Background Information – UNOPS

UNOPS – an operational arm of the United Nations – supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by successfully implementing its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management, and human resources.

Working with us

We are proud of our people. With a wealth of knowledge and skills in various disciplines – engineering, finance, human resources, ICT, leadership, project management, procurement, and more – they help tackle some of the biggest challenges of our time. Their work around the world supports progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

At UNOPS, we offer a range of short- and long-term opportunities in various environments and duty stations – from Denmark and Kenya to Mexico, Switzerland, Myanmar, Senegal, Uganda, and many more.

Diversity

With over 5,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,400 personnel recruited on behalf of our partners, spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced and diverse labor force — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs. We continually strive to maintain our gender-balanced workplace. We encourage qualified underrepresented groups as per UNOPS Gender, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy to apply for our vacancies.

Background Information – Afghanistan

Afghanistan

With more than 20 years of experience in the country, UNOPS Afghanistan focuses on providing maximum support to the people of Afghanistan through the delivery of projects and services that improve the lives of people in need. The UNOPS Afghanistan Country Office (AFCO) serves as an organizational mechanism to deliver a range of projects for which UNOPS has been designated as the implementation agency.  At present, UNOPS AFCO activities cover a range of sectors including humanitarian, basic human needs, cash for work, infrastructure, development, procurement and HR services.

The functional objective of UNOPS AFCO is to contribute to improving the lives of girls, boys, men and women living in Afghanistan. The aim of UNOPS AFCO is to provide efficient and cost-effective implementation services on behalf of all our partners to support the humanitarian response and development of the country. UNOPS AFCO’s mission is to exceed the expectations of all stakeholders in the delivery of AFCO services, at all times, in all places, in all circumstances, in order to improve the lives of Afghans in need.

Background Information – Job-specificUnder the direct supervision of the Senior Project Manager, the Deputy Project Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the project, liaison and communication with the funding partner, implementing partners, and project beneficiaries. In consultation with the Senior Project Manager, the Deputy Project Manager will also liaise with local and national authorities including with the de facto Authorities, in line with United Nations guidelines. The Deputy Project Manager will support the Senior Project Manager and act on his/her behalf when needed, including but not limited to managing the team, program and contract management, social mobilization and training, engineering, reporting, monitoring, and evaluation. S/he will be responsible for the overall coordination, procurement arrangements with local organizations and contractors, engagement with communities, quality assurance, and monitoring and reporting, and managing technical assistance activities.

The Project seeks to recruit a qualified Afghan national for the post of Deputy Project Manager (DPM) to be based in Herat and report to the Senior Project Manager. The DPM will be supervising the local project staff, including the engineering team, the community mobilization team, and the HSSE and monitoring team, as well as overseeing international staff when the Senior PM is out of office. The DPM will be based in Herat with frequent visits to the project sites (Rural areas of earthquake-affected villages in Herat province).

The DPM will act within the project that is dedicated to the Herat earthquake response and that will require the team to perform general evaluations and assessments, engineering-related technical activities, construction, and other similar interventions typical to a post-earthquake context.

 Functional Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions

1. Project Delivery and Performance
2. Procedures
3. Monitoring and reporting
4. Stakeholder engagement
5. Quality assurance
6. Knowledge management and innovation
7. Personnel management
8. Project Delivery and Performance

Under the direct supervision, guidance and direction of the Senior Project Manager (SPM), the DPM shall:

1. Develop, complete and update implementation of Project plan(s) and quarterly plans
2. Implement the approved plans (including the establishment of milestones) within tolerances set by the Senior Management/Project Board;
3. Embed sustainability dimensions including social and gender inclusion, environmental and economic aspects into the project life span;
4. Oversee the teams to ensure the production of the required outputs, taking responsibility for overall implementation progress and use of resources and initiating corrective action where necessary;
5. Ensure that quality of work packages and deliverables complies with the quality requirements defined in the Project Plan;
6. Oversee the liaison by the various teams with any external suppliers or account managers, and coordinate external liaison;
7. Advise the Senior Project Manager of any possible deviations from the plan and possible corrective actions;
8. Manage acceptance and delivery of work packages;
9. Review and approve the invoicing and progress verification of works, payments certification, procurement, managing construction companies, construction sites and dealing with Government authorities and other stakeholders.
10. Monitor project progress, through the monitoring team, ensuring that work packages are being executed properly
11. Control project and work packages changes;
12. Accept works, goods or services delivered by suppliers;
13. Lead contract management duties including supplier performance evaluations;
14. Lead the review of project proposals including technical and economic components;
15. Lead and oversee the planning and implementation of community support through implementing partners;
16. Oversee and coordinate the development and implementation of systems for internal control that ensure compliance with contractual terms and conditions, in collaboration with the procurement team.
17. Act as the Employer’s Representative within the FIDIC works contracts.
18. Identify, and anticipate in a timely manner, potential risks and issues and advise on mitigating measures to the Senior Management/Project Board so that maximum benefit to partner(s) and other stakeholders is achieved.
19. Identify and report to the supervisor potential new business opportunities for UNOPS.
20. Procedures:
    1. Oversee and coordinate the compliance with all organizational policies and specifically the Project Management Manual;
    2. Prepare/adapt all relevant plans for approval by Senior Management/Project Board;
    3. Manage the reporting obligations defined in the Legal Agreement(s) and Project Plan;
    4. Oversee the drafting of the requirements for procurement processes. Support evaluating submissions received, if appointed to the evaluation team;
    5. Oversee the effective implementation of corporate directives, guidelines and strategies, and establishment of relevant management targets, as well as monitoring of achievements and results.
    6. Oversee and coordinate the interactions and management of contractors, grantees and suppliers according to the needs and requirements on site;
    7. Provide support and guidance to the grantees and assists in resolving site problems, as necessary;
    8. Manage budgets, cash flow and obligations to ensure that deliverables are met and payments to contractors and personnel are received on time;
    9. Manage expenditures against the budget (based on accurate financial reports);
    10. For project closure purposes, support the formal handover of the project to the engagement closure manager;
    11. Support project audit activities, including planning, preparation and coordination during the audits and follow-up on audit observations/recommendations;
    12. Conduct and supervise Health & Safety, Social & Environmental (HSSE) issues and concerns, including application of UNOPS standards for HSSE;
    13. Performs HSSE management and inspections and maintains the required records;
    14. Perform other duties as may be assigned by the SPM.

1. Monitoring and reporting:
   1. Support the Senior PM in the preparation and issuing of regular project and/or financial reports in accordance with Partner and UNOPS legal agreement requirements for reporting;
   2. Oversee and review grantee and contractor compliance with contracts specifications and ensure that contractors and suppliers comply with their work plans to complete work with specified scope of work, time frame, and budget;
   3. Regularly review project status, evaluating performance criteria (scope, cost, schedule and quality)
   4. Maintain diaries and progress reports as required by the organization’s standard procedures;
   5. Provide routine oversight and analysis of delivery data within the one UNOPS Project (OuP – internal system) dashboard system;
   6. Ensure all project team members track and regularly update milestones and targets for the duration of projects’ life span.
   7. Assess the work activities of contractor/s, measure completed works and make recommendations to the Senior Project Manager for progress payments to contractors.
   8. Review and endorse any design changes that are processed by other parties, and recommend them to SPM for implementation
   9. Assist in building and developing capacity of other technical personnel in construction techniques including good practices and troubleshooting methods
   10. Provide technical advice and assistance to contractors to ensure that economical and quality materials are purchased
   11. Monitor the implementation of the works by conducting site visits and provide guidance for improvement and good results.
   12. Any situation that may require decision making, which will involve variation and or additional cost shall be brought to the notice of SPM with details of issues encountered at site and appropriate recommendation;
   13. Hold ownership of UNOPS assets at the construction site.

1. Stakeholder engagement:
   1. Develop stakeholder profiles and facilitate the formulation of stakeholder engagement strategies;
   2. Establish solid working relationships with the Project Board (Executive, Senior Users and Senior Suppliers), client and key stakeholders;
   3. Enable the formulation of project communications plans. Coordinate internal project communications. Monitor the effectiveness of project communications;
   4. 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.

1. Quality assurance:
   1. Develop the project QA strategy and plan
   2. Build capacity in the team to undertake QA
   3. Ensure the project meets the QA requirements
   4. Work with internal stakeholders to ensure the projects complies with audit requirements;
   5. Work with procurement/purchasing staff to ensure effective interface with suppliers’ quality systems;
   6. Check all laboratory reports, operation and maintenance manuals, and keep records and report to the SPM accordingly;
   7. Coordinate quality reviews of project documents and deliverables;
   8. Provide quality control for management outputs (project documents, plans, reports, etc.).

1. Partnerships and Coordination:
   1. Encourage routine and effective capacity building activities are conducted in order to build the long-term and sustainable capacity of staff;
   2. Actively interact with other Project Teams (PT) and the wider PT community to share case studies, lessons learned and best practices;
   3. 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;
   4. Research and logging of lessons learned throughout the project life span;
   5. Provide feedback to Practice Groups on policy, supporting guidance with an aim towards continuous improvement of UNOPS policies.

1. Monitoring and Progress Controls
   1. Lead and motivate the project team;
   2. Ensure that behavioural expectations of team members are established;
   3. Ensure that performance reviews are conducted fairly, accurately and timely;
   4. Select, recruit and train team as required and take into account gender parity, diversity and inclusion objectives;
   5. Ensure safety and security for all project personnel and comply with UNDSS standards;
   6. 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

1. Education
   • Master’s Degree in Engineering or similar field is required.
   • A Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or similar field with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be considered in lieu of the Advanced University Degree requirement.
   • PRINCE2 Practitioner Certification – an asset.
   • A relevant combination of academic credentials and/or industry certifications and qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the university education.

1. Work Experience
   • Minimum 5 years (or less depending on academic credentials) of relevant progressive experience in managing community and village-level infrastructure (or larger) projects with a focus on monitoring, reporting, development, and coordination.
   • Proven experience of project implementation in close collaboration with government authorities preferred;
   • Previous work experience with the UNOPS or any of the United Nations agencies or I/NGOs is preferred;
   • Knowledge of UN/UNOPS rules and regulations is an advantage.
   • Experience in the Herat province is an advantage.

1. Languages
   • Fluency in oral and written English is required and working knowledge of Dari and/or Pashto languages is an advantage.

Please click on the below link for actual vacancy announcement to see the complete details and submission guideline as this is only an attempt for attracting female applicants for gender parity in organization. Please make sure you fill your profile/application properly with all relevant details in order to be considered for the next stage of recruitment/selection.

https://jobs.unops.org/pages/viewvacancy/VADetails.aspx?id=28027

https://jobs.unops.org/pages/viewvacancy/VADetails.aspx?id=28027