Jobs Descriptions:

A Project Manager is responsible for the planning, procurement, execution, and completion of a project. The project manager is in charge of the entire project and handles everything involved, such as the project scope, managing the project team, as well as the resources assigned to the project.

The Office of Quartet’s (OQ) Energy Team is currently supporting the Palestinian Authority (PA) on a number of strategic initiatives in the energy sector, specifically in renewable energy, electricit, and natural gas. The OQ is recruiting a Project Manager (PM) to deliver OQ-led energy workstreams.  This involves extensive stakeholder engagement, project leadership, and maintaining a comprehensive understanding of Palestinian and regional energy-sector developments.

Initially, the PM will focus on the Gas for Gaza (G4G) project. This project facilitates the agreement and construction of a gas pipeline to Gaza as the long-term solution to Gaza’s energy crisis. G4G is led through the official Task Force platform convened by the OQ. The Task Force brings together the Palestinian and Israeli parties, members of the international community, private sector representatives, and technical experts to facilitate project progress with financial support from the Dutch Government. The project is currently in the design phase and will ultimately be transferred to an implementing partner. The PM will be responsible for the project management through the current phase and, after the transfer to the implementing partner, he/she will provide ongoing project support to the PA and project partners as needed.

In the future, the PM will also be expected to play a central role in project development and/or be the project manager for other energy projects/initiatives. This could include responsibilities related to developing natural gas, renewable energy, or electricity infrastructure/policy. The PM will also also be expected to play a mentoring role to more junior team members.

Functional Resposibilities:

Project Management and Delivery

• Project Manager responsible for all aspects of project development, management, and delivery.  This initial focus will be on the G4G project and will, in the future, include responsibilities on other projects/workstreams.
• Project Manager develop and maintain the project management plan (e.g. scope management; schedule management; resources management; cost management; quality management; communication management; risk management; lessons learned; project documentation; procurement management and stakeholder management).
• Project Manager provide guidance on project strategy and adapt it as needed in response to changing information.
• Project Manager plan, execute, monitor, and control the implementation of the project work streams.
• Project Manager proactively identify, mitigate, and manage project risks. This includes implementing risk mitigations and effectively communicating risks to key stakeholders.
• Project Manager produce robust documentation of stakeholder engagements, field visits, and project communications. This includes maintaining a comprehensive and well-organized repository of all project files.
• Project Manager embed sustainability, social/gender inclusion, and environmental considerations into the project.

Project and Workstream Development

• Develop and screen potential opportunities that support the Palestinian energy sector
• Draft initial project plans to define potential opportunities, key risks, high-level cost and schedule estimates, project benefits, and project scope.
• Draft initial stakeholder engagement plans needed to develop a project.

Procurement and management of external service providers: 

• Lead on procurement processes. This includes drafting Terms of References, contract management, developing procurement strategies, and ensuring the success of procurements from initiation to contract signature.
• Develop the annual project procurement plan.
• Manage external suppliers by maintaining effective communication channels, facilitating meetings, ensuring access to data/contacts, and ensuring the quality of delivered services.
• Manage acceptance and delivery of work packages, payments, obligations, and invoices for external providers.
• Lead on contract amendment processes by engaging with donors and external service providers.

Monitoring and reporting:

• Lead on the reporting requirements for donors with respect to the project workstream, by drafting annual progress reports and having regular update meetings
• Regularly review project status, evaluating performance criteria (scope, cost, schedule, and quality).
• Closely monitor and provide clear and transparent updates on the project budget (e.g. spent, plan, remaining, etc.)
• Plan and lead weekly meetings with the core project team and monthly progress meetings.
• Support Task Forces and other key meetings.  This includes, among other activities, engaging with government officials and leading the preparation of key content to ensure successful outcomes.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive overview of key project stakeholders at various levels and develop appropriate stakeholder engagement plans
• Establish strong working relationships with stakeholders at the appropriate level to ensure continued cooperation on the project, access to relevant information and to coordinate outputs. This will require the PM to travel regularly to Ramallah, Gaza, and Tel Aviv.
• Ensure internal and external stakeholders are aware of project activities, progress, and challenges.
• Draft all relevant project reporting
• Serve as a point of contact with stakeholders on coordination, strategic planning, and risk management
• Create and promote a culture of teamwork, collaboration, and efficient resource utilization across all internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrate a high level of initiative, integrity, and ability to interact with organization personnel, contractors, government representatives, donors, and the private sector.

Project Communication and Outreach

• Prepare a range of written documents, such as reports, briefing notes, and presentations for internal and external project stakeholders as required.
• Lead the production of internal and external project outputs on a day-to-day basis, including presentations, written documents, background research, Gantt charts, and other project tasks.
• Plan and organize meetings related to the project.
• Establish effective project communication plans and ensure their execution, facilitating and managing the information flow of project developments.
• Support fundraising efforts by engaging with potential/existing donors and drafting fundraising proposals.

Sector Monitoring, Research, Analysis

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of the Palestinian and regional energy sector developments
• Support data and information gathering relevant to energy sector work-streams.
• Identify potential opportunities and areas within the energy sector that the OQ could support
• Support team members with central office work, as well as support drafting relevant materials for office and energy-wide high-level meetings.
• Completion of other relevant duties and tasks

All these deliverables are to be reached in close coordination and cooperation with the wider OQ team, under the leadership of the Director of Energy.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree is a minimum, preferably in a relevant discipline such as: Engineering, Economics, Law, International Relations or Political Science
• A Master’s degree is preferred

Work Experience:

• Seven years of experience is required, preferably project management experience with energy infrastructure (e.g. gas pipeline, renewable energy, or electrical grid infrastructure)
• Experience working in international organizations, the private sector, or the public sector is required
• Experience in managing projects in complex and sensitive environments is required
• Experience in contract management and multi-stakeholder coordination is required
• Project/program management experience is a requirement.
• Experience in the implementation of donor-funded projects is an asset
• Demonstrated understanding of the Palestinian political and energy context is desirable
• Project Management Professional or PRINCE 2 certification is strongly desired.

Skills and abilities:

• Project management skills: Ability to develop and deliver the project(s); ability to plan in a coordinated manner, manage priorities and meet deadlines; management experience (preferable delivery teams); ability to accurately monitor, evaluate and report on project progress; ability to manage and mitigate risks; budgeting and financial management for the project; skilled at facilitating meetings, including developing agendas, documenting notes and following up on action items; strong organization skills
• Skilled in research, analysis, and technical writing: Strong qualitative and analytical skills; attention to detail and data accuracy; skilled in drafting procurement documents; memos; briefing notes; talking points; presentations, etc
• Excellent communication skills: Strong writing ability, with business and report writing skills preferred; ability to work under tight deadlines, juggling multiple competing tasks and prioritizing demands; making sure that the team members and stakeholders are informed about the project plan, timeline, and budget and updated on the project’s latest developments
• Strong team player: Strong interpersonal skills; ability to interact with high-level individuals across a range of organizations and build strong professional relationships; ability to consistently demonstrate a professional manner in dealing with individuals at all levels, both internally and externally to the organization; team player and flexible as tasks and priorities shift; ability to self-start and troubleshoot without supervision; ability to work independently and in teams in a small office environment; demonstrated ability to excel in a multi-cultural environment.

• Strong stakeholder engagement skills: the ability to identify and prioritize key stakeholders; understand and align stakeholder expectations; assess stakeholders’ power, influence, and interest; anticipate future problems and address potential concerns throughout the lifetime of the project
• Other: Demonstrated competence with using standard office software packages (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).

Language requirements:

• English fluency is required.
• Knowledge of Arabic and/or Hebrew is desired.

About UNOPS:

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful
implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects
around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve
peace and sustainable development.

Source:https://jobs.unops.org/Pages/ViewVacancy/VADetails.aspx?id=24363#0