Technical Officer

Switzerland

The UNOPS Geneva office hosted Stop Tuberculosis Partnership Secretariat (STBP) as of 1 January 2015. The vision of the Stop TB Partnership is to realize the goal of elimination of TB as a public health problem and, ultimately, to obtain a world free of TB by ensuring that every TB patient has access to effective diagnosis, treatment and cure; stopping transmission of TB; reducing the inequitable social and economic toll of TB; and developing and implementing new preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic tools and strategies. The Stop Partnership is uniquely positioned to support the development and further implementation by partners of the current and future Global Plan, acting as a coordinator and catalyst for the range of partners engaged in the fight against TB.

TB REACH provides grants to NGOs, National TB Programs, National AIDS Programs and other organisations for innovative projects that aim to find and treat people with TB in some of the poorest, most vulnerable communities in the world. It seeks to reach people who would otherwise have not received quality TB care. In areas with limited or non-existent TB care, TB REACH deploys new approaches to fighting TB that can be scaled up by national or local programs and other donors. Launched in 2010 following a grant from the Canadian government, TB REACH is managed by the Stop TB Partnership Secretariat. More information on TB REACH can be found at http://stoptb.org/global/awards/tbreach/. The Challenge Facility for Civil Society (CFCS) provides small grants to local NGOs working to strengthen the voice of civil society in the fight against TB.

The Technical Officer will work under the direct supervision of the Innovations and Grants Team Leader and in close collaboration with the rest of the Innovations and Grants team and may help support other teams such as Global Fund as needed. This individual will be primarily responsible for management of and communication with over 80 active grants, helping to organize and supporting the grant selection and approval process, and providing monitoring and evaluation support as needed. In addition, the individual will be involved in making decisions about procurement of TB diagnostics as part of TB REACH grants as well as the UNITAID funded TBXpert Project. The Technical Officer will will also be required to participate in meetings, conferences and country visits as needed.

The incumbent works on the basis of general instructions, own experience and precedents, following Partnertnership or UNOPS specific procedures and practices, rules and regulations, to ensure smooth work flow in the assigned area of work.  The incumbent is encouraged to seek guidance for unusual issues. Most of the work is controlled for correctness and appropriateness by the incumbent.

Below are some of the functionalities.

GENERAL

• Managing TB REACH and CFCS grants.
• Ensuring timely completion of quarterly reports by grantees and reviewing reports for completion of all required data.
• Following up on M&E, implementation, work plan, project indicators, and procurement related issues that arise through technical reports and through communication with grantees.
• Providing technical support for Proposal Review Committee (PRC) meetings as part of the grant selection process.
• Helping to review proposals for funding for completion, coherence and basic eligibility requirements.
• Managing and analyse project data and provide basic statistical analysis as needed.
• Reviewing procurement requests for diagnostics prior to placing orders.
• Writing donor reports.
• Helping to develop advocacy materials for grants.
• Supporting development of the web-based grant management tool, updating and monitoring the web-based grant application tool, and continuous updating of the TB REACH website as needed.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

• Providing technical support and M&E of grantee projects during country visits.
• Assist in statistical analysis of project data
• Traveling to participate in quarterly M&E meetings if needed.
• Coordinate and participate in grantee meetings and proposal selection meetings.
• Traveling to conferences, other meetings and workshops as needed.

• Writing high quality technical reports.

GRANT MANAGEMENT

• Assisting in ensuring timely payments to grantees and communicating with grantees regarding spending and budgeting issues.
• Providing support analysing funds available and disbursed for grant payments and procurement for donor reports and for ad hoc requests.

COMMUNICATIONS

• Corresponding with grantees on M&E, technical, finance, and procurement related issues. Relay information to relevant parties within Stop TB Partnership or to external partners as needed. Ensure appropriate follow up action is taken to address grantee concerns.
• Corresponding with external partners and arrange meetings as needed.
• Corresponding with external M&E partner on grantee data, and follow up directly with grantee if further action is needed. Ensure grantees are providing needed data to M&E reviewers, and ensure proper communication between grantee and M&E reviewers.
• Providing support in TB diagnostics procurement by determining quantification of needs grantees’ needs.
• Collaborating with grantees to promote their participation in national TB partnerships or community based initiatives at the country level.
• Reviewing and carefully analysing all incoming documentation related to the Global Fund Board, Committees and health-related or TB-related issues in general, and providing relevant advise as appropriate.

OTHER DUTIES

• Performing other duties as assigned by supervisor.

UNOPS Core Values/Competencies

• Professionalism
• Integrity
• Respect for diversity
• Creativity and innovation
• Accountability
• Planning and organization skills
• Results orientation
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Teamwork skills
• Client orientation
• Commitment to continuous learning

Functional Competencies

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plans and applies newly acquired skills.

Development and Operational Effectiveness

• Proven track record of successfully supporting/implementing a broad range of support services, ensuring efficient and effective project delivery, adapting to the needs of the client.
• Understanding of Stop TB Partnership’s goals, operational environment and its clients, as well as the UN mandate.
• Ability to promote integrity and business ethics; demonstrate judgment, trust and open communication; ability to ensure effective team work, collaborative behaviour and team spirit.
• Ability to develop collaborative relationship with external partners and highly respected by peers and staff throughout the organization as well as by clients.

Communications

• Demonstrates maturity and an ability to manage partner needs and requests, based on UNOPS Financial rules and regulations, processes and systems to ensure efficient and effective service delivery.
• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses results for the client and responds positively to feedback.
• Accountability and ability to perform functions under pressure and in a politically sensitive environment.

• Strong analytical and communication skills, including ability to plan and execute multiple parallel financial requests and procurement processes.
• Global mind-set with sensitivity to diverse culture/workforce and a high level of energy and enthusiasm for leading a self-financing service organization within the UN system

Program Management

• Monitoring and evaluation
• Grant management

Technical Assistance

• Produce high quality technical reports
• Data management and statistical analysis

Administration and Finance

Minimum five (5) years with master's degree or seven (7) years with bachelor's degree of relevant experience in project and grant management for infectious diseases, ideally tuberculosis, 
Experience in monitoring and evaluating infectious disease projects, preferably tubeculosis, 
Experience working at the UN with health programs is an asset,
Experience in supply and logistics of health programs is desirable; 

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time (CET)
• 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.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.