Grant Support and Implementing Partner Management Advisor

Background Information – UNOPS

UNOPS – an operational arm of the United Nations – supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by successfully implementing its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development.

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

Working with us

We are proud of our people. With a wealth of knowledge and skills in various disciplines – engineering, finance, human resources, ICT, leadership, project management, procurement, and more – they help tackle some of the biggest challenges of our time. Their work around the world supports progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

At UNOPS, we offer a range of short- and long-term opportunities in various environments and duty stations – from Denmark and Kenya to Mexico, Switzerland, Myanmar, Senegal, Uganda, and many more.

Diversity

With over 5,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,400 personnel recruited on behalf of our partners, spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced and diverse labor force — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs. We continually strive to maintain our gender-balanced workplace. We encourage qualified underrepresented groups as per UNOPS Gender, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy to apply for our vacancies.

Work life harmonization

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

Background information – Implementation Practices and Standards (IPS)

Within UNOPS, Implementation Practices and Standards (IPS) is responsible for the UNOPS delivery practices. IPS provides thought leadership, standards and oversight as support to the successful delivery of programmes and projects within UNOPS service lines (infrastructure, procurement, project management, human resources and financial management services). IPS is comprised of the Infrastructure and Project Management Group and the Procurement Group which aims to reduce organizational risks, improve project performance, and promote excellence across UNOPS projects through the Implementation Standards Management Framework; and provides organisational oversight on the application of standards. These Groups also support the positioning of UNOPS in the UN system and development sector in Infrastructure, Project Management and Procurement. IPS also includes the Office of IPS (IPSO), that includes work streams on organizational excellence, knowledge management and the review of bid protests,as well as the Portfolio support unit, that aims at supporting the organisational readiness of UNOPS and provides support services to the Implementation Practices and Standards function.

Background information – IPMG

UNOPS strategic focus places increased emphasis on national capacity development and sustainable approaches to project management, procurement and infrastructure services. A key objective is to be recognized as an organization that delivers world-class infrastructure and project management, which is both economically and socially sustainable, even in the most challenging environments. To achieve this goal, UNOPS has established the Infrastructure and Project Management Group (IPMG).

Within UNOPS, it is IPMG’s objective to serve the organization’s personnel and partners by broadening their infrastructure and project management capabilities, while disseminating best practices in both of these areas. Through this work, the group helps facilitate the successful delivery of programs and projects around the world.

To achieve its objectives, IPMG has established three interrelated and interdependent work streams, namely, Strategic Initiatives, Standards, and Engagement Assurance. IPMG is managed overall by the Deputy Director of IPMG.

Standards work stream aims to reduce organizational risks, improve project performance, and promote excellence across UNOPS projects across the different service lines such as Financial Management, Infrastructure and Project Management. It is achieved by having a fit for purpose infrastructure and project management standards framework in place, which notably includes the development and maintenance of grant support management standards, policy, template, guidance and tools.

Background Information – Job-specific

This position’s primary focus is on implementing partners and grant support management aspects. Grant Support is defined in UNOPS policies as “a UNOPS project activity, which is outside the framework of procurement activities, and is undertaken by way of grants, credits or loans carried out through an implementing partner.” UNOPS financial management services include managing grants/funding (including selecting implementing partners, monitoring and exercising due diligence), managing pooled funds and providing advice and oversight. UNOPS plays different roles in financial management services provision including executing small and large grant support programmes, selecting grantees through a range of various methodologies, disbursing and monitoring grants/funding in a variety of contexts, including peace and security, and ensuring funds are spent in a transparent and efficient manner, in line with partners’ objectives; as well as building UNOPS implementing partners’ capacity towards efficient and responsible use of grant funding.

On behalf of IPMG, the Grant Support and implementing Partner Advisor will be responsible for leading and managing the grant support and implementing partners management framework with the required policy, standards and guidance provision of expert inputs, as well as stakeholder management. The Advisor will lead the development and/or update of the grant support management policy, standards, template, guidance, process or tools and be responsible for inter-agency coordination. The Grant Support and Implementing Partner Advisor will provide advice and support on the policies and standards within UNOPS and on their application at a global level, complementing the advisory support services provided by the Integrated Practice Advice and Support (IPAS) group.

UNOPS has recently revised its policy and is in the process of re-establishing grant support management framework related standards, processes, templates and guidance material to further develop and strengthen some aspects including capacity building of its implementing partners. UNOPS is also aspiring to streamline the processes and IT system use for the grant support and Implementing partners management. Further, UNOPS is also engaging the UN inter-agency collaboration aspects relating to implementing partners, including the Partner Portal.

Functional Responsibilities

Functional responsibilities

Working in IPMG within the Implementation Practices and Standards (IPS) function, the successful incumbent will be expected to be primarily responsible for the grant support framework through which implementing partners are engaged.

The Grant Support and Implementing Partners Advisor will be responsible for ownership of various tasks, work packages and projects in relation to the grant support framework as outlined and assigned in the annual work plan for IPS/IPMG. The Advisor will lead and manage the technical experts (specialists and advisors) who are engaged to support in the delivery of the tasks/work packages associated with the grant support framework.

1. Represent UNOPS as the focal point in inter-agency network and working groups for implementing partners by

• Participating in the inter-agency network on managing implementing partners, and contributing to development of KPI’s, sharing of information on risk management process, and supporting a UN system wide definition, guiding principles and standards for implementing partners.

• Acting as the UNOPS focal point with other agencies working with implementing partners at an HQ level.

• Collaborate with UNOPS regions and country offices to strengthen interagency networking not only at HQ but also at field level.

• Advocating for and representing UNOPS priorities in the inter-agency network.

• Sharing information across UN agencies and also sharing within UNOPS the information and knowledge from other agencies in the network, including:

  • Development of KPI’s for managing IP’s;
  • IP risk management process.

2. Lead the development, roll-out and implementation of the grant support management policy, standards, processes, tools, templates and guidance by:

• Providing technical input, direction and supporting the coordination efforts across the organization.
• Conducting research on grant support management aspects and best practices to inform policy, processes, tool systems and guidance material.
• Analyzing the risks and needs for corporate controls and oversight in the area of grant support management and fund management.
• Assessing the implementation performance and relevance of the policies and processes specific to grant support management.
• Coordinating with communication focal points and support in development of communication materials targeted to the UNOPS grant support management practitioners.
• Leading the development of the technical requirements of a new grant support management system, in consultation with relevant stakeholders and its rollout.
• Liaising with relevant stakeholders to ensure the new system is embedded with UNOPS EPPM system.

3. Lead the design and delivery of workshops, training and capacity building activities in grant support management such as:

• Leading the development of the content for e-learning modules and corporate training activities in grant support management, in coordination with UNOPS regions.
• Supporting the delivery of training to project teams on grant support management framework and community management / engagement, capacity assessment to strengthen the local capacity building efforts, along with the regions.
• Organizing, facilitating and/or delivering training and learning initiatives for personnel on areas of policy, guidance and standards, as well as process and systems.

4. Knowledge building and knowledge sharing by

• Providing sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice by synthesizing lessons learnt and disseminating best practices.
• Collecting feedback, ideas, and internal knowledge about processes and best practices and put them to use productively.
• Undertaking research on a range of issues related to portfolio support and providing content for notes/reports including quarterly and year-end reports for monitoring, statistical and review purposes by management.
• Identifying areas for improvement and provide on-going maintenance and updates of the UNOPS Intranet page with the most current information, relevant to IPS learning and training activities.

5. Monitoring and Progress Controls

• Lead the collection of data and provision of inputs as required to UNOPS annual reporting on engagement and management of IP’s.
• Responsible for meeting and setting goals, targets and performance standards; reporting on own progress against work plan.
• Responsible for supporting the timely delivery of products and work packages under the technical lead of the relevant IPS technical teams.
• Ongoing assessment of task completion, which meets quality expectations.

Competencies

Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization.

Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.

Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).

Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.

Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.

Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.

Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

• An advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in Development Studies, International Relations, Social Science, Business Administration, Finance, Public Administration, Accounting, Economics, Project Management, Community Management or in any relevant area is required.
• A university degree (Bachelor’s degree level) with a combination of an extra 2 years of relevant professional experience in Development Studies, International Relations, Social Science, Business Administration, Finance, Public Administration, Accounting, Project Management, Community Management may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
• Other advanced university degrees in combination with relevant professional experience and professional achivements may be considered.

Work Experience

Required:

• A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in grant support management and/or management of Implementing partner is required.
• A minimum of 2 years of experience with grant support management roles in the regional or headquarter level of a large and/or international organisation is required.
• Experience in policy/process/template/manual content development is required.

Desirable:

• Previous work experience applied to grants with the UN system, international NGOs or International Donors is desirable.
• Experience and exposure to grant support in different contexts is desirable.
• Experience in implementing partner capacity assessment and capacity building is desirable.

Asset:

• Knowledge and understanding of UNOPS Rules and regulations is an asset.
• Experience in multi-donor or multi-agency grants and projects is an asset.
• Certification in PRINCE2 Foundation is an asset.
• Knowledge of Google Workspace, preferably Google sheet, Google doc, Google slides and Google drive, is an asset.

Certification N/A

Languages

• Fluency in English required.
• Fluency in French and/or Spanish is highly desired.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: International ICA

Contract level: I-ICA 3

Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.’

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link: https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

Additional Considerations

• • Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time.
    – Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
    – Please attach a cover letter explaining your motivation for this position and describing how relevant your experience is. Applications without a cover letter may be disregarded.
    – Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
    – Qualified female candidates and candidates from the Global South 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.
    – 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.
    – Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.
    – This recruitment process may be used to fill other vacancies including short-term placements and retainer contracts.

Work environment

IPS offers a unique work environment in UNOPS headquarters, in Copenhagen, Denmark, located in the UN City building, one of Copenhagen’s landmarks. UNOPS HQ offers a safe, family-friendly lifestyle environment with multiple opportunities for networking and active lifestyle, in a city known for its excellent urban design and planning.

The IPS team is a diverse team in terms of age, nationalities and family situations. IPS is keen on strengthening diversity in the team with a current focus on gender equality and geographic diversity. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. IPS is very dynamic and welcomes agility, autonomy and self-drive. The work of IPS is oriented towards exciting opportunities which have a corporate, global impact and is in touch with the whole of UNOPS.

UNOPS has a hosting agreement with the Government of Denmark, and as such both national and international candidates are eligible for HQ-based positions. UNOPS officials are exempt from Danish taxes on UN incomes. EU citizens may opt to be registered with the Danish State Administration as EU migrant worker and keep the rights associated with that status or register through UNOPS with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. EU Citizens may apply for the public Danish health insurance or special health card depending on their choice of registration, while the non-EU citizens will be registered by UNOPS under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

How to apply

https://jobs.unops.org/Pages/ViewVacancy/VADetails.aspx?id=24452#7