechanism for Yemen (UNVIM) to oversee the monitoring and inspection services of commercial and bilateral assistance cargo destined for Yemeni Red Sea ports not under the control of the Government of Yemen. The mechanism was activated on 2 May 2016, at the request of the Government of Yemen and on behalf of the UN and the concerned Member States.

In its current operational setup, UNVIM reviews requests from commercial vessels to enter the Red Sea ports outside of the Government of Yemen control (Hodeidah, Saleef, and Ras Issa). The mechanism also inspects most of the vessels approaching these ports in Djibouti port or conducts inspections in international waters.

UNVIM is managed and operated by UNOPS and is located in Djibouti, Republic of Djibouti.

Under the overall strategic guidance of the Regional Director, the Senior Project Manager (PM) is responsible for originating and developing new policies, techniques, or standards for project delivery, innovating approaches to solve complex problems, and providing expert advice on the development and implementation of new programs. This role involves leading and directing substantive teams, advocating for new ideas, and driving transformative change within the project's scope, ensuring the successful implementation of the UNVIM project in compliance with UNOPS policies and partner agreements

The Senior PM must be able to undertake independently the following tasks:

Project Delivery and Performance

• Ensure the preparation and delivery of all the project’s elements and activities mentioned in the project document/ legal agreements;

• Ensure timely planning and implementation of the project activities, ensuring that goals and objectives are accomplished within the prescribed project time frame and the available funding parameters/budget;

• Develop, complete and update implementation plan(s);

• Implement the approved plan (including the establishment of milestones) within tolerances set by the Steering Committee;

• Follow up and report on the project objectives and plans including any delineation of scope, budgeting, scheduling, and setting performance requirements;

• Study and/ or prepare revisions of the standard operating procedures (SOPs), budgets, terms of reference, contracts and all technical requirements for the project activities;

• Analyze and review all project documents, including documents for the UN and Member States, and ensure compliance with specifications utilizing research, development, relevant codes and standards;

• Ensure agreements with Member States and stakeholders are correctly implemented;

• Embed sustainability dimensions including social, gender, environmental and economic aspects into the 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.

• 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.

Stakeholder Engagement and Management

• Develop stakeholder profiles and facilitate the formulation of stakeholder engagement strategies;

• Establish, build, and maintain solid working relationships with the project stakeholders, including the Government of Yemen, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Government of Djibouti, donors, UN OCHA, UN agencies, and other 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, and exceptions and are in a position to accept handover outputs;

• In coordination with the Regional Office, maintain regular contact with the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), UN Department of Political Affairs, and other internal stakeholders;

• Convene regular Steering Committee meetings, and donor meetings, and lead on the organization of donor field visits and briefing requests;

• Ensure donor visibility as stipulated in the approved project document/ legal agreement;

• Prepare for and participate in Project Steering Committee Meetings.

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.)

Personnel Management

• Lead, supervise, 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, harassment, sexual harassment 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.

Procedures

• Comply with all organizational policy and specifically the Project Management Manual, and OneUNOPS Projects System requirements.

• Prepare/adapt all relevant plans for approval by the Steering Committee;

• 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 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.

Monitoring and reporting

• In coordination with Partnerships Section, prepare and issue regular project and/or financial reports in accordance with each donor and/ or UNOPS requirements for reporting and as stipulated in contribution agreements;

• Analyze, monitor, and review key economic indicators on commercial trade in Yemen including, but not limited to, statistics, economic projections and trends;

• Monitor and assess the developments in Yemen related to the UNVIM and keep the Regional Director, Regional Office, the Multi-Country Office Director, Head of Programme, Partnerships Advisor, and UN OCHA, informed;

• 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.

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 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

Required

• Master’s Degree in Project Management, Business Administration, International Relations, Law, Political/ Development Studies, or any other relevant discipline;

• Bachelor’s degree in Project Management, Business Administration, International Relations, Political/ Development Studies, Law, or other relevant discipline, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree, with a combination of 2 additional years of relevant professional experience

Desired

• Certified Senior Project Manager - International Project Manager Association (IPMA Level B) or Project Management Professional (PMP - PMI) or PRINCE2 foundation is an asset

Required

• Seven (7) years of progressive experience in project development and management, with a focus on monitoring, reporting, development and coordination in either public or private sector organizations is required;

• At least (3) years of previous experience in the humanitarian/ post-conflict/ development context in the Middle East and/ or Africa region is required;

• Experience with an international/humanitarian organization and/or UN agencies is required.

• Solid experience in managing relationships with UN Member States, regional organizations, and national counterparts is required.

• Experience in managing diverse teams is required.

Desired

• Solid experience in managing sensitive/special political initiatives and issues and/or confidence-building mechanisms is preferred.

• Experience in managing donor relations is preferred.

• Experience in working in highly dynamic environments is an asset.

• Experience in writing reports, developing action plans, performing data analyses, and drafting documents is an asset.

• Knowledge of quality assurance methodologies is an asset.

• Strong communication and presentation skills are an asset

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• 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.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
  

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• 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.