Manager of the Portfolio in Guatemala, Guatemala City ,Closing date: Friday, 22 May 2015

• Organization: UNOPS - United Nations Office for Project Services
• Country: Guatemala
• City: Guatemala City, Guatemala
• Office: UNOPS Guatemala

Vacancy code: VA/2015/B5405/7531
Position title: Manager of the Portfolio in Guatemala
Department/office: LCO, PAOH, Guatemala
Duty station: Guatemala City, Guatemala
Contract type :Local ICA Specialist
Contract level: LICA Specialist-10
Duration: 1 year with possibilities of extension according to perfomance and availability of funds
Application period: 14-May-2015 to 23-May-2015
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
Background Information - UNOPS
UNOPS mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.
Within these three core areas of expertise, UNOPS provides its partners with advisory, implementation and transactional services, with projects ranging from building schools and hospitals, to procuring goods and services and training local personnel. UNOPS works closely with governments and communities to ensure increased economic, social and environmental sustainability for the projects we support, with a focus on developing national capacity.
Working in some of the world's most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices in development, humanitarian and peacebuilding contexts, always satisfying or surpassing partner expectations.
We employ more than 6,000 personnel and on behalf of our partners create thousands more work opportunities in local communities. Through our headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark and a network of offices, we oversee activities in more than 80 countries.
Background Information - Job-specific
UNOPS mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.
Within these three core areas of expertise, UNOPS provides its partners with advisory, implementation and transactional services, working with governments and communities to ensure increased economic, social and environmental sustainability, with a focus on developing national capacity.
The resolution A/RES/65/176 of the United Nations General Assembly, reaffirms the role of the United Nations Office for Project Services 'as a central resource for the United Nations system in procurement and contracts management as well as in civil works and physical infrastructure development, including the related capacity development activities'
The UNOPS operations in Guatemala are coordinated by the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean and are supported by the Operational Hub comprising offices in Guatemala and other countries in the sub-region.
UNOPS operates in Guatemala under the terms of the Host Country Agreement (HCA) signed with the Government of Guatemala in 2011.
Over the past 20 years UNOPS has supported many projects in Guatemala making contributions from the three areas of mandate applied in different sectors such as local economic development, rule and development, implementation of peace accords, public infrastructure in health, education, and public procurement. UNOPS has collaborated with different counterparts at the national and international level.
At the local level with more than 10 different partners from the Guatemala State, both from the Central Government and the Local Governments; at international level with approximately 15 bilateral donors, multilateral banks and agencies of the United Nations

Over the next two years one strategic project in Guatemala is the advisory services to the Instituto de Fomento Municipal (INFOM), in order to improve the performance of a large programme aimed to provide water and sanitation to people in needs in the country.
Functional Responsibilities
Under the responsibility of the Regional Director and the Deputy Regional Director of Latin America and the Caribbean (LCO) the manager will perform activities corresponding to two main areas of responsibility

1. Coordination of the project in support to INFOM
2. Management of the UNOPS office in Guatemala

The results of the job with reference to the two main areas mentioned above will be precisely defined at the beginning of the assessment; the main activities/responsibility for each area are the following: (i) Coordination of the project in support to INFOM (approximately 90% of the time)

• Responsible for the overall direction and proper performance of the project
• Stakeholder management: establish solid working relationships with the project board, the INFOM, the IDB office in Guatemala, and other key stakeholders; proper management of communication and ensure that stakeholders are aware of all project activities, progress and exceptions; advice the client on issues that may impact the achievement of the outcomes and lead the negotiation and technical consultations to eventually redefining key aspects of the project cycle.
• Delivery and performance: the manager will be responsible for the implementation of the approved plans, the production of the required products, the day by day monitoring and evaluation of service providers and all the other activities necessary to ensure the proper delivery and performance of the project as established in the project agreement
• Procedures: the manager will ensure that the project is implemented according to the rules and procedures applied to UNOPS, inter alia: financial rules and regulations; human resources rules and procedures, procurement procedures, legal rules; standardized procedures for project managements.
• Personnel management: the manager will be the direct supervisor of the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) and the Project Manager (PM); and through them the indirect supervisor of all the personnel involved in the project
• Any other activity necessary for the success of the project.

(ii) Management of the UNOPS office in Guatemala (Approximately 10% of the time)

• Portfolio design and planning: Responsible for the expansion of the UNOPS project portfolio in Guatemala with the aim of increasing the contribution of UNOPS to its partners in improving the life conditions of the people in needs, in a proper manner assuring the financial sustainability of the organization at national level and proper contributions to the next levels. These activities will be carried out accordingly to the procedures established by UNOPS for new engagements
• Portfolio administration and resource management: the manager will be responsible for the proper administration and resource management of the office in Guatemala which is part of an operational hub, comprising other offices in other countries of the sub-region
• Human Resources, procurement and logistical services management: the manager will be responsible of the proper management of human resources, procurement and logistical services rendered by UNOPS in the country in compliance with the UNOPS rules and regulations.
• External relations: the manager will be responsible for the proper management of the relations with the government of Guatemala and its entities, as well local governments involved in ongoing or new engagements. Likewise will be responsible to establish and keep solid relationships with other stakeholder and partners in the countries including, when needed member of the international communities, UN agencies, national and international NGOs, organizations for the civil society the manager will participate on behalf of UNOPS in the UNCT and in the other interagency activities.
• Monitoring and reporting: the manager will conduct periodical reporting to the Regional Director or Deputy Regional Director of LCO in regards of the state of the operations in Guatemala the financial status report of commitment and disbursements; resource allocation, project performance; status and forecast of the financial sustainability of UNOPS operations in Guatemala
• Personnel management: the manager will supervise the personnel of UNOPS based in Guatemala, directly and indirectly according to the organizational chart, driving with passion in order to achieve as a team the results corresponding to the above mentioned activities. Lead and motivate the team, ensure that behavioural expectations of team members are established, ensure that performance reviews are conducted, select, recruit and train team as required, ensure safety and security for all personnel and comply with United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) standards
• Any other activity needed/required related to the proper management of the operations of UNOPS in Guatemala
• In addition to the above the manager will participate in the senior management team of UNOPS for Latin America and the Caribbean and in the Regional networks of managers and specialists that support and contribute to the operations of UNOPS in Latin America and the Caribbean, including English, French and Spanish speaking Caribbean

Core Values and Principles
Understand and respect UNOPS sustainability principles

• Look for ways to embed UNOPS sustainability principles in day to day project management
• Seek opportunities to champion gender equality at work place
• Champion and communicate project's sustainability aspects with key stakeholders

Understand and Respect National ownership and capacity

• Understand the principles of the Paris Declaration on aid effectiveness and mainstream them into the project plans
• Seek opportunities to recruit qualified local staff
• Look for ways to build capacity of local counterparts

Partnerships and Coordination

• Understand the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and UNOPS, the project's place in the UN system
• Know the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and seek to contribute within the deliverables of the project
• Strive to build strong partnerships and effective coordination among relevant project actors (e.g. United Nations, governments, and non-governmental organizations or other relevant partners

Accountability for results and the use of resources

• The project management processes are designed to deliver maximum accountability, transparency and results. If a project or processes is not in line with this, it is the responsibility of the PM to raise the issue to a supervisor

Excellence

• Contribute to innovation and the adaptation of best practice standards of sustainability and quality.