Background Information – UNOPS
UNOPS – an operational arm of the United Nations – supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by successfully implementing its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development.
UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management, and human resources.
Working with us
We are proud of our people. With a wealth of knowledge and skills in various disciplines – engineering, finance, human resources, ICT, leadership, project management, procurement, and more – they help tackle some of the biggest challenges of our time. Their work around the world supports progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
At UNOPS, we offer a range of short- and long-term opportunities in various environments and duty stations – from Denmark and Kenya to Mexico, Switzerland, Myanmar, Senegal, Uganda, and many more.
Diversity
With over 5,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,400 personnel recruited on behalf of our partners, spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced and diverse labor force — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs. We continually strive to maintain our gender-balanced workplace. We encourage qualified underrepresented groups as per UNOPS Gender, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy to apply for our vacancies.
Work life harmonization
UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.
Background Information – Job-specific
UNOPS Thailand
UNOPS team in Thailand supports, develops and oversees the UNOPS portfolio of projects in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
Located in Bangkok, the team supports UN agencies, international non-governmental organizations, and governments throughout the region. We provide a range of services, including human resources (HR), financial management, procurement and project implementation services.
UNOPS Thailand delivers large-scale and high volume transactional HR services on behalf of global partners.
To best serve partners’ needs, our team utilizes standardized and unified systems and processes to ensure the highest quality of services and cost-effectiveness for partners.
Job Specific
The Senior Programme Manager Role leads the Health Equity Initiative and helps address critical health needs in Myanmar and those which impact regional and global health security. The initiative aims to help poor and vulnerable people, especially from conflict-affected areas, to access quality health services.
Under the supervision of the Head of Programme, the Senior Programme Manager is responsible for the following:
Portfolio Development and Management
- Develop a coordinated and effective portfolio of grants, aligned to the strategy, principles and theory of change of the Health Equity Initiative
- Oversee development of clear and efficient portfolio management system
- Oversee simplification of processes and procedures to ensure accessibility and support to localization
- Implement adequate systems of monitoring and evaluation for the programme
- Ensure adequate fund flow and financial management systems are in place
Partnerships and Coordination
- Build partnerships with relevant actors in areas of operation to support improved health outcomes for poor and vulnerable populations of Myanmar
- Work closely with colleagues and support activities as per need and request of the Head of Programme
- Attend relevant coordination meetings and forums
- Support and encourage field-level coordination activities for implementing partners
- Maintain strong partnerships with donor agencies, including timely information sharing and strategic overview
Reporting
- Ensure establishment and maintenance of reporting systems (narrative, financial and results) as per donor requirements
- Ensure safe information flows between key partners given the sensitive political situation in Myanmar
Oversight and Compliance
- Ensuring alignment to the Strategy and Theory of Change
- Ensure compliance of implementing partners with UNOPS policies and procedures
- Ensure compliance of implementing partners with Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse minimum requirements through engagement with UNOPS Gender and PSEA Unit
- Ensure safe procedures and practises are in place for staff safety
Mainstreaming of key principles
- Mainstream and promote key principles including:
- Ensure principles of localization are upheld wherever possible, encouraging autonomy and building local partnerships
- Mainstream gender equality throughout the work of the fund, including improved health for people of all genders and encouraging women’s voice and representation
- Adopt a context and conflict-sensitive programme management approach, including mainstreaming social cohesion wherever possible
- Maintain flexibility and prioritize responsiveness and adaptations as necessary
Risk Management, Lessons Learned and Documentation
- Oversee risk management and the implementation of mitigation actions and related UNOPS activities, including the maintenance of risk register
- Document and share lessons learned from the Fund’s activities
- Ensure reporting deadlines are met, including narrative and financial reports
- Oversee the work plan and key performance indicators
- Maintain strong systems of document and digital security
The Senior Programme Manager will further assist with any other tasks as per agreement with the Head of Programme.
Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization.(for levels IICA-2, IICA-3, LICA Specialist- 10, LICA Specialist-11, NOC, NOD, P3, P4 and above)
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.
Education/Experience/Language requirements
Education
- A Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (for example: international development, public health, public administration, sociology, political science) with seven ( 7) years of relevant experience.
- A Bachelor’s degree with nine (9) years of relevant experience is considered as equivalent
Work Experience
Mandatory:
- Minimum seven (7) years of relevant experience, including a mix of project/programme management (mandatory), research, communication, health service provision, or other relevant work experience
- At least three years of working experience in the health sector in South East Asian countries, preferably in Myanmar
- Excellent understanding of the Health partner landscape in Myanmar or its neighboring countries
- Proven experience in communicating to a range of stakeholders
Desirable:
- Experience in strategic planning, including the use of the logical framework approach and other planning activities
- Risk management experience
- Good understanding of cross-cutting themes in health programming: equity, conflict sensitivity, gender and human rights
- Experience in drafting operational policies, program memos, thematic papers, etc.
- Familiarity and past interactions with a broad network of health partners in Myanmar or its neighboring countries
- Grant-making experience within UNOPS or other UN agencies
- Previous work experience at UNOPS or in connection with UNOPS (e.g. as a grantee)
- Strong understanding of UNOPS rules and processes
Languages
Fluency in written and spoken English is required
Contract type, level and duration
Contract type: International Individual Contractor Agreement Contract level: ICS11/IICA-3 Contract duration: Ongoing (1 year, renewable subject to performance and budget availability)
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
The position is based in a non-family duty station (Families under evacuation status).
- 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.
- UNOPS embraces diversity and it is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, or disability.
- 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.
- All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
- 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.
How to apply
Interested candidates to apply via https://jobs.unops.org/Pages/ViewVacancy/VADetails.aspx?id=24643