Project Manager (NPSA-9), UNDP Moldova

Project Manager (NPSA-9), UNDP Moldova

Deadline / Termenul-limită: 12 February 2025

To apply please follow the link/ Pentru a aplica, vă rugăm să accesați link-ul: APPLY

Job Description

Background

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:  we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories

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.

Aiming at reducing the development disparities among the both banks of the Nistru river, UNDP has been supporting confidence building initiatives since 2007. With the launch of the first EU-funded Confidence Building Measures (CBM) Project in 2009, the EU-UNDP partnership led to important achievements with more than half a million women and men benefiting directly.

The strategic goal of the Support to trust and cooperation between both banks of the Nistru River in the area of emergency healthcare Project is to achieve an enhanced environment of trust and cooperation across the Transnistrian conflict divide through joint work on improving the living standards of men and women from the left bank, via safer and more equitable access to emergency healthcare services.

With support from SDC and UK Government, UNDP aims to address the disparities among the two banks by improving healthcare infrastructure, modernizing emergency equipment, and enhancing the skills of medical professionals. The cooperation in the area of healthcare supported by UNDP leads, on one hand, to an enhanced access to more quality healthcare services, while on the other – helps building/rebuilding channels of communication, engagement and interoperability.

The project will pilot a new operational framework for the emergency healthcare in the Transnistrian region, through starting the work on transferring the best practice from the right bank and harmonizing the medical protocols and training of the medical staff, as well as the implementation of new infrastructure standards.
 

Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, coordinate, and develop effective project planning and implementation:
  • Lead strategic planning for the project as well as formulation and periodic revisions of the project’s annual work plan (AWP), including plans for budget, HR and procurement that are developed in close coordination with UNDP’s Country Office Programme, HR, and Procurement teams; 
  • Lead development of detailed implementation plans;
  • Manage, coordinate, and supervise project implementation to ensure the overall project relevance and performance, the effective realization and quality of outputs within the specified constraints of time and cost as outlined in the project document, and adherence to applicable UNDP policy and programme management procedures and Government standards, rules, and regulations; 
  • Act as a senior advisor on issues related to project activities;
  • Provide direction, guidance, and direct supervision to UNDP project personnel; 
  • Undertake technical review of project documents produced by the project team and partners, and ensure high technical standards are met;
  • Ensure all project interventions integrate a gender equality perspective/gender equality mainstreaming to the extent local context allows;
  • Ensure proper execution of all administrative activities associated with project implementation, including mobilizing goods and services, preparing Terms of Reference, completing contracting processes, recruiting/selecting consultants and experts, and managing financial arrangements/transactions and their correct authorization;
  • Identify opportunities for synergies with other projects within UNDP and beyond, to advance the key objectives and grow its focus.

• Develop strategic partnerships:
  • Substantively contribute to the harnessing of effective partnerships and lead the identification and onboarding process for implementing partners;
  • Cultivate and maintain strong relationships and strategic linkages with implementing and development partners, government officials, businesses, NGOs, other national and regional stakeholders, and beneficiaries to support and ensure accurate interpretation of project objectives and promote inclusive project implementation;
  • Substantively contribute to project communications and visibility efforts; 
  • Make recommendations to the management team on activities with potential for scale-up, replicability and synergies;
  • Provide technical support to the implementing partners and act as a liaison between UNDP and the partners;
  • Support resource mobilization efforts and project development.

• Monitor and report on progress in implementing project activities and achieving the set targets.
  • Provide leadership and technical advice to the project in developing baselines and indicators for project monitoring and evaluation and coordinate the finalization of detailed results framework; 
  • Develop clear strategies and an effective system for data collection, means of verification, and information sharing and reporting;
  • Lead the implementation of project monitoring, evaluation, and results framework to identify plan deviations and other problems; and make needed course corrections within agreed upon tolerances to achieve results; 
  • Conduct field visits as required to verify project activities relative to stated targets and provide regular field updates to UNDP management;
  • Lead the development and conduct of mid-term and annual reviews, and end line assessment; and coordinate the conduct of independent evaluations; 
  • Organize project review and evaluation meetings; 
  • Follow up on the implementation of decisions, recommendations, and course corrections;
  • Manage and monitor project risks, including social and environmental risks, initially identified and submit new risks to appropriate project governing bodies for consideration and decision on possible actions;
  • Coordinate the preparation of corporate, donor and government reports in line with the reporting schedule and UNDP and donor requirements; 
  • Ensure provision of ad hoc reports and information requested by relevant entities;
  • Ensure proper operational and financial closure of the project.

• Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing, and advocacy relevant to the assigned thematic areas:
  • Identify capacity building needs and opportunities; 
  • Ensure appropriate training, project workshops and other relevant activities are organized and implemented in a consultative manner, involving technical experts and stakeholders that may include the government, private sector, NGOs, donors, and/or academia;
  • Ensure project reports capture results, lessons learned and good practices for possible wider application;
  • Participate in and ensure sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice on development and project related issues; 
  • Support establishment of knowledge platforms for the project, facilitate innovative mechanisms for dissemination of knowledge from the project, and develop knowledge resources and products to share with project partners and to support UNDP’s engagement in this area;
  • Promote advocacy for UNDP’s work and opportunities for collaboration in addressing development trends in coordination with the project partners, stakeholders, and UNDP communications staff.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

The Project Manager  will work under the supervision of the Inclusive Growth Programme Analyst and will ensure the provision of development services and products commensurate with the scope of the Projects’ and assigned area of responsibility of the highest quality and standards to national and local counterparts and clients through applying HRBA and GE approaches. The Project Manager  will coordinate the Projects’ teams, as envisaged in Projects’ organizational charts.

The Project Manager  will work in close cooperation with the team in the Country Office (CO) for effective achievement of results, anticipating and contributing to resolving complex programme/project-related issues and information delivery. The incumbent is expected to exercise full compliance with UNDP programming, financial, procurement and administrative rules, regulations, policies and strategies, as well as implementation of the effective internal control systems.

Competencies

Core Competencies

• Achieve Results: 
  • LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work.
• Think Innovatively:
  • LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking.
• Learn Continuously:
  • LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning.
• Adapt with Agility:
  • LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process.
• Act with Determination:
  • LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously.
• Engage and Partner:
  • LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships.
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion:
  • LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making.

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies

• Communication: 
  • Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
  • Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.
• Systems Thinking: 
  • Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
• Results-based Management: 
  • Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. 
  • Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.
• Project Management: 
  • Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
• Risk Management: 
  • Identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: 
  • Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively. 
  • Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results. 
  • Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming. 
  • Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools. 
  • Ability to make an  independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. 
  • Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.
• CSO Engagement: 
  • Knowledge and understanding of CSOs and the ability to engage with CSOs.
     

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s Degree in public administration, business development, international relations, development studies or related areas is required OR;
• Bachelor’s Degree in the areas mentioned above in combination with additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 2 years (with Master’s Degree) or 4 years (with Bachelor’s Degree) of progressive working experience in the design, management and implementation of projects/programmes is required.

Required Skills:

• Professional experience in project management, public services and administration.
• Experience in managing teams.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web based management systems.

Desired Skills:

• Work experience at local/regional  level is a very strong advantage.
• Work experience in the field of confidence building.
• Previous experience in development assistance or related work for a donor organization, government institution or consulting company is an asset.

Required Languages:

• Fluency in English and Russian is required.
• Working knowledge of one or more additional languages relevant for Moldova, including Romanian, Bulgarian, Gagauzian, Romani, Ukrainian or sign language is an asset.

Professional Certificates:

• Additional training and certification in project management would be an advantage.

Travel

Upon necessity and if required.

The monthly salary for this position ranges from 48,700 MDL to 60,800 MDL, depending on the candidate’s level of experience and qualifications.

Disclaimer

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Non-discrimination

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status. 

Scam warning

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.