Project Management Support Specialist - Health Systems Strengthening (Retainer)_(Re-advertisement)

Organizational Context

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner. 

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations. 

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it. 

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale. 

Ethiopia Multi-country office (ETMCO) sub-region currently consists of an established Operation Centre in Addis Ababa which manages a portfolio of engagements in four (4)  Horn of Africa countries  (Ethiopia, Djibouti, Sudan and South Sudan).  ETMCO focuses on Infrastructure, Procurement, Project Management, HR and Transactional Services, and Fund Management services across a wide range of sectors including Health, Education, Agriculture, Resilient infrastructure among others.  

Our goal is to support countries, help people in need and enable our partners through  delivering on our mandate of infrastructure, procurement and project management in the countries in the Horn of Africa.  Building on our global experience successfully delivering projects in complex operating environments, a healthy pipeline of engagements are at various stages of discussion with our priority partners.  

Project Background

UNOPS has signed a project agreement with the Ministry of Health to strengthen the Capacity of the Ministry for the Realization of Health Sector Transformation Plan (HSTP-II) on selected priorities. This project will be implemented in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and the overall objective/purpose is to contribute towards the realization of selected strategic priorities of the Health Sector Transformation Plan (HSTP-II) which is more on project management focusing on institutional capacity building, technical assistance etc. UNOPS is selected to manage and implement the project by creating a project management unit (PMU).

This unit will be formed by a group of experts and specialists in the relevant matters that will be in charge of delivering the outputs.

The Project Management Support Specialist will report to the UNOPS Project Manager (PM) and will be working in close and day-to-day collaboration with the client institution, particularly the Office of the Minister. The PM will also gather feedback from the client to manage and assess the deliverables.

Strategic Initiative:  

• Enhance provision of equitable and quality comprehensive health services

• Enhance Informed Decision Making and Innovation 

• Support mobilization of more resources from different sources and improving coordination among development partners in the implementation of the interventions and major initiatives outlined in the three-year medium-term health sector development and investment plan. 
• The Project Management Support Specialist focuses on building sustainable and resilient health systems. Technical support areas include: Healthcare Financing, leadership and governance, data use & evidence generation, Human Resource Development & capacity building, health commodity security, public health emergency management, health infrastructure, and others. 
• The Project Management Support Specialist will closely work with units in the Ministry, agencies, Regional Health Bureau and partners.
• The Project Management Support Specialist will support development of grants for various donors, and follows up grant performance and programmatic implementation. It also includes corresponding with donors, writing reports and evaluation results for specific grants assigned by the Minister
• Works with various units and agencies to ensure commodity security like: SRH, TB, Malaria, Public health emergencies, HIV, and other critical items when assigned by the Minister
• Representing the Minister in various units when assigned, 
• Designing new initiatives for critical health system challenges
• Mentorship and coaching of mid-level health care managers in the Ministry

• M.D. (Doctor of Medicine), Master’s degree in Public Health, Business Administration, Project Management, or other related fields is required.
• A Bachelor's Degree or equivalent in Public Health, Business Administration, Project Management, or other related fields with two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of Master’s Degree requirement.

• Specialty Certifications in various clinical fields is an asset. 

Experience 

• At least five (5) years of proven experience of work directly related to high level management positions in the health systems strengthening and program management is required. 
• Extensive experience in health system strengthening, primary health care, partnership & alignment, health care financing & resource Mobilization, public health emergency management, and evidence use for policy design and evaluation is desirable.
• Ability to demonstrate in-depth understanding and analytical capacity across issues related to health system strengthening, partnership & alignment, public health emergency management, and others with a focus on decentralized, evidence-based planning, prioritization, and monitoring is an asset.
• Experience working with departments within the Ministry of Health, Regional Health Bureaus, development partners and excellent understanding of Ethiopia’s health system is desirable.
• Ability to build teamwork between MoH and DPs is desirable.
• Good communication and negotiation skills is an asset.

1. Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement (LICA)
2. Contract level: LICA-10 (ICS10)
3. Contract duration: One year, with possibility of extension

• 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.

To apply for a vacancy, please create a UNOPS Jobs Account. This involves submitting details such as personal information, education, experience, languages, skills and other information.

Learn more about how to apply.