UNDP Jobs - 19494- Project Manager

Project Manager

Location :

Honiara, SOLOMON ISLANDS

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

02-Jan-2011

Application Deadline :

22-Oct-10 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-4

Duration of Initial Contract :

12 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

3 years (contract renewal upon successful performance)

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

Solomon Islands has diverse natural resources, both in terrestrial and marine environment, which will be affected by climate change. The country conformed to localizing the MDGs, however, it is facing challenges in the achievement of the MDGs, in particular MDG1, MDG3 and MDG7. Against the backdrop of the problems associated with MDG7, the Solomon Islands Government established the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Meteorology (MECM). The capacity of the new ministry needs to be developed to ensure positive impacts to environment management.

The objective of the Project “Strengthening Environment Management and Reducing the Impact of Climate Change in Solomon Islands” is to assist the Government of Solomon Islands in capacity development for environmental management. In effect the project will focus on strengthening the executing capacity of MECM, provincial governments and community institutions to address climate change and other environmental issues and challenges, and to mainstream natural resource conservation and environmental management in Solomon Islands. The project strategy will concentrate on the following areas: 1) Strengthening capacity to develop and implement national environment policy and plan, 2) Establishing information management and scientific/technical knowledge base, 3) Promoting community-based environment management and disaster risk reduction, 4) Institutionalizing human resource capacities development and awareness-raising, and 5) Gender mainstreaming across all environment activities. The Project will be collaborated with Small Grant Programme (SGP) funded by Global Environment Facility (GEF) to implement community-based activities.

Direct Implementation (DIM) modality is applied, and UNDP is an implementing agency of the Project. Under the overall supervision of Deputy Resident Representative (DRR) of UNDP Honiara Office, and working closely with the Permanent Secretary of MECM through his designated staff, the project manager (PM) will be responsible for the implementation of the project, including the mobilization of all project inputs, production of outputs, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) processes, as well as the supervision of the project management unit (PMU) staff, consultants and sub-contractors. He/she will report to the Project Board (PB) on a regular basis in agreed frequency.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions: The PM is responsible for the strategic direction and achievement of project deliverables. The PM is also responsible for day-to-day project implementation management and delivering on expected results. Specifically:
Provide strategic direction and guidance to the project

Undertake day-to-day management of the project
Provide technical advisory services and trainings
Prepare all reports required under the project
The specific duties and responsibilities during the assignment will include, but not be limited to, the following:

Provide strategic direction and guidance to the project

Identify/refine activities for each project output in consultation with relevant responsible parties and other development partners;
Draft Work Plans and Annual Budget timely and present them to PB for review and approval;
Ensure proper management of funds consistent with UNDP requirements

Undertake day-to-day management of the project; (1) Project Implementation;

Develop TORs for recruitment of project personnel and consultancy services and facilitate recruitment procedures with UNDP Sub-office;
Facilitate procurement of goods and services according to UNDP practices with UNDP Sub-office and provide oversight of contract implementation;
Mobilize other project inputs in accordance with UNDP procedures;
Supervise and coordinate the work of all project staff, consultants and sub-contractors;

(2) Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) and Knowledge Management

Ensure the implementation of the monitoring and evaluation plan in a timely manner;
Advice PB on the project implementation and substantive and financial issues, including budget revisions;
Ensure counteractions are taken as a result of M&E findings;
Disseminate project reports to and respond to queries from concerned stakeholders;
Oversee the exchange and sharing of experiences and lessons learned with relevant education, environment and development projects nationally and internationally
Act as a focal point and resource person to facilitate knowledge management to benefit project parties/partners in particular in new issues.

Provides technical advisory services and trainings; (1) Strengthening capacity to develop and implement national environment policy and plan

Review relevant documents and research prepared leading up to the project;
Complete legislative gap analysis and identify the environment legislations to be reviewed;

(2) Establishing information management and scientific/technical knowledge base

Prepare a template to collect data for MECM environment database with other project team members and MECM;
Develop the environment research work plan in short- and medium-terms with consultation with MECM and relevant NGOs;

(3) Promoting community-based environment management and disaster risk reduction

Review the Country Programme Strategy to improve the project impacts to the country programme with Small Grant Programme (SGP) Analyst;
Develop a community-based disaster risk reduction roll out programme that incorporate climate change adaptation and sustainable livelihood concepts with consultation with National Disaster Management Office (NDMO);

(4) Institutionalizing human resource capacities development and awareness raising

Provide advisory services to the project counterparts related to the project activities and outcomes;
Facilitate the preparation of Annual Report with MECM;
Facilitate the conduct of review of the MECM Strategic and Corporate Plan 2010-2013 with MECM
Facilitate the establishment of Youth Environment Programme for young qualified unemployed with MECM and other relevant ministries.
Provide applied courses/workshops on proposal development to key stakeholders.

(5) Gender mainstreaming across all environment activities

Support plan, organize, coordinate and manage project inputs in a way that gender issues are integrated into the entire project life;

(6) Project management and implementation

Facilitate training workshops for relevant project responsible parties on proposal development and UNDP project management rules and procedures
Ensure smooth cooperation between project office and UNDP Sub-office in regard to project financial management including in Atlas;

4. Prepare all reports required under the project

Prepare necessary documents including Quarterly Financial Consolidated Reports, Quarterly Consolidated Progress Reports, Annual Project Review Reports, and other reports as may be required by UNDP and other potential donor(s), and submit them to the PB for review and approval.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling 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
Familiarity with UNDP guidelines and regulations

Functional Competencies:

Good understanding of Millennium Development Goals and related initiatives
Solid understanding of development and environment issues
Ability to assess institutional capacity, and formulate proposals to foster positive change
Analytical judgment, results-orientation and efficiency in a multi-tasking environment
Demonstrated understanding of and working experience in environment issues in post-conflict environments

Managerial Competencies:

Proven ability to manage project team (national and international) and manage diverse and complex tasks; establishes clear performance goals, standards and responsibilities
Substantial management and planning skills and experience with demonstrated abilities to develop and manage partnerships with donors, government counterparts, the private sector and civil society
Promotes a learning environment; facilitates the development of individuals and team competencies

Behavioral Competencies:

Ability to lead effectively, mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
Good inter-personal and teamwork skills, networking aptitude, ability to work in multicultural environment
Strives for quality client-centred services when making decisions and taking actions

Capacity to perform effectively under pressure and hardship conditions

In-depth and proven knowledge as well as experience in development issues, policies and programmes relating to environment and natural resource management and their impacts promoting human development and poverty reduction
Proven actual experiences of Results Based Management (RBM) with sound knowledge on LogFrame and Project Cycle Management (PCM)
Experience with similar assignments in similar developing countries with mixed experience in the Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia and Africa is an asset.
Excellent computer skills (key MS Applications) and ability to use information technology as a tool and resource.
Understanding of UNDP adopted management systems (e.g. Atlas) and procedures (e.g. PRINCE2) is an asset.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

Masters degree or equivalent in environmental science, governance, institutional management or related field

Experience

More than 7 years of experiences (or 9 years of experiences plus first level university degree in lieu of the above required advanced degree) in management of environment projects

Language

Fluency in English, including excellent drafting and presentation skills. A good working knowledge of Pijin would be an asset.