Senior Project Manager (Implementation)

Project Management
Ethiopia, Addis Ababa
January 4, 2026
Ongoing- Subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funds
Urgent
Application ends: January 12, 2026
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Job Description

Position Title: Senior Project Manager (Implementation)

Duty Station(s) Addis Ababa

Job Highlight

Lead impactful projects, delivering diverse services and ensuring successful outcomes within agreed tolerances of time, cost, scope, quality, risk, and benefits.

Role Purpose

The Senior Project Manager (Implementation) is responsible for planning, organizing, leading the project from Initiation to Closure. The Senior Project Manager ensures effective delivery and oversight of projects, while implementing the services in scope and contributing towards achievement of partners’ goals and objectives. Acting on behalf of the Project Board, the Senior Project Manager ensures that project outputs are delivered within agreed tolerances of time, cost, scope, quality, risk, and benefits.

The Senior Project Manager serves as the focal point for coordination with donors, partners and beneficiaries, ensuring alignment with contractual commitments and UNOPS performance standards. The incumbent possesses and applies a deep understanding of Project planning, implementation, monitoring and control, while managing stakeholder expectations. and ensuring delivery is as per the terms of the Legal Agreement.

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.
  • Advocate and promote UNOPS service offerings, identify and report potential growth opportunities for UNOPS.

Skills

Project Coordination, Project Implementation, Project Planning, Quality Assurance, Reporting, Risk Management, Stakeholder Management

Competencies

Education Requirements

Required

  • Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 9 years of relevant experience OR
  • Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 7 years of relevant experience is required.

Desired

  • Project management certification from a globally recognized institute is desired.
  • Professional certification from a reputed institute in the technical topic relevant to the job area is desired.

Experience Requirements

Required

  • Relevant experience is work in the implementation of complex projects/ programmes, or related areas.
  • Experience in project planning, implementation, and control, including project communication and reporting is required.
  • Knowledge of quality assurance methodologies is required.
  • Experience of managing project risks in a multi-stakeholder context is required.

Desired

  • Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in a developing country is desired.
  • Experience in development or humanitarian contexts is desired.
  • Management consulting experience, involving public-sector advisory, is desired.

Language Requirements

  • English: Fluent
  • Amharic: Fluent

Terms and Conditions

  • 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.