Project Manager

The presence of explosive ordnance (EO) can have a substantial negative impact on human development. Landmines, cluster munitions and other EO can significantly hinder national efforts to eradicate extreme poverty and reduce inequalities and exclusion. In Viet Nam, according to the government-led Landmine Impact Survey (2010-2014), all 63 provinces and cities across the country are potentially contaminated by EOs. The 15 most contaminated provinces also have a high ratio of poor and near-poor households.

Building on the achievements and lessons of the Korea-Vietnam Mine Action Project (KVMAP), the Korea – Vietnam Peace Village Project (KVPVP) aims to enable inclusive, safe, and resilient local development by reducing the impact of EO on local communities. The project is structured around three integrated components. The first focuses on building national mine action capacities, including for survey and clearance and information management. The second component focuses on strengthening systems for EO victim assistance and explosive ordnance risk education (EORE). The third and final component focuses on sustainable rural development, facilitating access to livelihoods and health services for affected local communities. Given the impact of climate change on Viet Nam, local development solutions prioritize climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. The overall project aims to further improve the mine action sector in Viet Nam and ensure closer linkages between mine action and inclusive local development.

KVPVP was developed through close collaboration between the Government of the Republic of Korea and the Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam. The project is implemented in partnership with the Vietnam National Mine Action Center (VNMAC) and the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MOLISA) and with local authorities in the prioritized provinces of Binh Dinh, Quang Ngai and Thua Thien – Hue.

Given UNDP’s technical expertise in mine action and applied experience in various contexts, including Lao PDR and Cambodia, long standing experience managing large development projects in Viet Nam and strong governance and administration expertise, UNDP Viet Nam has been entrusted by Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to provide project management and technical support to KVPVP.

In this context, UNDP is hiring a KVPVP Project Manager to lead the overall management and implementation of the project. The Project Manager will work under the guidance and direct supervision of UNDP’s Assistant Resident Representative for Governance and Participation and in close consultation with KVPVP’s Chief Technical Advisor (CTA). S/he will directly facilitate the implementation of the first project component in close collaboration with VNMAC counterparts and overall technical guidance and support from the CTA. S/he will additionally supervise, coordinate, and ensure the integration of the work of two component managers, namely for victim assistance/EORE and local development. The Project Manager will supervise and be assisted by a Project Specialist and a Project Assistant.

The incumbent will work in close collaboration with the VNMAC Project Manager cum Head of Planning & Financial Management (Deputy General Director of VNMAC) and line departments involved in the Project Management Unit (PMU). To this end, the Project Manager will split her/his time between the UNDP Viet Nam Office and the PMU VNMAC office. Frequent travel to project provinces is expected.

The KVPVP Project Manager has the following main functions:

The Project Manager will work under the guidance and direct supervision of UNDP’s Assistant Resident Representative for Governance and Participation and in close consultation with KVPVP’s Chief Technical Advisor (CTA). S/he will supervise the work of two component managers, namely for victim assistance and EORE and for local development; a Project Specialist; a Project Assistant; as well as that of project staff deployed in the provinces.

The incumbent will work in close collaboration with the VNMAC Project Manager cum Head of Planning & Financial Management (Deputy General Director of VNMAC) and the line departments comprising the Project Management Unit (PMU). To this end, the Project Manager will split her/his time between the UNDP Viet Nam Office and the PMU VNMAC office. 

Lead, manage, coordinate, and develop effective project planning and implementation.

• Lead, manage, coordinate, and supervise overall project implementation to ensure the effective delivery and quality of outputs within the specified constraints of time and cost as outlined in the KVPVP project document and the rules and procedures established in the UNDP Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures (POPP) and Government standards, rules, and regulations; 
• In close coordination with the CTA and component managers, lead and prepare the strategic planning, annual work-plan and budget for the overall project in accordance with the Project Document for approval by office management and/or Project Board (on a multiyear basis);  ensure that the project plan and budget are entered into the corporate management system; achieve the outputs described in the work plan;
• In close coordination with the CTA and VNMAC, closely accompany the delivery of outputs under the first component of the project, ensuring integration and coordination with activities under the second (victim assistance) and third (rural development) components of the project;
• Review Accounts Receivable for the project and follow up with KOICA on outstanding amounts;
• Review budgets and work plans monthly and bring to the attention of senior management any delivery challenges or proposed changes;
• With the assistance of the Project Assistant and component managers, prepare and monitor implementation of project procurement and recruitment plans;
• Regularly review corporate management system project reports, ensuring that revenue, commitments, expenses, and disbursements are complete and accurate, and detecting erroneous or unauthorized charges;
• Receipt Goods, Services & Works: verify, document, and record satisfactory receipt of goods, services, and works on a timely basis in accordance with POPP;
• Ensure that project funds are adequately reserved to cover the full cost of project personnel and direct project costs;
• Supervise and evaluate performance of the personnel working in the project; Coordinate and facilitate various project meetings including Project Board and partnership meetings; document decisions and follow-up actions; Provide the Project Board with timely, detailed and accurate information on project implementation.

Monitor and report on progress in implementing project activities and achieving the targets set.

• With assistance from the Project Specialist and in coordination with the CTA and component managers, develop baselines and indicators for project monitoring and evaluation and coordinate the finalization of detailed results framework. Develop and implement clear strategies and an effective system for data collection, means of verification, and information sharing and reporting;
• With assistance from the Project Specialist and three provincial PMUs and in coordination with the component managers, lead project monitoring and evaluation to identify deviations and other problems and make needed course corrections within agreed upon tolerances to achieve results. Together with the CTA, component managers, three provincial PMUs and the Project Specialist, conduct field visits as required to verify project activities relative to stated targets and provide regular field updates to UNDP management; 
• Manage and monitor project risks register, including social and environmental risks, initially identified and submit new risks to appropriate project governing bodies for consideration and decision on possible actions; 
• Ensure project reports meet the established standards and deadlines  to relevant bodies including the Project Board; Coordinate the preparation of corporate, donor reports in line with the reporting schedule and UNDP and donor requirements. Ensure provision of ad hoc reports and information requested by relevant entities; 
• Lead the development and conduct of mid-term and annual reviews, and end line assessment, including regular post-clearance impact survey; and coordinate the conduct of independent evaluations. Organize project review and evaluation meetings. Follow up on the implementation of decisions, recommendations, and course corrections;
• Ensure proper operational and financial closure of the project.

Develop strategic partnerships, communication, knowledge management and learning

• Maintain close working relations and regular contacts with the Government partners (VNMAC/MOND and DSA/MOLISA) on the implementation of the project;
• Ensure adequate flow of information, discussion and feedback among the various stakeholders of the project;
• In consultation with KOICA, closely work with UNDP communication staff to develop project communication and advocacy products, including blogs, news, videos, stories, etc.;
• Regularly exchange information/experience with other UNDP projects, in particular its persons with disabilities inclusion programming and its climate change mitigation programming, to facilitate cross-learning, synergies and sharing of good practices.
• Share project best practices and lessons at different national platforms;
• Identify capacity building needs and opportunities for project staff. 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;

Gender mainstreaming

• Ensure gender is effectively mainstreamed throughout the project cycle including in context analysis, activity design, results framework, budget, knowledge products, and reports in line with UNDP Global and National Gender Equality Strategies;
• Ensure gender sensitive recruitment across the project team, consultancy and personnel management activities to the extent possible;
• Ensure knowledge on gender equality is incorporated in project knowledge management activities and products;
• With assistance from the Project Specialist and in coordination with the CTA and members of the MAWG taskforce on gender, diversity and inclusion (GDI), facilitate various activities, related to gender mainstreaming in mine action.

Lead knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing, and advocacy 

• Identify capacity building needs and opportunities. Ensure appropriate training and other relevant capacity building 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. Lead workshops with senior level officials and stakeholders.
• Proactively identify and pursue opportunities for the documentation and communication of best practices, programme results, and lessons learned under the project.

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

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact 
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems 
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands 
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

People Management competencies: 

• UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-functional & Technical competencies:

2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness 

• SDGs Integration: South-South and Triangular Cooperation knowledge sharing

2030 Agenda: Peace 

• Governance: People with Disability

2030 Agenda: People 

• Gender: Women’s Economic Empowerment including labour issues

2030 Agenda: Prosperity 

• Recovery Solutions and Human Mobility: Mine Action

Business Direction and Strategy 

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop effective strategies and plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions; Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP
• System 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

Business Management   

• Partnerships Management: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies