Project Manager

Background

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Office Description

Papua New Guinea (PNG) is one of the pilot countries that was selected to participate in the Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience (PPCR). The PPCR is part of the Strategic Climate Fund (SCF), a multi-donor Trust Fund within the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) and provides financing through the multilateral development banks to support programmes in the selected pilot countries. The goal of the PPCR is to help countries transform to a climate resilient development path, consistent with national poverty reduction and sustainable development goals. 

PNG’s Strategic Program for Climate Resilience (SPCR) was designed through a broad-based consultative process. The SPCR seeks to achieve transformational change by supporting the implementation of PNG’s national strategies to facilitate “climate compatible development.”

The overall outcome of the SPCR is the enhancement of PNG ‘s resilience to climate change through improved access to resources, knowledge, and climate resilient infrastructure at the national, and sub-national levels. 

In seeking this transformation, the SPCR will address key impediments facing PNG ‘s current efforts to implement its national strategies. These include: 

• inadequate resources (human, technical, financial) at national, provincial, district, community, and sector levels to mainstream climate change risk management
• inadequate knowledge and tools for mainstreaming climate change risk management in key sectors (food security, health, critical infrastructure) and in the national/provincial/district budget processes; and
• poorly designed infrastructure that is susceptible to climate change impacts.

The Government of PNG obtained a SCF-PPCR grant from the Asian Development Bank to implement the “Building Resilience to Climate Change” (BRCC – the project). The project will help the PNG implement the SPCR by mainstreaming climate resilience into development planning and addressing country priorities that focus on vulnerable communities.

The project targets approximately 16, 829 people of 24 Islands and Atolls located in East New Britain, Manus, Milne Bay, Morobe and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB). The key information about the project is as follow:

• Impact: Increased resilience of the communities to the impacts of climate change and climate variability.
• Outcome: Improved capacities of vulnerable islands/atoll communities, government agencies, and civil society to plan and respond to the impacts of climate change.

The Project has three outputs. These are:

• Output 1: Climate change and vulnerability assessments carried out and adaptation plans developed for target communities.
• Output 2: Sustainable fishery eco-systems and food security investments piloted in 9 vulnerable island and atoll communities.
• Output 3: Enabling frameworks for climate-resilient infrastructure and early warning and communication network extended.

 

Duties and Responsibilities

The BRCC project aims to improve capacities of vulnerable Islands/Atoll communities and link them with government agencies to plan and respond to and adapt to the impacts of climate change. The project has more focus at the subnational (provincial, district and community) level with lesser focus at the national level. Interventions at the community level will be to conduct climate change and vulnerability assessments with adaptation plans developed for the identified Islands and Atoll Communities, establish sustainable fishery ecosystems and food security investments with the creation of enabling framework for climate resilient infrastructure and early warning and communication network extended. This also includes establishment of Small Grants Funding (SGF) for communities to access and implement their local initiatives in mitigating the impacts of climate change.

In this context, the services of the Project Manager (PM) are required to oversee the overall implementation of the project. The Project Manager will report directly to the Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Program in PNG and will work under overall guidance from the Project Steering Committee (Project Board) and in close consultation with the Project Management Unit (PMU) at the Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA). On day – to – day project implementation matters, the Project Manager in consultation with CCDA-PMU will work closely with other government agencies, private sector, and civil society organizations to coordinate and implement the project. 

The Project Manager will provide proactive leadership in supporting key tasks as specified in this Terms of Reference (TOR) in line with the project document translated into the Project’s annual workplans, including any other tasks deemed necessary by UNDP. The Project Manager will lead in the implementation of activities in the five target provinces including effective communication with the national and sub national stakeholders and Project beneficiaries. In doing so, the Project Manager will establish strategic linkages and networks at national and subnational levels for the effective and efficient implementation of the Project. This role also requires the incumbent to maintain a strong relationship between government implementing partners involved in the implementation phase of the project. 

The Project Manager will specifically be responsible for the following:

• Lead and supervise the day – to – day functioning of the project, supervision and coordination of the project staff including consultants recruited to support project implementation
• Plan, facilitate and organize project implementation as determined in the Annual Work Plans (including Quarterly Plans), Project Monitoring Plan, Procurement Plan, and update these plans as and when required;
• Ensure monitoring of progress of the project against planned activities and inputs provided by the project;
• Mobilize goods and services to initiate activities including drafting TORs and work specifications;
• Prepare yearly procurement plans for the project in line with the activities indicated in the Annual Work Plans;
• Monitor and review Procurement Plans against Annual Plans quarterly as and when required;
• Monitor carefully financial resources and accounting to ensure accuracy and reliability of financial reports;
• Prepare and submit financial and technical reports to UNDP on a quarterly and annual basis;
• Manage working relationships with all co-financing partners to ensure that their activities/programs are integrated and complementary with those of the BRCC funded project;
• Establish contacts and network with key stakeholders at the national and provincial levels to enable efficient delivery of the Project’s outputs.
• Prepare and conduct PSC meetings as and when required.
• Closely monitor the progress of activities against the approved annual work plan and ensure all activities are on track and within budget.
• Identify and document issues and risks that are related to the Project and design mitigation measures against risks.
• Lead in the management and procurement of necessary materials and equipment deemed necessary to support the implementation of the Project by adhering to the standards and process as agreed by UNDP.
• Provide the leadership to the project team to ensure efficient delivery of Outputs under UNDP
• Provide overall direction, coordination and leadership to the project team in close consultation with the BRCC Project Management Unit to implement the milestone based deliverables of UNDP.

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

 

Institutional Arrangement

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative (DRR) of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in PNG, the Project Manager is responsible for the overall management of the BRCC Project team when delivering UNDP’s milestone based deliverables. Project activities will be delivered over approximately 10 months ensuring high quality and accuracy of work and consistent service delivery for the Building Resilience to Climate Change in PNG project.

The Project Manager will coordinate with a range of implementing partners including PNG National Government Agencies, Provincial Administration and civil society in delivering variety of outputs for the Building Resilience to Climate Change (BRCC) in PNG project. 

The duty station will be in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea with movements for workshops and field missions to the targeted locations of East New Britain, Manus, Milne Bay, Morobe and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (ARoB). The Project Manager will at all times observe the UN Security rules, regulations and advisories in Port Moresby.

 

Deliverables

• Ensure effective and efficient implementation of “Building Resilient to Climate Change Project in Papua New Guinea;”
• Support in improving the capacities of the vulnerable Islands/Atoll communities in Papua New Guinea to be better prepared and reduce the impacts of climate change in their communities;
• Support in harnessing relevant resources through collaboration and coordination with relevant stakeholders in climate change mitigation and adaptation activities in target communities;
• Ensure strengthening of Ward/Community Climate Change Committees through the development of adaptation plans and the establishment of early warning and communication network extended to other stakeholders and support systems;
• Guidelines, Procedures and Plans for climate change in the targeted Islands and Atoll communities are in place;
• Annual Work Plans, Project Progress Reports, Annual Progress Reports and Consultants’ Terms of References for project implementation are in place in a timely manner;
• Timely and quality learning opportunities facilitated by the project for key stakeholders in forums, workshops, meetings as and when required;
• Support BRCC PMU, CCDA and CO staff to facilitate enhanced capacities of the stakeholders on Climate Change Adaptation including ensure adequate stakeholder dialogue on project implementation;
• Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments (CCVA) completed and results made available;
• Ensure Five (5) workshops conducted for five (5) Provinces in formulating, facilitating and maintaining Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Plans (CCVAPs) into LLG, District and Provincial Development Plans;
• Support in facilitating the Small Grants Funding (SGF) application and investment in the Islands and Atoll communities;
• Support in the establishment of Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs), Food Security and Mangrove Forest rehabilitations;
• Ensure marine resources are mapped and monitored;

 

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Achieve Results: Level 2: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact

Think Innovatively: Level 2: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems

Learn Continuously: Level 2: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

Adapt with Agility: Level 2: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands

Act with Determination: Level 2: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results

Engage and Partner: Level 2: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: Level 2: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

 

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies            

Name	Thematic Area	Definition
Business Acumen	Business Direction  and Strategy	Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome   Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization and ability to makegood judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks
System Thinking	Business Direction  and Strategy	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
Effective decision-making	Business Direction and Strategy	Ability to take decisions in a timely manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources.
Partnerships Management	Business 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.
Digital & Innovation	Data collection	Being skilled in Data Sorting, Data Cleaning, Survey Administration, Presentation and Reporting including collection of Real-Time Data (e.g. mobile data, satellite data, sensor data).
Digital & Innovation	Ethnography	Ability to build rapport and empathy with people and vulnerable communities to learn about their everyday lives, experiences and context. Being able to identify and understand patterns of relations, and their meaning, between different entities (i.e. of people, objects, animals etc).   Being able to immerse deeply in the context of a community and look at it from an “insiders perspective” to understand how realities are socially constructed and understand and appreciate these realities; explore perceptions, motivations, preferences, needs, rituals to understand “why people do things the way they do”.   Being inclusive when using digital tools engaging with communities; have a thorough understanding of ethical guidelines when engaging with vulnerable communities.   Ability to translate observations into compelling insights for community empowerment or to inform decision making, problem solving and policy design.
Work with Evidence and Data	Business Management	Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making.

 

Minimum Qualifications of the Successful NPSA

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master´s degree or equivalent) in Natural Resource Management or related field with knowledge in Environment, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management is required, or
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor´s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master´s degree.

Minimum years of relevant work experience:

• Minimum of 2 years (with Master’s degree) or 4 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of experience in Climate Change, Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Manager, Environment Science, Geography, Information Management, Statistics, Social Science or a related field.
• Minimum of 2 years working experience in environment, climate change and disaster risk reduction with a most reputable or an international organization.
• Experience in project or programme management, including personnel management, budgetary and financial management is an asset;
• Experience coordinating and liaising with government agencies, CSOs and/or donors is an asset;
• Sound understanding of Climate Change issues in PNG and basic knowledge of international, regional and national climate change/DRR discourse is an asset
• Proven track record of experience in policy formulation working with Government, Donors, private sector, NGOs, and other key stakeholders in PNG is an asset;
• Strong management skills, including ability to supervise people and monitor other project staff as well as being responsible, honest with strong sense of integrity and professional ethics;
• Extensive information exchange contacts with national and international partners involved in climate change/DRR planning is an asset;
• Demonstrated commitment to work and experience in working in a multicultural team environment, high level inter and intra personal communication skills;
• Adequate working experience in a multi – disciplinary and multicultural environment including sensitiveness to local cultures and traditions;
• Experience in facilitating and conducting stakeholder consultations at various organizational and societal levels is an asset;
• Management experience, including supervision of staff and coordination of research teams and consultants in a multi – disciplinary and multicultural environment is an asset;
• Proven record in the research and writing of research papers, policy analysis and recommendations, reports and publications;
• Knowledge and experience with variety of stakeholders including government, private sectors, civil society organizations, communities and donor is an asset;
• Ability to work in a team, under pressure and meet deadlines;
• Excellent computer skills, including full working knowledge of standard word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software packages.

Required Skills:

• Strong inter-personal skills, in particular, demonstrated team leadership qualities and excellent oral communication skills.
• High level planning, organizational and time management skills, including flexibility, attention to detail and the ability to work under pressure to meet challenging deadlines.
• Ability to quickly adapt to change, and to remain calm under pressure.

Required Language(s) (at working level):

• Fluency in English and in Tok Pisin is required.

 

Travel

Any travel associated with performing the functions of the Project Manager will be payable by the BRCC Project, UNDP as per the travel policy.

 

Disclaimer

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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.

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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.