UNDP Jobs - 56424- Project Manager

Project Manager

Location :

Dili, Timor Leste

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

01-Jul-2015

Application Deadline :

27-May-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

One year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

One year with possibility of extension

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.

Background

The Project Manager will report directly to the Head of Resilience Unit at UNDP CO, and will be responsible for technical oversight of project activities, working together with the Project Coordinator on all project management related responsibilities and reporting. S/he will act as the TeamLeader of the national and international consultants, will provide advice, support and capacity development to team members and PSU staff, to ensure achievement of the outputs of the project. S/he will be responsible especially for oversight and delivery of all Project Outcomes 1, 2 and 3, regarding climate resilient infrastructure and ecosystem services, and for mainstreaming climate resilience in local planning and budgeting, in general support to LAs and linking to SNGDP undertakings on fostering decentralisation This will involve national and Municipality level networking, adviocacy, developing partnerships and providing substantive technical inputs to undertaking EIAs and Social safeguards field assessments as part of the planning and implemenation of the climate resilient rural infrasstructure and watershed management, with the overriding aim of construction, and maintaining and increasing the resilience of small scale rural infrastructure against the increasing climate risks and community vulnerabilities..

The PM will ensure provision of high-quality expertise and inputs to the project and also be responsible for day-to-day management and technical oversight functions; liaising with government counterpart partner agencies to mainstream climate resilience into the planning, implementation and monitoring of the infrastructure project under the government PDID (District Integrated Development Planning) frameworks.

The Government of Timor Leste (GoTL) Strategic Development Plan (SDP, 2011-2030), sets out an agenda for action with a focus on promoting Social Capital, Infrastructure Development and Economic Development, underpinned by a further focal area on Institutional Development. The Strategy reflects very closely the National Adaptation Plan of Action (2010) whose objectives are embedded within the SDP, thereby positioning NAPA as an integral part of the Government’s vision for the future development of the country. One of the national development targets for 2020 is that “70% of National Adaptation Programmes of Action under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will have been implemented”.

The GoTL’s Ministry of Economic Development (MED) (now Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Environment-MCIE) requested UNDP to assist in formulation and implementation of projects to implement NAPA priorities, in its capacity as Implementing Agency accredited to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) that administers the Least Developed Country Fund (LDCF). The GoTL through UNDP has prepared and successfully submitted a concept (Project Identification Form, PIF) that was approved by the GEF Secretariat in November 2011 and a Project Preparation Grant (PPG) to design a Full Scale Project that was approved in April 2013. The FSP “Strengthening the Resilience of Small Scale Rural Infrastructure and Local Government Systems to Climatic Variability and Risk” is now under implementation.

The SSRI complements a joint UNDP/UNCDF Sub-national Governance and Development Programme [formerly Local Governance Support Programme (LGSP)]aimed at strengthening the quality of local government planning, budgeting and service delivery, with a specific focus on rural infrastructure provision. The SSRI Project initiative provides the main entry point for introducing additional LDCF climate financing, which will be used to ensure that climate risks are integrated into local development plans, and that local investments in critical rural infrastructure are climate proofed against extreme events as well as increasing climatic variability. Lessons and experiences from the SSRI supported climate resilient infrastructure will inform the planning and implementation of the wider Government funded projects within the PDID frameworks.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

Management function and direction of the project; including Developing ToRs for procurement of and supervising service providers and consultants for undertaking specialist studies;
Substantive Technical oversight to implementation, Monitoring and evaluation of all project activities and outputs; including developing and reviewing climate resilient construction standards, designs and guidelines, as well as detailed budget for climate resilient infrastructure planning (BoQs);
Partnerships and Networking for Mainstreaming climate change considrations into planning and policy processes.

Under the overall supervision of and reporting to the Head of Resilience at UNDP CO and guidance from the Regional Technical Advisor for Climate Change Adaptation, the PM will hold overall responsibility for the:

Project Management

Oversee and facilitate the day-to-day management of the project and the functioning of the Project Management Unit;
Technical supervision of project activities, monitoring and evaluation tasks, and quality control of all project activities under the three project outcomes;
Organisation and oversight of consultant input, and development of detailed Terms of References for national and international consultants and contractors in collaboration with the local PM;
Facilitate project staff to plan and implement individual activity work-plans based on the project AWP and monitor progress against the agreed milestones and benchmarks;
Develop ToRs for procurement of services of and supervise consultants to undertake specialized studies;
Ensure that government counterpart staff and non-government actors participate in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of project activities.

Technical Oversight Support including training, mentoring and coaching for staff skills development

Technical oversight on a daily basis including monitoring technical aspects of all project activities under the three project outcomes;
Review all technical reports produced by national and international consultants and ensure adequate consultations with government and non-government stakeholders to maximize stakeholder buy-in and ownership of both process and the products;
Draft methodologies for technical activities of the project and prepare outline structure of technical reports;
Supervise national and international consultants to undertake respective specialized studies;
Develop model designs for key climate resilient infrastructure project and innovation, with focus on water sectors;
Develop systems, standards and procedures for district officials to apply in developing and reviewing detailed budgets for climate resilient infrastructure planning;
Develop system for district officials to apply in technical review of sub-projects against climate resilience criteria;
Integrate standard clauses, criteria and guidance into tender documentation and procedures for district level contracting;
Develop climate resilient construction standards and guidelines based on a review of existing sectoral guidelines for key rural infrastructure sectors;
Provide training in the application of climate resilient rural infrastructure standards, with a focus on local contractors;

Partnerships and Networking for Mainstreaming climate change considrations into planning and policy processes

Development of Policy briefs to support MCIE in advocating for mainstreaming climate resilience into different Ministries and sector planning and resources allocation processes;
Policy meetings with national and provincial stakeholders on revisions to national infrastructure guidelines and standards;
Policy meetings with national and provincial stakeholders on revisions to national infrastructure guidelines and standards;
Provide regional and global experience and best practices.;
Identify, analyze and communicate lessons learned that may be useful in design and implementation of similar projects;
Participate and make substantive input to the various technical forums, working groups and processes in the country to advocate for and foster inclusion of climate change considerations into national, sub-national and local level planning and implementation of socio-economic development initiatives;
Participate in and provide progress and policy in-put to the established sub-committee and the Project Steering Committee meetings of the UNDP/UNCDF SNGP Programme to which SSRI Project is aligned;
Organize and facilitate south – south co-operation and exchange programmes aimed at enhancing lessons and sharing and transfer of skills and knowledge for enhancing infrastructure, watersheds and communities’ resilience to climate risks;
Fulfill reporting obligations to The GEF secretariat.

Impact of Results

The project will support the capture and dissemination of evidence on local climate risks and vulnerabilities for national policy influencing, the development of an overarching climate change policy framework and the establishment of a multi-stakeholder knowledge exchange platform. It will support the development of climate variability risk and vulnerability assessment tools and the integration of climate risks in local planning, budgeting, infrastructure design, construction and maintenance. This will be accompanied by substantial capacity development measures to strengthen the capacity of Local Administrations and service providers on climate resilient local planning/budgeting processes and infrastructure engineering and implementation. In addition it will provide incentives for implementation of climate resilient local plans via investment grants for climate resilient small scale infrastructure and ecosystem services, which will directly benefit over 100,000 people. Environmental sustainability and project integration will be achieved through measures to protect ecosystem functions in the immediate vicinity of physical infrastructure covering 5,000 hectares, and by providing bio-engineering within infrastructure designs to improve climate resilience, thereby ensuring greater technical and financial viability and social impact overall. Lessons and experiences from the SSRI supported climate resilient infrastructure will inform the planning and implementation of the wider Government funded projects within the PDID frameworks

Competencies

Corporate:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism;

Functional:

Leadership, Knowledge Management and Learning;
Shares knowledge and experience and provides helpful advice to others in the office;
Ability to develop systems for structuring, codifying and providing access to information and knowledge.

Development and Operational Effectiveness

Ability to provide technical support on infrastructure design and implementation;
ood knowledge of and experience with all relevant information technology associated with key tasks;
Ability to provide input to business processes re-engineering, elaboration and implementation of new systems.

Leadership and Self-Management

Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexity.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced University degree (Master's degree or equivalent) preferably in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Environment and Natural Resources Management, Water Management, Project Management, Rural Resource Management or related fields.

Experience:

A minimum of 5 years of experience within the disciplines of civil engineering, environmental management, water management, project management, natural resource management or related fields;
Sound understanding of global development concerns, climate change discourse, and adaptation to climate change;
Extensive technical information exchange contacts with national and international agencies involved in local and international studies of climate change, in general, and adaptation, in particular Technical background in one or more of the following or related fields: Rural Small Scale Infrastructure Development, Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, Climate Variability Resilience and Adaptation, Bio-engineering and watershed Ecosystem management and services, Integrated Water Resource Management, and Disaster Risk Management;
Understanding of community level public infrastructure and environmental engineering particularly in the water sector and experience in climate adaptation relating to public infrastructure, including green engineering [bio-engineering] approaches;
Methodological background in several of the following fields is required: Capacity building and awareness raising, Climate Risk, Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessments or related approaches, socially-inclusive, gender sensitive participatory service delivery and infrastructure development, project management and implementation, survey techniques, data management, GIS, management and action plans for livelihood assets (mainly infrastructures and ecosystems).

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required;
Knowledge of Portuguese, Bahasa Indonesia or Tetum is highly desirable.