Country: Myanmar
Closing date: 22 May 2016
Background Information - UNOPS
The UNOPS Myanmar under the UNOPS Asia Regional Office has been established to better support, develop and oversee the UNOPS portfolio of programmes and projects in Myanmar with focus on health programmes and livelihoods and rural development. UNOPS Myanmar ensures that synergies between projects are effectively developed.
The UNOPS Myanmar portfolio currently comprises several programmes and projects, including fund management of the multi-donor Three Millennium Development Goals Fund and the Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund. In addition, UNOPS is the Principal Recipient of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria grants to Myanmar. UNOPS Myanmar has also been designated as Principal Recipient of the GFATM for a Regional Malaria Grant (Regional Artemisinin Initiative) covering 5 countries- Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. UNOPS is also expanding its infrastructure and procurement services in Myanmar, including advisory services in these areas.
UNOPS Myanmar plays a critical role in ensuring quality services to UNOPS partners that meet stringent requirements of speed, efficiency and cost-effectiveness. It is also responsible for liaison with government counterparts, donors, and UN Agencies.
Background Information - Myanmar
UNOPS Myanmar is under the UNOPS Asia Region and was established to support, develop and oversee UNOPS’portfolio of programmes and projects in Myanmar which focus on health programmes and livelihoods and rural development. UNOPS Myanmar ensures that synergies between programmes and projects are effectively developed.
The UNOPS Myanmar portfolio currently includes fund management of the multi-donor Three Millennium Development Goals Fund (3MDG) and the Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund (LIFT). In addition, UNOPS is the Principal Recipient of The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria grants to Myanmar (PR-GFATM), as well as the Regional Artemisinin Resistance Containment Initiative (RAI). UNOPS is also expanding its infrastructure and procurement services in Myanmar, including advisory services in these areas.
UNOPS Myanmar plays a critical role in ensuring quality services to UNOPS’ partners that meet stringent requirements of speed, efficiency and cost effectiveness. It is also responsible for liaison with Government counterparts, Donors, NGOs and UN Agencies.
Background Information - Job-specific
UNOPS is the Fund Manager for the Three Millennium Development Goal (3MDG) Fund, a multi donor fund supported by Australia, Denmark, the European Union, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the USA. The Fund was established in 2012 to provide support for health needs in Myanmar.
The three components of the 3MDGF are:
Maternal, Newborn and Child Health care. Increasing the availability and accessibility of essential services;
HIV, TB and Malaria. Support for specific interventions for populations and areas not supported by the Global Fund;
Health systems strengthening.
The detailed programme description is outlined in 3MDG Fund Description of Action, available on thewww.3MDG.org website. The fund is a US $270 million investment in health in Myanmar. The programme represents a fundamental shift in terms of engagement with the Government of Myanmar.
Since the completion of the inception and start-up phases of the 3MDG Programme, the focus is on the quality delivery of the strategic funding decisions. The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.
UNOPS is committed to achieving a truly diverse workforce
Functional Responsibilities
This position represents an exciting opportunity to work in Myanmar, in the field of UNOPS operations, within a complex implementation environment and at a critical and historical juncture for the country. It offers significant exposure to the needs and realities of field work in UNOPS and in depth work experience in one of the largest multi-donor funds in Myanmar, contributing to the 3MDG’s Programme Support Unit (PSU) and working closely with diverse stakeholders.
The Finance and Strategic Reporting Officer will work under the direct supervision of the Program Support Officer who leads the Program Support Unit. The incumbent will work in close collaboration with the 3MDG Performance Management Unit (PMU), and support services of the Myanmar Operations Hub (MMOH). The position will have the following key functions:
- Strategic reporting to external and internal stakeholders through UNOPS and 3MDG customized high-quality reporting products
- Compliance management to UNOPS’ financial rules and regulations, policies and strategies;
- Effective and accurate programme level financial resources management and oversight
- Facilitation of knowledge building and sharing
- The position will in detail be responsible for the following work packages:
- Ensure programme financial information is compiled and maintained in a strategically relevant manner as defined by established fund status deliverables to inform funding decisions;
- Optimize the use of existing data bases and financial information systems to respond to all queries on the fund status;
- Ownership of ad-hoc and regular internal and external stakeholder strategic reporting needs on the fund status;
- Strategic analysis of programme expenditure trends and forecasting of income from projects and other sources;
- Guide the finance team on timely preparation of regular financial reports for submission to the donors in accordance with UNOPS rules, and in line with the established procedures.
- Safeguarding compliance of fund operations to UNOPS’ financial rules and regulations, providing guidance to all programme personnel on compliance issues;
- As central resource and focal point advise the programme on oneUNOPS ERP implementation and customization of financial output data to 3MDG needs;
- Be responsible for conduct of training to all programme personnel on Finance as needed; provide technical guidance and on the job training to ensure work standards are achieved, both in terms of quantity/quality of input/output processed;
- Be responsible for knowledge sharing and lessons learned as well as best practices documentation of large and complex programme financial management in a UNOPS implementation framework; contribute to building a body of knowledge on fund management in UNOPS;
- Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
- Guide and support the Grant Management and Finance team in successfully managing project closure processes applying established corporate standards and tools;
- Guide and support the Grant Management and Finance team in monitoring of grantees’ budget implementation and in the process of reallocation of funds when necessary; provide guidance to grantees to strengthen budget management and take corrective actions when required;
- Guide and support the Grant Management and Finance team in the review of grantees’ financial reports at established reporting intervals, ensure pertaining financial data integrity and quality for strategic reporting;
- Contribute to monitoring and analyzing IP financial performance and subsequently to the fund’s grantee performance management;
- Coordinate closely with the Myanmar Operations Hub Managed Cash Flow Unit for budget management on behalf of the government;
- Work closely with all other PSU and Fund Manager units to ensure a constant flow of information, knowledge and best practices sharing;
- Perform other duties, as required.
Education/Experience/Language requirements
Education
- Master’s Degree or equivalent in Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics or related field is required. A first-level university degree with additional 2 years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
- At least 5 years of experience in strategic reporting, budget management and financial Enterprise Resource Planning applications required.
- In depth knowledge of UNOPS policies and procedures, especially with regard to reporting, grants, budgets and cash based project management highly desired.
- Dedicated and focused clients and results orientation for immediate support impact
- Advanced MS Excel skills required.
- Project Management certification (e.g. Prince 2 Foundation) desirable .
Language Requirements
- Fluency in both written and spoken English is required.
Competencies
Knowledge Management and Learning
- Shares knowledge and experience
- Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more practice areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills
Development and Operational Effectiveness
- Ability to perform routine administrative activities related to UNOPS project operations
- Ability to provide input to business processes re-engineering, implementation of new systems
Leadership and Self-Management
- Ability to adhere to work assignments and meet designated deadlines
- Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback
- Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
- Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure
- Solicits feedback from staff about the impact of his/her own behavior
- Ability to go beyond established procedures and models, contribute to the creation of new approaches in form of e.g. reviewing existing or new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
- Demonstrated drive for continuous improvement and incorporation of lessons learned and best practices into business process routines; demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities
- Demonstration of professional behaviour and personal ethics, transparency and openness to encourage respect and similar behaviour from colleagues in the workplace
Contract type, level and duration
Contract type: International Individual Contractor Agreement
Contract level: IICA 2
Contract duration: 1 year (possible extension subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funds)
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 (CET)
- 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.**
How to apply:
DISCLAIMER: The screening of your application will be conducted based on the information in your profile. Before applying, we strongly suggest that you review your profile to ensure completeness, especially the education and experience sections.
Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement.