Weno, Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia
UNOPS in Weno
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. UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian and development projects. 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 organizations.
Thailand Operational Hub (THOH)
THOH is a UNOPS business unit under the UNOPS Asia Regional Office and it was established to better support, develop and oversee the UNOPS portfolio of projects in South East Asia and the Pacific.
The Hub comprises three main portfolios –THOH Thailand, THOH Indonesia and THOH Pacific and provides a wide range of services including Project Management, Transactional HR, Financial, and Procurement to clients that include other UN entities, INGOs and governments/government agencies donors. Most of THOH projects are implemented in South East Asia and the Pacific.
The THOH Pacific Cluster, established in early 2018, was formed to support the implementation of infrastructure design, procurement, construction of infrastructure, training, programme management, and facilitate access to funding sources across 12 Pacific Small Islands Developing States (PSIDS), including: Palau; Federated States of Micronesia; Marshall Islands; Nauru; Kiribati; Papua New Guinea; Solomon Islands; Tuvalu; Vanuatu; Fiji; Tonga; Western Samoa.
Following US government commitment to fund the construction of a new hospital, and following ongoing discussions between UNOPS and the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia, UNOPS has been asked to support FSM with a project to upgrade the main hospital in Weno, Chuuk state.
Project Context and Background
In support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the Post-2015 Development Agenda, UNOPS (United Nations Office for Project Services) provides technical services in the areas of infrastructure, procurement, planning, management and development of health skills.
UNOPS has managed or provided technical assistance services for the construction or renovation of health infrastructures in several countries in the Asia region.
UNOPS, on the basis of a Project Agreement between the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the the Government of Chuuk, Federal State of Micronesia which sets out the basic conditions under which UNOPS will provide technical assistance to FSM to enable them to achieve its institutional objectives, will carry out the tasks included in the project for the ‘ Technical Assistance in Chuuk State: Reconstruction of the State Hospital in Weno Island’, which is structured in four phases:
- Phase 1: Planning: Revision of the existing assessments, development of the master plan and of the medical architecture programme. The medical architecture planning methodology applied to the selected scenario defines the overall building size, the requirements and parameters for the design of the hospital;
- Phase 2: Design and procurement: Starting from the medical architecture programme the design team will apply a three-stage design methodology: preliminary design, detailed design, and construction planning. The design methodology includes sustainability criteria both on the environmental side, by incorporating LEED concepts in the design, and on the financial side estimating and optimizing the impact on future running costs of the different design options. The procurement process for construction, equipment and furniture is based on UNOPS procurement rules that guarantee transparency and wide participation to optimize the quality to cost ratio.
- Phase 3: Construction and equipment: Once selected, UNOPS will manage the contractor linking technical supervision of the works, quality and timing with contract management to ensure correct and transparent payment processes linked to the fulfilment of their obligations. Strict coordination of medical equipment procurement with construction both in technical specification and in timing guarantees a correct equipment installation.
- Phase 4: Start-up and operation: This process will guide the final logistic organization and will help in the conclusion of construction and equipment processes. Once the transfer will be completed UNOPS will supervise building and equipment maintenance for six months taking care of any construction defect and equipment problem. During this phase, in parallel with the start-up of the new hospital operation, the empty old building space will be reconditioned according to the Master Plan and the design. The outdoor space will be organized for parking and gardening.
The funding for this position is expected to be approved by December 2019 and the recruitment of the position will be subject to project approval by the donor. The successful incumbent is expected to join by 01 February 2020. In addition, if the incumbent’s government or any other entity determines that his/her UNOPS earnings are not exempted from tax under the General Convention or any host country agreement, the incumbent shall be solely responsible for paying any tax levied.Under the direct supervision of the Head of Programme and in close coordination with the Programme Management Office, the Senior Project Manager is responsible for the overall management and implementation of the project, including but not limited to: day-to-day operations of the infrastructure-related project(s) and shall provide services to the various donors, partners and beneficiaries. He/she is expected to meet and exceed the organization’s performance and delivery goals.A Senior Project Manager at this level would likely be expected to manage one or more complex and risky projects. The project(s) would rely on a number of external suppliers for its successful delivery and would be working with firm deadlines.
The Senior Project Manager shall be responsible for drafting/reading the Project Start Documentation (PID) and legal agreement and shall have a full understanding of the terms and conditions, as well as the functions and partner/stakeholder responsibilities, with the aim of ensuring that project products comply with UNOPS and customer feasibility studies. The success of the project(s) and, consequently, the work of the Project Manager will be based on the success criteria of the commitments adopted by UNOPS, which are linked to the responsibilities described below.
The Senior 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 the project life cycle.
- Manage the production of the required products, 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 the Project Board and OC Manager of any deviations from the plan
- Identify and manage risks so that maximum benefit to client and stakeholders is achieved
- Manage and review product quality and ensure products are accepted
- Monitor and evaluate performance of service providers
- Identify and report potential business opportunities for UNOPS 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 Board:
i. Project Initiation Documentation;
ii. Project Plans
iii. Exception Plans and relevant Product Descriptions
- Prepare the following reports:
i. Weekly /Monthly /Quarterly Reports
ii. End Stage Reports
iii. Operational Closure Checklist
iv. End Project Report
v. Handover Report
- Maintain the following:
i. Electronic Blue File;
ii. OneUNOPS Projects
iii. Procurement, HR and Finance files as required by those practices as per OD12.
- Ensure that all expenditures 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.
- Carrying out other tasks as directed by the Head of Programmes.
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 management 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 OC Director
- Have a thorough understanding of UNOPS personnel contract modalities (including ICA and Staff)
- Select, recruit and train team as required by project plans
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- Perform the Team Manager role, unless appointed to another person(s)
- Perform Project Support role, unless appointed to another person or corporate/programme function
- Ensure safety and security for all personnel and comply with UNDSS standards
Core Values and Principles:
- Understand and respect UNOPS sustainability principles
I. Look for ways to embed UNOPS sustainability principles in day to day project management
II. Seek opportunities to champion gender equality at work place
III. Champion and communicate project’s sustainability aspects with key stakeholders
- Understand and Respect National ownership and capacity
i. Understand the principles of the Paris Declaration on aid effectiveness and mainstream them into the project plans
ii. Seek opportunities to recruit qualified local staff
iii. Look for ways to build capacity of local counterparts
- Partnerships and Coordination
i. Understand the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and UNOPS, the project’s place in the UN system
ii. Know the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and contribute to them with the project’s results.
iii. Strive to build strong partnerships and effective coordination among relevant project actors (e.g. United Nations, governments, and non-governmental organizations or other relevant partners
- Accountability for results and the use of resources
i. The project management processes are designed to deliver maximum accountability, transparency and results. If a project or processes is not in line with this, it is the responsibility of the PM to raise the issue to a supervisor
- Excellence
i. Contribute to innovation and the adaptation of best practice standards of sustainability and quality.
Technical advisory
- Review and approve detailed design(s), BoQ estimates and technical specifications for hospital infrastructure construction, including waste management, water supply and drainage systems in accordance with the applicable standards
- Review all surveys, field investigations, designs, drawings and specifications, recommending required changes needed to provide more cost-effective solutions, and approving the design, drawings and changes in the specification
- Administration, assessment and, where appropriate, recommendation on applications for extensions of time, claims for additional payment and other contractual disputes Issuing of site introductions, variation orders, provisional sum orders and day work orders, as appropriate
- Coordinate with procurement staff to ensure timely procurement actions. Assist in preparation of bid/contract documents, and updating procurement plan for works
- Provide QA/QC on designs, bid/contract documents, variation orders, bills of quantity, engineering estimates and claims
- Ensure that methods as proposed by the contractor, are satisfactory, with particular reference to the technical requirements of sound environmental standards and the recommendations of the initial Environmental Examination (EE) and summary EE.
Monitoring and Progress Control
- Ensure that the project(s) produces the required products within the specified tolerance of time, cost, quality, scope, risk and benefits. The Project Manager is also responsible for the project producing a result capable of achieving the benefits defined in the Business Case. Contribute to the overall business targets and needs.
- Conducting periodic reporting to Senior Management, including financial status reports on commitments and disbursements, monthly, quarterly and annual reports (including resources’ allocation and project performance), the project completion report, and evaluation report
- Development and operation of a quantitative and qualitative Project Performance Monitoring System (PPMS) to monitor and evaluate the performance of the project in relation to its goals, purposes and outputs.
- Review and monitor consultant and contractor performance and ensure that the project is delivered to time and cost targets, at acceptable quality standards Disseminate relevant information and PR materials that demonstrate good practices.
Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization.
Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.
Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.
Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).
Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.
Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.
Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.
Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.
Education
- Advanced University Degree in Project Management, Engineering (physical infrastructure related), Civil Engineering, or other relevant disciplines.
- University Degree (bachelor’s degree / first level) with a combination of two (2) additional years of relevant professional experience in Architecture, Civil Engineering, or other relevant discipline, or other relevant discipline, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree
- A relevant combination of academic credentials and/or industry certifications and qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the university education.
- Professional qualifications in Health and or Energy infrastructure and/or project management are highly desirable.
Work Experience
- Minimum seven (7) years of progressive experience in project development and management, with focus on monitoring, reporting, development and coordination of Health and/or Energy Infrastructure projects in either public or private sector organizations.
- Experience in project management and budget control of Health-related projects worth more than $10 Million – (Please explicitly indicate the work experience the application and GPRS application profile).
- International experience of a minimum of five (5) years.
- Minimum five (5) years of project experience working with government institutions responsible for infrastructure-related works.
- Minimum five (5) years of project experience in planning, design and implementation of Health-related projects, civil works, supervision and QC/QA of construction works.
- Minimum five (5) years experience in management and coordination of multidisciplinary teams and external consultants.
- Past experience within international/UN organizations, particularly UNOPS, in development, management and implementation of construction/infrastructure projects would be considered as a significant asset.
- Technical notions of construction, materials and installations, as well as advanced computer knowledge of CAD Programmes, MS Office, MS Project, and QC/QA control programs.
- Good skills in interpersonal and communication relationships (spoken and written).
- Analytical, organizational and negotiation skills.
- High level of ethics and integrity and demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships.
- Experience working in Asia Region is an asset.
- Experience working in the Pacific area is an asset.
- Experience working with minimal remote and general supervision is an asset.
Language
- Fluency in English is required.
Certifications
- PRINCE2® Foundation and/ or PRINCE2 Practitioner Certification is preferred.
- If the successful candidate does not have PRINCE2 Foundation Certification, he/she shall be required to complete the Foundation course and pass the certification examinations within six months after entry on duty, and complete the Practitioner course and pass certification exams within one year from the entry on duty.
Contract type: International ICA
Contract level: IICA-3Contract duration: Ongoing ICA – Open-ended subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performanceFor more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx This position is based in a family duty station.
- Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
- Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
- Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
- For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
- The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.
It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.
Work life harmonization – UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
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