Public Health Programme Specialist (Re-announcement)

UNOPS Myanmar has been designated as the Principal Recipient (PR) for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria grant (GFATM) and in November 2013, the Global Fund also nominated Myanmar UNOPS as the PR for the Regional Artemisinin Resistant Initiative (RAI) grant.

As the designated PR for the Global Fund, grants are earmarked for Ministry of Health, local NGOs, INGOs and for RAI-countries.  UNOPS Myanmar is responsible for managing PR operations in an accountable and transparent manner.

Under and the direct supervision of the GFATM Head of the Programme, the Public Health Programme Specialist shall be responsible for overseeing the programme from a technical perspective, ensuring delivery of targets, quality assurance and management support for the GFTAM HIV & AIDs, Tuberculosis & Malaria. 

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 Three Millennium Development Goal Fund (3MDG), the Livelihood and Food Security Trust 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 Fund¹s 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 organizations in the country, including the Government of Myanmar, international development partners, other UN agencies, NGOs and INGOs. 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.

The Public Health Programme Specialist will ensure best practice in performance and delivery of the UNOPS-GFATM grants and will be responsible for strategic review, impact assessment processes, and performance monitoring functions of UNOPS-GFATM. This role represents an exciting opportunity to ensure the effective contribution and impact of a major investment in public health, at a dynamic time of political transformation in Myanmar.

S/he will work at a strategic level in the health sector, and display leadership, management, change management and collaboration skills and act as Deputy Head of Programme.

Under the direct supervision of the GFATM Head of Programme Unit and assisted by a team of International and National personnel, the Public Health Programme Specialist shall be responsible for the following specific duties and responsibilities:

1.       Coordination:

• Coordinating project activities with UNOPS SRs and with other development partners.
• Participate in relevant technical meetings and develop professional networks amongst all stakeholders, whether in Yangon or in the field, and maintain a detailed knowledge base of all relevant issues impacting public health, in the context of HIV, TB and Malaria in Myanmar
• Coordinating with the GFATM finance and M&E teams and ensure that programmatic and financial reports are compiled and submitted on time.
• Liaising with the Local Fund Agent as required.

2. Strategic and analytical inputs 

• Ensure Value for Money of UNOPS-Principal Recipient  programmes;
• Advise the ATM Programme Managers on policies, strategies, practices and procedures related to GFATM grants
• Provide policy advice, process management and programme advisory support to stakeholders
• Continuously update his/her strategic knowledge of HIV & AIDS, TB & Malaria epidemics in Myanmar in order to analytically support the development of work plans and budgets.
• Develop and ensure effective implementation of grant-programming for investments in HIV, Malaria and TB, in line with international best practices and provide leadership on Fund performance and achievements
• Guide and supervise contractual procedures and processes related to partnerships with Sub recipients (SRs) of UNOPS-GFATM
• Manage and oversee closure activities of GFATM grants as and when they end.

3. Monitoring and Evaluation

• Promote an active learning culture for GFATM  and its partners, enable information sharing on all aspects related to public health in Myanmar and strengthen the knowledge base by facilitating lessons learned and feedback sessions with SRs
• Routinely monitor project progress, activity results and implementation costs against planning to ensure that actions supported by the GFATM are implemented effectively and efficiently and adjusted as necessary.
• Provide close support and guidance to the Monitoring and Evaluation Team to  develop and implement the GFATM's internal M&E system, ensure adequate feedback to/from the GFATM's SRs on data obtained from the Fund's internal M&E system, advise projects/actions supported by the GFATM on their own internal M&E systems/needs, gain in-depth knowledge of the national M&E system, its consistency and effectiveness, generate good data for reporting and measuring achievements.
• Analyze results of projects, and incorporate lessons learned into the decision making process of recipients.
• Perform other programme related duties as assigned by the supervisor.

4. Expected Results:

• Timely, complete and high quality programmatic progress updates and financial reports on the implementation of the grants using appropriate Global Fund tools are submitted as per the contractual agreements.  
• Well-coordinated and supervised team of national GFATM Staff in the PR programme unit. .
• Annual grant documents developed for all grant activities and timeframes.
• Comprehensive & Informative reports readily available for monitoring & evaluation of grant implementation progress including compliance requirements and/ or recommendations for strengthening measures.

Education

• Master’s in Public Health, Medicine, Epidemiology, Health Economics, Sociology, Anthropology and or related disciplines, Management, Social or Political Sciences or in a similar discipline with 7 years of relevant experience.
• A Bachelor's degree in these areas with 9 years of relevant experience is considered as equivalent.

Experience

• At least 7 years of progressive responsibility in programme Management in Public Health with focus on planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring and evaluation and coordination in a developing country is required
• Minimum 3 years’ experience and expertise with proven track record at a strategic level in Public Health programmes in either HIV, TB or Malaria is required.
• Solid practical experience in Fund/Grant management is an asset.
• Proven experience in providing policy advice would be an asset
• Previous work in a similar position with the UN or NGO system would be a major asset
• Experience with and/or knowledge of Myanmar and/or GFATM is an asset.
• An in-depth understanding of national and international development issues related to HIV & AIDS, TB & Malaria is an asset
• Prior experience and familiarity with the PR would be a significant asset.

Language

• Fluency in written and spoken English required. Understanding of other UN and Local Language an advantage.

Other considerations

• Ability and willingness to travel as necessary. 

• Ability to handle a complex, multi-dimensional portfolio, particularly in a challenging and complex socio-political environment.
• Ability to work with minimum supervision in a decentralized environment.
• Ability to advocate and provide policy advice
• Ability to lead implementation of new systems (business planning), and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change
• Possess good writing and analytical skills. 

• 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.  
• Previous Applicants Need Not Apply

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 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.