Operational Project Manager (PMO)

Description

Position Summary: UNICEF Spain is seeking an Operational Project Manager (PMO) for the Technology Directorate, to join a transformation initiative aimed at enhancing operational project management and monitoring. Key Highlights: 1. Operational management, planning, and support for transformation projects. 2. Definition and maintenance of project management methodologies and quality standards. 3. Coordination of teams, risk management, and promotion of continuous improvement. Over this and the coming years, and aligned with the defined strategic plan, a multi-dimensional organizational transformation is underway. In this context, and reporting to the Project Lead, UNICEF Spain’s Directorate of Technology, Data Integration and Innovation is recruiting for the position of **Operational Project Manager (PMO)**. The role will be responsible for the operational management, planning, monitoring, and support of various projects in alignment with defined objectives and in coordination with teams assigned to each project, thereby contributing as efficiently as possible to achieving the transformation plan’s goals—and ultimately supporting UNICEF Spain’s overall objectives. **MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES** * Ensure timely, high-quality delivery of projects, contributing to the achievement of established objectives. * Define, propose, and maintain a common project management methodology—including frameworks, standards, templates, monitoring criteria, and best practices—to enable coordinated, efficient, goal-oriented project management. * Support governance across the portfolio of projects by facilitating holistic visibility, initiative prioritization, and escalation of key decisions—coordinating with relevant stakeholders. * Ensure integrated project planning, identifying critical milestones, dependencies, workloads, potential overlaps, and coordination needs among initiatives. * Conduct operational and cross-cutting project monitoring—tracking progress, deadlines, deliverables, incidents, and deviations—to ensure timely and effective achievement of defined objectives. * Ensure project deliverables comply with quality standards and meet specified requirements. * Develop dashboards, progress reports, and key performance indicators (KPIs), providing reliable, concise, decision-oriented information for accountability and executive oversight. * Guarantee effective communication related to individual projects, facilitating information flow among involved teams and other stakeholders. * Support proper tracking and documentation of the plan and each project within the JIRA tool by involved teams. * Operate as the functional coordinator for project-related teams—facilitating work planning and organization, deadline definition, commitment tracking, progress supervision, identification and resolution of blockers or conflicts, and necessary motivation and coordination to achieve defined objectives. * Identify, analyze, and monitor risks, incidents, dependencies, and potential deviations—proposing mitigation, corrective, or escalation measures when required. * Proactively support teams in adopting project management methodologies, tools, and processes—and assist in managing change associated with transformation projects, including communication, user adoption, and user support. * Drive continuous improvement of project processes, tools, and monitoring mechanisms—identifying optimization opportunities and promoting practices that enhance efficiency and management quality. * Coordinate operational engagement with external vendors linked to projects—monitoring commitments, deliverables, timelines, and incidents—in coordination with respective internal leads. * Support financial and budgetary monitoring of projects—facilitating expense control, forecasting, variance analysis, and adjustment needs—to minimize discrepancies against the planned budget. * University degree or higher vocational training (technical field, engineering, telecommunications, computer science, or equivalent). * Minimum five years’ proven experience in similar roles (project management, coordination, and monitoring), preferably within PMO functions in technology transformation environments. * Knowledge and experience with agile methodologies (SCRUM) and project management applications (JIRA). * Knowledge and experience in project management under PMBOK methodologies. * Experience working collaboratively in technology-driven change environments and in professional settings serving large, diverse user groups. * English language proficiency (minimum required level: B2). * Strong communication skills, cross-functional collaboration abilities, and internal customer orientation. * Capacity for planning, organizing, and coordinating teams, tasks, and external vendors. * Results orientation, problem-solving ability, continuous improvement mindset, and rigorous execution—with attention to detail and focus on quality. * High work capacity, proactivity, and autonomy—combined with a positive, constructive, and cooperative attitude. * Social sensitivity and interest in social causes—particularly children’s rights. * Valid work permit in Spain. **ADDITIONAL ASSETS** * Project management certifications (PMP, SCRUM, etc.). * Paid or volunteer work experience in humanitarian organizations. * References