Project Management and Infrastructure Manager

The UNOPS Africa Regional Office, based in Nairobi, Kenya, oversees the delivery of over 250 projects across 40 countries, with a focus on fragile and conflict-affected settings. Supported by more than 1,000 personnel across five multi-country offices—spanning North, West, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa, and the Horn of Africa—the office advances national priorities through strategic initiatives in Climate Action, Health, Infrastructure, Peace and Security, Middle-Income Country Support, and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The Regional Office provides strategic leadership, operational support, and oversight in key areas including Partnerships, Communications, Management and Oversight, Infrastructure and Project Management, Health and Safety, and Security. By promoting excellence in project delivery, fostering knowledge sharing, and driving continuous improvement, the office contributes to sustainable infrastructure, transparent resource management, and a better quality of life for communities across the continent.

Based in Tunis, the North Africa Multi-Country Office (NAMCO) oversees operations in Algeria, Egypt, Libya, and Morocco, delivering project management, financial services, infrastructure, procurement, and human resources support. With active project offices in Morocco and Libya, NAMCO works in close partnership with governments, NGOs, and international financial institutions to advance socio-economic development across the region. NAMCO’s portfolio spans health, justice, climate action, and environmental preservation, while promoting youth and women's empowerment through improved access to education and employment opportunities. Key initiatives include: supplying digital learning materials for Tunisian schools (World Bank), supporting Tunisia’s national development plan (AICS), enhancing maritime border management (EU), delivering high-tech health equipment to 75 hospitals (World Bank), supporting resilient agriculture in Libya (IFAD), and advancing vocational training in Morocco (KOICA). NAMCO’s work contributes directly to inclusive growth and progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Infrastructure & Project Management Manager is a key member of the UNOPS Programme/PMO team, responsible for providing strategic guidance and technical oversight across all infrastructure projects implemented by the various offices. The role ensures consistency, quality, and efficiency in project delivery by supporting project managers throughout the full project lifecycle.

The manager will advise and assist infrastructure project managers in planning, scheduling, and coordinating activities, ensuring alignment with organizational standards and project objectives. This includes reviewing and validating technical documentation such as Bills of Quantities, as well as strengthening project controls and risk management practices.

A core responsibility of the role is to establish, monitor, and continuously improve Health and Safety, and Social and Environmental (HSSE) frameworks across projects. The manager will ensure compliance with applicable standards and promote best practices to enhance project performance and safeguard stakeholders.

Reporting directly to the Head of Programme, the Infrastructure & Project Management Manager acts as a focal point for technical coordination, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement across the infrastructure portfolio.

The Infrastructure & Project Management Manager provides strategic oversight and technical leadership across the infrastructure portfolio, ensuring coherence, quality, and alignment with organizational standards. The role focuses on strengthening project management frameworks, guiding project managers, and enhancing consistency in planning, execution, and reporting practices.

Acting as a central point of expertise, the manager supports decision-making by interpreting and applying policies, refining methodologies, and promoting best practices across teams. The position also involves overseeing the performance of project management systems, mentoring project staff, and driving continuous improvement in project delivery, risk management, and compliance.

1. Infrastructure Portfolio Oversight & Technical Leadership

• Provide strategic oversight across the infrastructure portfolio to ensure consistency in project planning, design, implementation and reporting.

• Establish and promote infrastructure project management standards, methodologies and technical guidance in line with UNOPS policies and international best practices.

• Provide technical leadership and guidance to Infrastructure Project Managers on complex technical and project management matters.

• Review portfolio performance and identify systemic issues, recommending corrective actions and continuous improvement measures.

• Consolidate infrastructure portfolio information and provide strategic reporting to the Head of Programme and PMO on delivery performance, quality, risks and emerging issues. 

2. Project Development & Technical Assurance

• Provide technical oversight during project identification, needs assessments and feasibility studies to ensure consistency with organizational standards.

• Review technical documentation prepared by project teams, including assessments, concept designs and procurement documentation, ensuring completeness and quality.

• Provide technical advice on project development approaches, implementation strategies and infrastructure planning.

• Support the standardization of technical documentation, templates and guidance across infrastructure projects.

3. Design & Procurement Quality Assurance

• Oversee the quality assurance of infrastructure designs throughout the design lifecycle.

• Review key design deliverables to ensure compliance with applicable technical standards, client requirements and UNOPS procedures.

• Provide technical support to procurement processes through review of technical specifications, Bills of Quantities, evaluation methodologies and technical compliance, when required.

• Promote standardization of design review processes and technical documentation.

4. Infrastructure Quality Assurance & Delivery Oversight

• Monitor implementation of infrastructure projects through periodic technical reviews, site visits and portfolio-level performance monitoring.

• Ensure appropriate quality assurance mechanisms are applied throughout project implementation.

• Monitor trends related to project quality, schedule performance, contract management and implementation risks, escalating systemic issues where required.

• Advise Project Managers on corrective actions to improve delivery performance, quality standards and compliance.

• Promote consistent application of construction quality management practices across all infrastructure projects.

5. Project Management Frameworks & Performance

• Strengthen project management practices across the infrastructure portfolio by promoting standardized methodologies, tools and reporting mechanisms.

• Monitor compliance with UNOPS project management standards throughout the project lifecycle.

• Review project performance indicators and recommend improvements to planning, scheduling, etc.

• Support project initiation and closure processes by ensuring consistency with organizational requirements.

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of project management systems, procedures and lessons learned.

6. Health, Safety, Social & Environment (HSSE)

• Serve as the Multi-Country Office focal point for Health, Safety, Social and Environment matters relating to infrastructure projects liaising with Regional Office and HQ.

• Promote implementation of the GoalZero approach and strengthen organizational awareness of health and safety responsibilities.

• Monitor implementation of HSSE requirements across the infrastructure portfolio through periodic reviews and compliance monitoring.

• Advise Project Managers on the implementation of HSSE management plans.

• Promote continuous improvement of HSSE practices, standards and organizational learning.

7. Portfolio Risk Management & Compliance

• Provide oversight of infrastructure project risks across the portfolio and promote consistent application of risk management methodologies.

• Monitor strategic, operational and technical risks and ensure appropriate mitigation measures are identified and tracked.

• Promote compliance with UNOPS policies, technical standards and project management frameworks.

• Support the integration of lessons learned and risk information into future programme and project planning.

• Contribute to strengthening governance, accountability and quality assurance across the infrastructure portfolio.

8. Capacity Development & Knowledge Management

• Mentor and coach Infrastructure Project Managers and project personnel to strengthen technical and project management capacity.

• Develop and promote guidance materials, technical notes and best practice documentation for infrastructure delivery.

• Facilitate knowledge sharing and lessons learned across infrastructure  and support teams.

• Support continuous professional development through training, coaching and technical workshops.

• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, innovation and consistent application of organizational standards.

Required

• A Master’s degree in Engineering or related field is required. 

• A combination of Bachelor’s degree with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the education requirements outlined above.

Required

• A minimum of 5 years of experience in civil engineering  or construction management is required. 

• A minimum of 3 years of experience in project management is required.

Desired

• Work experience in post-conflict/ fragile environments Experience in providing advice and oversight Some experience in the UN system organizations and/or a developing country is desirable.

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
  

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. 
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.