International Project Manager (Engineering and Critical Infrastructure)

Background

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
The ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine has had a direct and highly negative impact on social cohesion, resilience, livelihoods, community security, and the rule of law. Recognizing the need to urgently address reconstruction, economic recovery and peacebuilding needs in areas affected both directly and indirectly by the conflict, in late 2014, the Government of Ukraine requested technical assistance and financial support from the international community to assess priority recovery needs.

UNDP has assumed a particularly crucial role, launching, in response to the crisis, an area-based Recovery and Peacebuilding Programme (RPP) with offices in Kramatorsk, Mariupol (Donetsk region) and Severodonetsk (Luhansk region), to scale up rapid and significant recovery and development interventions, not only to address the reform agenda (governance, decentralization, economic reform, etc.) but also to respond to the new challenges stemming from the conflict (early recovery, human rights, reconciliation, peacebuilding, etc.).

In October 2018, four UN agencies (UNDP, UN Women, FAO and the UNFPA) have countersigned a new joint multi-year project document, financed by the EU. The overall objective of the project is to restore effective governance and promote reconciliation in the crisis-affected communities of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine.

This endeavour is being achieved through the pursuit of the following specific objectives:

1. To enhance local capacity for gender-responsive decentralisation and administrative reforms to improve governance, local development and the delivery of services.
2. To stimulate employment and economic growth by providing assistance to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) development through demand-driven business development services and professional skills training.
3. To enhance social cohesion and reconciliation through promotion of civic initiatives.
4. To support sectoral reforms and structural adjustments in health, education and critical public infrastructure to mitigate direct impacts of the conflict.
5. Provision of technical support for the implementation of the infrastructural recovery loan, issued by the European Investment Bank (EIB) to the Government of Ukraine.

One of the priorities of the Objective 5 is to ensure effective technical assistance (TA) for the proper implementation of the Ukraine Recovery Programme, supported by the EIB. The overall objective of the TA is to support the implementation of the EIB framework loan, and to enhance the capacities of the national counterparts and final beneficiaries to effectively plan, operate and monitor the sub-projects financed under the loan. The TA will also address social mitigation issues and local governance support in programme monitoring.
In this regard, UNDP Ukraine invites applications from highly qualified and experienced professionals for the post of the International Project Manager (Engineering and Critical Infrastructure) to manage, coordinate and monitor implementation of the EIB Technical Assistance Project.

The incumbent will work under the overall guidance and supervision of the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, with daily tasks and guidance received from the Programme Specialist, Inclusive Development, Recovery and Peace building (Team Leader) and in close coordination with the Technical Specialist, Recovery and Peacebuilding. The incumbent will act as a technical advisor and manager for the technical assistance to the EIB-funded Ukraine Recovery Programme. The International Project Manager (Engineering and Critical Infrastructure) will lead and manage related interventions, ensuring the impact, coherence, quality, transparency and gender mainstreaming across the projects aiming at the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure in Ukraine. This post requires a combination of managerial competencies and substantive technical advisory knowledge to recommend effective approaches and formulate new initiatives in the subject area. The staff member will be based in Kyiv, with frequent travel to other regions of the country, including areas affected by the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

The International Project Manager (Engineering and Critical Infrastructure) will prioritize gender equality and women’s empowerment within all implementations and promote UNDP’s mandate as a gender-responsive organization with zero tolerance to any kind of discriminatory and abusive behaviour, including sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse.

Duties and Responsibilities

The International Project Manager (Engineering and Critical Infrastructure) will be responsible for the assigned thematic component implementation and achievement of results. He/She will provide technical advice and guidance on various aspects of engineering and related technical issues to regional and local government clients, national level partners within the Ministry of Communities and Regional Development, as well as EIB and the EU.

Management and Oversight:

Ensure effective leadership, management and technical oversight of the programmatic component on technical assistance for infrastructure rehabilitation.
Oversee and provide guidance on necessary feasibility studies for identified social infrastructure sites; content of Requests for Proposals (RFP) for engineering design works, Terms of Reference for consultants that include clear indicators for gender equality, and the promotion of a safe and enabling environment free of any kind of discrimination and abusive behavior.
Ensure thar engineering designs for restoration of critical infrastructure are prepared based on universal design and gender equality principles.
Strategic oversight of planning, budgeting, developing targets and indicators to capture progress, implementing and monitoring, tracking use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations.
Take responsibility for timely and efficient delivery of the Annual Work Plan for the assigned project activities.
Ensure the mainstreaming of gender equality and women’s empowerment considerations in the implementation of all interventions.
Effective application of RBM tools, establishment of management targets (BSC) and monitoring achievement of results.
Review of individual and team’s performance and provision of required coaching, guidance, mentoring and empowerment.
Promote a safe and enabling environment free of any kind of discrimination and abusive behavior.
Manage operational and reputational risks and take appropriate actions to address them.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

Ensure monitoring and evaluation, as well as aggregate project reporting, are done on a timely basis, with attention to methodological soundness and relevance to the objectives of the RPP:
Effective monitoring, measuring the impact of the component’s activities and evaluation. Constant monitoring and analysis of the programme environment, timely readjustment of assigned interventions.
Oversee the preparation of aggregate reports on activities, outputs and outcomes.
Develops and undertakes joint monitoring missions with key national, state and local counterparts in support of projects’ monitoring, impact assessments and programme enhancement.
Conduct field visits to supervise, coordinate and monitor field-level activities of the project.

Partnerships and Resource Mobilization:

Identify strategic opportunities and potential new areas of cooperation, including joint programming with UN agencies and other development partners. Actively coordinate with other stakeholders on the subject matter and contribute technical expertise to related work in regions of Ukraine.
Development of partnerships with the UN Agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society in the specific thematic areas based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and donors’ priorities.

Policy Advice and Knowledge Management:

Provide strategic guidance and advice to UNDP Country Office on ensuring a coordinated approach to efficient implementation of related engineering and infrastructural interventions.
Develop guidance and provide advisory support on project design and engineering, due diligence (social and environmental compliance with gender equality considerations), procurement, transparency, compliance and other related processes.
Develop knowledge products including research, lessons learned, as well as good practice notes on emerging issues related to infrastructural rehabilitation and recovery in Ukraine.
Supervise outsourced research and dissemination of research findings.
Promote innovative programme areas and good practices in thematic area.
Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Competencies

Core:

Innovation
Ability to make new and useful ideas work
Level 5: Creates new and relevant ideas and leads others to implement them
Leadership
Ability to persuade others to follow
Level 5: Plans and acts transparently, actively works to remove barriers
People Management
Ability to improve performance and satisfaction
Level 5: Models high professional standards and motivates excellence in others
Communication
Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform
Level 5: Gains trust of peers, partners, clients by presenting complex concepts in practical terms to others
Delivery
Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement
Level 5: Critically assesses value and relevance of existing policy/practice and contributes to enhanced delivery of products, services, and innovative solutions

Technical/Functional:

Strategic Planning
Ability to make decisions that align with strategy, vision, and mission
Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise
Partnerships
Ability to engage with other agencies, officials and forge productive working relationships.
Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise
Project Management
Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
Level 5:Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise
Knowledge Management
Ability to capture, develop, share and effectively use information and knowledge
Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise
Team Building
Ability to work effectively with diverse groups of professionals towards common goals
Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise
Performance Management
Ability to manage organization, department and employee goals
Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise
Gender Mainstreaming
Knowledge of gender issues and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations, including analysis and implementation of projects from a gender perspective
Level 5: Originate: Catalyzes new ideas, methods, and applications to pave a path for innovation and continuous improvement in professional area of expertise

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in Engineering, Infrastructure Project Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field with additional 2 years of progressively responsible relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of Master’s Degree

Experience:

Minimum of 7 years with Master’s Degree or minimum of 9 years with Bachelor’s Degree of relevant managerial and advisory experience in the field of infrastructure rehabilitation, engineering, oversight of large international infrastructural projects.
Experience in working with conflict-affected populations, as well as implementing infrastructural recovery initiatives, is a distinct advantage.
Management experience with international recovery and development programmes and projects (preferably with the IFIs and/or United Nations) is a strong advantage.
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advance knowledge of web-based management systems.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English required.