Deputy Project Manager

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.

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 organization’s performance and delivery goals.

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the Deputy Project Manager (Infrastructure) will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the project(s) and provide services to the different donors, partners and beneficiaries. S/he is expected to meet and exceed the organization's performance and delivery goals.

The Deputy Project Manager is responsible to produce/read the project initiation documents (PID), Legal Agreement and have a thorough understanding of the terms, conditions, and the respective roles and responsibilities of the partners/stakeholders to ensure the project(s) products are capable of meeting the business cases for both UNOPS and the client. The Deputy Project Manager is responsible for all aspects of the project infrastructure life cycle.

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 — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Project Information:

Freetown’s 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
Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the Deputy Project Manager (Infrastructure) will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the project(s) and provide services to the different donors, partners and beneficiaries. S/he is expected to meet and exceed the organization's performance and delivery goals.

The Deputy Project Manager is responsible to produce/read the project initiation documents (PID), Legal Agreement and have a thorough understanding of the terms, conditions, and the respective roles and responsibilities of the partners/stakeholders to ensure the project(s) products are capable of meeting the business cases for both UNOPS and the client. The Deputy Project Manager is responsible for all aspects of the project infrastructure life cycle.

S/he must be able to apply, independently, the below duties and responsibilities of the project success criteria:

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 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

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 Deputy/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

Ensure that the project(s) produces the required products within the specified tolerance of time, cost, quality, scope, risk and benefits.

The Deputy Project Manager is also responsible for the project producing a result capable of achieving the benefits to the satisfaction of UNOPS and the Client. Contribute to the overall business targets and needs.

In consultation with the Project Manager, establish solid working relationship with the project board (Executive, Senior Users and Senior Suppliers), client and key stakeholders

Manage communications and ensure stakeholders are aware of project activities, progress, exceptions and are in a position to accept handover products

Report and advise the Project Manager and the client on issues that may impact the achievement of their outcomes (including issues of sustainability and post project requirements such as maintenance)

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.)

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 Deputy/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

Lead and motivate the project management team, if applicable

Ensure that behavioral expectations of team members are established

Ensure that performance reviews are conducted fairly, accurately and timely

Select, recruit and train the 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, harassments, 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.

Deputy 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.

Advanced University Degree (Masters Degree) in Project Management, Procurement/ Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Construction engineering, Architecture, vertical infrastructure (buildings, etc.) or other relevant discipline is required.

A Bachelor’s degree with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the education requirements outlined above.

B. Work Experience

A minimum of 2 years progressive experience in infrastructure is required;

Experience working in development sector is an added advantage;

Experience in a Project Management role (incl. Team Leader, Lead Engineer, Technical Coordinator, Deputy PM or Acting) in the delivery of development projects is highly desirable;

Demonstrated experience working with multidisciplinary teams is desired;

Past experience involved in procurement of goods/services/ works is a distinct advantage;

Knowledge of the UN system and familiarity with UNOPS procedures is an advantage.

C. Language Requirement

PRINCE2® Practitioner Certification is an asset.

Managing Successful Project (MSP) Practitioner Certification is an asset.

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.

Freetown, Sierra Leone is a family duty station

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.