Country Programme Manager (Open to Internal Candidates Only)

1. Country Programme Coordination and Governance

• Accept responsibility for Country Programme Oversight through the role of Project Executive on Project Boards.
• In collaboration with the Country Manager, Head of Programme, PMO, and Project Teams, be responsible for elaborating and coordinating the implementation of the PMO’s plans and priorities for the Country Office, including setting objectives, performance measurements, standards, and results expected to ensure timely delivery and client-oriented services.
• Monitor and coordinate the timely and cost-effective implementation of the country programme according to UNOPS goals and partner expectations, agreed quality standards, approved budget, full cost recovery, and in line with signed Legal Agreements.
• Oversee the Programme Management Office (PMO) to ensure alignment with the overall MCO Strategy and plans.
• Facilitate project governance and undertake assurance to ensure policies, processes, and methods are complied with and practiced according to UNOPS standards, best project management practices are promoted, and overall assurance of projects is provided.
• Coordinate proactive programme and project risk identification and assessment, and implementation of adequate mitigation measures.
• Mentor and assist Project Managers in planning, execution, and delivery of allocated projects, ensuring incorporation of best practice project management processes.
• Develop, maintain, and scale up tools and reports on quality and performance metrics for the Country Programme.
• Facilitate timely and accurate project tracking, analysis of outputs, and reporting.
• Coordinate the implementation of the MCO’s Governance and Assurance systems, including coordinating quality assurance reviews of projects, documents, and deliverables.
• Exercise Assurance over management products (project documents, plans, partner agreements, reports, etc.).
• Work with internal stakeholders to ensure projects comply with audit requirements.
• Work with Support Services units to ensure effective interfaces with Programme and Project personnel.

2. Country Programme and Project Delivery and Performance

• Ensure all projects develop, complete, and update implementation plans.
• Oversee the implementation of the approved plan (including the establishment of milestones) within tolerances set by the Project Board.
• Facilitate the mainstreaming of sustainability dimensions, including social and gender inclusion, environmental, and economic aspects, into the project lifespan.
• Oversee the production of the required outputs across the Country Programme, ensuring PMs take responsibility for overall progress and use of resources, and initiating corrective action where necessary.
• Ensure that the quality of projects, work packages, and deliverables complies with the quality requirements defined in the Implementation Plan.
• Monitor Country Programme progress, ensuring that projects and work packages are being executed properly.
• Provide Assurance over project changes.
• Identify, and anticipate in a timely manner, potential risks and issues, and advise on mitigating measures to senior management so that maximum benefit to partner(s) and other stakeholders is achieved.
• Identify and report to the supervisor potential business opportunities for UNOPS.
• Perform the role of Project Manager as assigned.

3. Programme Planning and Coordination

• Support the preparation of Country Programme documents (including business cases/strategies, policy briefs, programme plans, and risk assessments), including financial sustainability strategies and delivery of desired results, compliance with organizational strategies, rules, regulations, and standards of performance.
• Facilitate consultations and collaborate with internal and external colleagues and partners to ensure linkages, consistency, and harmonization of approaches and compliance with guidelines, framework, and standards of accountability, integrity, and performance.
• Act as the Gender Focal Point for the Country Office, assume accountability for Gender Mainstreaming in the Country Office, including ensuring the Gender Mainstreaming Action Plan is being actioned and implemented on time, and ensuring that the office has the required gender mainstreaming capacity and knowledge, and that gender is mainstreamed into relevant projects, programs, and processes.
• Advise and support the preparation of proposals for new partnerships in line with the Strategic Direction of the Multi-Country Office and Region.
• Actively take part in Programme Team planning, monitoring, and reporting progress against plans.
• Actively contribute to the Country Office’s maturity enhancement and innovation initiatives to continuously identify and improve operational processes relevant to project implementation.
• Strive for consistency, standardized, and harmonized practices in the execution of similar projects.

4. Personnel and Resources Management

• Take part in the Senior Management Team of the Country Office.
• Plan and manage the required resources for the Country PMO (human and financial).
• Coordinate inputs from the Project Managers, monitor, and submit revenue and expenditure forecasts based on UNOPS and Country Office financial goals.
• Contribute to the development of pricing strategies based on UNOPS pricing policy and models to ensure an appropriate balance between revenue and development capacity within the UN mandate and spirit.
• Oversee Country Programme resources in accordance with UNOPS standards of ethics, integrity, accountability framework, and financial sustainability.
• Promote an integrated and harmonized approach to delivery within the portfolio aligned with the strategic plan of the Multi-Country Office.
• Lead and motivate the Country PMO and Project Management teams.
• Ensure that behavioral expectations of team members are established.
• Plan, conduct and/or respond to UNOPS performance evaluation reviews and ensure they are conducted fairly, accurately, and timely.
• Select, recruit, and train the team as required, taking into account gender parity and diversity objectives.
• Promote teamwork, collaboration, and diversity by providing the programme team with clear direction, objectives, and guidance to enable them to perform their duties responsibly, effectively, and efficiently.
• Foster a positive work environment, respectful of both men and women, and ensure that the highest standards of conduct are observed.
• Create, foster, and role-model a culture of respect and zero tolerance for discrimination, abuse of authority, harassment, sexual harassment, and sexual exploitation and abuse. Ensure accountability for actions and perform duties in accordance with protection mechanisms and action plans, as expected by UNOPS policies, standards, and commitments.

5. Stakeholder Engagement and Partner Satisfaction

• Establish solid working relationships with Country Programme Partners, clients, and key stakeholders.
• Facilitate the development of stakeholder profiles and facilitate the formulation of stakeholder engagement strategies.
• Enable the formulation of communication plans. Monitor the effectiveness of project communications.
• Monitor partner communications and ensure stakeholders are aware of project activities, progress, exceptions, and are in a position to accept handover products.
• Coordinate stakeholder engagement and communication, ensuring effective timing and interdependency management of communications.
• Ensure clients are advised on issues that may impact the achievement of their outcomes (including issues of sustainability and post-project requirements such as maintenance).
• Ensure stakeholders are aware of programme activities, progress, exceptions, and are in a position to accept handover outputs.
• At the request of the Country Manager, participate and/or represent the Country Office in inter-agency discussions, UN Common System fora, and joint planning to ensure UNOPS position, interests, and priorities are fully considered.
• Support the business development function by identifying and developing new business and partnership/customer opportunities.
• Work closely with the partnerships specialists to mainstream lessons learned and best practices into new Engagement Acquisition.
• Promote UNOPS services by building a network of key partners; keeping abreast of market (and social, economic, political) trends. Demonstrates application of innovation in service delivery.
• Proactively cultivate and maintain partner relationships (i.e., governments, country offices, and international funding institutions) and contribute to recurrent partnerships.
• Participate in negotiating cost-effective and mutually beneficial terms for UNOPS services with prospective clients and partners.

6. Knowledge Management and Innovation

• Keep abreast of and incorporate best practices, approaches, and technology to enhance programme delivery and results.
• Operationalize and share best practices and lessons learned for corporate development planning and knowledge building.
• Draft policy papers and/or recommend policy changes to align operations with changing environments.
• Lead the planning, implementation, and organization of strategic capacity building for personnel, clients, and stakeholders within the programme.
• Identify and advocate for innovative initiatives across the country programme.
• Actively interact with other Portfolio, Programme, and Project Managers and the wider P3M community to share case studies, lessons learned, and best practices.
• Contribute to the oversight of lessons learned procedures, ensuring that lessons learned are shared in a timely and appropriate manner. Participate in the relevant Communities of Practice.
• Oversee the capturing of lessons learned throughout the project lifespan.
• Provide feedback to Practice Groups on policy, supporting guidance with the aim towards continuous improvement of UNOPS policies.

Impacts of Results The effective and successful performance of the Country Programme Manager directly impacts the achievement of programme results and consequently reinforces the visibility and image of UNOPS as an effective service provider in project services and management, strengthening its competitive position as a partner of choice in sustainable development and project services.