Project Manager (P-3), Temporary Appointment – 364 Days

Job Title: Project Manager (P-3), Temporary Appointment – 364 Days

Organization: UNICEF

Duty Station: Abuja, Nigeria

Job Number: 594084

Contract Type: Temporary Appointment

Level: P-3

Reporting To: Chief of Health

ROLE PURPOSE

The Project Manager will lead the planning, coordination, implementation and monitoring of major health infrastructure and health-system-strengthening projects managed by UNICEF Nigeria.

The position will oversee projects connected to the construction and operationalisation of national vaccine hubs in Abuja and Kano, the operation and maintenance of solar systems installed in more than 370 primary healthcare centres, the defect-liability period of the Abuja Premier Medical Warehouse, the operationalisation of the Lagos Hub and the upgrading of medical warehouses.

The Project Manager will ensure that assigned projects are completed within the approved scope, budget, quality standards and timelines. The officer will work closely with UNICEF health teams, government institutions, donors, contractors, UN agencies, development partners and other stakeholders.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Programme Development and Planning

• Lead the strategic design, planning and coordination of assigned health projects.

• Participate in discussions concerning primary healthcare, immunisation, maternal, newborn and child health, health-system strengthening and reduction of health inequalities.

• Develop project-management structures, implementation plans, budgets, monitoring frameworks, risk-management plans and performance indicators.

• Ensure that assigned projects are properly integrated into UNICEF Nigeria’s broader health programme.

• Work with UNICEF colleagues, government agencies, development partners, global health initiatives and implementing organisations to develop and manage project activities.

• Support the preparation and review of operational plans that address barriers affecting children, women and underserved communities.

Project Management, Monitoring and Delivery

• Coordinate project activities with government counterparts, donors, contractors, consultants and members of the project-management team.

• Manage contracts and monitor the work of construction, engineering, procurement and technical teams.

• Serve as a key contact between UNICEF and the different stakeholders involved in assigned projects.

• Monitor project schedules, budgets, outputs, risks, quality standards and contractual obligations.

• Identify delays, financial risks, technical challenges and implementation gaps and recommend corrective actions.

• Manage changes to project scope and support the resolution of claims and contractual disputes.

• Ensure compliance with UNICEF procedures, donor requirements, institutional policies and approved governance arrangements.

• Monitor financial performance and prepare accurate progress, expenditure and results reports.

• Coordinate the commissioning, inspection and formal handover of completed infrastructure.

• Establish monitoring benchmarks and measurable indicators for assessing project performance and accountability.

• Participate in programme reviews, monitoring visits, evaluations and annual sector reviews with government and development partners.

• Ensure that funding allocations are linked to programme performance, utilisation and compliance requirements.

• Maintain updated project monitoring frameworks and follow up on all agreed deliverables.

• Use programme data and evidence to improve or redesign activities where necessary.

Technical and Operational Support

• Provide technical and operational guidance to government agencies, NGOs, UN partners, contractors, donors and other stakeholders.

• Support partners in understanding and applying UNICEF policies, technical standards, procedures and good practices.

• Coordinate the implementation and monitoring of assigned health programmes and infrastructure projects.

• Promote improved access to quality healthcare services for women, newborns, children and adolescents.

• Ensure that project progress, innovations, lessons and achievements are properly documented and reported.

Partnership and Stakeholder Coordination

• Build and maintain effective working relationships with federal and state institutions, including health and planning authorities.

• Coordinate with global health partners such as Gavi, the Global Fund and other financing or technical institutions.

• Engage donors, academia, NGOs, private-sector organisations and other development partners.

• Prepare communication, advocacy and information materials that support partnerships and resource mobilisation.

• Promote knowledge exchange and collaboration among stakeholders involved in health-system-strengthening projects.

Innovation, Knowledge Management and Capacity Building

• Introduce appropriate innovations and good practices that improve project delivery and sustainability.

• Conduct or support research that provides evidence for health programming and infrastructure management.

• Organise training and capacity-strengthening activities for government counterparts, partners and project teams.

• Document and disseminate lessons learned, research findings, presentations, reports and successful approaches.

• Provide technical leadership for operational research connected to health systems, infrastructure and innovation.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

An advanced university degree, such as a master’s degree, in any of the following areas:

• Health
• Public Health
• Construction Management
• Financial Management
• Project or Programme Management
• International Relations
• Another closely related field

Experience:

• At least five years of relevant professional experience managing projects in the national or international health sector.

• Experience coordinating complex projects involving several partners, funding sources, contracts and deadlines.

DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE

Experience in at least three of the following areas will be an advantage:

• Management of immunisation projects
• Health-system-strengthening programmes
• Development of health funding proposals
• Introduction of innovations in complex environments
• Management of projects in Nigeria or a similar context
• Work with UNICEF, another UN agency, a development bank or global health initiative
• Work with Gavi, the Global Fund, GFF or similar institutions
• Work in fragile, emergency or humanitarian settings

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Strong project planning and coordination skills
• Contract and risk-management abilities
• Ability to manage complicated and sensitive situations under pressure
• Strong written and oral communication
• Negotiation and stakeholder-management skills
• Ability to manage organisational change
• Strategic thinking and decision-making
• Ability to prioritise tasks and allocate resources effectively
• Strong monitoring, reporting and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work with government, donors, contractors and diverse partners

LANGUAGE

Fluency in English is required.

Knowledge of French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Spanish or a Nigerian language is an advantage.

UNICEF COMPETENCIES

• Building and maintaining partnerships
• Ethical awareness and self-awareness
• Working collaboratively with others
• Achieving results with impact
• Strategic thinking
• Innovation and openness to change
• Managing complexity and uncertainty

APPLICATION DEADLINE

July 3, 2026.