Senior Programme Manager (Fund Management) (Internal vacancy)

The UNOPS South East Asia and Pacific Multi Country Office (EAPMCO), established in 2017, supports, develops and oversees the UNOPS portfolio of projects in South East Asia and the Pacific. With its head office in Bangkok, the Multi-Country Office comprises five main business units: EAPMCO Thailand, EAPMCO Indonesia,  EAPMCO Pacific Operations Cluster, EAPMCO Papua New Guinea, EAPMCO China, EAPMCO Cambodia, EAPMCO Laos, EAPMCO Vietnam, and EAPMCO Philippines. 

​​​​​​A Secretariat incorporated into UNOPS will support the Steering Committee (SC) and facilitate the implementation of SC’s decisions. The Secretariat will operate as per defined Terms of Reference approved by the SC. The Secretariat will undertake day-to-day management and operation of the ETP Fund: (1) it launches Calls for Proposal and carries out proposals assessments; (2) it provides assistance and support to projects; (3) facilitates the design, development and implementation of an overall M&E strategy; (4) monitors progress made by each project during the implementation phase.

The Secretariat will work in close cooperation with the SC, the Advisory Committee and the Senior Programme Manager, as well as UNOPS Services. The members of the secretariat will be selected following UNOPS rules and regulations.

Within the framework of the delegated authority, the incumbent is assigned all or part of the following duties which are performed according to organizational needs and structure:

Reporting to the ETP Director, the incumbent will be responsible for effective, transparent and efficient management of the Fund in concert with the ETP Secretariat, and will have delegated authority for the management of the Fund under the Rules and Regulations of UNOPS, and in accordance with the strategy approved by the ETP Steering Committee.

Under the general guidance and supervision of the ETP Director, EAPMCO, the Senior Programme Manager’s responsibilities include the following:

1. Strategy development and implementation

a.  Support the Secretariat and Steering Committee to develop a strategy that articulates the Steering Committee’s vision, direction and underlying principles for funding decisions, its relationship with partners, and its role in policy advocacy for the rural poor in the country. 

b.  Develop an implementation plan for the operational component of the strategy that is sufficiently detailed to guide operational decisions of the Secretariat and the Steering Committee.

c.  Lead the operational development of new components to the ETP, ensuring that they are in line with the overall ETP strategy. 

d.  Develop and implement an appropriate risk management process for the Fund, including associated procedures for effective identification and management of financial and business risks, including fraud and corruption.

e.  Develop, publicize, and update as necessary essential operational documents and policies, including: project operations manual; a communications strategy; and, implementation guidelines for important cross-cutting themes, including gender,  accountability etc.

f.   Ensure compliance with relevant operational documents and policies.

2.  Operations

a.  Establish and maintain a functional office with all appropriate support functions; liaise with relevant functions and departments within the MCO and the organization

b.  Employ, manage and motivate the staff needed to fulfill the responsibilities of the Senior Programme Manager. Staffing levels will be approved by the Steering Committee through approval of an annual budget for the Senior Programme Manager.

c.  Establish systems for identification and selection of implementing partners  in line with UNOPS’ Rules and Regulations. 

d.  Establish financial systems to ensure that funds are held, disbursed and accounted for in a timely, transparent and efficient manner.

e.  Establish and ensure compliance with the relevant policy to address fiduciary risk and fraud.

f.  In coordination with the ETP Secretariat, submit an annual budget to the Steering Committee

g.  Develop an appropriate donor reporting system and ensure timely and accurate annual reporting 

h. Lead the engagement with new and existing funders and stakeholders, including negotiation and review of legal agreements and related appropriate UNOPS due processes. 

i. Oversee the development of programme life and annual budgets and reporting.

3.  Monitoring, evaluation and learning

a.  In concert with the ETP Secretariat, develop and implement an M&E strategy that is capable of: monitoring and reporting the utilization of the funds; monitoring the performance of implementing partners - in particular financial reporting; and ensuring that Fund resources are used effectively. 

b.  Ensure that implementing partners fulfill their reporting obligations, including enabling the participation of beneficiaries, and that recording and reporting systems are harmonized both among implementing partners and with national systems where possible.

c. Build capacity and knowledge on relevant areas within the Secretariat, and liaise within UNOPS services

4.  Dialogue and communication

a.  In coordination with the ETP Secretariat, ensure regular consultative meetings with implementing partners to ensure dialogue and information exchange.

b.  Support the Director of the ETP Secretariat in maintaining a dialogue with national authorities and coordination mechanisms

c.  Ensure appropriate visibility for the Steering Committee members. 

d.  Oversee the ETP internal and external communication activities ensuring timely development of information and communication material in line with ETP Communication Strategy.

5.  Steering Committee / Donor Consortium support

a.  Support the Steering Committee and the Secretariat in their visibility efforts and logistics where   appropriate

b.  Provide appropriate inductions for new members of the Steering Committee and the Donor Consortium to assist them to meet their responsibilities.

Education:

●  Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) is required preferably in International Relations, Political / Development Studies, Business / Public Administration or other relevant discipline is required

●  A Bachelor's degree in these areas with additional two (2) years of relevant experience is considered as equivalent. 

●   A relevant combination of academic credentials and/or industry certifications and qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the university education

Experience:

● Minimum of seven (7) years of progressive and responsible programme/project implementation and management experience or a background in related fields in combination with an advanced degree in a relevant discipline is required.

● Relevant professional experience must include  five (5) years of experience at the international level, including experience at a senior management level.

● Experience of managing stakeholder relations while working for an international organization or related experience is required

● Experience in contract management is an asset.

● Experience in procurement, fund management, and grant management is an asset

● Regional experience in South East Asia is an advantage; experience in Indonesia and/or The Philippines and/or Viet Nam would be considered an asset.

● Leadership experience with strong communication and interpersonal skills are required.

● Prior experience in supporting or managing implementation of multi-donor supported projects would be a strong asset.

Language:

● Fluency in English is required.

● Working knowledge of another, official UN language is desirable.

1. Contract type: International Individual Contractor Agreement (IICA)
2. Contract level: ICS 11 / IICA 3
3. Contract duration: Ongoing ICA – ‘Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.’

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• 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 (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and 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 personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.