Regional Infrastructure and Project Management Specialist at United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)

Africa Region, Office of the Regional Director 

• The Office of the Regional Director for Africa, which is currently located in Copenhagen but will soon be relocated to Nairobi, leads a geographically defined portfolio of engagements, strategy and business development for the region, follows management of operations, and ensures appropriate risk management. 
• The Africa region (AFR) currently consists of five Multi-Country Offices located in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Kenya. These Multi-Country Offices cover all of the African continent, including Francophone, Anglophone and Lusophone countries. Currently the Africa Region (AFR)  is implementing a wide range of infrastructure, procurement and transactional projects in over 40 countries. 
• Within UNOPS, the objectives of the Infrastructure and Project Management Group’s (IPMG) and Shared Service Centre’ (SSC) Project Management & Infrastructure (PMI) unit are to serve the organization’s personnel and partners by broadening their infrastructure and project management capabilities, while disseminating best-practices in both of these areas. Through this work, the two groups help facilitate the successful delivery of programmes and projects around the world. The incumbent will play a meaningful role working within the Africa Region (AFR) while working closely with IPMG and SSC’s PMI unit.
• The incumbent will be responsible for providing technical advice and support in infrastructure and project management to the UNOPS offices across the Africa Region in line with the Regional Strategy. 
• This role will support the Africa region with quality assurance, support and advice regarding the implementation of infrastructure projects, and partnerships development. The incumbent will support the partnership's development agenda in Africa through their expertise, regional contacts and ability to demonstrate a depth of experience in their field. 
• The Regional Infrastructure and Project Management Specialist will be a critical link between AFR and its operations in the field, as well as IPMG and SSC´s PMI unit. This position will report to the Regional Africa Director. The incumbent will be required to work in a collaborative manner, with colleagues at all levels across the organization.

Functional responsibilities: 

• The Regional Infrastructure and Project Management Specialist will be responsible for representing all aspects of the practice within the Africa region as delegated by the Regional Africa Director.

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to: 

Partnerships Development Support 

• Support countries in addressing identified operational risk, review of potential infrastructure engagement as appropriate, and advice to the Multi-country Directors on risk identification and mitigations measures accordingly.
• S/he will provide advice and support on new initiatives, with focus on quality assurance and quality control of project documents, costing and cost implications, implementation plans, achievements and benchmark indicators
• S/he will advise and assist with technical input to proposals, including project planning, governance, and approach considerations 

Technical Advice & Quality Assurance 

• Provide technical advice and a quality assurance framework in relation to infrastructure projects
• Provide advice to the preparation of technical specifications, Bills of Quantities, bidding documentation, engineering drawings, construction methodologies, construction planning and programming, and assessments of contractors' technical capacity to deliver
• Assessment of the quality of design and construction
• Advising the UNOPS Country management teams regarding compliance with UNOPS Health and Safety and Environmental Management System 

Knowledge Sharing and Technical leadership

• Ensure best practice guidance is disseminated and communicated throughout the region and within the organisation more generally
• Conduct missions to and undertake assessments of Country Offices and projects to review and advise on quality and progress related issues, and highlight operational risks, within the region. 

Project Management Technical Advice and Implementation Support 

• The incumbent will provide substantive support to country offices in the planning and implementation of projects and programmes (particularly infrastructure related ones) throughout their whole life cycle within the region he/she is assigned 
• Advising the Country management Teams regarding design considerations and design review requirements, and being aware of the capacity and capabilities of the various in-house units across the regions 
• Support with the identification, engagement and management of local and regional consultancy firms providing these services 
• S/he will be responsible for providing advice to projects or programmes that may need to be brought back to stability 
• Provide advice to country offices on how to embed best practices of project and programme governance, risk management, project and programme management in their Country Offices. 
• Advise and provide expertise/support in the implementation of UNOPS Project and Programme Management methodologies, which are based on best practices as recommended by PMI and PRINCE2®
• Play a crucial role in advising UNOPS Programme and Project Managers on measures to strengthen national capacity building with regards to sustainable project management best practices, as well as other cross cutting issues, and support a stronger focus on benefit management of projects
• In coordination with IPMG and SSC’s PMI unit, the incumbent will assist countries in the development of work plans and provide tangible support, where relevant, in addressing risk mitigation measures identified through relevant corporate internal Assessments, follow-up on progress and and provide advisory support to field staff on UNOPS best practices, engagement risks, management models, and use of PM tools and systems

 Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education:

• An advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent such as MEng, MASc) in Civil Engineering (CEng, PE, P. Eng.), Architecture, Construction Management or relevant field is required
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor's or equivalent such as BEng, BASc) or professional certification in combination with 2 additional years of experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree 

Work Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years’ progressive work experience in an Engineering and/or Construction Management role is required
• A minimum of 2 years’ progressive work experience in Project Management is required
• Experience dealing with government officials is required
• Experience working in developing countries (especially Africa) in an international environment is highly desired
• Experience working in and providing creative technical solutions for post-conflict and/or , post-disaster environments is an asset
• Experience working on energy programmes (especially solar power), health infrastructure, water & sanitation and waste to energy is an asset 

Certification:

• Certification in a recognized project management methodology, e.g. PRINCE2® or PMP is required

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required
• Fluency in French is required