Programme Management Senior Officer

Contract

This is a LICA Specialist-9 contract. This kind of contract is known as Local Individual Contractor Agreements. It is normally only for nationals. It's an external contract. It usually requires 2 years of experience, depending on education. More about LICA Specialist-9 contracts.

Background Information - Myanmar

UNOPS Myanmar is one of UNOPS’ leading offices in Asia, acting as fund manager for three of the largest development programmes in the country, namely the Access to Health Fund, the Livelihood and Food Security Fund (LIFT) and the Joint Peace Fund (JPF), and acting as the Principal Recipient for the Global Fund in Myanmar. UNOPS provides procurement, infrastructure, and project management services to a wide range of organisations in the country, including international development partners, other UN agencies, NGOs, and INGOs. UNOPS plays a critical role in ensuring that the quality of services provided to its partners meets stringent requirements of speed, efficiency and cost effectiveness.

Background Information - Job-specific

Access to Health Fund

The Access to Health Fund aims to improve Health outcomes for vulnerable populations in conflict-affected areas of Myanmar. The Fund works with Ethnic Health Organizations, national and international NGOs, the United Nations, and other partners to increase people’s access to health-services (maternal, newborn and child health, combating HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria) and to strengthen health systems. The Access to Health Fund is supported by four donors - the United Kingdom, Sweden, the United States, and Switzerland.

Under the overall guidance of the Director and Deputy Director of the Fund, and the direct supervision of the Senior Programme Manager, the Programme Management Senior Officer is responsible for the management of grants and programmes managed by the Access to Health Fund.

Functional Responsibilities

Detailed duties and responsibilities:

Grant Making

• Assist in needs and resource assessments
• Assist in the evaluation of proposals received and the selection of Implementing Partners
• Lead in grant negotiations with implementing partners
• Coordinate with other funding sources to avoid duplication and overlapping
• Coordinate with grant team for finalizing grants making process and documentation in line with standard compliance procedures of UNOPS
• Track budget expenditures and payments according to grant support agreement (GSA) to ensure no interruption of fund flow
• Supervise and guide the Programme Management Associate for tracking the grant making process.
• Take proactive management actions related to the entire process and provide inputs to Senior Programme Manager and SMT for decision making as necessary

Grant Management

• Manage assigned grants of implementing partners through budget revisions, report clearances, regular meetings and monitoring visits
• Work closely with regional programme teams to ensure complementarity, consistency and efficiency across grants and programmes, mainly those implemented in the same geographical areas.
• Collaborate with the M&E Team to ensure the grants are implemented in line with agreed log frames, national strategies and Access to Health Fund's priorities
• Work together with Grant Team to ensure timely disbursement to implementing partners and in following up project audit recommendations
• Coordinate with Grant Team and Gender and Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Unit for tracking asset management of IPs, prevention of fraud, overall important cross cutting issues such as Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, fraud.
• Coordinate with Finance team tracking expenditures, cash forecasting, and seek advice for foreseeable audit issues when reviewing financial reports
• Work together with Procurement Team to ensure partners have timely and adequate supplies for implementation
• Maintain a clear understanding of grant outcomes, in particular as they relate to the strengthening of health systems and the improved health situation of vulnerable populations in conflict affected areas. Regularly communicate on these outcomes with partners and stakeholders
• Work with the M&E team and regional programme teams for the performance review, thematic review, mid term and annual review as relevant for the programme context.
• Contribute the report preparation of annual report and progress report in respective regional and thematic areas.
• Actively track and manage risks at grant level, seeking and implementing effective mitigation strategies

Portfolio Improvement

• Work closely with team members to promote an efficient portfolio which delivers integrated health services to vulnerable population in conflict affected areas of Myanmar
• Work closely with Health System Strengthening (HSS) Team and Health for All (HFA) Team to ensure grants contribute to the strengthening of health systems and ensuring cross cutting areas’ standards such as community feedback mechanism, conflict sensitivity and gender mainstreaming
• Work in close collaboration with Health Team/Programme Team: share information, seek their advice and give due consideration to advice received to move the portfolio forward in a way that is both managerially and technically sound
• Collaborate with the Procurement Unit helping ensure supplies and equipment are procured aligned with the overall procurement plan and procured items are distributed to respective destinations against the project timelines.
• With technical support from the Immunization Specialist, make sure surveillance and immunization activities take place as per the approved workplans of assigned grants and help address associated operational issues.
• Identify and suggest ways to expand integrated health services to vulnerable population in conflict affected areas
• Propose any initiative that may be necessary to adjust grants and portfolios and ensure they are in compliance with the Fund’s policy and strategies
• Provide teams with technical inputs as necessary for improving quality of the interventions defined under respective thematic areas the Fund is supporting

Knowledge Management

• Report any issues impacting the Fund’s interventions in Myanmar
• Assist in promoting information sharing on all aspects related to public health in Myanmar
• Closely work with Communication Team for external and internal communication of health related information on the Access to Health Fund
• Stay in close contact with the partners to understand the state and local level context and share information with the Senior Program Manager and/or SMT on developments that may impact grant performance

Partnership and coordination

• Participate in national and regional level coordination meetings to improve Fund representation
• Explore new potential partners to improve access for the quality health care and provide inputs for making appropriate and effective Fund investments
• Coordinate with other fund managers such as GF-PRs and bilateral funding for new programme development or rescoping of existing programmes, revision of geographic coverage
• Assist Programme Manager for the overall management of regional portfolio of the fund, and support engagement with new partners especially for new EHOs and CSOs
• Actively seek opportunities to improve programme effectiveness and equity through employing localization strategies, including risk sharing, self-driven organizational capacity development, results-based financing, etc

Education/Experience/Language requirements

a. Education

• A Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (for example: public health, international development, public administration)
• A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline with two additional years of public health work experiences

b. Work Experience

• At least 2 years of relevant experience in the management of health or development programs is required
• Demonstrated ability to work with minimal supervision in a complex environment is required
• Good writing and analytical skills are required
• Experience in working for immunization programmes and vaccine preventable diseases & epidemic prone diseases surveillance is desirable
• Experience in public health is preferred
• Competency in the usage of computers and office software packages is desirable

c. Languages

• Fluency in both written and spoken English and Myanmar is required.

Competencies

Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles. Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role). Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries. Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements. Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving. Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: ICA Contract level: LICA 9 Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link: https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

This vacancy is for Myanmar National only.

Additional Considerations

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

Background Information - UNOPS

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.