Senior Project Manager

Job Highlight

Lead and coordinate the implementation and day-to-day delivery of selected complex infrastructure projects in the field of humanitarian mine action undertaken by the Recovery, Preparedness and Mine Action Unit. Proactively identify and resolve on-the-ground technical, contractor, and site-logistical challenges. Oversee project managers, ensure active site monitoring, and monitor and coordinate project implementation.

About The Group

The UNOPS Ukraine and Eastern Europe MCO (UEMCO) operates in Ukraine, Moldova, and Poland, supporting urgent humanitarian needs while building pathways for recovery and development. In Ukraine, UEMCO delivers large-scale infrastructure, energy, housing, education, and mine action projects in partnership with UN agencies, international financial institutions, the European Union, and bilateral donors. Its agile portfolio responds to fast-evolving needs with strong procurement and implementation capacity. In Moldova, UEMCO supports justice sector reform and is exploring opportunities to expand its role across public sector modernization and infrastructure. In Poland, UEMCO works with government and private sector actors to strengthen ties with UN procurement and contribute to Ukraine’s recovery, leveraging Poland’s EU experience to support Ukraine’s future accession and integration.

Role Purpose

Reporting to the Portfolio Senior Manager, the Senior Project Manager is responsible for the day-to-day delivery, implementation, and operational coordination of designated UMA projects and workstreams, including infrastructure, procurement, capacity building and other assigned implementation components.

The incumbent directly manages and coordinates designated Project Managers assigned to the UMA delivery stream by the portfolio Senior Manager. The incumbent undertakes day-to-day coordination of project managers, and may also be responsible for the implementation of one specific project, which may involve the construction of physical assets, technical outputs, or both.

The Senior Project Manager serves as the lead focal point for selected project implementation under the guidance of the Portfolio Senior Manager, and ensures that project outputs are delivered within agreed tolerances of time, cost, scope, quality, risk, and benefits.

Functions / Key Results Expected

• Project Delivery and Performance
• Under the guidance of the Portfolio Senior Manager, lead and manage the implementation and operational delivery of projects with a focus on infrastructure.
• Develop, complete and update the project implementation plan.
• Implement the approved plan (including establishment of milestones) within tolerances set by the Project Board, including the development of infrastructure designs and coordinating design reviews.
• Embed sustainability dimensions, including social and gender considerations, and environmental and economic aspects, into the project life span.
• Manage the production of required outputs, taking responsibility for overall progress and use of resources while initiating corrective action where necessary.
• Ensure that quality of work packages and deliverables comply with the quality requirements defined in the implementation plan.
• Liaise with external suppliers or account managers to ensure quality and timely delivery of outputs.Manage acceptance and delivery of work packages.
• Monitor project progress, control project variances (if any), and manage changes.
• Identify, anticipate and advise relevant UEMCO technical advisors, including infrastructure and procurement advisors as applicable. on progress, identified risks and mitigating measures against project risks to ensure that benefits to partners and other stakeholders are maximized.
• Identify and report potential opportunities for UNOPS to the supervisor.
• Procedures
• Comply with the organization’s policies and standards, and ensure project information is kept updated in project management systems.
• Be aware of applicable local laws and regulations, and ensure adherence. This includes international regulations and standards, where applicable, as well as technical standards.
• Prepare and adapt all relevant plans for consultation and approval by the UEMCO relevant UEMCO technical advisors, including infrastructure and procurement advisors as applicable. , and manage baselines.
• Ensure coordination between project managers and the UEMCO infrastructure team, including consultative and collaborative approaches to integrating engineering and architecture into the project management lifecycle.
• Personally support project managers in problem solving and resolution of critical issues: unexpected ground conditions, subcontractor failures, safety incidents, quality non-conformance, supply chain disruptions.
• Ensure that all project managers and site engineers under the incumbent maintain active field presence and are evaluated on their ability to solve physical, on-site problems.
• Coordinate with the Portfolio Senior Manager the reporting obligations defined in the implementation plan and legal agreements with Recovery, Preparedness and Mine Action Unit.
• Maintain project documentation in an orderly manner for accessibility and audit support when needed.
• Understand and apply the UNOPS financial rules and regulations. Be accountable for the use of delegation of authority (where applicable) and ensure compliance with relevant policies and standards of ethics.
• Provide a formal handover of the project to the closure manager when applicable.
• Support project audit activities, including planning, preparation and coordination during audits and follow-up on audit observations/ recommendations.
• Monitoring and Reporting
• Include a results framework and M&E plan in the project implementation plan with clearly defined indicators and agreed targets, coordinate regular monitoring and tracking of project results through the Mine Action Programme Unit.
• Coordinate project managers, regular review of project status and evaluate performance criteria (scope, cost, schedule, and quality)
• Regularly undertake project site visits to ensure progress monitoring and oversee contractor performance and site specific problem solving.
• Maintain diaries and progress reports as required by UNOPS standard operating 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 the project life span.
• Quality Assurance
• Work with internal stakeholders to ensure projects comply with audit requirements.
• Work with procurement/ purchasing personnel to ensure effective interface with suppliers’ quality systems.
• Coordinate quality reviews of project documents and deliverables.
• Provide quality control for management outputs (e.g. project documents, reports, etc)
• Knowledge Management and Innovation
• Actively interact with the relevant UEMCO technical advisors, including infrastructure and procurement advisors as applicable. and the wider project management (PM) community, share case studies, lessons learned and best practices.
• Stay abreast with latest updates and good practices of the profession, participate in training and learning activities for self to advance proficiency and competency.
• Ensure lessons learned are shared in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Provide feedback to corporate practice groups on policy and systems, when needed.
• Provide feedback to functional groups on policies and related guidance to support the continuous improvement of UNOPS policy framework.
• Personnel Management
• Organise and structure the project team, ensure clearly defined roles and responsibilities. Provide regular guidance and direction, as needed, and support the team in effectively performing their tasks.
• Lead and motivate the project management team, and manage performance.
• Ensure performance reviews are conducted fairly, accurately, and on time.
• Select, recruit, and train project teams as required, taking gender parity and diversity objectives into account.
• Ensure safety and security for all project personnel in compliance with the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) standards
  
  

Education Requirements

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in civil engineering (water, electrical, mechanical, structural or other applicable engineering disciplines) or related fields with 9 years of relevant experience OR
• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any of the above or related fields with 7 years of relevant experience is required
  
  

Desired

• Project management certification (e.g. PRINCE2, PMI, PEng, CEng, etc) is desired.
  
  

Required

Experience Requirements

• Relevant experience in implementing and managing complex infrastructure projects (e.g. training compounds, large educational facilities.), in, post-conflict environments, or emergency contexts.
• Significant field-based project management experience, directly overseeing site activities and resolving on-the-ground technical issues is required.
• Experience in defining technical and design requirements is required.
• Experience of infrastructure quality assurance methodologies and tools is required.
• Experience in managing infrastructure projects and coordinating a team toward common objectives is required.
  
  

Desired

• Experience working in multicultural environments in a post-conflict environment, or emergency contexts is desired.
• Experience in contract management is desired.
• Experience in supporting the development of procurement strategies is desired.
• Knowledge of FIDIC contracts is desired.