International Project Manager

Job Title: International Project Manager (IPSA-11)

Organization: UNDP

Job Identification: 12013

Location: Yerevan, Armenia

Apply Before: 07/26/2023, 06:59 AM

Degree Level: Advanced/Postgraduate Degree

Job Schedule: Full time

Grade: IB

Vacancy Type: International Personnel Service Agreement

Practice Area: Nature, Climate and Energy

Bureau: Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS

Contract Duration: 1 Year with Possibility for extension

Education & Work Experience: Master's Degree - 7 year(s) experience

Required Languages: English

Desired Languages: Armenian and/or Russian

Vacancy Timeline: 2 Weeks

Mobility required/no mobility: no mobility required

Job Category: Management

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.

Supporting ‘green’ transformation in Armenia through facilitating strategic investments in energy efficiency and renewables is one of the priorities of the UNDP programme in Armenia in line with the Country Programme Document 2021-2025. In this regard, UNDP implements a dedicated portfolio of projects - The Climate, Environment, and Resilience (CER) Portfolio - that have a common goal to support the Government of Armenia to address energy poverty and insecurity by investing in energy infrastructure, unlocking retrofit markets for energy-efficient (EE) and renewable sources and facilitate access to international climate financing mechanisms for mitigation and adaptation, including through climate budgeting frameworks. 

The “De-Risking and Scaling-up Investment in Energy Efficient Building Retrofits” UNDP-GCF Project is a flagship initiative in the area of green transition aimed at systematic decarbonization of the existing building stock in Armenia to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while achieving sustainable development benefits. This is being achieved by creating a favorable market environment and a scalable business model for investment in energy efficiency retrofits and by addressing market barriers. The barriers to energy-efficient building renovation are addressed through a combination of policy and financial de-risking instruments and targeted financial incentives to key market players. By systematically targeting barriers, the Project will significantly reduce the investment risk profile of energy efficiency building retrofits to encourage private sector investment and thereby scale-up investment in energy efficiency building retrofits in Armenia.

To address each specific risk area, the Project is structured under four components: (i) building sector monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) and knowledge management, (ii) policy de-risking, (iii) financial de-risking, and (iv) financial incentives. The Project, having as its main objective to ensure sizeable energy savings and accompanying GHG emissions reductions in both public and residential buildings, will also ensure co-benefits such as green job creation and poverty reduction. In addition to funding from the Green Climate Fund, the Project will catalyze private and public sector financing for achieving the objectives and quantified indicators set by Project Document.

To date, the Project has advanced in the establishment of building sector MRV and knowledge management through capacity building of local energy professionals and the introduction of a calculating method for energy savings. The Project has also supported the development of Building Passport formats for public and residential buildings, multi-apartment buildings operation and maintenance rules, and a Database and Map of EE retrofitted buildings. Expanded partnerships with the Government of Armenia and IFIs ensured the provision of technical assistance on EE building retrofits for the quality assurance and co-financing of up to 25% of EE eligible costs across Armenia. 

The Funding Proposal to the Green Climate Fund is available here and the Project Document (brief) - here.  

Duties and Responsibilities
The International Project Manager is responsible for the overall coordination of project planning, ensuring adherence to the UNDP rules and regulations and requirements of GCF and quality implementation, and timely delivery of all Project activities, maintaining existing and building new partnerships, and ensuring strong operational effectiveness. The incumbent will oversee the overall management of the Project to ensure a high-performance culture, integrity, transparency, and a conducive work environment. S/He will be directly responsible for the achievement of results and impact and ensure coordination with national and international stakeholders. S/He will ensure efficient communications and visibility, overall monitoring and evaluation, and quality reporting to the donors and other stakeholders in accordance with agreed timelines.

The International Project Manager will perform his/her duties in line with the GCF Funded Activity Agreement between UNDP and GCF (FAA), the Project Document and in full compliance with the UNDP Rules and Regulations.

Ensure the Project implementation:

• Update (as needed) and execute the Project work plan in collaboration with partners, and key stakeholders in accordance with Project objectives as set in the Project Document, partners’ expectations and approved budget; Based on the project objectives, devise detailed annual workplans (AWP) and ensure a strict adherence to the approved AWP.
• Conduct the Project budget planning, oversee the financial performance;
• Ensure annual delivery of results, in compliance with the FAA and the Project Document, UNDP rules, regulations, and standards of performance;
• Regularly review and update risk plans and manage risks, including political, social, environmental, financial, infrastructural, and any other risks;
• Liaise with the Government, regional and local authorities, financial institutions, private companies, and international partners to ensure a participatory approach to the development and implementation of Project activities;
• Identify and track needed resources to ensure proper management of funds, including financial control and audit procedures in line with UNDP rules, and regulations as well as the procurement of goods, works, and services in accordance with UNDP guidelines;
• Ensure efficient operation of the Project, assume full responsibility for and coordinate effectively and efficiently all activities and resources (human, financial, physical/material assets, etc.) under the Project in order to meet expected results on time and to ensure they comply with the Project requirements;
• Capture lessons learned, and supervise and coordinate the technical documentation related to the implementation of interventions;
• Ensure regular high-quality project implementation reporting (narrative, financial, etc.) in line with the UNDP and the donor’s requirements. 

Facilitate top-quality policy advice, knowledge building and management:

• Advise UNDP on all political, technical, and other issues relating to the Project implementation, strategies, and approaches:
• Provide strategic guidance and direction on Project implementation process, including the provision of advice on the UNDP activities in building scalable and replicable models for energy efficiency retrofits in public and residential buildings; 
• Develop the Communication Strategy in consultation with the UNDP Country Office Communication Analyst to ensure adequate visibility of Project activities and systematically implement it;
• Ensure adequate information flow, discussions, and feedback among the various Project stakeholders, communicate findings, progress, issues, and challenges within the Project team and respective UNDP Country Office teams;
• Develop a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation plan that allows periodic monitoring of the Project’s results, performance, achievements, risks, and challenges;
• Undertake regular field visits and prepare an assessment of interventions; propose corrective actions as required.

Building strategic partnerships:

• Engage, mobilize and coordinate partners at national and local levels, and ensure cooperation and coordination for the effective implementation of the Project;
• Maintain and nurture existing partnerships, enhance partnership building efforts to diversify co-financing sources;
• Network and develop new partnerships and relationships with the Project partners, including Government, financial institutions, private companies and donor community to ensure required co-financing resources are available to support the project implementation / contributions are provided within the agreed terms;
• Coordinate, and lead high-quality technical inputs into progress and other reports, annual and quarterly workplans to be submitted to the Project Board, GCF, and UNDP. 

Management and supervision of the Project team:

• Ensure that clear working arrangements are established for collaborating with the relevant authorities on all management, financial, contracting, and procurement matters;
• Develop work packages among the Project staff and experts, and international and national consultants to ensure high performance of the Project team;
• Set high attitude and performance standards and lead by example, especially on the most complex activities and tasks; Lead and guide the Project team in achieving the Project objectives;
• Coach the team for achieving high quality results, and provide regular feedback and performance assessment and evaluation with to enhance the individual and collective capacities;
• Act as a collaborative and supportive team member, contributing to the overall effectiveness of the team and organization.

Institutional Arrangement

The International Project Manager will work under the direct supervision of the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative and the overall guidance of the UNDP Climate, Environment and Resilience (CER) Programme Analyst. 
 

Competencies

Core Competencies:

• 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:

• Business management - Project management:  
• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals 
• Business Management - Partnership management:  
• Ability to build and maintain partnership with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sectors partners, experts and others in line with the UNDP strategy and policies.
• Partnership management - Resource Mobilization:   
• Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities, and establish a plan to meet funding requirements
• Partnership management - Multi-stakeholder engagement and funding:   
• Knowledge and ability to forge multi-stakeholder partnerships, and remove any obstacles to resource mobilization and multi-stakeholder funding platforms
• Business Direction and Strategy - Entrepreneurial Thinking:   
• Ability to create clarity around UNDP value proposition to beneficiaries and partners and to develop service offers responding to client needs based on UNDP’s organizational priorities and mandate
• Business Direction and Strategy - Strategic Thinking:    
• Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized 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
• Business Management - Monitoring: 
• Ability to provide managers and stakeholder with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results. 
   

Required Skills and Experience 

Education:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in environment, energy, economics, law, management, public administration or another related field. 

Experience:

• Minimum 7 years of demonstrated relevant experience, and capacity to effectively manage projects financed by international donors, preferably in climate change and/or energy sectors.  
• Experience in dealing with government officials and international donors in strategic and managerial leadership. 

Languages:

• Proficiency in English.
• Working knowledge of Russian and/or Armenian is an asset.

Required Skills:

• Practical experience with demonstrated success in planning and building strategic partnerships with donors and financing institutions, partner and stakeholder cooperation, multi-partner coordination, and project cycle design and management; 
• Understanding and direct experience in project budgeting and financial reporting is required;
• Hands-on experience in design, monitoring, and evaluation of development projects;
• Excellent coordination skills;
• Good organizational and time management skills;
• Strong oral and written communication skills. 

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section:

• Experience in the implementation of large-scale programmes or projects with UNDP, good knowledge of its procedures, rules and regulations, will be an asset; 
• Experience with the GCF-projects, good knowledge of its procedures, rules and regulations, will be an asset;
• Work experience in Armenia or the region and/or a good understanding of the country’s context will be considered an advantage.

Disclaimer 

Applicant information about UNDP rosters 

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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