Deputy Project Manager

1. Activity planning, delivery and performance 

2. Risk management, oversight and quality 

3. Project/cash transfers Implementation 

4. Stakeholder management, coordination and liaison

5. Personnel Management

6. Knowledge management and innovation

• Develop, complete and update implementation plan(s);

• Implement approved plan(s) in collaboration with the team and stakeholders (including the establishment of milestones) within tolerances set by the Board(s);

• Embed sustainability dimensions including social and gender inclusion, environmental and economic aspects into project life cycle;

• Liaise with any external suppliers or account managers;

• Monitor project progress ensuring that work packages are being executed properly;

• Authorize Work Packages;

• Manage the implementation of the required project outputs, taking responsibility for overall progress and use of resources and initiating corrective action where necessary;

• Advise the Project Board and Country Manager of any deviations from the plan;

• Monitor and evaluate performance of service providers;

• Support project audit activities, including planning, preparation and coordination during the audits and follow up on audit observations/recommendations;

• Manage and review product quality and ensure products are accepted;

• Deputize for the SPM and act on behalf of the SPM as and when required.

• Identify, and anticipate in a timely manner, potential risks and issues  related to the delivery of products and advise on appropriate mitigating measures to the Sr. Project Manager so that maximum benefit to clients and stakeholders;

• Escalate critical issues / risks to the Senior Project Manager and partners so that maximum benefit to partner(s) and other stakeholders is achieved;

• Ensure document and knowledge management diaries and progress reports are up to as required by the organization’s standard procedures;

• Establish performance management tools for tracking progress and quality of products;

• Provide technical advice and support to project teams, partners, beneficiaries across the multi-sub office. 

• Day to day oversight and supervision of all cash transfers activities planned under SNSOP including facilitating implementation and monitoring of cash based activities in all the 15 Counties;

• Draw up plans for timely project/cash transfers delivery in coordination with government, NGO and UN partners, and commercially contracted companies, and monitor their implementation;

• Primary supervisor of field teams (Project management support officers) and take responsibility for progress by providing direction and technical guidance in their work;

• Coordinate and liaise with the SPM on the implementation progress;

• Liaise closely with other UNOPS departments who have direct responsibilities for elements of the operational management of cash delivery to beneficiary level e.g. logistics, Finance, Procurement, MIS and IT. Advise SPM of any bottlenecks that may impede the timely delivery of cash transfers to beneficiaries;

• Prepare periodic and ad hoc reports on SNSOP’s project activities including proposals for operational improvements and potential scope for SNSOP cash activities and reconciliations;

• Manage the compilation, consolidation and analysis of relevant project data;

• Periodically review the appropriateness for cash based responses in accordance with the prevailing context. Choices of transfer modality for any intervention, need to be fully justified on the basis of overall cost-effectiveness;

• Closely coordinated with SNSOP’s M&E officer to ensure that relevant information on output and outcome indicators for cash based interventions are systematically being collected and analyzed in a manner that will help the project determine efficiency and effectiveness of cash delivery as well as the appropriateness of the transfer modality choice;

•  Undertake visits to  project sites and meet beneficiaries in order to ensure that progress is made in the achievement of project objectives; M and E activities will include market assessments and monitoring, cash service provider assessments, organizational capacity assessments, distribution monitoring and PDMs.

• Establish solid working relationships with the project boards (Executive, Senior Users and Senior Suppliers), client and key project stakeholders, providing advice and guidance on specific and general project management issues and where appropriate, institutional reform, rule of law and police related project support;

• Manage communications and ensure stakeholders are aware of project activities, progress, exceptions and are in a position to accept handover products;

• Facilitate and support communication and discussions, and ensure an adequate level of coordination, between relevant UNOPS, and cash transfer service providers, who may be contractually engaged for the management and delivery of cash transfers to beneficiaries and review any contractual arrangements made;

• Advise the client on issues that may impact the achievement of their outcomes (including issues of sustainability and post project requirements such as maintenance);

• Manage the information flows between the Project Board/County Director and the project(s);

• Liaise closely with relevant government authorities, UN agencies and NGOs engaged in cash based activities, keeping them fully informed of the status of UNOPS activities in this regard;

• Liaise and build relationships with other United Nations (UN) agencies and international non-governmental organizations (I/NGOs) implementing cash transfer activities for the purposes of facilitating activities and improving the quality and relevance of information analysis;

• Lead and participate in cash transfer and broader social protection meetings with UN agencies, NGO’s and other Stakeholders as required;

• Participate in dialogue with partners and other stakeholders on cash and vouchers and safety net programmes in general;

• Engage with the Bank of South Sudan for the prevailing exchange rate on a monthly basis. 

• Lead and motivate the project management team;

• Ensure that behavioral expectations of team members are established;

• Ensure that performance reviews are conducted timely and objectively;

• Identify outstanding staff and bring them to the attention of the OC Director;

• Have a thorough understanding of UNOPS personnel contract modalities (including ICA and Staff);

• Select, recruit and train team as required by project plans;

• Perform the Team Manager role, unless appointed to another person(s);

• Perform Project Support role, unless appointed to another person or corporate/programme function;

• Ensure safety and security for all personnel and comply with UNDSS standards. 

• Keep abreast of and incorporate latest/best practices, approaches and schemes in the social protection sector  to enhance the programming portfolio delivery and results;

• Keep up to date with all other cash and voucher based programmes and services being delivered in South Sudan by Governmental agencies, other development and humanitarian players, and commercial enterprises and use this information to help select and design optimal solutions for SNSOP cash based interventions;

• Provide feedback to Practice Leads on policy, supporting guidance with an aim towards continuous improvement of UNOPS policies;

• Lead the compilation of lessons learned as per defined reporting format;

• Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for planning and knowledge building;

• Contribute expertise in  making improvements and revisions to project/cash transfer tools and techniques; 

• Contribute to the oversight of lessons learned procedures, ensuring that case studies, lessons learned and best practices are shared and institutionalized for corporate development planning and knowledge building;

• Develop necessary cash training manuals, SOPs and tools in liaison with the cash working group;

• Maintain records of project files and other supporting documents;

• Support the Project Manager in maintaining the electronic Blue File. 

Impact

The Deputy Project Manager directly impacts on achievement of project results by adhering to project management methods and strategies, reducing risks, cutting costs and improving success rates.  This consequently reinforces the visibility and image of  UNOPS as an effective service provider in project services and management and strengthens its competitive position as a partner of choice in sustainable development and project services

• Master’s degree or advanced degree in Economics, Agriculture, Social Protection, International Affairs, Business Administration, Social Sciences, Development Studies or any other relevant field is required. is required;

• Bachelor degree in Economics, Agriculture, Social Protection, International Affairs, Business Administration, Social Sciences, Development Studies or any other relevant field with additional 2 years relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the Master’s degree.

• 5 years work experience in public sector and/or development projects and/or emergency assistance is required;

• Experience in food security, cash for work and direct cash based projects required.

• Experience of food assistance programmes, including experience with cash based transfers and other social safety net programmes is required.

• Experience with Government, UN agencies, and NGOs is an asset.

• Experience in designing and/or implementing cash-based humanitarian assistance programmes is an asset.

• Experience in Agriculture and Food security programming highly desired 

• Proven ability to conceptualize, develop, plan and manage cash transfer activities so as to impart knowledge and teach skills; 

• Teamwork abilities is highly desired; 

• Good analytical, negotiating, communication and advocacy skills is an asset; 

• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships both within and outside the organization.