Project Manager

Bhutan is highly vulnerable to climate change and a range of climate hazards.  The project seeks to address the impacts of fluvial (riverine) and pluvial (surface water) flooding, cyclonic events, and water stress on the residents of Thimphu and Paro. These two cities, together making up 25% of the country’s population, and representing over 40% of the country’s GDP, and 46% of the urban population, face increasing risks due to climate change.  With changes in extreme temperatures and in precipitation patterns as a result of climate change, the cities face increased urban flooding, landslides and forest fires affecting the economy, landscape and population. Existing infrastructure is inadequate and lacks sufficient climate-proofing, leading to increased risks. These risks are further compounded by a growing urban population. To mitigate these risks, there is an urgent need for nature-based solutions, resilient urban planning, and infrastructure development.

 This project will directly benefit 146,298 residents (Thimphu Male: 58,996, Female: 55,555; Paro Male: 12,091, Female: 19,656) in the Thimphu-Paro region. It will focus on managing 800 hectares of watershed and springshed land, developing water retention systems, and upgrading early warning systems to enhance climate resilience. The project prioritizes gender-responsive planning for climate-adapted urban development pathways.  Initiatives include training over 200 stakeholders and community members, developing local adaptation plans, and empowering communities through participatory processes and fostering entrepreneurship (especially among women and youth). Additionally, the project involves the private sector through training, green financing, and public-private partnerships. By raising climate awareness and fostering behaviour change, the project will directly contribute to the increased resilience of Thimphu and Paro. 

Duties and Responsibilities

 Under the overall guidance of the Portfolio Manager, Environment and Livelihood programme based at UNDP, Bhutan, the incumbent will be responsible for the implementation of the project in close coordination with similar project portfolio (s) at UNDP and Project Management Unit established at RGoB, including different agencies responsible for direct implementation of different project outcomes/outputs.

Key functions: The project manager will fulfill the following key functions

• Provide strategic leadership for effective project planning and implementation;
• Build and maintain UNDP’s strategic partnerships;
• Monitor and report on progress in implementing project activities and achieving the targets set; and
• Lead knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing, and advocacy relevant to the assigned thematic area(s) and UNDP
• Provide strategic leadership for effective project planning and implementation.

The project manager will have to undertake the following strategic roles:

• Lead strategic planning for the project, including formulation of annual project work plan (AWP) as well as plans for budget, HR, procurement, and overall project implementation.
• Provide quality and timely management of the project life cycle, including meeting programmatic and financial deliverables in adherence to project documents and 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, including technical experts, to ensure activities are implemented in a timely manner as planned. 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 that includes building and sustaining effective liaison with the CO’s functional areas and units (i.e., programme, M&E, finance, HR, procurement, and supply management).
• Identify opportunities for synergies with other projects within UNDP and beyond to advance the key objectives and grow its focus.

Build and maintain UNDP’s 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 key objectives, and to promote inclusive project implementation.
• Communicate relevant and critical information with key implementing partners and members of project governing bodies, and substantively contribute to project visibility efforts. Make recommendations to the CO 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 targets set:

• 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. Ensure strategies, processes, systems, and mechanisms are in place to effectively fulfill programme and financial monitoring, evaluation, quality assurance and reporting requirements.
• Lead implementation of the monitoring, evaluation, and results framework to identify plan deviations, underperformance, and other problems. Support diagnosing problems and ensure accountability for corrective actions 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/CO management.
• Proactively perform risk assessments to identify and document risks related to the project, including operational, financial, legal, contractual, social, environmental, reputation and safety risks. Design mitigation measures and keep appropriate project governing bodies informed. Develop and complete regular reviews of risk management matrix for the project.
• 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.
• Lead knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing, and advocacy relevant to the assigned thematic area(s) and UNDP.
• 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.
• Actively participate in and make substantive contributions to external networks and communities of practice to promote advocacy for UNDP’s work and opportunities for collaboration in addressing development trends. Represent UNDP in relevant technical meetings and working groups under the direction of CO management.
• Support establishment of knowledge platforms and innovative mechanisms for capturing and disseminating knowledge from the project; and ensure development of knowledge resources and products to share with project partners and to support UNDP’s engagement in this area.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s degree or equivalent), in the field of Engineering, Project Management, BA, Urban Design, Development and Management, Sustainable Development, Climate Change, Environment, and/or relevant related field 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 the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years (with Master´s degree) or 9 years (with Bachelor´s degree) of progressively responsible experience at the national or international level in project management, Engineering, Climate change, Environment, quality assurance, management advisory services, monitoring and evaluation of development projects, and/or partnership management or relevant related field is required.
• Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and web-based management systems, and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages
• Proven experience and knowledge of the country’s institutional framework and policies on climate change issues;
• Experience in working and networking with technical/scientific agencies including other relevant stakeholders;
• Extensive managerial experience including leading teams;
• Good experience in the application of planning, monitoring and evaluation tools;
• Experience in working at the country level with a UN or International Organization;
• Progressive experience in project management, development works in the areas climate change, urban resilience and related fields;

Required Languages:

• Excellent written and oral competency in English & Bhutanese Dzongkha of the duty station.

Source: https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/job/22683