Project Manager

Organizational Context

UNOPS operates in Latin America and the Caribbean, focusing on sustainable development through resilient infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, and sanitation systems. In Panama, UNOPS has been active since 2009, supporting national partners with technical advice and complex project execution in infrastructure, procurement, and management. This role is a short-term contract with potential for renewal, emphasizing local candidates or those with residency permits.

Job Purpose

The Project Manager is responsible for the daily operations of assigned projects, ensuring timely, cost-effective, and quality delivery of outputs within specified tolerances for scope, risk, and benefits. This role involves creating implementation plans, understanding project agreements, and managing stakeholder responsibilities to meet business cases for both UNOPS and its partners. The Project Manager will oversee projects that may include technical studies, design, supervision, or maintenance of physical infrastructure, potentially involving significant procurement of goods and services. Success is measured by achieving defined project success criteria, particularly in complex environments with limited resources and varying local capacity, requiring strong professional judgment and experience.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include: Project Delivery and Performance: Developing and updating project execution plans, managing project implementation within defined tolerances, integrating sustainability dimensions, and ensuring the quality of work packages and deliverables. This involves coordinating with external vendors, monitoring progress, managing deviations, and mitigating risks to maximize partner benefits. Procedures and Compliance: Adhering to UNOPS policies and standards, ensuring project information is current, and complying with applicable local and international laws and technical standards. This includes managing reporting obligations, maintaining project documentation for audits, and applying UNOPS financial regulations. Monitoring and Reporting: Establishing a results framework and M&E plan, preparing regular technical and financial reports, and regularly assessing project performance against scope, cost, schedule, and quality criteria. Stakeholder Engagement: Developing and implementing stakeholder engagement strategies, building strong working relationships with project boards, clients, and key stakeholders, and facilitating effective project communication. Quality Assurance: Collaborating with internal stakeholders and procurement to ensure project quality requirements and vendor quality systems are met, and coordinating quality reviews of project documents and deliverables. Knowledge Management and Innovation: Fostering a learning environment for the project team, sharing lessons learned and best practices, and staying updated with professional developments. Personnel Management: Organizing and structuring the project team, defining roles and responsibilities, providing guidance, managing performance, and ensuring fair and timely evaluations.

Work Experience

Requires a minimum of five years of experience (or seven years with a Bachelor's degree) in implementing and/or managing infrastructure projects, specifically in areas such as buildings, bridges, roads, or energy. Experience with complex projects is essential. Desirable experience includes managing multidisciplinary teams, working in the public sector, sustainable procurement, and with the United Nations.

Skills

Contractors, Project Control, Project Delivery, Project Finance, Project Management, Quality Assurance, Team Management, Team Organization

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