Senior Programme Manager (Country Team Lead)

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, the Livelihood and Food Security Fund (LIFT) and the Joint Peace Fund (JPF). In addition, UNOPS is a Principal Recipient of the Global Fund in Myanmar and of the Global Fund’s regional artemisinin-resistance initiative targeting drug-resistant malaria in the greater Mekong sub-region. UNOPS also 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 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 Nexus Response Mechanism (NRM) is an EU-funded programme designed to fund and implement innovative, tailor-made, flexible, and rights-based activities along the humanitarian-development peace (H-D-P) spectrum in Myanmar. The NRM’s overall objective is to contribute to lasting peace and national reconciliation, security, stability and sustainable development in Myanmar by reducing vulnerabilities and building the resilience of communities affected by conflict or natural disasters. NRM’s interventions are designed to pilot new ways of working and are aimed at contributing to systemic change. To ensure its projects are holistically designed, the NRM utilizes a three-pillared approach focused on the integration of H-D-P sectors and the incorporation of a rights-based approach, the transformation of power dynamics and imbalances through greater localization and inclusion, and accountability to both donors and communities through adaptive project design and a robust learning agenda.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment

The Programme Implementation Lead’s role supports the Senior Programme Manager (SPM) by overseeing the day-to-day administration and implementation of the NRM’s area-based and thematic projects and programmes. They will play a critical role in all stages of the cycle of the NRM’s programmes and projects. This responsibility requires a thorough grounding in the key principles that underpin the NRM’s approach, including an understanding of power, gender and conflict analysis, agreement with the NRM’s localization agenda, and experience with developing participatory approaches and downward accountability. This principled foundation must be accompanied by sharp programme management skills, an eye for detail and planning, and solid experience managing contractual and programmatic processes, including budgeting, activity planning, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL), and relationship management. They will report to, and work closely with, the SPM, and will manage a team of programme and grant officers.

Summary of Key Functions:

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Programme Manager and in accordance with the UNOPS policies, procedures and practices, the Programme Implementation Lead shall carry out the following duties:

PERGRAMME MANAGEMENT

● Support the Senior Programme Manager through the day-to-day management of the NRM’s programmes and projects

● Coordinate calls for proposals and proposal evaluation process and engage with selected partners to refine proposals into programmes/projects aligned with the NRM overall strategy and MEAL framework, including by: ensuring the inclusion of gender transformative project activities; the use of participatory methods and community feedback mechanisms for project design and monitoring; and prioritizing implementation by communities and local civil society partners.

● In collaboration with the Senior Programme Manager, lead grant contracting processes with support from UNOPS Programme Management Office’s Grants team and ensure that planned activities are feasible and impactful and follow a realistic work plan; that proposal budgets are appropriate and cost-efficient, and that due diligence processes are followed in line with UNOPS rules and procedures.

● In collaboration with the Senior Programme Manager, manage implementing partners and ensure that NRM programmes/projects are implemented effectively and achieve their intended outcomes. Ensure that all programmes/projects are high quality and adhere to NRM and UNOPS systems, processes and guidelines.

● Support the Senior Programme Manager in managing the performance in the areas of finance (budget/cash flow/expenditure), work planning and resource mobilization, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), programmatic/administrative (including audit results) and procurement operations.

● Support the Senior Programme Manager in ensuring that principles of human rights, conflict sensitivity, gender equity, peace, voice and accountability, ‘do no harm’ and aid effectiveness in all activities associated with the programme.

● Oversee programmatic advisors and consultants engaged to support programme implementation.

● Maintain the NRM’s risk register relating to its programming and ensure that risks are adequately identified and mitigated.

• Organize and lead a schedule of field visits, including donor visits and monitoring visits. 

MEAL AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT

● In collaboration with the Senior Programme Manager and Deputy Programme Lead, work with selected implementing partners to have a coherent and well-considered, actor-centred theory of change

● Ensure that partner MEAL systems adequately incorporate community feedback mechanisms and utilize the information to adapt project activities accordingly

 ● Ensure periodic check-ins on the NRM’s programmes/projects, utilizing MEAL data to inform changes in programmatic direction.

● Develop and maintain an information and knowledge management system with assistance from the NRM MEAL Specialist, including a system for aggregating MEAL results from implementing partners, and a database of lessons learned that can be shared with project stakeholders.

● Remain up to date on national and international literature on the Nexus and humanitarian-development-peace programming best practices that can be incorporated in the NRM’s approach.

● Participate in UNOPS and external communities of practice and contribute to broader discussions on best practices.

● Support the Senior Programme Manager in the drafting of programme reporting for NRM donors.

PARTNER MANAGEMENT

● Participate in communications with implementing partners at all stages of the project cycle.

● Ensure effective coordination and communication between partners working in the NRM’s programmes/projects. 

● Build and maintain relationships with programme stakeholders, including implementing partners, community beneficiaries, and external organizations.

● Ensure that partner relations are equitable and that power imbalances, particularly between national and international partners, are mitigated.

● As necessary, develop a capacity support system to assist local partners in applying for NRM funding and project implementation.

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT

● Ensure compliance with UNOPS organizational policy

● Ensure all reporting requirements as per legal agreement as well as internal UNOPS rules are met

● Support the Senior Programme Manager in maintaining critical programme records/documents on the UNOPS Google Shared Drive (online audit/record retention folder)

● Support the Senior Programme Manager in ensuring that all Programme activities comply with UNOPS Financial Regulations and Rules (FRR)

● Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for corporate development planning and knowledge-building 

● Plan, implement and organise capacity building of personnel, partners and stakeholders.

PEOPLE MANAGEMENT

● Manage NRM team members as well as programmatic advisors, consultants, and interns through the development of TORs, work plans, and delivery of deliverables with the skills and competencies needed to ensure optimum performance.

● Ensure that personnel behaviour is consistent with UN values.

● Ensure that performance reviews are conducted

● Take part in selection, recruit and assure training of the team as required by programme plans

● Ensure safety and security for all personnel and comply with UNDSS standards

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent), preferably in law/human rights, social science, international development, business administration, gender analysis, public administration, international relations or related areas is required. 
• Bachelor’s Degree with Additional 2 years of relevant work experience to the above duties and responsibilities may be accepted in lieu of Master Degree. 
• Programme Management Certification such as PRINCE2® or MSP® or PMP® is an asset.

• A minimum of 7 years of progressively relevant project or programme management experience is required and out of this at least 3 years of experience in any of the fields, conflict analysis, peace building and reconciliation, recovery and livelihoods, humanitarian response or humanitarian-development- peace nexus or related areas is required.
• Solid experience managing programmes at a programmatic level with financial oversight is required.
• Significant experience in designing, implementing and maintaining innovative MEAL systems is required.
• Solid practical experience in working with the UN, donors, Non-governmental organizations, public sector and/or civil society is required.
• A background in power and/or gender analysis, conflict analysis, conflict sensitivity and do no harm, and localization is a strong asset.
• Working experience in and knowledge of Myanmar’s conflict affected areas will be a strong asset.
• Knowledge of aid architecture with previous experience working in Grants Management is desirable.
• Solid experience of managing, or having worked in a senior position with large national or international NGOs, especially at field level, is an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of Burmese language is required.
• Knowledge of an additional UN language is desirable.
• Knowledge of other Myanmar languages is an asset.

Contract type:  Local  ICA Specialist
Contract level: LICA-11
Contract duration: Open-Ended (subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance)

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• 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 ( they take around 4 hours to complete)  in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.