- Job Category: Project
- Duty Station(s): Addis Ababa
- Seniority Level: Senior Level
- ICS Level: ICS 11
- Contract Type: ICA – LICA – Specialist – Regular
- Contract Level: LICA 11
- Duration: Ongoing- Subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funds.
About the Region
The UNOPS Africa Regional Office, based in Nairobi, Kenya, oversees the delivery of over 250 projects across 40 countries, with a focus on fragile and conflict-affected settings. Supported by more than 1,000 personnel across five multi-country offices—spanning North, West, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa, and the Horn of Africa—the office advances national priorities through strategic initiatives in Climate Action, Health, Infrastructure, Peace and Security, Middle-Income Country Support, and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
The Regional Office provides strategic leadership, operational support, and oversight in key areas including Partnerships, Communications, Management and Oversight, Infrastructure and Project Management, Health and Safety, and Security. By promoting excellence in project delivery, fostering knowledge sharing, and driving continuous improvement, the office contributes to sustainable infrastructure, transparent resource management, and a better quality of life for communities across the continent.
About the Country/Multi-Country Office
Based in Addis Ababa, the Horn of Africa Multi-Country Office (HAMCO) delivers project management, procurement, and infrastructure services across Djibouti, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Sudan, with a primary focus on health, agriculture, and economic development. Established in 2009, HAMCO partners with governments and development stakeholders to implement impactful, results-driven initiatives that contribute to sustainable development. Since 2024, new projects have been aimed at expanding access to healthcare, education, energy, and livelihoods, particularly in underserved and conflict-affected regions.
HAMCO also provides human resource management services, supporting the effective implementation of development initiatives. Key efforts include equipping research facilities, strengthening education and health systems, building vaccine research capacity, and enhancing resilience in communities affected by crisis. Through these interventions, HAMCO contributes to inclusive growth, regional stability, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across the Horn of Africa.
Job Specific Context
In response to a growing demand for UNOPS Infrastructure Service Line a number of infrastructure projects have been signed with the Government and Partners in 2025. If you have experience leading teams; delivering high quality infrastructure works that match client needs with budget; are always ready to get hands on with the work, and can lead partners through best practices and operational excellence and excited to support the peace, recovery and development agendas across the country, then this is your opportunity.
The Senior Project Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the project(s) and provides services to the different donors, partners and beneficiaries.It acts on behalf of the Project Board to manage the project on an ongoing basis during the Implementation Stage. The main responsibility of the Senior Project Manager is to ensure that the project outputs are delivered to agreed specifications, time, cost, quality, scope, risk and benefits. S/he is expected to meet the organization’s performance and delivery goals.
The Senior Project Manager has the authority to assign; as per the Project Plan, work packages and activities to Team Managers, and approve deliverables produced under their supervision. S/he is responsible for using the Project Initiation Document (PID), Legal Agreement to create the Project Implementation Plan (PIP). The successful candidate will be required to establish a thorough understanding of the terms, conditions, and the respective roles and responsibilities of the partners/stakeholders, to ensure the project(s) outputs are capable of meeting the business cases for both UNOPS and the partner(s). Success of the project(s), and hence of the Sr.Project Manager, will be based on the defined Success Criteria.
This Project mainly supports the current Ambo- Gazanchi construction of school projects under AICS funding.
Role Purpose
The Senior Project Manager (Implementation) is responsible for planning, organizing, leading the project from Initiation to Closure. The Senior Project Manager ensures effective delivery and oversight of projects, while implementing the services in scope and contributing towards achievement of partners’ goals and objectives. Acting on behalf of the Project Board, the Senior Project Manager ensures that project outputs are delivered within agreed tolerances of time, cost, scope, quality, risk, and benefits.
The Senior Project Manager serves as the focal point for coordination with donors, partners and beneficiaries, ensuring alignment with contractual commitments and UNOPS performance standards. The incumbent possesses and applies a deep understanding of Project planning, implementation, monitoring and control, while managing stakeholder expectations. and ensuring delivery is as per the terms of the Legal Agreement.
Functions / Key Results Expected
Project Delivery and Performance
- Develop, complete and update the project implementation plan.
- Implement the approved plan (including establishment of milestones) within tolerances set by the Project Board.
- Embed sustainability dimensions, including social and gender considerations, and environmental and economic aspects, into the project life span.
- Manage the production of required outputs, taking responsibility for overall progress and use of resources while initiating corrective action where necessary.
- Ensure that quality of work packages and deliverables comply with the quality requirements defined in the implementation plan.
- Liaise with external suppliers or account managers to ensure quality and timely delivery of outputs.
- Manage acceptance and delivery of work packages.
- Monitor project progress, control project variances (if any), and manage changes.
- Identify, anticipate and advise senior management and the project board on mitigating measures against project risks to ensure that benefits to partners and other stakeholders are maximized.
- Advocate and promote UNOPS service offerings, identify and report potential growth opportunities for UNOPS.
Procedures
- Comply with the organization’s policies and standards, and ensure project information is kept updated in project management systems.
- Be aware of applicable local laws and regulations, and ensure adherence. This includes international regulations and standards, where applicable, as well as technical standards.
- Prepare and adapt all relevant plans for approval by the project board, and manage baselines
- Manage the reporting obligations defined in the implementation plan and legal agreements.
- Maintain project documentation in an orderly manner for accessibility and audit support when needed.
- Understand and apply the UNOPS financial rules and regulations. Be accountable for the use of delegation of authority (where applicable) and ensure compliance with relevant policies and standards of ethics.
- Provide a formal handover of the project to the closure manager when applicable.
- Support project audit activities, including planning, preparation and coordination during audits and follow-up on audit observations/ recommendations.
Monitoring and Reporting
- Include a results framework and M&E plan in the project implementation plan with clearly defined indicators and agreed targets, ensure regular monitoring and tracking of project results.
- Prepare and issue regular project and financial reports in accordance with partner and UNOPS requirements for reporting.
- Regularly review project status and evaluate performance criteria (scope, cost, schedule, and quality)
- Maintain diaries and progress reports as required by UNOPS standard operating procedures.
- Provide routine oversight and analysis of delivery data within the dashboard system.
- Ensure all project team members track and regularly update milestones and targets for the duration of the project life span.
Stakeholder Engagement
- Develop stakeholder engagement strategies and plans. Actively engage stakeholders, take feedback, and adjust as necessary.
- Establish solid working relationships with the project board (executive, senior users and senior suppliers); clients; and key stakeholders.
- Enable formulation of project communication plans and monitor effectiveness of project communications.
- Coordinate stakeholder engagement and communication, ensuring effective timing and interdependency management of communications. Ensure stakeholders are aware of project activities, progress, and exceptions, and are in a position to accept handover output.
Quality Assurance
- Work with internal stakeholders to ensure projects comply with audit requirements.
- Work with procurement/ purchasing personnel to ensure effective interface with suppliers’ quality systems.
- Coordinate quality reviews of project documents and deliverables.
- Provide quality control for management outputs (e.g. project documents, reports, etc)
Knowledge Management and Innovation
- Create a learning environment for the project team, encourage knowledge sharing and training to contribute to longer-term capacity building.
- Actively interact with other project managers and the wider project management (PM) community, share case studies, lessons learned and best practices.
- Stay abreast with latest updates and good practices of the profession, participate in training and learning activities for self to advance proficiency and competency.
- Ensure lessons learned are shared in a timely and appropriate manner.
- Provide feedback to corporate practice groups on policy and systems, when needed.
- Provide feedback to functional groups on policies and related guidance to support the continuous improvement of UNOPS policy framework.
Personnel Management
- Organise and structure the project team, ensure clearly defined roles and responsibilities. Provide regular guidance and direction, as needed, and support the team in effectively performing their tasks.
- Lead and motivate the project management team, and manage performance.
- Ensure performance reviews are conducted fairly, accurately, and on time.
- Select, recruit, and train project teams as required, taking gender parity and diversity objectives into account.
- Ensure safety and security for all project personnel in compliance with the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) standard.
Skills
Project Coordination, Project Implementation, Project Planning, Quality Assurance, Reporting, Risk Management, Stakeholder Management.
Education Requirements
Required
- Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 9 years of relevant experience OR
- Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 7 years of relevant experience is required.
Desired
- Project management certification from a globally recognized institute is desired.
- Professional certification from a reputed institute in the technical topic relevant to the job area is desired.
Experience Requirements
Required
- Relevant experience is work in the implementation of complex projects/ programmes, or related areas.
- Experience in project planning, implementation, and control, including project communication and reporting is required.
- Knowledge of quality assurance methodologies is required.
- Experience of managing project risks in a multi-stakeholder context is required.
Desired
- Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in a developing country is desired.
- Experience in development or humanitarian contexts is desired.
- Management consulting experience, involving public-sector advisory, is desired.
Language Requirements
| Language | Proficiency Level | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| English | Fluent | Required |
| Amharic | Fluent | Required |