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Senior Programme Manager (Strategy)

Yangon

  • Organization: UNOPS - United Nations Office for Project Services
  • Location: Yangon
  • Grade: Mid level - LICA-11, Local Individual Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Project and Programme Management
    • Managerial positions
  • Closing Date: Closed

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

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. The Access to Health Fund is supported by 8 donors - the United Kingdom, Sweden, the United States, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, Norway and the corporate responsibility department of Takeda Pharmaceuticals . 

Access to Health Fund strengthens the health system at all levels, extending access for poor and vulnerable populations to quality health services. The Access to Health Fund has a particular focus on improving health equity in Myanmar, with emphasis on the hardest-to-reach and most vulnerable populations, many in conflict-affected areas. Focus areas of the Fund include maternal, newborn and child health, combating HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, and health system strengthening to deliver sustainable, efficient and responsive healthcare across Myanmar. 

The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS. 


Functional Responsibilities

The incumbent works in close collaboration with the Programmes Director to ensure the Access to Fund delivers excellent results through exemplary grant and program management.  S/he supervises four Advisory Teams , working to support the Programmes Department’s work:

  • Health System Strengthening, Data management and Health Team

  • Health Financing Team 

  • Health for All Team 

  • Immunization and emergency team


Management of the Strategy Department

  • Ensure the Department’s close collaboration and impeccable teamwork with the Programmes Department, the M&E Team, the Programme Support Unit, the Procurement Team, the LIFT Fund, the Global Fund Principal Recipients, and other relevant UNOPS stakeholders

  • This will include information sharing, joint visioning, joint planning, and working as ‘one team’ in the implementation of programmes

  • Provide guidance and support to four Advisory Teams within the Department: Health and Health Systems Strengthening team, Immunization and Emergency, Health Financing team and Health for All team 

  • Ensure that the technical and strategic advice provided by the Department’s teams meets the needs of the Programmes Department and responds to the Access to Health’s strategic direction and needs depends on the country’s political context and working environment

  • Ensure that the Access’s programmes actively pursue ways to deliver more health per dollar by expanding the set of essential health services available to people in Myanmar and increasing the number of people with access to these services

  • In partnership with the Programmes Department, and in close collaboration with relevant key stakeholders, ensure that program activities are aligned with the Fund’s strategies and  priorities, with EHOs’ priorities when relevant, with Access’ conflict sensitivity principles, with approaches to civil society engagement, and with other key principles of the Fund

  • Create and maintain strong partnerships with relevant external stakeholders, including major donors in health, in a spirit of supporting and facilitating each other’s work and aligning towards shared goals.

  • 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 communities in the conflict affected areas. Regularly communicate on these outcomes with partners and stakeholders. 


HSS / CSS/ engagement with private sector Advice

  • Work to ensure that Health and Community Systems Strengthening including ethnic health system, engagement with private sector is an integral part of the Fund’s investment

  • Support Health Financing unit in setting up, implementing and management of he Funds purchasing initiative 

  • Define, set up, and manage health systems strengthening initiatives

  • Ensure strong, constructive HSS/CSS/private sector partnerships with relevant UN, international and technical agencies, and private sector 


Health Advice

  • Provide sound, practical advice to the Programmes Department to ensure that the right health choices and approaches are understood and pursued.

  • Support efforts to bring together (‘integrate’) health interventions so as to deliver services in a more efficient way

  • Work in close collaboration with WHO and other Technical Agencies, systematically seeking their guidance and advice.


Health for All Advice

  • Provide value-adding, practical advice to the Programmes Department to ensure that (i) community engagement and (ii) conflict sensitivity are an integral part of the Fund’s approach (iii) Gender mainstreaming and inclusion, social inclusion, accountability and other cross cutting principles of the Fund



Management of the Fund

  • The incumbent is a key interlocutor with key stakeholders and assisting the  Senior Management Team's interactions with the both global, regional, national and state level stakeholders. 

  • As a senior member of the Access’ Management Team, collaborate closely with the Fund Director and Deputy Fund Director to  assume an active role in defining and steering the Fund’s strategic direction by guiding adaptation of the Fund to changing circumstances, and overseeing a constant learning and transformation agenda which aims to keep the Fund’s support at the forefront of the Myanmar Health response 

  • In coordination with and under the overall leadership of the Fund Director and Deputy FUnd Director, be able to present Access’ strategy at the highest levels with the Fund Board, and others as required.

  • Assist Fund Director and and senior management for oversight financial management of the Fund, budgeting, and work plan development 

  • Plan, guide and drive process related to the Funds operation such as annual reporting, budget revisions and grant making.


Information and knowledge management 

  • Ensure that the Strategy Department adequately manages knowledge and information – keeping the Access to Health Fund and its key Partners abreast of important developments and capturing and sharing lessons learned

  • On a regular basis, critically analyze risks to Access’ investments and develop, implement, and update mitigation plan(s) for identified risks.


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 7 years of relevant experience. 

  • A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline (for example: international development, public health, public administration, sociology, political science) with 9 years of relevant experience is considered as equivalent 

Work Experience
  • At least 7 years of experience managing grants or projects is required
  • Within the experience, at least 5 years of working in the health sector is required
  • Full competency in the usage of computers and office software packages including g-suite  is highly desirable
  • Experience of working sensitively and effectively in a culturally diverse setting is preferable
  • Previous experience with the Access to Health Fund highly desirable
  • Experience of working in local governance, including but not limited to formal local government structures, local and community based NGOs, traditional governance systems, and informal networks desirable
Language 
  • Fluency in English and Myanmar is required.


Competencies

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.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: ICA

Contract level: LICA11
Contract duration: Ongoing ICA – ‘Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.’

THIS IS LOCAL POSITION. ONLY MYANMAR NATIONALS ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY.
THIS POSITION IS OPEN TO UNOPS INTERNAL CANDIDATES ONLY. 

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 

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.


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