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General Information

Position Title
Infrastructure Senior Manager
Job Category
Project
Duty Station(s)
Kinshasa
Seniority Level
Senior Level
ICS Level
ICS 11
Contract Type
ICA - IICA - Regular
Contract Level
IICA 3
Posting Start Date
16-Feb-2026
Posting End Date
16-Mar-2026
Duration
ongoing

Job Highlight

Drive impactful advisory projects from strategy to execution, ensuring successful delivery and fostering strong partnerships to achieve client goals.

About the Region

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.

About the Country/Multi-Country Office

Since 1999, the Central Africa Multi-Country Office (CAMCO), headquartered in Kinshasa, DRC, has partnered with UN agencies, international organizations, and governments in 15 Central African nations. CAMCO provides fund management, technical assistance, and capacity-building across critical sectors—infrastructure, health, education, governance, procurement, and environmental protection—while working with national and local authorities to secure local ownership and sustainable impact. The diverse portfolio spans rural-community empowerment, road rehabilitation, and peace consolidation in the DRC and CAR through Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) programmes, alongside wide-ranging procurement and human-resource services. Recent initiatives include drinking-water systems in Cameroon, mining-sector capacity-building, health-system support in the DRC, and infrastructure development in Madagascar, funded by a broad array of international partners. Together, these projects advance regional stability, resilient infrastructure, and improved livelihoods throughout Central Africa.

About the Project Office

Since 1999, UNOPS has been a committed partner in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), delivering fund management, technical support, capacity building, and project management services. In collaboration with the Government, UN agencies, and international partners, UNOPS advances sustainable development across key sectors, including infrastructure, health, education, governance, procurement, and environmental protection. A strong focus on local ownership ensures that projects are implemented in a way that builds national capacity and empowers communities. UNOPS supports peace and security through technical assistance to MONUSCO and contributes to environmental preservation by managing regional initiatives such as CAFI and FONAREDD, working closely with Indigenous communities. In the health sector, efforts include the construction of health centers in Kwango (KOICA) and national health system support through the RSS3 initiative (GAVI). UNOPS also leads agricultural infrastructure development and food security efforts through the PNDA project (World Bank) and supports governance and stabilization through the multi-donor Coherence Fund, alongside humanitarian HR services for UNHCR.

Job Specific Context

About the Region

UNOPS Africa Regional Office based in Nairobi, Kenya it supports African governments, UN partners, and donors by delivering infrastructure, procurement, and project management services. In the Africa region, UNOPS focuses on helping countries build resilience, improve public service delivery, and advance the SDGs, particularly in fragile, conflict-affected, and rapidly growing contexts.

About the Country/Multi-Country Office

The Central Africa Multi-Country Office (CAMCO) based in Yaoundé, Cameroon, oversees operations in 11 countries across Central Africa. CAMCO is responsible for developing, delivering, managing and implementing a portfolio of projects and programmes spread across 11 countries - Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic (CAR), Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of Congo, and Rwanda - and includes 2 Small Island Developing States (SIDS) - Cape Verde, Sao Tome & Principe. This MCO manages an active project portfolio  of $600 million, with a strong focus on infrastructure, fund management, HR and procurement services. Over the years, it has built robust partnerships with international stakeholders, UN entities (including UN missions), and national governments across the region. The office delivers technical assistance and capacity building in key development sectors such as infrastructure rehabilitation and construction in health, education, public works, and governance. Its services also span procurement, project management, policy advisory, peace and security, and environmental sustainability.

Job Specific Context

The Infrastructure Senior Manager will be a key member of the UNOPS Programme/PMO team, providing strategic guidance, technical oversight, and advisory support to all infrastructure projects across multiple offices. The Infrastructure Senior Manager will ensure projects adhere to UNOPS standards, governance frameworks, and performance objectives, while enabling effective coordination, knowledge sharing, and portfolio-level decision-making.

Role Purpose

This position is based in the CAMCO’s largest country office in Kinshasa, DRC, and reports to the Head of Programme. The incumbent will work closely with the CAMCO management team, Programme/PMO, Partnerships, and Country Teams, Project Managers, as well as with the Regional Office and UNOPS Headquarters Infrastructure and Project Management Group (IPMG).

The role is instrumental in shaping the Infrastructure and Project Management strategy, supporting a shift from reactive monitoring to predictive oversight and proactive assurance. Its core mandate is to strengthen performance monitoring, portfolio risk analysis, and quality assurance, thereby enhancing governance, predictability, and efficiency in the delivery of results across the sub-regional portfolio.

The incumbent will promote alignment of projects with the Project, Programme and Portfolio Management (P3M) service delivery framework, the Risk Management Framework (RMF), and other relevant IPM principles, guidelines, and practices. 

Functions / Key Results Expected

1. Project Delivery and Performance

  • Provide strategic leadership and advisory support to ensure effective governance, performance, and risk management across the CAMCO infrastructure portfolio.

  • Provide guidance for the consistent application of UNOPS governance, risk, and performance management standards across all high-risk and high-value projects and programmes.

  • Advise on the design and implementation of portfolio monitoring systems, performance metrics, and predictive indicators to proactively identify risks, systemic trends, and significant deviations, enabling timely and evidence-based decision-making by Senior Management and Country Teams.

  • Lead initiatives to improve processes, operational efficiency, and management controls, fostering accountability and enhancing overall portfolio delivery performance.

  • Ensure portfolio performance and governance reporting provides senior management with actionable insights, supporting proactive risk mitigation and the achievement of strategic objectives.

  • Recommend and advise on corrective actions, including Back-on-Track interventions, for projects and programmes at risk, ensuring alignment with corporate policies, regional priorities, and strategic objectives.

  • Provide technical advice to Project Acceptance Committee (PAC) meetings, review and approval of new infrastructure projects.


2. Infrastructure Project Technical Support and Design Management

  • Provide strategic technical advisory and coordination support to infrastructure Project Managers across the full project lifecycle, from feasibility and design to construction and handover, ensuring compliance with UNOPS standards, quality requirements, and performance objectives.

  • Advise Project Managers on planning, coordination, and monitoring of construction and rehabilitation activities to ensure timely, cost-effective, and high-quality project delivery.

  • Provide guidance on the development, implementation, and oversight of Quality, Health, Safety, and Environmental (QHSE) plans, ensuring alignment with UNOPS policies and international standards.

  • Support the PMO and Project Managers in consolidating technical data and project information for internal and external reporting, providing actionable insights for decision-making at portfolio and senior management levels.

  • Prepare periodic portfolio-level reports for the Head of Programme and PMO, summarizing progress, quality, QHSE compliance, and key risks including delays, cost overruns, variations, or technical issues.

  • Advise Project Managers in conducting feasibility studies, needs assessments, and preliminary investigations, including supervision of external consultants, and review recommendations to inform strategic decisions on project scope and prioritization.
    Provide technical oversight and guidance in the preparation of tender dossiers, ensuring the completeness and quality of technical documentation including drawings, Bills of Quantities (BoQs), specifications, and applicable standards.

  • Support Project Managers in defining and managing design requirements, timelines, and deliverables for design services (concept, preliminary, and final stages), ensuring high-quality outputs and timely submission to UNOPS Headquarters for review.

  • Provide strategic technical input to procurement and project teams during tender preparation and bid evaluation, ensuring alignment with project objectives, technical standards, and UNOPS best practices.


3. Construction Oversight and Assurance

  • Provide strategic oversight and technical assurance for construction activities across infrastructure projects, ensuring alignment with approved scope, quality standards, cost parameters, and delivery schedules.

  • Oversee and assure the application of effective quality, quantity, and schedule controls across infrastructure projects, ensuring consistency with approved designs, contracts, and implementation plans.

  • Monitor compliance of construction works with technical specifications, contractual requirements, and applicable standards, and advise Project Managers on corrective measures in the event of deviations or performance risks.

  • Provide advisory support to Project Managers on the overall management of works implementation, contributing to timely completion, cost control, and achievement of required quality outcomes.

  • Conduct targeted spot checks and high-level reviews of construction progress, supervision arrangements, and quality assurance mechanisms to support on-time delivery and early identification of implementation risks.

  • Support Project Managers in the preparation and quality review of key project and contract documentation, including progress and site monitoring reports, stakeholder meeting records, engineer’s instructions, variation orders, payment certifications, contractor claims assessments, handover documentation, and contract close-out reports.


4. Monitoring and Reporting

  • Provide strategic oversight and advisory support to ensure robust monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of infrastructure projects, enabling informed decision-making and proactive portfolio management.

  • Support the integration of results frameworks and M&E plans into project implementation strategies, ensuring clearly defined indicators, measurable targets, and alignment with UNOPS and partner requirements.

  • Provide high-level oversight of project performance, regularly reviewing scope, cost, schedule, and quality criteria, and advising Project Managers and senior management on risks, deviations, and corrective actions.

  • Ensure timely, accurate, and comprehensive reporting of project and financial performance, delivering actionable insights to UNOPS management, partners, and stakeholders.

  • Maintain oversight of project data management, dashboards, and progress tracking systems to ensure accurate and up-to-date information for portfolio-level decision-making.

  • Guide project teams to consistently track, update, and report milestones and targets throughout the project lifecycle, fostering accountability, transparency, and results-focused management.

  • Analyze trends across projects to identify systemic issues, potential bottlenecks, and opportunities for efficiency improvements and risk mitigation.


5. Quality Assurance and Risk Management

  • Provide strategic oversight and advisory support to ensure that infrastructure projects consistently achieve UNOPS quality, compliance, and risk management standards, while promoting best practices across the portfolio.

  • Advise and support internal stakeholders to ensure projects comply with audit, regulatory, and corporate quality requirements, integrating risk management principles into project planning and execution.

  • Collaborate with procurement, supply chain, and project teams to ensure alignment between project delivery and suppliers’ quality management systems, mitigating potential risks to project outcomes.
    Coordinate and oversee quality and risk reviews of key project documents, deliverables, and technical outputs, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and adherence to UNOPS standards.

  • Provide high-level quality assurance for management outputs, including project reports, monitoring data, and dashboards, ensuring that insights are actionable and support informed decision-making.

  • Identify portfolio-level quality and risk trends, advise on mitigation measures, and recommend improvements to project delivery processes, governance structures, and accountability mechanisms.

  • Foster a culture of proactive risk management and continuous improvement across the infrastructure portfolio.


6. Knowledge Management and Innovation

  • Provide strategic leadership to foster a culture of learning, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement across infrastructure projects and the broader project management community.

  • Promote a learning environment within project teams by encouraging knowledge sharing, mentoring, and capacity-building initiatives to strengthen long-term project and organizational capability.

  • Facilitate engagement with Project Managers and the wider UNOPS project management community to capture and disseminate lessons learned, case studies, and best practices.

  • Monitor emerging trends, tools, and good practices in infrastructure and project management, and proactively apply insights to enhance project delivery and advisory support.

  • Ensure timely documentation and sharing of lessons learned to support evidence-based decision-making and organizational knowledge retention.

  • Provide strategic feedback to corporate practice and functional groups on policies, systems, and operational guidance to support the continuous improvement of UNOPS frameworks, standards, and processes.

  • Champion innovative approaches and solutions that enhance efficiency, quality, and sustainability across the project portfolio.





Skills

Project Control, Project Coordination, Project Planning, Quality Assurance, Resource Management, Revenue Assurance, Risk Management, Stakeholder Management, Project Resource Management
Strategic Perspective
Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organisation. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organisation.
Respect
Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organisational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.
Collaboration
Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.
Partnerships
Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).
Excellence
Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.
Adaptability
Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.
Decision-making
Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.
Communication
Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Education Requirements

Required

  • Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Civil Engineering, Architecture or related field 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 recognised institute (for example PRINCE2® Foundation) is desired.

  • AutoCAD certification is desirable.

Experience Requirements

Required

  • A minimum of 7 years of experience in civil engineering construction management is required.

  • A minimum of 7 years of experience in project management is required.

  • Knowledge of quality assurance methodologies is required. 

  • Experience in and knowledge of documenting business/ functional requirements, and performing process mapping/ redesign is required. 


Desired

  • Work experience in post-conflict/ fragile environments is desirable.

  • Some experience in the UN system organizations and/or a developing country is desirable.

  • Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in a developing country is desired.

  • Experience in development or humanitarian contexts is desired

  • Proficiency in IT systems relevant to the advisory function, with an ability to implement (if needed) as per the requirements, is desired.

Language Requirements

LanguageProficiency LevelRequirement
EnglishFluentRequired
FrenchFluentRequired

Additional Information

  • Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
  • Please note that 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. 
  • Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments. 
  • UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 
  • Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities. 
  • We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.
 
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.