Background

UNDP and the State of Kuwait, represented by the General Secretariat of the Supreme Council of Planning and Development (GSSCPD), strive to enhance institutional capacities at various government agencies by providing them with necessary technical support to strengthen their capacities and skills to perform their expected duties.

Under the framework of the Institutional Capacity Development for Implementation of the Kuwait National Development Plan (ICDDI/KNDP) project, UNDP and GSSCPD aim to improve human capacity and organizational effectiveness of the GSSCPD for development planning. The aim is to support GSSCPD attain the ability to deliver effectively according to its mandates.

GSSCPD is responsible for elaborating, coordinating and overseeing the Kuwait National Development Plan (KNDP) which addresses the challenges of economic development, human and social development, the efficiency of the state institutions and administration and combating corruption, in accordance with H.H. the Amir’s State Vision “Kuwait 2035”.

Within this context, GSSCPD is seeking to recruit a full time Project Manager to lead the project implementation, in close collaboration with project counterparts, and other institutes as appropriate. The Project Manager will be responsible for the overall management of the project consistently with UNDP rules and regulations.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of UNDP and in close collaboration with the GSSCPD, the Project Manager will assume the following tasks:

Planning, implementation and monitoring:

  • Responsible for the day-to-day implementation of the project starting with the preparation of the annual work plans and ensuring their timely implementation;
  • Leads the support to GSSCPD Project team (project staff and consultants) and works closely with the GSSCPD for the implementation of the project planned activities;
  • Provides leadership and an overall strategic vision with a view to building national capacities, for strategic planning to support the overarching objectives of the GSSCPD;
  • Builds solid relationships with key national partners supported by the project;
  • Ensures systematic and effective analysis, monitoring and evaluation, including the preparation and participation in Project Board and/or other related meetings;
  • Directly supervises project staff and provides effective leadership;
  • Manage and monitor the project risks initially identified, submit new risks to the project board for consideration, provide advice on mitigation strategies if required and update the status of these risks by maintaining the project risks log;
  • Prepare all required project reports (quarterly, annual, and other specific requested reports);
  • Prepare all required documentation for the project board meetings ;
  • Prepare for the project’s evaluation and;
  • Develop the project exit plan.

Financial and Administrative management of the project:

  • Prepare and implement the annual project budget and the recruitment and procurement plan;
  • Mobilize personnel, goods and services, training and initiate activities, including drafting terms of reference and work specifications and facilitating all contractors’ work;
  • Coordinate the recruitment and selection of GSSCPD project consultants ;
  • Monitor and synergize the performance of the project’s staff and experts;
  • Monitor the budgets of the project;
  • Assist the implementing partner in fulfilling the responsibilities of the project and budget monitoring, using best practices;
  • Monitor financial resources and accounting to ensure the accuracy and reliability of financial reports of GSSCPD project and that all financial and budgetary processes are in accordance with UNDP standards and procedures and submitting financial reports to UNDP on a quarterly basis;
  • Perform regular financial reporting to the project board on quarterly basis;
  • Prepare annual financial report.

Capacity building and Knowledge building:

  • Assess the capacity development needs and priorities of the GSSCPD staff relevant to the project, with special focus on strategic planning and monitoring and evaluation functions;
  • develop and support the implementation of a capacity building plan to address those needs;
  • Act as a recourse person for Building the capacity of the designated relevant GSSCPD team members on project management, monitoring and evaluation with effective training in line with UNDP procedures and regulations.
  • Facilitate knowledge sharing activities within and between GSSCPD and other relevant counterparts;
  • Upgrade the institutional capabilities of  the technical support and development coordination department staff through regular training workshops and on the job training;
  • Monitor the GSSCPDS staff capacity building plans’ development, implementation and reporting by the project’s technical experts.
  • Ensure the identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned from the project
  • Actively participates in UNDP knowledge networks and takes advantage of best practices and lessons learned that are available in the region and globally for the benefit of the project and the national counterparts.

Follow up, coordination:

  • Coordinate all tasks between UNDP and the implementing partner pertaining to the sub-projects requested by the GSSCPD
  • Perform stakeholders analysis as required
  • Coordinate and follow up with deferent departments within GSSCPD to guarantee the synergy of all administrative processes relevant to the project;
  • Coordinate and follow up with local and foreign entities relevant to the project’s activities;
  • Develop and implement a stakeholders communications plan;
  • Any other tasks/assignment relevant to subject of the consultancy.

Competencies

  • Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
  • Knowledge Management and Learning, and Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office through personal example;
  • Actively seeks to develop oneself professionally and personally;
  • Ability to apply conceptual models in support of implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects;
  • Strong IT and office software use skills;
  • Ability to lead implementation of new systems, and affect staff behavioral/attitudinal change;
  • Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect;
  • Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions;
  • Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems
  • Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects;;
  • Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to clients.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Minimum requirement is a Masters’ degree in project management and/or business administration.

Experience:

  • Minimum of 9 years of proven practical experience in management of similar projects, 5 of which with international organizations (UNDP and others);
  • Experience in working with government institutions in GCC countries/Arab region and UN, is an added advantage;
  • Excellent management, negotiation and communication and interpersonal skills;
  • Experience in administrating budgets, train and work effectively with counterpart staff at all levels and with all groups involved in the project;
  • Strong communication, drafting, presentation and reporting skills;
  • Strong computer skills (Word, Excel, Power Point, Statistical Packages, etc.).

Language:

  • Written and spoken proficiency in both Arabic and English are required.