Deputy 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 (JPF) 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.

The Myanmar peace process has been extremely affected by the military takeover of February 2021 and its aftermath. Subsequently, the country has seen an ever-increasing spiral of violence, the appearance of new armed actors, and a generalized civilian resistance to the military in the form of numerous People’s Defence Forces. Institutions defending democracy, federalism and opposed to the coup have emerged and are in receipt of some support from the international community.

The JPF Fund Board (FB) has commissioned a new strategy to commence in 2023 to take account of this new and ever-changing context.

The Deputy Fund Director post is a challenging but rewarding one. The post holder will be joining the JPF at a time when it is embarking on a new strategy and will play a critical role in implementing that strategy. The post requires a mix of highly developed interpersonal, diplomatic and relationship-building skills alongside deft political and conflict analysis and programming skills.
Under the supervision of the JPF Fund Director, the Deputy Fund Director will provide technical leadership, strategic direction and promote the sector’s best practice in performance and delivery of the JPF. As part of the Fund Management Office (FMO) of the Joint Peace Fund, s/he will manage the JPF technical team will be responsible for providing strategic guidance and policy advice on the basis of the prevailing political and conflict context, working in close consultation with the JPF Fund Board and its Working Group. 

With a thorough understanding of the context in Myanmar, of the conflict and peace stakeholders in and around the country, of the terms, conditions, and respective roles and responsibilities of relevant partners and stakeholders, the incumbent will be responsible for the technical quality of the achievement towards the JPF objectives as found in the revised JPF Strategy and Description of Action. The post will advise the Fund Board and Fund Board Working Group on opportunities for constructively engaging and assisting peace stakeholders, providing analysis of the ongoing conflict in Myanmar, and recommending programme adjustments that allow JPF to remain aligned with the donors’ strategic goals for JPF. The description of responsibilities is further detailed below:

• Supervise, manage, and coach the technical team so that the task and duties are clearly linked to delivering the JPF strategic objective and outcomes. 

• In delivering on the JPF’s strategy, provide the Fund Director, Fund Board and Fund Board Working Group with strategic analysis, advice and guidance for programme opportunities and associated risks.

• Contribute to the political and operational analysis and input to the development of proposals, following the JPF’s partnership approach. 

• Manage external technical advisors, ensuring the provision of coordinated and consistent expert advice to key stakeholders and their negotiation teams. 

• Work closely with JPF personnel and external partners to embed the inclusion of gender dimensions and conflict sensitivity considerations into all systems, strategies and approaches and projects. 

• Ensure feedback from stakeholders and data from MEL systems feed into the continuous improvement of the JPF investments and inculcates a culture of adaptation and learning.

• Embrace flexibility to ensure the JPF is exploring options for systematic improvements in JPF processes and procedures to allow the JPF to meet or exceed international best practice in respect of programming in highly sensitive conflict contexts. 

• Inculcate JPF principles into daily behaviour and actions of all team members and JPF staff.

• Maintaining duty of care for staff.

• Identify and, where appropriate, respond to emerging research and analysis needs as well as innovative, nationally derived approaches and practices, which might increase the likelihood of the sustainability of the Myanmar peace efforts.

• Share information in a timely fashion with the Fund Director.

• Support the Fund Director in maintaining strong working relationships with key stakeholders and JPF donors.

• Maintain a strong and professional relationship between the technical staff and the grant management staff at JPF.

• The Deputy Fund Director will also manage the JPF in the absence of the Fund Director.

• Carry out other duties of temporary or permanent character within the organization when necessary.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Peace and Conflict Studies, Social Sciences, Management or related field is required.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of professional experience in peace and conflict working for international organizations, donor agencies and/or INGO is required.

• Within these 10 years, a minimum of 5 years of specific experience in a transitional environment and demonstrated ability to work within a conflict environment is required.

• Exceptional leadership, communication and liaison and partnership skills along with demonstrated experience in working with a range of national and international stakeholders is required.

• Demonstrably strong programme, project technical, financial management and oversight with strong experience in responding to donor requirements is required.

• Work on or related to Myanmar’s peace process and a strong knowledge of the Myanmar context is considered a strong asset. 

• Strong understanding of the deployment of best-practice peacebuilding initiatives, particularly as they relate to supporting an inclusive and nationally derived peace process is highly desirable.

• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships in a complex and rapidly changing context is an asset.

• Proven hands-on leader in establishing, documenting and deploying programme resources commensurate with the size and scope of the JPF is desirable.

Language

• Written and spoken fluency in English is essential.

• Full knowledge of another UN working language is desirable.

Contract type: International Individual Contractor Agreement (IICA) Contract level: IICA-4, ICS-12
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.