Background

UNDP Sri Lanka’s Flagship Portfolio on SDG16- Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions brings together inclusive governance and peacebuilding work under one umbrella. The Portfolio is implemented by UNDP as part of its Country Programme and the United Nations Sustainable Development Framework and enables the provision of cohesive and integrated support to the Government of Sri Lanka.

Under this portfolio, UNDP in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is implementing the Justice Reforms Programme (JURE Project ).. JURE Project is funded by the European Union, in partnership with the Ministry of Justice, and implemented by UNDP and UNICEF Sri Lanka. The JURE Project contains a holistic package of support to the justice sector in Sri Lanka and is implemented in close consultation and partnership with key justice sector institutions including the Judicial Service Commission, Ministry of Justice, Attorney General’s Department, Prison Department, and Legal Aid Commission of Sri Lanka.

JURE provides support to strengthen inclusive access to justice, improve transparency and accountability in the sector as well as enhance quality and efficient services delivery. Close attention is paid in particular to foster access to justice for women and children, to support mechanisms to deal with commercial matters and to maximize the potential of digital technologies to improve efficiency. This flagship initiative, funded by the EU for EUR 18 million and the UN for EUR 1 million, is implemented from 2022-2026. The project is expected an extension till end of 2027.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Manager will be responsible for day-to-day management of the project including timely and efficient delivery of the project operational, financial, and administrative outputs; in line with UNDP rules and regulations, regular outreach and coordination with the project beneficiaries; regular coordination among project partners to ensure coherence and complementarity.

The Project Manager will work under the supervision of the JURE Technical Specialist and under the IGT framework maintain working relationship with the UNDP Policy Specialist and Team Leader, Inclusive Governance.

The Project Manager will be responsible for day-to-day management of the project including timely and efficient delivery of the project operational, financial, and administrative outputs; in line with UNDP rules and regulations, regular outreach, and coordination with the project beneficiaries; regular coordination among project partners to ensure coherence and complementarity.

Lead the overall management of the project

• Lead day-to-day management of the project, including managing project operations and finance staff, hiring and overseeing external consultants, maintain working relations with key project partners, Multi Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTFO) and partner UN Agency (UNICEF)
• Maintain effective monitoring and evaluation system and ensure quality and timely reporting according to UNDP country office and donor reporting schedules.Lead the development of annual workplans and /or revise work plans and project budgets according to the decision of the project management boards,Lead on project budgets according to the decision of the project steering committee/ management boards and UN/UNDP rules and SOPs
• Maintain oversight of expenditures and ensure both value for money and efficient delivery in line with established targets continuous risk analysis of the project finance and operations, in placing mitigation measures and adjustments, and ensure uninterrupted project delivery.

Ensure team collaboration

• Anchor the Project within the SDG16+ portfolio and secures programme teams collaboration and agreement on priorities, policy, and work planning commitments.
• Advice management and project team of results and recommendations for improvement

Ensure Effective and Accurate Financial Resources Management

• Lead financial planning, expenditure tracking, and monitoring of project budgets, ensuring accuracy and timeliness in all financial, procurement, and reporting processes.
• Ensure that all financial transactions are properly identified, recorded, verified, and reconciled in full compliance with UNDP’s corporate policies, procedures, and internal controls.

Ensure knowledge building and management

• Support JURE project team to collate insights and knowledge from project implementation, finance and operations, and build capacity of the project team in such matters.
• Ensure wide dissemination and visibility of project achievements, particularly regarding local success stories

Lead Project Finance and Operations Matters

• Ensure compliance of project operations and financial management with UN/UNDP rules, regulations, and policies; support the implementation of corporate operational strategies; set project management performance targets and monitor the achievement of planned results
• Lead business process mapping and establish internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for project-related Finance, Human Resources, Procurement, and Logistics, ensuring efficient, transparent, and accountable operational workflows
• Conduct continuous monitoring and analysis of the operating environment to enable timely operational adjustments; provide strategic advice on legal considerations and lead risk assessments to safeguard project operations and ensure uninterrupted delivery

Competencies

Core Competencies:

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Direction and Strategy

• Partnership Management: Build and maintain partnerships with wide network of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies

2030 People Agenda

• Gender: Gender Equality Strategy

Business Management

• Results-based Management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus on improved performance and demonstrable results
• Risk Management: Identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks
• Communication: Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.

Business Direction and Strategy

• System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master”s degree or equivalent) in Finance, Business Administration, Economics, or a related area is required, OR
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s Degree) in Finance, Business Administration, Economics, or a related area in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of working experience (with master’s degree ) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree), of progressively responsible work experience in Finance, Business Administration, Economics or related area.

Required skills:

• Project management and coordination of large-scale projects with international donors such as the European Union (EU) etc.
• Prior experience in capacity development of justice sector institutions and strengthening of government systems.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section:

• Strong experience in budgeting, financial accounts, financial planning and operations.
• Clear track record of managing project partners, vendors and teams.
• Experience in managing and coordinating projects, specifically rule of law and justice sector projects supporting justice sector related institutions and strengthening government systems or in the development sector.
• Experience of working with government and international organizations.
• Prior experience working within the United Nations system is considered an asset.

Required Languages:

• Fluency in Sinhala and/or Tamil and English is required.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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