Senior Project Manager-Infrastructure

1.  Strategic Planning and Portfolio Support
2. Project Set-up and closure
3. Monitoring and Reporting
4. Delivery Support
5. Quality Assurance
6. Knowledge Management and Innovation
7. Personnel Management

1. Strategic Planning and Portfolio Support

• Provides suggestions to the HoI and HoP for maintaining and implementing appropriate standards and best practices in line with UNOPS policies, guidelines and procedures.
• Coordinates with the MCO Head of Infrastructure (HoI) on technical and Infra related matters.
• Supports the Partnerships Team providing technical inputs into the development of new Infrastructure project proposals.
• In coordination with the MCO Infra Unit, provides advice, oversight and support to all infrastructure projects across the MCO.
• Development and planning of new infrastructure projects; promoting best practices and lessons learnt from past experience, including scheduling and covering DNP stages; including planning necessary staffing resources, and logistical resources to implement the infrastructure management systems, contributing to  ensuring synergies across the MCO.
• Champions the vision and mission of the Programme Infrastructure Unit at the MCO level.
• Drives continuous improvement and Assumes custodianship over tools and systems for infrastructure programmes and projects.  Ensures application of infrastructure tools and systems for the MCO.
• Analyses, identifies and provides solutions to potential risks and issues related to the delivery of infrastructure programmes and projects and advises mitigating measures to the HoI and Infra PMs in a timely manner.
• Guides the PMO Specialist(s) with necessary project analysis and information relevant to the PMO (i.e. Direct Costs, Procurement Plans, Resources Plans, Forecasts, etc.).
• Provides guidance and advice to the PMs in the development and implementation of Quality/Construction Management and Supervision plans
• Contributes to technical assessments and Environmental Screening for all Infrastructure projects.
• Provides technical input in the drafting of ToRs for different technical disciplines, as needed.

2. Project Set-up and closure

• Actively involved in the start up of new infrastructure projects.
• Deploying and organising a team of multi-disciplinary retainers to carry out the technical assessment.
• Development of project plans/schedules for infrastructure project delivery (assessment, design, construction and DNP) in coordination with the HoI and the MCO Infra Unit.
• Develops, tracks and maintains dependencies between work packages.
• Facilitates the uptake and operationalization of performance management tools developed for infrastructure projects.
• Facilitates and ensures that all HAMCO Infrastructure Projects have a valid (and agreed) DNP Monitoring plan.
• Coordinates and oversees the implementation of requests or initiatives relevant to Infra projects from the Regional Office, IPAS, and HQ Teams, as required.

3. Monitoring and Reporting

• Oversees the updating and maintenance of tracking systems and tools to facilitate monitoring of infrastructure project progress and performance.
• Provides routine monitoring and suggests corrective measures for infrastructure projects progress and performance.
• Oversee monitoring of progress of infrastructure contracts against planned schedules; and raises any deviations to the HoI for corrective actions.
• Provides periodic analysis and technical advice on delivery data and shares it with the Infrastructure Project teams and Management, as appropriate.
• Prepares and provides regular updates on the work progress to the HoI and upstream to the HAMCO Leadership Team.
• Timely identification of potential risks and issues specific to infrastructure delivery, and escalates and suggests mitigating measures.
• Oversees the review of Infrastructure project status; evaluation and monitoring of performance criteria (scope, cost, schedule and quality).

4. Delivery Support

• Coordinates with HoI on identifying and deploying suitable technical resources and recruitment for the delivery of Infrastructure products.
• Leads a team of multidisciplinary engineers/designers (Retainers) for the preparation of design packages according to the UNOPS guidelines and standards.
• Outlines the design requirements during the design stage of Infra projects.
• Reviews and compiles the prepared design packages and to ensure that they are in line with the UNOPS “Design Planning Manual for Buildings”.
• In coordination with the HoI, to support the design review process and with addressing the comments received by the Peer Reviewers/IPMG.
• Assumes the role of technical coordinator for infrastructure work-packages including design management, construction supervision, DNP management, etc. as assigned.
• Assumes technical responsibility for the preparation of technical assessments, quality plans, scheme programmes and design work, cost estimates, bills of quantities and review of bid documentations.
• Provides induction, orientation and continuous technical advice to all Infrastructure practitioners related to the UNOPS Infrastructure management systems, including Planning, Design Preparation,Quality Management, Construction Management, Contract Management, Construction Supervision, etc.
• Carries out periodic inspections and site visits to construction sites.
• Supports procurement stages, including providing technical assistance during the preparation of tender documents, facilitating pre-bid meetings and taking part in bid evaluations for construction contracts.
• Works with the HSSE Specialist in monitoring the implementation of HSSE plans including requirements and guidelines at project sites.
• Backstops and/or takes part in surge initiatives for Infrastructure Project Managers and/or technical team members, as required.
• Takes part in induction training, incident reporting and investigation, as per UNOPS guidelines.
• Identifies gaps, areas to improve and makes recommendations to the HoI, HoP, project teams and PE on appropriate corrective actions.
• Supports the implementation of Health, Safety, Social and Environmental measures at the project sites.
• Contributes to the achievement of the goal zero of incidents (injury, disease and fatal).
• Performs other related duties as may be assigned by the HoI.

5. Quality Assurance

• Appraises and facilitates compliance with UNOPS defined standards and international best practices for Infrastructure project management, including Quality Management, Construction Management, Contract Management, Construction Supervision, etc.
• Coordinates quality reviews of infrastructure project documents and deliverables, including design review submissions through the platform.
• Supports the HoI in providing technical advice to key stakeholders to continuously identify and improve operational processes relevant to Infrastructure projects implementation.
• Promotes a culture of compliance on Quality Management, Contract Management and Construction Supervision, Policies, Guidance, Tools and Templates.
• Reviews and provides assurance of QMPs and QAPs for Infra projects.
• Identifies issues or non-conformity, and recommends necessary actions to enforce where unsafe acts or processes that seem dangerous or unhealthy are detected.
• Undertakes reviews and coordinates with HoI and Infra Unit to ensure Infrastructure projects document records are complete and up to date: Design Brief, Design Review Certificates, Substantial Completion Certificates, Final Completion Certificates, Contractor Notices, Materials Testing reports, Non-Conformity Registers, DNP monitoring plans, Defects Registers, As-Built Drawings, etc.
• Provides advice to project teams in the application of Contractual Guidance Material.
• Develops tools to track compliance of Infrastructure products with relevant policies, guidelines and tools, and undertake assurance over their practices for all Infrastructure projects.

6. Knowledge Management and Innovation

• Actively contributes to the HAMCO Infrastructure maturity enhancement initiatives during the delivery stages.
• Facilitates training including onboarding/induction of new joiners on UNOPS Design Manual, Quality Management policies, tools and instruments, including Contracts Management and Construction Supervision Guidance.
• Ensures routine and effective capacity building activities are conducted in order to build the long-term and sustainable capacity of technical teams.
• Participates in, and advocates for Infrastructure practitioners membership in relevant Communities of Practice.
• Contributes to HAMCO knowledge networks in infrastructure-related disciplines.
• Actively interacts with project teams, Infra Unit and the wider UNOPS Infrastructure community to share case studies, lessons learned and best practices in the Knowledge System.
• Provides feedback on policy and supporting guidance related to Design, Quality Management and infrastructure practices.
• Contributes to ensuring that lessons learnt are shared and mainstreamed in a timely and appropriate manner.

7. Personnel Management

• Manages and coordinates a pool of Expert Resources of Infrastructure practitioners across the MCO and provides functional direction, oversight and feedback to its members.
• In coordination with the HoI, monitors the performance, resource and talent management of  Infrastructure practitioners under the MCO.
• Actively promotes a culture of continuous improvement and lessons learning in infrastructure related disciplines.
• Supports the HoI in recruiting quality technical resources internally and externally to UNOPS.  Actively supports PMs in doing so, where needed.
• Supports on-boarding Infrastructure practitioners for the MCO and provides guidance on performance setting and reviews within the practice.
• Promotes and supports a learning culture by empowering individuals and teams to identify critical learning needs and plans/provides easy access to learning opportunities to maintain personnel competency and flexibility.
• Fosters a positive work environment, respectful of both men and women, and ensures that the highest standards of conduct are observed.

This consequently reinforces the image of UNOPS as an effective service provider in Infrastructure project management and strengthens its competitive position as a partner of choice in sustainable development and Project Services.

• Advanced University (Master’s Degree) degree in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management or other relevant technical discipline is required.
• A Bachelor’s Degree in  Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management or other relevant technical discipline with a combination of additional two (2) years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the education requirements outlined above.

• AutoCAD certification is desirable.
• PRINCE2 Foundation or equivalent is desirable.

• A minimum of  seven (7) years’ experience on implementing complex projects/programmes is required.
• Experience in contract management is an asset.
• Experience in planning and applying Health & Safety procedures is an asset.
• Experience in works contract management, preferably FIDIC contracting is desirable.
• Experience in managing projects with multiple sites, in remote locations, with complex logistical characteristics is an asset.
• Experience in working with Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies on Donor funded projects is an asset.
• Knowledge of the UN system and familiarity with UNOPS procedures is a distinct advantage.
• International organizations experience is an added advantage

• Fluency in spoken, written and reading  English is required
• Fluency in spoken, written and reading  Amharic is required
• Knowledge of other UN languages will be considered an asset