Project Manager

The Project Manager will be responsible for the digitalisation and IT systems component of the PACFC III project in Madagascar, overseeing project implementation, quality assurance, stakeholder engagement, and team management. The role involves managing digital transformation initiatives, coordinating with multiple stakeholders, and ensuring project deliverables meet quality and timeline requirements.

Responsibilities

• Develop, finalize and update the project implementation plan.
• Implement the approved plan (including milestone setting) within tolerances set by the project steering committee.
• Integrate sustainability dimensions throughout the project lifecycle, including social, gender equality, environmental and economic aspects.
• Manage production of required deliverables, taking responsibility for overall progress and resource use, initiating corrective measures if necessary.
• Ensure quality of work packages and deliverables meets defined quality requirements in the implementation plan.
• Liaise with external suppliers or account managers to ensure quality and timely delivery of results.
• Manage receipt and delivery of work packages.
• Monitor project progress, control deviations and manage changes.
• Identify, anticipate and advise senior management and project steering committee on risk mitigation measures to maximize benefits for partners and stakeholders.
• Identify and report potential opportunities for UNOPS.
• Comply with organizational policies and standards, ensuring project information is regularly updated in project management systems.
• Understand and ensure compliance with applicable local laws and regulations, including international regulations and technical standards where relevant.
• Prepare and adapt all relevant plans for approval by the project steering committee and manage baselines.
• Manage reporting obligations defined in the implementation plan and legal agreements.
• Maintain project documentation in an orderly manner to facilitate access and support audits if needed.
• Ensure formal project handover to closure manager, if applicable.
• Support project audit activities including planning, preparation, coordination during audits, and follow-up on observations and recommendations.
• Include a results framework and monitoring and evaluation plan in the project implementation plan with clearly defined indicators and agreed targets; ensure regular monitoring and tracking of project results.
• Prepare and publish regular project and financial reports according to partner and UNOPS reporting requirements.
• Regularly review project status and evaluate performance criteria (scope, cost, schedule and quality).
• Maintain logs and progress reports according to UNOPS standard operating procedures.
• Provide routine supervision and analysis of delivery data within the dashboard system.
• Ensure all project team members regularly track and update milestones and targets throughout the project lifecycle.
• Develop stakeholder engagement strategies and plans; actively mobilize stakeholders, gather feedback and make necessary adjustments.
• Establish strong working relationships with the project steering committee (executive, key users and main suppliers), clients and key stakeholders.
• Enable formulation of communication plans for the project and assess overall communication effectiveness.
• Coordinate stakeholder engagement and communication ensuring effective management of communication schedules and interdependencies; ensure stakeholders are informed of activities, progress and exceptions and able to receive deliverables upon transfer.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure projects meet audit requirements.
• Work with procurement staff to ensure effective interface with supplier quality systems.
• Coordinate quality reviews of project documents and deliverables.
• Ensure quality control of management deliverables (e.g. project documents, reports).
• Create a learning environment for the project team, encourage knowledge sharing and training to contribute to long-term capacity building.
• Actively interact with other project managers and the wider project management community to share case studies, lessons learned and best practices.
• Stay updated on latest professional updates and best practices; participate in training and personal learning activities to enhance skills and expertise.
• Ensure lessons learned are shared timely and appropriately.
• Provide feedback to organizational practice groups on policies and systems as needed.
• Provide feedback to functional groups on related policies and guidelines to support continuous improvement of the UNOPS policy framework.
• Organize and structure the project team ensuring roles and responsibilities are clearly defined.
• Provide regular guidance and advice as needed and support the team in effective task execution.
• Lead and motivate the project management team.
• Ensure performance evaluations are conducted fairly, accurately and timely.
• Select, recruit and train the project team as needed considering gender parity and diversity objectives.
• Ensure safety of all project personnel according to UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) standards applicable to duty station(s).

Requirements

• A Master's degree or equivalent in project management, business administration (MBA), engineering, information technology or other relevant discipline is required.
• A Bachelor's degree or equivalent in project management, business administration, engineering, information technology or other relevant discipline combined with two (2) additional years of relevant professional experience may be accepted instead of the higher degree.
• Additional or specialized training in trade facilitation, customs and international trade taxation, digital transformation of the public sector, information systems governance, or cybersecurity is an asset.
• A relevant combination of academic degrees, recognized sectoral professional certifications (project management, ITIL, cybersecurity) and substantial qualifying experience may also be considered.
• Minimum of five (5) years of professional experience in IT project management is required, including at least two (2) years leading digital transformation projects in the public sector.
• Confirmed experience of at least one (1) year managing multi-stakeholder projects involving public institutions, international technical and financial partners, and private operators.
• At least one (1) year experience in change management or support is required.
• Knowledge of the institutional context of Madagascar or East Africa and the Indian Ocean is an asset.
• Operational experience with coexistence, interfacing or migration between new systems and existing systems operated by concessionaire operators (public-private partnerships in port, customs or logistics sectors) is an asset.
• Confirmed experience in facilitating interministerial steering committees and negotiating with general directorates of public administrations on sensitive technical and political issues is an asset.
• Experience in managing IT consulting services or in developing and implementing ICT training and capacity building programs is an asset.

Skills

• Project Management
• IT Project Management
• Digital Transformation
• Change Management
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Multi-stakeholder Project Planning
• Public Sector Projects
• Trade Facilitation
• Customs and International Trade
• Information Systems Governance
• Cybersecurity
• ITIL
• Negotiation with Public Administrations
• Interministerial Steering Committees
• IT Consulting Management
• ICT Training Development
• Capacity Building
• Quality Assurance
• Team Management

Languages

French, English