Project Management Support Officer- Retainer, Multiple positions

Background Information – Myanmar

Myanmar is one of UNOPS’ leading offices in Asia, acting as fund manager for some of the largest development programmes in the country, namely the Access to Health, the Livelihood and Food Security Fund (LIFT), the Joint Peace Fund (JPF), EU Nexus Mechanism, and the SECO funded UN Trade Cluster Fund. In addition, UNOPS is Principal Recipient for the Global Fund in Myanmar and for 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, 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.

Background Information – Job-specific

Fund Management has become a recognized strength of UNOPS Myanmar and a new potential business model for other country offices in the region and beyond. UNOPS Myanmar is the designated Asia Center for Fund Management (CFM), which aims to assist UNOPS offices elsewhere to expand and manage pooled funds. In 2019, the CFM supported over 14 UNOPS offices, both remotely and on-site, on fund management across Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America.

Role of the Project Support Officer

The Project Management Support Officer is the part of the retainer pool of the UNOPS Myanmar Programme Management Office (PMO) and is responsible for ensuring effective provision of programme implementation support service for the relevant projects/programmes/Funds supported by the PMO, across all aspects of programme support operations (Finance, grants management, Procurement, project management support, and Administration) to ensure achievement of results, whilst driving compliance with corporate strategies, UNOPS rules, regulations, policies, and standards of accountability, ethics and integrity.

The Project Management Support Officer reports to the Head of Programme Management Office and provides a range of programme implementation support services to ensure rapid and compliant delivery of all aspects of the project support, including administration, procurement, grants, human resources, and finance.

He/she works in close collaboration with teams across the PMO and Funds/Programmes, as well as interfacing with the Support Services function of the UNOPS Myanmar Office, UNOPS HQ and other key stakeholders for successful service delivery.

Functional Responsibilities

The specific responsibilities of the Project Management Support Officer include:

• Support in the design and formulation of the workplan and budget for the projects/programmes, including setting goals, targets and performance standards.

• Assist the Head of PMO in engagement management by regularly updating project and implementation plans, drafting funding agreements, determination of required revisions, and support with project closure.

• Assist in drafting of TORs for subcontractors and consultants; proposals of suitable firms or institutions and individual consultants; evaluation of proposals received; recommendations for contract awards; negotiations with successful bidders, for the Head of PMOr’s approval.

• Support in drafting of contract/grants documents and letters of agreement with institutions or individuals and UN agencies; administration of contracts/grants and agreements and processing amendments, if required, for Head of PMO’s approval.

• Monitor compliance of procurement activities with UNOPS rules, regulations, policies and strategies; implementation of the effective internal control, analysis of parameters in support of proper design and functioning of a client-oriented procurement management system.

• Within delegated responsibility perform financial and substantive monitoring and evaluation of the projects, identification of operational and financial problems, development of solutions.

• Monitoring and evaluation of performance of service providers, suitable firms or institutions

• Support the assessment of expenditure in administration (office premises, assets, travel, etc.) for previous years; estimate new requirements and prepare budget plans for the review of the Head of PMO.

• Maintain archive of project documentation and ensure access to institutional memory and technical information on related components of the project.

• Follow up on audit recommendations and observations. All exceptions are timely reported.

• Aggregate reports regularly prepared on activities, outputs and outcomes. Preparation of donor reports.

• Identification of sources of information related to policy-driven issues. Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to programme/project management.

• Contribution to organization and client capacity-building of high performance delivery through coaching and mentoring of internal clients and partners.

• Participation in the organization and conduct of training for the operations/projects/partner personnel.

• Contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice

• Focus on clients’ services, keeping them informed of the status of project activities. Oral and written periodic reports.

• Active interaction with clients to solicit feedback and gauge client satisfaction.

• Interaction with internal clients and regional portfolio managers to integrate and harmonize approaches.

• Demonstration of professional and personal ethics, transparency and openness to encourage respect and similar behaviour from colleagues.

• Perform other related duties as instructed by supervisors

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in a relevant field such as finance, business, public administration or other relevant related field is required. OR
• A Bachelor’s degree with a combination of two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the master’s degree.

Experience

• Minimum of two years of relevant professional work experience in project support, administration, procurement, support services, project/programme management, or similar fields is required.
• Relevant experience at the national or international level in providing project management and transactional services is highly desirable.
• Experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes/projects is highly desirable.
• Experience in knowledge management and innovation is desired.

Language Requirements

• Full working knowledge of English is required.

Competencies

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.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: ICA (Individual Contractor Agreement)

Contract level: IICA-1 (ICS 8)
Contract duration: Retainer contract not exceeding 150 working days per year (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.
• 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.

Background Information – UNOPS

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.