Fund Director

UNOPS Myanmar

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations. With over 8,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, where they need it. By implementing around 1,000 projects for our partners at any given time, UNOPS makes significant contributions to results on the ground, often in the most challenging environments.

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). In addition, UNOPS is Principal Recipient for the Global Fund in Myanmar and for the Global Fund’s regional artemisinin-resistance initiative targeting drug resistant malaria in the greater Mekong sub-region. UNOPS also provides procurement, infrastructure and project management services to a wide range of organizations 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.

Joint Peace Fund 

The Joint Peace Fund was established in late 2015 as a multi-donor fund to support national efforts to achieve a final and lasting settlement of ethnic armed conflict in Myanmar. In working towards this goal, the JPF has delivered coordinated international financial and technical assistance to the Myanmar peace process. Donors to the fund, including through Ambassadorial representation, participate in its governance through the JPF Fund Board.

Over the past twelve months, the JPF has adapted its programming and approach to the challenging post - military takeover operating context. A revised multi-year strategy is being finalised and a revised structure and operating modalities will soon be defined to start a new multi-year cycle on 1 January 2023. 

Whereas the roles of Trustee, Contract Manager and Technical Secretariat were separated until now, the management structure has been streamlined and UNOPS will be the single managing agency from 1 January 2023 onwards. 

Under the overall responsibility of the UNOPS Myanmar Director and Representative, the Fund Director will provide leadership, strategic direction and promote best practice in performance and delivery of the JPF. S/he will oversee the Fund Management Office (FMO) of the Joint Peace Fund and is responsible for providing strategic guidance and policy advice, working in close consultation with the JPF Fund Board.  With a thorough understanding of the terms, conditions, and respective roles and responsibilities of relevant partners and stakeholders, the incumbent will be responsible for achievement of the JPF objectives as found in the revised JPF Strategy and Description of Action. 

1. Stakeholder Management

• Establish solid working relationships based on trust with the Fund Board, current and potential partners and key stakeholders.

• Manage JPF communications with stakeholders regarding Fund activities, progress and exceptions, enabling their ability to accept handover of Fund deliverables. 

• Advise the partners on issues that may impact the achievement of their outcomes. 

• Manage the information flows between the Fund Board, the UNOPS Director and Representative and the UNOPS team dedicated to the JPF. 

• Represent the JPF and UNOPS at external events and meetings

• Represent JPF in the UNOPS Management Group (MG) to ensure coordination, effective delivery and information sharing

• Seek new donors for the Joint Peace Fund (if this is required).

2. Delivery and Performance

• Oversee the implementation of approved programme plans, manage delivery of the programme’s outputs, and initiate corrective action where necessary.

• Authorize, monitor and control work packages to be delivered by the UNOPS team or by implementing partners.

• Advise the Fund Board on architecture and processes to strengthen JPF’s engagement at all levels

• Identify and manage risks, advising the Fund Board and UNOPS Director and Representative of deviations that have or will exceed set tolerances as approved in the programme plan.

• Monitor and evaluate performance of service providers. 

• Represent UNOPS at Fund Board meetings on a periodic basis as ex officio, non voting member in order to discuss key issues and propose solutions to challenges that arise.

• Monitor progress of the programme at a strategic level and ensure periodic progress and updates are made to the Fund Board. 

3. Procedures

• Ensure compliance with UNOPS organizational policy and UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations.

• Manage the JPF Fund Management Office to ensure performance of the Fund in the areas of programmatic/technical results delivery, financial management (budget/cash flow/expenditure), work planning and resource mobilization, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), administrative (including regular reporting and audit results) and procurement operations.

• Manage budgets, cash flow and obligations, taking accountability for expenditures against the budget; ensure that deliverables are met and payments to contractors, grantees/ implementing partners and personnel are received on time.

• Understand and manage UNOPS pricing policy and related corporate charges as they apply to JPF.

• Ensure implementing partner capacity is commensurate with funding requirements. 

• Ensure appropriate measures have been documented in a Closure Plan to facilitate the transition of operations in the final stage of delivery. 

4. Knowledge Management

• Provide feedback to Practice Leads on policy, supporting guidance with an aim towards continuous improvement of UNOPS policies complete lessons learned as per reporting format.

• Support UNOPS Myanmar’s efforts in being a centre of excellence for programme management.v

Education

• Master’s Degree in International Relations, Political / Security / Development Studies, Business / Public Administration or other relevant discipline is required

• Bachelor’s Degree in the subjects mentioned above with additional 12 years of relevant work experience to the above duties and responsibilities may be accepted in lieu of Master Degree. 

• Project Management or Programme Certification such as PRINCE2®, PMP® , or MSP®– preferred

Work Experience 

• A minimum of 10 years of responsible programme implementation and management experience with increasing autonomy and decision-making authority. 

• Among them, 5 years of experience managing government and donor relations, preferably for an international organization.

• Solid experience managing large programmes at a strategic level with financial oversight.

• Experience working in conflict-affected and highly political contexts is required. 

• Demonstrated political acumen and agility in politically-sensitive situations is required.

• Experience in conflict analysis, conflict sensitivity, peace building and reconciliation is highly desirable.

• Regional experience (i.e. Asia) is an advantage; experience in Myanmar would be considered a strong asset.

• Prior experience in supporting or managing multi-donor funds, including fiduciary responsibility and contract management would be a strong asset.

• Prior related experience in the UN system is an asset. 

• Experience in Google-based office software packages is an advantage.

Language Requirements

• Fluency in English is essential (must be able to effectively communicate in both oral and written form).

• Full knowledge of another UN working language is desirable.

Contract type: International Individual Contractor Agreement (IICA) Contract level: IICA-4, ICS-13
Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

• 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
• 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.
• The monthly fee will be based on the salary scale of the duty station: Bangkok initially, then Yangon when visas can be obtained.

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.