Senior Project Manager
Organizational Context
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is the UN's regional development arm. The Macroeconomic Policy and Financing for Development Division (MPFD), specifically the Financing for Development Section (FFDS), supports member states in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This role supports the UN-PIIF Joint SDG Fund project, enhancing sustainable finance ecosystems in the Pacific.
Job Purpose
This consultancy role, Senior Project Manager for the UN-PIIF Joint SDG Fund project, is crucial for advancing sustainable finance in the Pacific. The purpose is to provide expert project coordination and management for a three-year initiative focused on harnessing institutional investment funds for SDG acceleration. The role involves conducting a baseline capacity assessment of Pacific Islands Investment Forum (PIIF) member funds and the PIIF Secretariat. It ensures coherent implementation of project activities by managing planning, monitoring, risk management, and stakeholder engagement among UN partners and PIIF, aligning with the Project Document (ProDoc) and functioning as a key focal point for the Joint SDG Fund. The ultimate goal is to strengthen sustainable finance ecosystems and mobilize financing for the SDGs in the region.
Responsibilities
The Senior Project Manager will be responsible for comprehensive project planning and delivery, including establishing the joint programme delivery architecture, preparing inception reports, and developing consolidated action plans. This includes maintaining an integrated implementation tracker, conducting stakeholder mapping, and facilitating UN inter-agency planning sessions to ensure alignment with the ProDoc. The role involves leading results-based monitoring and reporting against project frameworks and Joint SDG Fund indicators, preparing progress reports, and identifying performance gaps with proposed corrective actions. Additionally, the manager will coordinate budget execution, track contractual requirements, and manage risks and issues through an updated register. Stakeholder engagement is key, involving close coordination with the PIIF Secretariat, servicing the Joint Programme Steering Committee, and maintaining effective communication channels between UN partners and PIIF. A significant responsibility includes conducting a baseline capacity assessment of PIIF member funds and the Secretariat regarding SDG impact, risk, compliance, and ESG capacities.
Work Experience
A minimum of ten years of progressive professional experience in sustainable development project or programme management is required. This includes multi-stakeholder coordination, designing partnership and resource mobilization strategies, and experience in financial policymaking or within financial institutions. Experience leading results-based projects with monitoring frameworks and risk management is essential. Familiarity with sustainable finance, pension funds, and institutional investors in the Pacific region is desirable. At least two years of experience in data analytics is also desirable.
Skills
Project Management, Programme Management, Sustainable Finance, Stakeholder Engagement, Risk Management, Results-Based Monitoring, Budget Execution, Capacity Assessment, Data Analytics, Interpersonal Skills, Written Communication, Coordination, Financial Policymaking, Partnership Development.