Deputy Project Manager (Myanmar Nationals)

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 Myanmar is Principal Recipient for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Myanmar and Cambodia, and for the Global Fund Regional Artemisinin-resistance Initiative targeting drug resistant malaria in the Greater Mekong sub-region. UNOPS provides procurement, infrastructure and project management services to a wide range of partners in the country. UNOPS Myanmar plays a critical role in ensuring that the quality of services provided to its partners meets stringent requirements of speed, efficiency and cost effectiveness.

Summary of functions:

1. Project Delivery and Performance

2. Procedures 

3. Monitoring and reporting

4. Stakeholder engagement

5. Quality assurance

6. Knowledge management and innovation

• Assist with the development, completion and update of the implementation plan(s).

• Support with ensuring project compliance with PMM standards, including through contributing to capacity measures at project level.

• Coordinate assigned delivery of work packages and take responsibility for progress.

• Coordinate and liaise with the team on the implementation progress.

• Identify and escalate any deviations from the plan and update plans.

• Work with the team to identify and manage risks.

• Accept goods, services or works delivered by suppliers. 

• Assume the Project Manager’s responsibilities when he/she is on leave

• Identify and report to the supervisor potential business opportunities for UNOPS

• Comply with all organizational policy and specifically the Project Management Manual

• Prepare/adapt all relevant plans and inputs to the Project Manager for approval by the Project Board.

• Contribute to the reporting obligations defined in the Legal Agreement(s) and in the Implementation Plan

• Support in drafting requirements definitions for procurement processes. Approving requisitions and requests for non-purchase order payments; Evaluating submissions received, if appointed to the evaluation team.

• Ensure maintenance of the project files and lessons learned are recorded

• Ensure the development and implementation of project financial management guidelines and control mechanisms, in conformity with UNOPS rules and regulations.

• Where the Project Manager has no delegation as a committing officer, s/he retains these responsibilities and will monitor and instruct/request others to carry out the relevant commitments and disbursements.

• If required, support project audit activities, including planning, preparation and coordination during the audits and follow up on audit observations/recommendations

• Prepare and issue regular project and/or financial reports in accordance with Partner and UNOPS requirements for reporting.

• Regularly review project status, evaluating performance criteria (scope, cost, schedule and quality).

• Maintain diaries and progress reports as required by the organization’s standard procedures.

• Provide routine oversight and analysis of delivery data within the dashboard system.

• Ensure all project team members track and regularly update milestones and targets for the duration of projects' life span

• Support communications with Donors and other Partners.

• Support with the arrangement of the meetings with stakeholders, taking minutes and follow up on actions including regular Project Board meetings.

• Contribute to establishment and further development of partnerships with donors, UN agencies, international organisations, governmental organizations and private sector organisations.

• Support projects with formulation of communication plans. Coordinate internal project communications in line with donor requirements and UNOPS rules. Monitor the effectiveness of project communications.

• Undertake advocacy, public information and communication activities in line with the communications plan.

• Participate in and report on the relevant inter-agency, donor and government coordination meetings, when required.

• Support colleagues to advise the clients on issues that may impact the achievement of their outcomes (including issues of sustainability and post project requirements such as maintenance).

• Identify and escalate potential business opportunities for UNOPS.

• Support the with ensuring that accurate data is entered into UNOPS ERP system (OneUNOPS) and OneUNOPS Projects – as appropriate.

• Liaise with the finance unit in tracking disbursements and budgets for projects on behalf of the Project Manager and the Head of Programme.

• Ensure and monitor compliance of projects with internal directives and procedures.

• Monitor programme budgets and financial expenditure and all administrative procedures in line with the work-plan.

• Monitor budgets, cash flow and reporting on expense obligations to ensure that

• deliverables are met.

• Conduct budget revisions and initiate corrective actions when necessary

• Encourage routine and effective capacity building activities are conducted in order to build the long-term and sustainable capacity of staff.

• Actively interact with Project Managers and the wider PM community to share case studies, lessons learned and best practices 

• Contribute to the oversight of lessons learned procedures, ensuring that lessons learnt are shared in a timely and appropriate manner. Participate in the relevant Communities of Practice

• Research and logging of lessons learned throughout the project life span.

• Provide feedback to Practice Groups on policy, supporting guidance with an aim towards continuous improvement of UNOPS

• A relevant university degree (bachelor’s degree / first level) in Project Management, Business Administration, Engineering, Public Health, International Development or another relevant discipline is required.

• Advanced degree (master’s level or above) is desired and can substitute the 2 years of experience.

• Prince2 or PMP or similar project management certification at the foundation level will be considered an advantage.

• A minimum of 7 years of relevant and progressive professional experience (or more, depending on the academic credentials) in the field of supporting project implementation and delivery activities, is required.

• Experience with project planning, operations management, monitoring and reporting is preferable.

• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Office 2003 and/or newer versions) and experience in handling web-based systems is required.

• Progressive experience with international organizations is required, experience within UNOPS or another UN agency, is an asset.

• Excellent (written and oral) English language is required.

• Excellent (written and oral) Myanmar language is required

• 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.
• 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
• 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 (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

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.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.