Project Manager

During 2024 – 2027, UNDP and UNICEF will jointly implement the Project “Advancing Quality Education and Lifelong Learning Opportunities for All”, funded by the European Union. 

The overall objective of  the joint project Advancing Quality Education and Lifelong Learning Opportunities for All is to contribute to human capital development in the Republic of Moldova, improving quality and relevance of education and lifelong learning opportunities for all, for better matching the labor market demands. To achieve this, the Program will target the following specific objectives: 

1. Strengthen institutions and system for teacher and school leaders' professional development and support the implementation of education policies to enhance quality of teaching and learning (Development Strategy “Education 2030”.
2. Improve equitable access for all children to quality education, promoting the development of an inclusive, digital, and resilient education system. 
3. Upgrade learning environments through renovation of selected school infrastructures and facilitate the development of the 21st century skills, contributing to better education opportunities for pupils/students and improved efficiency of the school network.

Under this joint Project, UNDP will support professional development of teachers, promote life-long learning opportunities for adults, and be responsible for implementing interventions under the Specific Objective number 3 mentioned above, that aims at increasing quality, relevance, and efficiency of learning. More specifically, it will support Ministry of Education and Research in enhancing the learning environments and improving the teaching-learning conditions by setting up modern learning spaces, improvement of school infrastructure of 10 model/aspirational schools. It will also aim at redesigning existing STEEAM learning spaces to facilitate better learning, provision of modern technologies and teaching-learning resources and support the roadmaps for continuous development of digital learning space. The activities will ease the accessibility of students from remote areas to the model/ aspirational schools through access to transportation means and development of an integrated national system for school bus management. 

 Ensuring effective content and operational management of the project:

• Oversee day-to-day operations and implementation of project activities;
• Exercise close monitoring of project activities and produce monitoring reports; 
• Ensure the timely and efficient delivery of Project outputs and products, as per the Project Document, leading to the achievement of expected results;
• Develop Work Plan, periodic narrative progress and final reports and expenditures status reports and submit to the supervisor; 
• Ensure the implementation of the activities under the Project work plan according to indicators for achieving planned results, as well as the overall management of the Project in line with UNDP rules, regulations and procedures;
• Support UNDP CO in effectively managing human resources pertaining to the Project, including staff, consultants and short-term experts; conduct periodic performance appraisals; build, lead and motivate a solid team of professionals; 
• Support the efficient management of the Project financial resources, including budgeting and budget revisions, as well as expenditure tracking and reporting;
• Continuously record and maintain Project issues and risks and suggest mitigation measures.
• Lead and coordinate the organization of meetings, workshops, conferences, trainings, study visits and related activities relevant to the implementation of the Project;
• Maintain a continuous effective dialogue with the key stakeholders, central and local government authorities, other UN agencies and actors active in the sector, CSOs, partner organizations, international and national experts in the areas of the Project intervention in view of identifying synergies and avoiding overlapping of assistance; 
• Maintain a close collaboration with other related UNDP programmes to ensure synergies and complementarities; 
• Ensure high quality information and visibility of the programme activities to the mass media and stakeholders and support mechanisms for exchange of information, experience and lessons learned at the local, national, and as required at international levels;
• Perform any other duties connected directly with the implementation and evaluation of the Project as required.

Knowledge Management and Sharing:

• Assist in coordinating the exchange of information internally and between relevant project stakeholders;
• Ensure timely and proper documentation of the programme implementation process and products produced in accordance with the UNDP guides;
• Capture and disseminate good practices locally, nationally and as required internationally;
• Provide required substantive and administrative support in organizing / conducting variety of programme activities and events.
• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization

Key Results:

The key results have a direct impact on the overall successful achievement of the Advancing Quality Education and Lifelong Learning Opportunities for All Project. Accurate analysis and presentation of information enhances UNDP’s position as a strong development partner. The information provided facilitates decision-making of the Project Steering Committee, the Beneficiary and UNDP management.

• 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

• Strategic thinking
  • Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions 
  • Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP
• 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
• Human-Centered Design
  • Ability to develop solutions to problems by involving the human perspective in all steps of the problem-solving process
• Project Management
  • Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals
• Digital learning and development
  • Knowledge of digital learning methods and ability to design and develop digital learning programmes.
• Digital transformation  design
  • Practical and strategic skills in digital transformation for governments and organizations
• Communication
  • Ability to 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