Somalia: Project Manager - Explosive Threat Mitigation - ETM

Background Information - PSC

Peace and Security Centre

The UNOPS Peace and Security Centre (PSC) is a principal service provider in the field of mine action with the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), UNDP, UNICEF, Governments of mine-affected countries and other mine action partners. The Centre is responsible to administer, provide support and oversight of the day-to-day management of the Project Field offices, both according to the client requirements and in line with UNOPS rules and regulations. It is headed by the Director, who has the overall authority and accountability for the performance of the PSC on behalf of its clients.

UNMAS

United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) is a division of the Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions (OROLSI) in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO). UNMAS is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly (RES/68/72) to ensure an effective, proactive and coordinated response to the problem posed by a wide range of explosive hazards. Legislative mandates also recognize UNMAS technical expertise in responding to threats posed by unsecured and unsafe conventional weapons and ammunition stockpiles. As an office within DPKO, UNMAS supports peacekeeping and special political missions in accordance with Security Council mandates.

UNMAS as a component of the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) provides explosive hazard management capacities, including mitigation, to AMISOM as part of a logistical support package. Non-lethal tactical advice and analysis is delivered by UNMAS technical advisors located in each AMISOM Sector Headquarters and at AMISOM Force Headquarters, who support AMISOM planning and operations. UNMAS support includes both enabling (“operate in spite of IEDs”) and response (“defeat the device”). As a component of the UN Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) UNMAS also supports the Federal Government of Somalia, including the Somali Police Force, Somali Explosive Management Authority and National Security Advisor.

Functional Responsibilities

The Project Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the project and provides services to the different partners and beneficiaries. He/she is expected to meet and exceed the organizations performance and delivery of goals.

The 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 services are capable of meeting the business cases for both UNOPS / UNMAS and its stakeholders. Success of the Project(s) and hence Project Manager will be based on the Success Criteria of UNOPS/UNMAS engagements which are linked to the below responsibilities. The project manager is responsible for all aspects of the project life cycle. S/he must be able to apply, independently, the below duties and responsibilities of the project success criteria:

Stakeholder Management:

• 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
• Advise the client on issues that may impact the achievement of their outcomes (including issues of sustainability and post project requirements such as maintenance)
• Manage the information flows between the Project Board/OC Director and the project(s)

Delivery and Performance:

• Develop and maintain project plans
• Implement approved project plans (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 cycle
• Manage the project, taking responsibility for overall progress and use of resources and initiating corrective action where necessary
• Liaise with any external suppliers or account managers
• Authorize Work Packages
• Advise management of any deviations from the plan
• Identify and manage risks so that maximum benefit to client and stakeholders is achieved
• Manage and review service quality to ensure it is acceptable
• Monitor and evaluate performance of service providers
• Identify and report potential business opportunities for UNMAS to supervisor
• Identify and report threats to UNOPS internal business case to supervisor

Procedures:

• Follow the Project Management Cycle Instructions and ensure that all organizational policy is complied with (Organizational Directives and Administrative Instructions)
• Prepare/adapt the following plans for approval by the Project Management: I. Project Initiation Documentation; II. Stage/Exception Plans and relevant Product Descriptions
• Prepare the following reports:

i. Highlight Reports

ii. End Stage Reports

iii. Operational Closure Checklist

iv. End Project Report

v. Handover Report

• Maintain the following: i. Electronic Blue File; ii. Procurement, HR and Finance files as required by those practices as per OD12.
• Ensure that all expenditure comply with UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations (FRR).
• 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 and remain accountable for 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.

Knowledge Management:

• Participate in the relevant Communities of Practice
• Actively interact with other PMs and the PM community to share case studies, lessons learned and best practice on the Knowledge System
• Provide feedback to Practice Leads on policy, supporting guidance with an aim towards continuous improvement of UNOPS policies
• Complete lessons learned as per reporting format
• Incorporate lessons learned from others as per planning format

Personnel Management:

• Lead and motivate the project team
• Ensure that behavioural expectations of team members are established
• Ensure that performance reviews are conducted
• Identify outstanding staff and bring them to the attention of the Programme Director
• Have a thorough understanding of UNOPS personnel contract modalities (including ICA and Staff)
• Select, recruit and train team as required by project
• Perform the Team Manager role & Project Support role
• Ensure safety and security for all personnel and comply with UNDSS standards

**
Additional Requirements:**

• Work with AMISOM, Federal and State counterparts and District officials to undertake assessments and clearance operations;
• Coordinate with Humanitarian, AMISOM and Police team within UNMAS and with Human Rights colleagues within the Mission to develop a comprehensive approach to explosive hazard management;
• Works with the Programme Department including Programme Officers and Programme Management Office (PMO) to ensure alignment to UNMAS/UNOPS governance processes and mission wide strategic processes.

Monitoring and Progress Controls

• Well written out Programme Implementation Plans (PIP) and works-plans in place to ensure activities are implemented, outputs/outcomes documented and monitored to document impact of work;
• Ensuring the Smart sheet inputs are documented in a timely manners and information is continually shared with the POs and PMO on day to day the daily activities;
• Have a flexible project personnel in place which is suitable for the community based works, and manages and develops their skills and competencies to ensure optimum performance with gender and geographical diversity.
• Have a well-motivated and performing team that operates responsibly, effectively and efficiently. Education/Experience/Language requirements

a)Educationand minimum years of Experience

• Advanced University Degree (Master's Degree or equivalent) in Social Sciences, Business Administration, Project Management, or related field with a minimum of seven (7) years of relevant experience is required; OR
• First-level University Degree (Bachelor's Degree or equivalent) in Social Sciences, Business Administration, Project Management, or related field with a minimum of nine (9) years of relevant experience; OR
• Military experience with a minimum of thirteen (13) years of relevant experience in project management and operations (Military and/or Humanitarian Mine Action).

b) Experience

• Relevant experience is defined as progressively responsible experience in project management supporting operations in military, humanitarian, conflict, post-conflict, or development context, with public or private sector organizations
• Within relevant experience, a minimum of two (2) years' experience in International Mine Action Standards and the Information Management System (IMSMA) for Mine Action is required
• Experience in explosive threat mitigation including implementation of safety procedures is required
• Regarding project development and management, experience in monitoring, evaluations, quality assurance and networking is highly desired
• Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) qualifications is desired.

c) Certifications

• PRINCE2 Foundation is required
• PRINCE2 Practitioner is desired

d) Language

• Fluency in English (speaking, writing and reading) is required.
• Knowledge of another UN official language is desired.

Contract type, level and duration

• Contract type: (staff) Fixed Term Appointment
• Contract level: P4 (ICS-11)
• Contract duration: One year initially, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability

https://jobs.unops.org/Pages/ViewVacancy/VADetails.aspx?id=16105