Deputy Project Manager

UNOPS; India; On-site; INR 8,580,000 - 12,393,000; Full time

Job summary

UNOPS in Sierra Leone seeks a Deputy Project Manager (Transactional) to oversee projects delivering HR, procurement and grants services to partners, ensuring outputs are delivered on time, within scope and to UNOPS quality standards.

Reporting to the Senior Project Manager and Project Board, you will coordinate with donors, partners and beneficiaries, manage risks, monitor performance, and embed sustainability, gender and environmental considerations across the project lifecycle.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive international project management experience in HR, procurement, grants or related areas.
• Experience coordinating with donors, partners and beneficiaries in complex programs.
• Familiarity with UN or international development operations is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead project plans, milestones and baselines.
• Monitor progress, manage risks, control scope and budget with the Project Board.
• Ensure outputs meet quality standards and undergo audits as required.
• Coordinate with external suppliers and stakeholders to deliver outputs on time.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Risk management

Quality assurance

Monitoring & reporting

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Professional certificate in project management

Tools

MS Office

G-Suite

Project management systems

Job description

Job Highlight

Lead impactful projects delivering essential transactional services, ensuring excellence in HR, procurement, and grants management within a dynamic global framework.

About The Project Office

UNOPS supports sustainable development in Sierra Leone through infrastructure, procurement, and project management services that enhance energy access, water and sanitation, health, and food security. In the energy sector, UNOPS implements the World Bank-funded Enhancing Sierra Leone Energy Access Project (ESLEAP), including the Moyamba Solar Power Plant (1MW) and rural electrification, totaling $12.7 million. The UK FCDO-funded Rural Renewable Energy Project (£34.5 million) has expanded solar mini-grids and powered community health centers. In water and sanitation, a Government of Japan-funded initiative has improved access to safe drinking water in Freetown, reducing waterborne diseases. To strengthen food security, UNOPS is constructing a 4,000-metric-tonne grain silo and installing solar-powered irrigation systems through a World Bank-supported Ministry of Agriculture project. In close partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone, these efforts aim to improve basic services, enhance resilience, and support inclusive, long-term development.

Role Purpose

The Deputy Project Manager (Transactional) is responsible for the effective delivery and daily oversight of projects which provide transactional services, such as HR services, procurement, grants or services, to UNOPS partners. The Deputy Project Manager serves as the focal point for coordination with donors, partners and beneficiaries, ensuring alignment with contractual commitments and UNOPS performance standards. Acting under the guidance of theSenior Project manager and Project Board, the Deputy Project Manager ensures that project outputs are delivered within agreed tolerances of time, cost, scope, quality, risk, and benefits.

Functions / Key Results Expected

III. Functions / Key Results Expected

Project Delivery and Performance

• Develop, complete and update the project implementation plan.
• Implement the approved plan (including establishment of milestones) within tolerances set by the Project Board.
• Embed sustainability dimensions, including social and gender considerations, and environmental and economic aspects, into the project life span.
• Manage the production of required outputs, taking responsibility for overall progress and use of resources while initiating corrective action where necessary.
• Ensure that quality of work packages and deliverables comply with the quality requirements defined in the implementation plan.
• Liaise with external suppliers or account managers to ensure quality and timely delivery of outputs.
• Manage acceptance and delivery of work packages.
• Monitor project progress, control project variances (if any), and manage changes.
• Identify, anticipate and advise senior management and the project board on mitigating measures against project risks to ensure that benefits to partners and other stakeholders are maximized.
• Identify and report potential opportunities for UNOPS to the supervisor.

Procedures

• Comply with the organization’s policies and standards, and ensure project information is kept updated in project management systems.
• Be aware of applicable local laws and regulations, and ensure adherence. This includes international regulations and standards, where applicable, as well as technical standards.
• Prepare and adapt all relevant plans for approval by the project board, and manage baselines
• Manage the reporting obligations defined in the implementation plan and legal agreements.
• Maintain project documentation in an orderly manner for accessibility and audit support when needed.
• Understand and apply the UNOPS financial rules and regulations. Be accountable for the use of delegation of authority (where applicable) and ensure compliance with relevant policies and standards of ethics.
• Provide a formal handover of the project to the closure manager when applicable.
• Support project audit activities, including planning, preparation and coordination during audits and follow-up on audit observations/ recommendations.

Monitoring and Reporting

• Include a results framework and M&E plan in the project implementation plan with clearly defined indicators and agreed targets, ensure regular monitoring and tracking of project results.
• Prepare and issue regular project and financial reports in accordance with partner and UNOPS requirements for reporting.
• Regularly review project status and evaluate performance criteria (scope, cost, schedule, and quality)
• Maintain diaries and progress reports as required by UNOPS standard operating procedures.
• Provide routine oversight and analysis of delivery data within the dashboard system.
• Ensure all project team members track and regularly update milestones and targets for the duration of the project life span

Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop stakeholder engagement strategies and plans. Actively engage stakeholders, take feedback, and adjust as necessary.
• Establish solid working relationships with the project board (executive, senior users and senior suppliers); clients; and key stakeholders.
• Enable formulation of project communication plans and monitor effectiveness of project communications.
• Coordinate stakeholder engagement and communication, ensuring effective timing and interdependency management of communications. Ensure stakeholders are aware of project activities, progress, and exceptions, and are in a position to accept handover outputs.

Quality Assurance

• Work with internal stakeholders to ensure projects comply with audit requirements.
• Work with procurement/ purchasing personnel to ensure effective interface with suppliers’ quality systems.
• Coordinate quality reviews of project documents and deliverables.
• Provide quality control for management outputs (e.g. project documents, reports, etc)..

Knowledge Management and Innovation

• Create a learning environment for the project team, encourage knowledge sharing and training to contribute to longer-term capacity building.
• Actively interact with other project managers and the wider project management (PM) community, share case studies, lessons learned and best practices.
• Stay abreast with latest updates and good practices of the profession, participate in training and learning activities for self to advance proficiency and competency.
• Ensure lessons learned are shared in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Provide feedback to corporate practice groups on policy and systems, when needed.
• Provide feedback to functional groups on policies and related guidance to support the continuous improvement of UNOPS policy framework

Personnel Management

• Organise and structure the project team, ensure clearly defined roles and responsibilities. Provide regular guidance and direction, as needed, and support the team in effectively performing their tasks.
• Lead and motivate the project management team, and manage performance.
• Ensure performance reviews are conducted fairly, accurately, and on time.
• Select, recruit, and train project teams as required, taking gender parity and diversity objectives into account.
• Ensure safety and security for all project personnel in compliance with the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) standards.

Education Requirements

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 7 years of relevant experience OR
• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 5 years of relevant experience is required

Desired

• A globally recognized professional certificate (e.g. PRINCE2, PMI, etc) or membership in Project Management is desired.

Experience Requirements

• A minimum of 5 years' of progressive experience in international organizations on implementing complex projects/programmes specific to HR processes or services, financial management, grants management, procurement or related areas.
• Experience in project coordination and operations management.
• Knowledge of relevant quality standards, and assurance methodologies.
• Demonstrated experience in monitoring delivery metrics and managing project budgets
• Demonstrable proficiency in the use of collaboration and productivity tools (e.g. MS Office, G-Suite, etc) and web-based management systems.

Desired

• Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in a developing country
• Experience in development or humanitarian contexts
• 1 year previous experience working with UNOPS in managing similar projects.
• Proven track record of implemented plans and projects.
• Experience in creating and executing project plans to meet needs and requirements.
• Experience in writing reports, performing data analyses, and drafting documents.
• Experience in risk management for implementation projects.
• Knowledge of quality assurance methodologies
• Experience working in multicultural teams.
• Experience working with remote teams.