Project Manager

Project Background Information

The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL). Affairs of the U.S. Department of State provides support designated to enhance the Government of the Lao PDR’s capability to interdict trafficked goods, including drugs, wildlife, and persons; improve border security; and combat transnational crime, including financial crimes. Due to the Lao PDR’s central geographic location and its approximately 3,000 miles of land and riverine borders shared with China, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia, infrastructure improvements in the country have subjected it to increased threats from transnational crime. In cooperation with INL, the Department of Customs (DoC) of Lao PDR worked to improve border security, and in so doing, combat transnational crime.

• These efforts are critically important for many reasons, including surging production of methamphetamine in Myanmar, increasing border security in neighbouring countries, altering trafficking routes through the Lao PDR, enduring local demand for illegally trafficked wildlife, and increasing demand due to rapid economic development and integration into the regional economy. One of the U.S. Embassy of Vientiane’s top priorities is to support the Government of the Lao PDR’s efforts to strengthen border security and professionalize the police force.
• The first phase of the project funded by the Department of State (DoS) – INL in Lao PDR, was implemented by UNOPS between 2020 and 2024, and included the construction of two warehouses for seized contraband goods (one in Vientiane and one in Luang Namtha) as well as the design of a new headquarter building and training center for the Department of Custom. UNOPS Lao PDR recently signed phase 2 of the project which includes the construction of this new headquarter and training center building as well as some minor construction works and equipment to complete the warehouse in Luang Namtha province. The new seven-storey office building construction will follow the recently completed design as part of phase 1.
• The Project Manager for infrastructure projects will be managing project(s) whose ultimate goal is to deliver infrastructure physical assets or technical outputs. Those infrastructures are diverse and range from educational and health facilities to roads, bridges, irrigation systems or ports. While the complexity of those may vary, maintaining high standards in terms of quality, health, safety, and sustainability is always expected.
• Depending on the nature and configuration of the project, the Project Manager might be executing technical studies, reviews, designs, supervision, or operation and maintenance services of one or several physical infrastructure assets, in one or multiple sites. Depending on the implementation modality, it may involve large volumes of procurement of goods, services, and HR services.
• UNOPS operates in complex contexts where resources might be scarce, local capacity low, and where professional judgment and experience in these environments are of uttermost importance.
• Project Managers (Infrastructure) at this level are expected to manage infrastructure implementation projects that are of low to moderate complexity from stakeholder management, financial management, risk management, governance, resource management, and quality management perspectives.

Functional Responsibilities

Summary of functions:

• 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, and 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 the 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.

Procedures 

• 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 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

• Prepare and issue regular project and/or financial reports in accordance with Partner and UNOPS requirements for reporting.
• 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.

Stakeholder engagement

• Develop stakeholder profiles and facilitate the formulation of stakeholder engagement strategies
• Establish solid working relationships with the Project Board (Executive, Senior Users and Senior Suppliers), client and 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, exceptions and are in a position to accept handover outputs.

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.)

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.

Personnel Management  

• Lead 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 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, 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.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education:

• Advanced University Degree in a relevant technical discipline (Architecture, Civil Engineering, Water Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Structural Engineering, etc.).
• A combination of a Bachelor’s degree with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the education requirements outlined above.

Certification:

• Certification in Project Management (PRINCE2, PMI, etc.) is highly desired, or the selected candidate is required to achieve certification within the first (3) months of appointment.
• Professional certification from an accredited institution (PEng., CEng. , etc) is an asset.
• Complete the UNOPS PMM, UNOPS PMM Infra perspective, and oneUNOPS Projects trainings within (3) months of joining UNOPS.

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years experience in implementing and managing infrastructure projects (Roads, Bridges, Health facilities, Buildings, Water services, Renewable energy and distribution, etc.) is required.
• Experience in contract management is an asset.
• Knowledge of FIDIC contracts is an asset.
• Experience in writing reports, performing data analyses, and writing technical documents is an asset.
• Experience in planning and applying Health & Safety procedures is an asset.
• Experience in developing Procurement strategies is an asset.
• Experience in risk management for infrastructure implementation projects is an asset.
• Experience working in multicultural teams is desirable.
• Experience in managing teams is an asset.
• Experience in developing countries or post-conflict environments is an asset.
• Knowledge of quality assurance methodologies is an asset.
• Proficient in MS Project and Schedule Analysis is desirable.
• Technical acumen with the ability to understand and speak to technical project plans and documents is an asset.
• Strong problem-solving skills are desirable.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Fluency in Laotian languages is desirable.

Source: https://jobs.unops.org/Pages/ViewVacancy/VADetails.aspx?id=28930