Project Manager (Landfill/Waste Management)
Job Category
Project
Duty Station(s)
Douala
Seniority Level
Mid Level
ICS Level
ICS 10
Contract Type
ICA – IICA – Regular
Contract Level
IICA 2
Posting End Date
30-Apr-2026
Duration
ongoing
Job Highlight
UNOPS is supporting the Ministry of Environment, Nature Protection, and Sustainable Development (MINEPDED) as part of a project funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB). This $6M project aims to provide technical assistance for the design of waste treatment sites in Cameroon and the construction of two of them. UNOPS will oversee the construction of two sites in Douala: one hazardous waste storage facility and one treatment center for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). UNOPS will also support capacity building in waste management, as well as the operationalization and maintenance of the sites, and the procurement of critical equipment needed for the centers to function. The aim of this intervention is to reduce pollution and health risks associated with illegal dumping, while promoting waste recovery and recycling in Cameroon’s two most populous cities.
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
The Central Africa Multi-Country Office (CAMCO) based in Yaoundé, Cameroon, oversees operations in 15 countries across Central Africa. CAMCO is responsible for developing, delivering, managing and implementing a portfolio of projects and programmes spread across 15 countries – Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic (CAR), Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Madagascar, Republic of Congo, and Rwanda – and includes 5 Small Island Developing States (SIDS) – Cape Verde, Comoros, Mauritius, Sao Tome & Principe, and Seychelles.This MCO manages an active project portfolio exceeding $600 million, with a strong focus on infrastructure. 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 Central Africa Multi-Country Office (CAMCO) based in Yaoundé, Cameroon, oversees operations in 15 countries across Central Africa. CAMCO is responsible for developing, delivering, managing and implementing a portfolio of projects and programmes spread across 15 countries – Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic (CAR), Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Madagascar, Republic of Congo, and Rwanda – and includes 5 Small Island Developing States (SIDS) – Cape Verde, Comoros, Mauritius, Sao Tome & Principe, and Seychelles.This MCO manages an active project portfolio exceeding $600 million, with a strong focus on infrastructure. 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.
Role Purpose
The Project Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the project(s) and provides services to the different donors, partners and beneficiaries. He/she is expected to meet and exceed the organization’s performance and delivery goals.
Functions / Key Results Expected
Summary of functions:
Project Delivery and Performance
Procedures
Monitoring and reporting
Stakeholder engagement
Quality assurance
Knowledge management and innovation
Personnel management
Project Delivery and Performance
Implement the approved plan (including the establishment of milestones) within tolerances set by the Project Board.
Embed sustainability dimensions including social and gender inclusion, environmental and economic aspects into project life span.
Manage the production of the required outputs, taking responsibility for overall progress and use of resources and initiating corrective action where necessary.
Ensure that quality of work packages and deliverables complies with the quality requirements defined in the Implementation Plan.
Liaise with any external suppliers or account managers
Manage acceptance and delivery of work packages
Monitor project progress ensuring that work packages are being executed properly
Control project and work packages changes
Accept goods, services or works delivered by suppliers.
Lead contract management duties including supplier performance evaluation.
Act as the Employer’s Representative within the FIDIC works contracts.
Identify, and anticipate in a timely manner, potential risks and issues and advises mitigating measures to senior management/ Project Board so that maximum benefit to partner(s) and other stakeholders is achieved
Identify and report to the supervisor potential business opportunities for UNOPS
2. Procedures
Comply with all organizational policy and specifically the Project Management Manual
Prepare/adapt all relevant plans for approval by the Project Board.
Manage the reporting obligations defined in the Legal Agreement(s) and in the Implementation Plan
Draft the requirements definitions for procurement processes. Approving requisitions and requests for non-purchase order payments; Evaluating submissions received, if appointed to the evaluation team. (if applicable)
Ensure maintenance of the project files and lessons learned are recorded
En sure the development and implementation of project financial management guidelines and control mechanisms, in conformity with UNOPS rules and regulations.
Manage budgets, cash flow and obligations to ensure that deliverables are met and payments to contractors and personnel are received on time.
Understand and manage UNOPS overheads, allocable charges, and related corporate charges as they apply to the project
Understand the unique structures of the UN and budget appropriately for personnel
Manage expenditures against the budget (based on accurate financial reports)
Where the Project Manager has no delegation as a committing officer, s/he retains these responsibilities and will monitor and instruct/request others to carry out the relevant commitments and disbursements.
For project closure purposes, provide a formal handover of the project to the closure manager
Support project audit activities, including planning, preparation and coordination during the audits and follow up on audit observations/recommendations
3. Monitoring and reporting
Prepare and issue regular project and/or financial reports in accordance with Partner and UNOPS requirements for reporting.
Regularly review project status, evaluating performance criteria (scope, cost, schedule and quality).
Maintain diaries and progress reports as required by the organization’s standard procedures.
Provide routine oversight and analysis of delivery data within the dashboard system.
Ensure all project team members track and regularly update milestones and targets for the duration of projects’ life span
4. Stakeholder engagement
Develop stakeholder profiles and facilitate the formulation of stakeholder engagement strategies
Establish solid working relationships with the Project Board (Executive, Senior Users and Senior Suppliers), client and key stakeholders
Enable the formulation of project communications plans. Coordinate internal project communications. Monitor the effectiveness of project communications
Coordinate stakeholder engagement and communication, ensuring effective timing and interdependency management of communications. Ensure stakeholders are aware of project activities, progress, exceptions and are in a position to accept handover outputs
5. Quality assurance
Work Stakeholder engagementith internal stakeholders to ensure projects comply with audit requirements
Work with procurement/purchasing staff to ensure effective interface with suppliers’ quality systems
Coordinate quality reviews of project documents and deliverables
Provide quality control for management outputs (project documents, reports, etc.)
6. Knowledge management and innovation
Encourage routine and effective capacity building activities are conducted in order to build the long-term and sustainable capacity of staff.
Actively interact with other Project Managers and the wider PM community to share case studies, lessons learned and best practices
Contribute to the oversight of lessons learned procedures, ensuring that lessons learnt are shared in a timely and appropriate manner. Participate in the relevant Communities of Practice
Research and logging of lessons learned throughout the project life span.
Provide feedback to Practice Groups on policy, supporting guidance with an aim towards continuous improvement of UNOPS policies
7. Personnel Management
Lead and motivate the project management team
Ensure that behavioural expectations of team members are established
Ensure that performance reviews are conducted fairly, accurately and timely
Select, recruit and train the team as required and take into account gender parity and diversity objectives.
Ensure safety and security for all project personnel and comply with UNDSS standards
Create, foster and role model a culture of respect and zero tolerance for discrimination, abuse of authority, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual exploitation and abuse. Ensure accountability for actions and perform duties in accordance with protection mechanisms and action plans, as expected by UNOPS policies, standards and commitments.
Skills
Environmental Monitoring, Personnel Management, Quality Assurance, Stakeholder Engagement
Competencies
Education Requirements
Required
Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Project Management, Civil Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Management of Industrial and Environmental Risks or related fields with 7 years of relevant experience OR
Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any of the above or related fields with 5 years of relevant experience is required
Desired
PRINCE2, PMP, or an equivalent qualification is desired
Experience Requirements
Required
Relevant experience is work in construction management or related areas.
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.
At least two years of work experience in solid waste management activities is desirable
Provides specialist engineering advice on issues such as landfill gas, leachate, landfill capping systems and liners, stormwater, groundwater, geotechnical and environmental issues is desirable
Analysis and development of institutional arrangements for local and/or central government agencies and experience with agencies directly responsible for solid waste management is desirable
Language Requirements
Language Proficiency Level Requirement
French Fluent Required
English Fluent Required
HOW TO APPLY ?
All applications must be submitted ONLINE at : https://careers.unops.org/careersmarketplace/JobDetail/Project-Manager-Landfill-Waste-Management/2526
