Programme Support Officer

In February 2009, Myanmar Operations Centre (MMOC) was selected by the Myanmar Country Coordination Mechanism for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) as one of two Principal Recipients of GFATM grants for Myanmar. The implementation of three grants (AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria) under MMOC management commenced in January 2011 and the first Phase of implementation was completed in December 2012. In 2013, Myanmar received additional funding from the Global Fund under the New Funding Model (NFM) for four years’ period 2013 – 2016. Total funding under MMOC management amounts to USD 275 million for the period 2011-2016.

MMOC is responsible for the delivery of targets set out in the grant agreement, in collaboration with selected Sub-Recipients (SR) from the national programmes, international and local NGOs and United Nations agencies. This arrangement comes under the oversight of the Myanmar Country Coordinating Mechanism (which has recently been changed to the Myanmar Health Sector Coordination Committee or HSCC), which is a partnership between local stakeholders from NGOs, multilateral and bilateral development partners, the public and private sector and people living with or affected by the diseases. This enables effective and target-based aid delivery to those most in need.

In 2013 MMOC has been selected by Regional Steering Committee (RSC) for the Regional Artemisinin Resistance Containment Initiative (RAI) as single Regional Principal Recipient. The RAI is a three year project which commenced on 1 January 2014 and which covers five Mekong countries most affected by artemisinin resistance: Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. The expected three-years funding for the RAI is USD 100 million.

In 2015 the PR Programme in Cambodia was also integrated into the PR Programme in MMOC and a consolidation and integration of all PR undertaking had taken place. This consolidation established a matrix management system with technical expertise pooled in the AR across all grants, while reporting has been tailored to reflect this integration making the Programme Director accountable for all grants. This consolidation was necessary to ensure that consistently high quality PR work is maintained across the whole region in all grants with a technically sound, harmonized and coherent vision, approach and practices - and resources are utilized efficiently providing best services to stakeholders and to enable expansion of PR services in the AR.

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Director, and with a secondary reporting line to the Head of Support Services, the Programme Support Officer is responsible for timely and efficient delivery of programme support and financial services in accordance with an agreed work plan approved by the Programme Director. The Programme Support Officer will be assisted by a team of international and national professionals and will work in close collaboration with the Head of Support Services in the UNOPS Myanmar Operations Centre (MMOC) and receive support from the Support Services Team of MMOC. He/She promotes a collaborative, client-oriented approach consistent with UNOPS rules and regulations and shall focus on the following results outlined below:

• Provide high-quality professional advice to the Programme Director;  
• Lead and supervise the Programme Support Unit and in close collaboration with the Head of Programme provide the required strategic technical support work in all grants managed by UNOPS PR in Myanmar and regionally;
• Manage the Programme Support Unit team ensuring that appropriate operational standards and systems are put in place and maintained for;
• Act as OIC for the PR Director as an alternate member of the UNOPS Myanmar Senior Management Group (SMG), supporting pro-active preparation and implementation of the strategic plans and other management initiatives;
• Maintain closely and frequently contacts with the Global Fund, National Country Health Coordinating Committees, and all national and international stakeholders in the GFATM grant universe;
• Develop SOPs, manuals, plans, budgets, reporting template and all necessary programme support devices and toolsets as may be required for GFATM grants implementation;
• Manage all operational agreements with implementing partners, including their amendments and legal negotiations ensuring appropriate processing of UNOPS internal processes related to necessary awards and approvals from relevant UNOPS authorities;
• Ensure that activities for ongoing grants are monitored, analysed and reported on a timely basis, lead the preparation and timely submission of reports to the GFATM;
• Proper planning, expenditure tracking and audit of financial resources for the GFATM grants, in accordance with UNOPS financial rules and regulations, organizational directives and administrative instructions;
• Monitor the financial exception reports for unusual activities, transactions and investigation of anomalies or unusual transactions. Provision of information is reported the Head of Support Services and the Director of the Principle Recipient;
• Identification of problems in the programme’s financial and administrative areas, suggesting alternative solutions to resolve issues in compliance with broader UNOPS policies, rules and procedures;
• Capacity building of Sub- Recipients (SRs in the area of budgeting, reporting and finance management in general;
• Contracting independent agents to undertake specific tasks including, where appropriate, procurement, studies, audit and monitoring;
• Maintain all archives and programme related documentation;

• Full compliance of financial activities, financial recording/reporting system and audit follow up within UNOPS rules, regulations, policies and strategies; implementation of effective internal control, proper design and functioning of the financial resources management system for the GFATM grants;
• Ensure full compliance with Global Fund policies;
• Perform elaboration/establishment of internal standard operating procedures and control of the workflows in the Programme Support Unit for the GFATM grants;
• Perform elaboration and implementation of cost-saving and reduction strategies;
• Up-to-date on policy developments on UNOPS financial management issues.

• Coordinate the preparation of all Global Fund projects budget, review of budget submissions, regular analysis and reporting on the budget approvals and the delivery situation; monitoring of expenditures against approved budgets and reporting on variances;
• Review, analyse and revise data with respect to the finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements submitted by the programme team, procurement team and the Support Services team covering GFATM grants;
• Timely financial reports for submission to the Global Fund and other stakeholders in accordance with UNOPS rules, and in line with the established procedures;
• Implement effective risk management practices in all GF grants managed by UNOPS in Myanmar and regionally;

• Timely review of cash position for GFATM grants to ensure sufficient funds on hand for disbursements; identification and recording of receipts for income application;
• Timely review of bank statements in UNOPS corporate financial system to monitor cash levels; and for the identification and recording of receipts covering GFATM grants projects;
• Ensure that payments are submitted in a timely manner in order to payments being effectuated in due time to suppliers, staff, sub-recipients and other entities relevant for the GFATM grants;
• Proper control of the supporting documents for payments; review, modification, initiation and implementation of internal control procedures in coordination with Support Services team;
• Ensure quality control of expenditures under the GFATM grants by performing ongoing review, analysis and reconciliation of accounts. Investigation of discrepancies and initiation of timely corrective actions.
• Other duties as may be assigned by the Programme Director.

• Under the general guidance of the Programme Director, process work and related follow-up, efficiently and timely.

Final Product

• Timely and efficient delivery of programme support and financial services of the GFATM grants both in Myanmar and regionally.
• Timely and quality budgets, reporting, cash and financial management for all GFATM grants.
• Established effective and efficient internal control system, monitoring and reporting.

• 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.  

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.