Technical Support Unit Coordinator

Our Client is the Ministry of Health of Angola. The Ministry of Health has recently signed new Global Fund programs to support the implementation of the national strategic plans against malaria and tuberculosis and help strengthening national health systems. The Ministry of Health is establishing a new Technical Support Unit to implement the new portfolio of Global Fund grants, provide technical assistance, and build project and financial management capacity within the Ministry of Health. In addition, a Fiduciary Agent is also being established to provide financial assurance to ensure that grant funds are used in accordance with the Global Fund grant agreements and regulations. 

Staff management

• Assist in the establishment of the Technical Support Unit (TSU) and mentoring of new staff
• Contributes to the fine-tuning of the TSU design, roles and responsibilities and skills needed, and governance model
• Reporting to the Director of Public Health, the TSU Program Coordinator leads and coordinates the TSU
• Manages performance of TSU staff and temporary consultants

• Successfully lead the implementation of the new portfolio of Global Fund grants.  Reporting to the Public Health Department Director, the TSU Program Coordinator will manage the entire grant cycle, from grant negotiation, leading implementation and monitoring and ensuring timely closure of grants
• Ensure timely and high quality reporting to the Director of Public Health and the Global Fund Angola         Country Team
• Regularly assess risks that affect the portfolio of grants and pro-actively employ risk-based strategies to   mitigate them. Escalate any major risks to the Director of Public Health and communicate to the Global Fund Angola Country Team
• Maintain oversight of project performance including through regular supervisory visits
• Ensure timely and complete closure of grants in line with contractual requirements

• In coordination with the Finance Manager identify and help establishing adequate financial reporting and control mechanisms, systems, and procedures necessary for meeting Global Fund requirements as per the Grant Agreements
•  With the Finance Manager, review program implementation expenditure rates, carry out regular forecasts, and raise any finance related risk to Senior Management and communicate to the Global Fund Angola Country Team
• With the Finance Manager, ensure timely follow up of external audit findings
• With the Finance Manager, ensure high quality progress updates and disbursement requests and any other reporting requirements are submitted to the Global Fund Secretariat on a timely manner

• Lead and act as the interface between the Principal Recipient (Ministry of Health) and the Global Fund Angola Country Team
•  Build strong working relationships with Disease Program Directors and key supporting staff within the Ministry of Health
• Build strong working relationships with key stakeholders such as other Sub-Recipients or implementers, partners and donors
• Represent the Ministry of Health as Principal Recipient of Global Fund grants in relevant meetings and forums

•  Leads in the development of a technical assistance plan to improve the project and financial management capacity of the Ministry of Health with clear milestones, and roles and responsibilities
•  Monitor implementation of the technical assistance plan against agreed milestones
•  Communicates and harmonizes the technical assistance work plan financed by the Global Fund with other partners/donors’ in country and advocates for technical assistance and capacity building as a key focus area
•  Provide regular updates on the milestones reached to the Director of Public Health and Senior Management of the Ministry of Health and communicate to the Global Fund Angola Country Team

Any additional duties as may be reasonably required by Senior Management of the Ministry of Health within the scope of the above.

Technical Competencies

• Project Management: expert level of project management in complex multi-sectorial projects; and the ability to gather relevant input, analyze data/facts from appropriate sources and learn from best practice to inform project design
• Financial Management: knowledge of project financing and financial processes; ability to prepare, justify and manage budgets; monitoring expenditures and using cost-benefit thinking to set priorities
• Negotiation: Ability to lead negotiations to effective alignment of the program into the national strategy; identify cost reductions, eligibility and counterpart financing strategies;  to negotiate increases in national investments; to assess capacities of the nominated key implementers
• Program implementation management: Identify different ways to establish cross controls and quality checks; Ability to anticipate potential risks, especially those related to misuse of funds; have good understanding of procurement and/or supply of goods and services
• Political awareness: knowledge/sensitivity on local social, political, economic realities and dynamics in order to use appropriate influencing and dialogue strategies; Ability to share this information with others, generating a common interest and team working dynamics around this issue; tailor management strategy accordingly and adjust the management response to challenges and problems arising
• Computer skills: Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook; Word and Excel with knowledge of Power Point desirable, Internet research

Core Competencies

• Personal Effectiveness: Proactively find innovative and creative solutions, be efficient and reliable, adapt to change and uncertainty, be decisive and act with integrity
• Working with Others: Build effective internal and external relationships, involve others to solve problems and treat others with consideration and respect
• Core Expertise: Passion for building and developing core skills for the role and contribute knowledge outside of their immediate role
• People Leadership: Effectively motivate, influence and develop others, drive high performance, inspire people to follow them and act as a role model

Leadership Competencies

• Interpersonal Diplomacy: Ability to recognize and respond to difficult, stressful or sensitive interpersonal situations in ways that reduce or minimize potential conflict and maintain good working relationships among internal and external partners
• Motivating Others: Proactively create an environment in which people are highly motivated to perform
• Priority Setting: Spend own time and the time of others on what is important, manage effectively time, priorities, and resources to achieve goals
• Drive for Results: Focus on results and desired outcomes and how best to achieve them. Motivate and inspire others to achievements of common and individual goals

• Advanced university degree in finance/economics, public or business administration, development studies, health economics, public health or related field; or an equivalent combination of academic/professional qualifications and experience

• 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.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.