UN Women Project Manager, Homebased, IPSA-11

Background:

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

UN Women continues to advance its digital transformation agenda through the implementation, enhancement and integration of enterprise platforms and digital solutions that support organizational effectiveness, business process simplification, data-driven decision-making, and improved user experience. These initiatives require coordinated project management across business stakeholders, as well as effective governance, planning, risk management, quality assurance, change management, and stakeholder engagement.

PRISM, UN Women’s new corporate platform to support strategic planning, results management, and monitoring and reporting of Strategic Plan, Strategic Notes, workplans and projects, has been successfully deployed during 2025-2026 across the organization, with ensuring its integration with Quantum, UN Women’s ERP system. The priority in 2027 will be to support system stabilization and sustained adoption, deliver prioritized enhancements, optimize existing functionalities and business processes, and strengthen integrations and reporting capabilities.

The Project Manager will be responsible for leading these corporate technology and digital transformation projects in accordance with organizational priorities. The role is therefore not limited to PRISM and is expected to develop strategies, manage project planning, and implement change management initiatives to transform business processes and improve efficiency in the scope of the projects assigned. This role involves managing resources and risks, and ensuring a cohesive, cross-functional approach.
Under the overall guidance of the Digital Governance Board and direct supervision by Chief Information Systems and Telecommunications (IST), the Project Manager will primarily be responsible for the effective management of assigned projects. This includes ensuring that project objectives, scope, timelines, resources, budgets, risks, dependencies, and governance arrangements are effectively managed and that decisions and escalations are brought to the appropriate governance bodies in a timely manner.

The Project Manager will work in close consultation and collaboration with a wide range of clients and stakeholders across the UN Women, such as key Business Process Owners (including Strategic Planning Unit and Programme Support Management Unit in SPRED), Information Technology teams, key end-users in the country, regional and corporate levels, as well as external partners, as applicable. The goal is to promote critical thinking and innovation to design simplified and streamlined processes that will support the delivery of practical, sustainable, and user-centered solutions and will enhance organizational performance and efficiency.

Note: Prior to starting their assignment, home based international PPSA are responsible for holding a work permit valid for the homebased location during the entire IPPSA duration.

Scope of Work

1. Lead the strategic direction and management of assigned digital transformation projects, including PRISM
• Provide strategic vision and project management leadership for the assigned projects in collaboration with the Chief, IST, relevant Business Process Owner, and Digital Governance Board.
• Coordinate the technical implementation of PRISM enhancements and stabilization roadmap during 2027, supporting prioritization of improvements, resolution of post-go-live issues, platform optimization, and adoption in collaboration with the Chief, IST and Chief, SPU.
• Act as a trusted and neutral project manager across all business processes and workstreams; oversee and facilitate process improvement discussions between business owners, build project momentum, and manage escalations to the Senior leadership and governance bodies;
• Engage and coordinate business owners and focal points across the Organization globally and provide them with updates on the project;
• Ensure that project objectives and proposed solutions remain aligned with Organization’s goals, priorities, policies and capitalize on UN System and industry best practices;
• Provide high-level analysis and advice on project options, priorities, trade-offs, implementation approaches, risks, dependencies, and resource implications to support timely decision-making.
• Monitor, track, and control technical outcomes to resolve issues, conflicts, dependencies, and critical path deliverables.

2. Plan and coordinate project delivery across business and technical teams
• Develop, maintain and monitor integrated project plans, including scope, deliverables, timelines, milestones, and resource allocation.
• Coordinate with various departments to ensure that all aspects of the project are aligned and progressing as planned.
• Monitor project delivery, identify variances and constraints, and coordinate corrective actions and recovery plans where required.
• Provide input to and review implementation plans, component plans, contingency plans, milestones, dependencies etc. attached to the project’s high-level deliverables;
• Provide input to and review project budgets to ensure they are based on outputs and deliverables and clearly linked to milestones and project phases.

3. Engage and manage stakeholders at all levels
• Engage with stakeholders at all levels, including senior management, business process owners, technical teams, regional and country offices, end-users, vendors, and external partners.
• Provide regular progress reports to Digital Governance Board and other stakeholders as needed
• Ensure that stakeholders are appropriately informed, involved, consulted, and supportive of the project's goals and progress.
• Coordinate cross-functional discussions to resolve competing priorities, clarify ownership, and facilitate timely decisions.

4. Manage Project Scope, Changes, Risks and Dependencies
• Establish and maintain effective mechanisms for managing project scope, requirements, changes, risks, issues, assumptions,and dependencies.
• Ensure proposed changes are assessed for business value, cost, schedule, and dependency impacts and are submitted to the appropriate governance body for decision.
• Identify potential risks and develop mitigation strategies related to the implementation of the projects.
• Monitor risks throughout the project lifecycle and take proactive measures to address any issues that arise.
• Monitor and report on effectiveness of project risk framework, related controls, and indicators to the Digital Governance Board.
• Identify and manage dependencies across business streams and other corporate initiatives.

5. Plan and Monitor Project Resources and Budgets
• Support the development and monitoring of project budgets, ensuring costs are linked to approved scope, outputs, milestones, and project phases.
• Manage these resources efficiently to avoid delays and cost overruns.
• Plan and coordinate the efficient and effective deployment of human and financial resources required for project delivery including necessary recruitment and procurement of additional resources.
• Monitor resource constraints and capacity risks and recommend to governance bodies on resource allocation and priorities.
• Identify opportunities for efficiency and cost optimization wherever possible.

6. Ensure Quality Assurance and Testing of Project Deliverables
• Ensure appropriate quality assurance processes are integrated into project deliverables to meet the required standards and specifications.
• Coordinate with business and technical teams on requirements validation, UAT, defect resolution, sign-off and release readiness, as applicable.
• Monitor critical defects and issues through resolution, including post-go-live stabilization activities.

7. Coordinate Project Communication and Change Management
• Develop and coordinate regular communication with the project team, Digital Governance Board, and stakeholders during project implementation.
• Provide updates on project status, progress, and any issues that need attention.
• Support change management activities required to facilitate adoption of new or enhanced systems, business processes, and ways of working.
• Establish and coordinate necessary collaboration with other UN System Organizations and UN Women partners.

8. Coordinate Knowledge Management and End-User Training and Support
• Lead and coordinate the organization and facilitation of workshops and training to ensure ongoing business transformation, process changes, and system evolution is understood and appropriately used by stakeholders
• Ensure that end-users are trained and supported during the rollout of the new system.
• Coordinate training sessions and provide support to ensure a smooth transition.
• Coordinate the maintenance of a dedicated site of UN Women Intranet to ensure all the relevant documents and training materials are available and accessible to all UN Women personnel in user-friendly manner.
• Promote reuse of lessons learned, templates and project management practices across future initiatives.

9. Coordinate Project Closure, Transition and Continuous Improvement
• Coordinate PRISM closure, including confirmation of deliverables, outstanding actions, financial status, documentation, lessons learned and transition arrangements.
• Support post-implementation reviews and audits
• Identify opportunities and lessons learned to strengthen project management governance and practices within IST and across UN Women.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Competencies :

Core Values:

• Integrity;
• Professionalism;
• Respect for Diversity.

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
• Accountability;
• Creative Problem Solving;
• Effective Communication;
• Inclusive Collaboration;
• Stakeholder Engagement;
• Leading by Example.

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Values and Competencies Framework:

Functional Competencies:

• Demonstrated technical leadership and project management skills in international and multi-cultural settings at the global level.
• Excellent project formulation, implementation, monitoring, reporting, and evaluation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex, cross-functional technology and digital transformation initiatives involving business, technical and external stakeholders.
• Knowledge of Results-Based Management principles and approaches.
• Demonstrated capacity for strategic thinking, prioritization, problem solving, and strategy development.
• Ability to translate complex business and technical matters into clear recommendations and executive level communications.
• Ability to develop a clear operational plan for business transformation, process improvement, and system implementation strategy.
• Ability to stay focused under pressure, manage ambiguity and competing priorities, and drive timely decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships with strategic partners, with highly developed communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Knowledge of organizational change management, user adoption, training, and knowledge-management approaches.
• Ability to create a knowledge-sharing environment.
• Ability to ensure effective teamwork, with excellent managerial and technical leadership skills and the ability to delegate appropriate responsibility, accountability, and decision-making authority.
• Expert understanding of enterprise technology environments, including ERP systems, system integration, data and reporting, cloud services, and related digital solutions.
• Ability to support project portfolio and PMO functions, consolidate information across multiple initiatives, and translate portfolio data into clear management-level reporting and decision support

Education and Certification:

• A Master’s degree in business administration, management, project management, Information Technology, or other related fields is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• The following qualifications are desirable:
  o Project Management Certification (Prince2; PMI)
  o Agile/ SCRUM Certification

Experience

• A minimum of 7 years of experience that combines strategic and managerial leadership in complex IT, digital transformation projects, including planning, design development, and implementation, in large and/or international organizations is required.
• Experience in successfully running software development and product implementation projects is required.
• Experience in organizational change management, risk mitigation, and conflict management is required.
• Experience in roles as a Programme Manager, Project Manager, and/or Business Analyst is required.
• Experience in the development and management of project budgeting, and tracking is required.
• Experience leading a cross-functional team is required.
• Experience working within the United Nations or at a global/corporate level is highly desirable.
• Experience with quality assurance and testing is desirable.
• Experience in data integration across different technical platforms is required.
• Experience with enterprise services like Microsoft 365, Oracle Cloud ERP (or any ERP platform), SaaS, IaaS, and PaaS models is required.
• Experience in the use of standard office software packages (MS Word, Excel, Power Point, etc.), spreadsheet and database packages is required.
  

Languages

• Fluency in English is required, including excellent drafting and editing skills.
• Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable (French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish).

Statements :

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.

Diversity and inclusion:

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)

Note: Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form, including the sections on education and employment history, are completed. If all sections are not completed the application may be disqualified from the recruitment and selection process.