Project Management and Infrastructure Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The UNOPS East and Southern Africa Multi Country Office (ESAMCO) is located in Nairobi, Kenya. It manages a growing portfolio of engagements that include strategic and operational risks across multiple countries in East and South Africa. The office collaborates with various UN agencies, including UN-Habitat and UNEP, and oversees operational projects in countries such as Kenya, Burundi, Malawi, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and several island states. The mission of ESAMCO is to ensure effective project management and delivery, focusing on sustainable development and operational excellence.

Job Overview:
The Project Management Office (PMO) - Infrastructure Specialist is a key role within the ESAMCO PMO, responsible for providing the necessary structures, tools, and techniques for effective project implementation. The PMO aims to ensure that UNOPS is engaged in the right projects, balancing operational priorities, facilitating governance, and ensuring resource availability. The role emphasizes strategic planning, delivery support, and best practices in project management, particularly in infrastructure projects. The PMO Infrastructure Specialist will oversee all infrastructure projects within the ESAMCO Programme, ensuring compliance with UNOPS standards and contributing to the organization's mission-focused goals.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Strategic Planning and Portfolio Support: Provide programmatic management and administrative support to the Head of Programme and PMO regarding infrastructure activities. Contribute to strategic oversight and advice on infrastructure project management. Support project budget planning and resource optimization across the MCO portfolio. Develop resource monitoring tools and identify potential risks. Lead needs assessments and feasibility studies, and support the review of construction requests.
• Delivery Support: Oversee the startup of new infrastructure projects, including team recruitment and preliminary activities. Develop high-level project plans and oversee project closure activities, ensuring proper asset disposal and financial reporting. Ensure all infrastructure projects have valid monitoring plans.
• Delivery Support: Monitor infrastructure project performance, ensuring timely delivery within budget. Review reports from Project Managers and identify risks, escalating as necessary. Coordinate with regional offices and support project analysis.
• Delivery Support: Monitor HSSE implementation and support the Head of Programme in risk assessments and incident reporting. Ensure environmental screening for all projects and provide guidance on HSSE plans.
• Delivery Support: Engage stakeholders and contribute to communication plans for infrastructure projects. Facilitate internal communication and engagement with relevant business units.
• Best Practice Support: Provide quality assurance through monitoring and inspections, ensuring compliance with UNOPS standards. Support the development of Quality Management Plans and ensure all projects have valid Quality Assurance Plans.
• Best Practice Support: Act as a focal point for knowledge management and innovation, facilitating training and capacity building activities. Share best practices and lessons learned within the UNOPS Infrastructure community.
• Personnel Management: Lead performance and talent management for infrastructure practitioners, promoting a culture of continuous improvement and learning.

Required Qualifications:
A Master’s degree in Architecture, Urban Planning, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline is required. Alternatively, a Bachelor's degree with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be accepted. A minimum of 5 years of experience in Infrastructure Project Management is required, with at least 2 years in design and procurement stages. Experience in middle-income and developing countries, managing multiple projects, and working with government agencies is advantageous. Knowledge of UNOPS procedures and experience in contract management are also desired.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree in a relevant field such as Architecture, Urban Planning, or Engineering. A Bachelor's degree combined with additional relevant work experience may be considered. Certification in project management methodologies such as PRINCE2 or PMP is an advantage.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of 5 years of experience in Infrastructure Project Management, with at least 2 years in the design and procurement stages. Experience in multicultural teams and delivering training workshops is beneficial. Familiarity with the UN system and experience in post-conflict environments are also advantageous.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required, while intermediate proficiency in Portuguese is considered a distinct advantage.

Additional Notes:
This position is a Local Individual Contractor Agreement (LICA) - Retainer Contract at ICS 10 / LICA-10 level, with a duration of one year, renewable based on performance and funding. The retainer contract is not full-time and is compensated based on a daily rate for work completed. Candidates must complete mandatory courses before starting work, and UNOPS reserves the right to conduct background checks on all personnel.