Programme Manager (Health) (IPSA-11) At UN Development Programme

Background

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

UNDP Ukraine provides support to the Government of Ukraine on strengthening the medical procurement system of Ukraine and advancing the implementation of the on-going health reform and ensure through the provision of high-quality, accessible, and affordable medicines and medical devices to the citizens of Ukraine. UNDP is also supporting the Government of Ukraine and the Ministry of Health to adequately respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, and recover forward from the emergency better and greener by focusing on crisis coordination and management, supply of personal protection equipment to frontline medical workers, and identification of needs and priorities for emergency interventions. UNDP brings its extensive expertise in establishing the procurement system that corresponds to the highest standards of transparency, accountability, anti-corruption, cost-efficiency, equity and sustainability, including the application of UNDP’s Quality Assurance (QA) Policy (2018) for all health products supplied by UNDP, which is in line with international best practice.

UNDP together with other UN Agencies (UNICEF and WHO) developed a Project aimed at strengthening the national health care procurement system and thereby improving the effectiveness of diagnosis and treatment of the patients of Ukraine. Specifically, in the framework of the project, UNDP (i) procures medicines and medical products for the National Public Health Programmes for 2019 and ongoing years as needed, (ii) strengthens the capacity of the Ministry of Health to ensure transparency, accountability and effectiveness of the public procurement of medicines and other medical products.

Besides the procurement services to the Ministry of Health, the Health and Transparency Programme consists of three major components directly linked to providing procurement services to the Ministry of Health. These are: 1) establishing a transparent, efficient, sustainable and accountable public procurement system in the healthcare sector; 2) strengthening the capacity of the national Coordination Council on HIV/TB and 3) ensuring protection of human rights of key populations affected by HIV and TB.

Under the supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative and in close collaboration and daily management and interaction with the DG portfolio manager, the Programme Manager (Health) manages the Health and Transparency Programme with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine (MOH) and provides solutions to a wide spectrum of complex issues related to health product procurement activities. The Programme Manager (Health) promotes a collaborative, client-focused, quality and results-oriented approach in the Programme Implementation Unit (PIU). S/he supervises and leads a team, working in close collaboration with the Country Office Units, including, Operations Unit, Business Development and Innovation unit, programme portfolios, UNDP Regional and HQs units (e.g., Global Procurement Unit, Quality Assurance Team), Government officials, national stakeholders and technical partners (e.g., WHO). This will be done in accordance with UNDP rules, policies and procedures, and the Financing Agreements.

The key results have an impact on the overall health and transparency, technical assistance to national counterparts and success in establishment and implementation of national procurement reform agenda. Strategic approach to procurement of health products, quality assurance, establishment and implementation of the contract monitoring, control system, timely and appropriate delivery of project required services, introduction of e-procurement ensuring client satisfaction and overall timely delivery of the whole Health and Transparency Programme.

The incumbent will promote UNDP’s mandate as a gender-responsive organization with zero tolerance to any kind of discriminatory and abusive behavior, including sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse.

Duties and Responsibilities

1- Ensures the strategic leadership, programme planning and effective management focusing on achievement of the following results:

Leads on the strategic planning, oversight and management of the programme in compliance with UNDP’s rules, policies and procedures, including the Quality Assurance Policy, the financing agreement ensuring integration of the functional areas, policy integration and capacity development;
Leads on the coordination, management, supervision and oversight of the programme unit across all functional areas to achieve programme goals, provide quality services and ensure programme delivery with full utilization of the allocation and strong achievement of programme targets;
Leads on assessing the programmatic impact and substantive monitoring of programme delivery and evaluation of the programmes’ performance and proactively leads on reviews with national and implementing partners and ensures the accountability for the timely implementation of corrective action(s), including readjustment of the operations;
Ensures the implementation of regional UBRAF envelope related to HIV and TB interventions;
Develops and maintains an organizational structure to ensure UNDP is resourced to deliver its commitments, and leads on the recruitment of staff, contractors, service providers, fostering diversity, equity and inclusion and builds the technical, management and leadership capacity of staff for promotion of organizational excellence;
Ensures inclusion of gender-specific activities and mainstreaming of gender equality and women’s empowerment considerations in the project work, promote a safe and enabling environment free of any kind of discrimination and abusive behaviour, and use gender-responsive communications principles in line with the UNDP corporate standards;
Proposes future directions for development of the Programme, including those that suggest a gender-responsive approach;
Provides overall advisory services and technical assistance to CO management and other programmes;
Conducts thorough gender analysis and research of the political, social, environmental and economic situation in the country and provide technical inputs in the development of policies related to health development and reform; and
Ensures strong collaboration with Country Office units, UNDP Regional and Headquarter units, on all areas of strategic planning, programme management, and oversight.

2- Ensures effective oversight and proactively performs risk assessments focusing on achievement of the following results:

Leads on preparation of programme documents required by the donor, including work plans, budgets, monitoring and evaluation plans, and procurement and supply management plans and leads the negotiation of corporate agreements, timely reprogramming requests and identification of cost savings;
Initiation of the programme, presentation, entering project into Atlas, finalization of financing agreements, determination of required revisions; coordination of the mandatory and budget re-phasing exercises, closure of projects through review;
Ensures UNDP’s financial, asset and health product (including quality control, insurance) management policies, procedures, are developed and validated by internal reviews;
Leads on timely preparation and quality submissions of financial and programmatic donor reports, compliance with financing agreements and necessary revisions;
Leads on performing risk assessments, develops and implements risk management matrix/plan with the unit and ensures adequate oversight and support is provided, with timely incident reporting; and
Leads on programme audits and investigations under the guidance of the Deputy Resident Representative and in coordination with the Regional Bureau, Office of Audit and Investigations, and ensures timely follow up on management actions and recovery actions.

3- Ensures elaboration and implementation of procurement and programme strategies focusing on achievement of the following results:

Full compliance of all procurement and programme activities in line with UNDP rules, policies and procedures, including UNDP’s QA Policy with the elaboration of the effective internal controls, proper design and functioning of a client-oriented procurement management systems;
Procurement and programme business processes mapping and elaboration/establishment of internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in procurement, programming, harmonization of the workflows in the unit;
Leads the development and/or review of tools, processes and systems for the planning, management and monitoring of procurement activities in order to meet UNDP’s deliverables pursuant to the Financing Agreement;
Conceptualization, elaboration and implementation of procurement strategy including tendering processes and evaluation, contractor appraisal, evaluation and negotiation of offers, management of the contract and contractor, legal considerations and payment conditions, risk assessment and performance management;
Conceptualization, elaboration and implementation of sustainable procurement in the procurement support services to MOH project and other projects, including sourcing strategy, supplier selection and evaluation, quality management, customer relationship management, e-procurement introduction and promotion, performance measurement.

4- Ensures efficient management of procurement processes and capacity development for transparency and health programme focusing on achievement of the following results:

Development and management of the rosters of suppliers, elaboration of supplier selection and evaluation, quality and performance measurement mechanisms;
Works closely with the team to conduct cost analysis, market research and effective ways to deliver health products in the most transparent and efficient ways;
Provides inputs and ideas to Innovative Lab on new opportunities, demands and/or e-technologies needed for the healthcare sector, ensures promotion and implementation of sustainable health criteria in public procurement;
Timely and proper preparation and implementation of procurement strategy in coordination with Regional Bureau, UNDP PSO and BPPS (Global Fund Team);
Aggregates and prepares regular reports on performances, risks or bottlenecks, and update the country office and management team about main achievements, challenges and\or opportunities;
Provides strategic advice and direct support to the MOH in development and implementation of the public procurement reform in the healthcare sector;
Promotes the capacity building and international expertise for national counterparts;
Conducts regular assessment of the programme needs, including by engaging experts, and depending on the demand arranges the necessary trainings (e.g. quality assurance, PSM, medical products specifications development and procurement specificities trainings);
Provides substantive guidance and leadership on the health reform agenda and overall efforts to promote health, transparency and sustainable procurement, including follow up to various research and reports provided by other UNDP programs, UN agencies and relevant stakeholders;
Provides substantive advice with regard to new financing agreement with the Ministry of Health and other donors and partners;
Creation and coordination of partnerships with the UN Agencies, government institutions, etc;
Establishment and implementation of proper monitoring system and control of health procurement processes including oversight on organization of RFQ, ITB or RFP, receipt and evaluation of quotations, bids or proposals, negotiation of certain conditions of contracts in full compliance with UNDP rules and regulations;
Certification of submissions to the Contract, Asset and Procurement Committee (CAP) and Advisory Committee on Procurement (ACP);
Elaboration and implementation of the internal control system which ensures that Purchase Orders (PO) are duly prepared and dispatched. Timely corrective actions on POs with budget check errors and other problems;
Leads on the engagement with the MOH, national partners and oversees the development of capacity development strategies to support national entities, ensuring access to appropriate tools and resources; and
Organization of trainings for Government staff on efficiency of health procurement and best international practices and models in the healthcare spheres as required.

5- Ensures creation of strategic partnerships and support the implementation of the resource mobilization focusing on achievement of the following results:

Leads on the coordination, building strategic partnerships and maintains strong working relationships with the MOH, national stakeholders, technical partners, donors and UN entities, to ensure transparent and effective management and oversight of the programme;
Supports the national strategic procurement planning processes based on evidence gained during implementation of the programmes;
Leads on advising the Deputy Resident Representative on the range of value-added services that UNDP can provide to MOH in the implementation of programme and cost-recovery mechanisms;
Maintains close co-ordination between the programme and other health and development initiatives in the country, to promote partnership building and to exchange critical and technical information and resolve implementation issues;
Leads on the engagement with the MOH and develops a strong professional relationship based upon mutual trust and respect; and
Leads on developing funding requests to complement the programme with other procurement activities and the development of project documents, initiation, and implementation of programmes

6- Leads implementation of the programme communications strategy and knowledge building and knowledge sharing focusing on achievement of the following results:

Develops and implements a communications strategy based on the country office corporate communications goals and priorities;
Monitors and measures the impact of the communication strategy and makes adjustments accordingly;
Designs and implements effective national external communications strategies aligned to corporate goals and priorities;
Coordinates communication regarding the programme performance, planning and lessons learned with the key counterparts (including the Ministry, donors, patients’ associations, pharmaceutical companies, etc.);
Integrates issue-based advocacy into the communications strategy around key priority areas relevant to the country;
Provides expertise and solid inputs to analysis, presentations, policy papers, issues related to registration of medicines, quality assurance of the medicines procurement etc;
Identifies and supports development of communications (print, video) highlighting key programme achievements, best practices, and lessons learnt and contributes to information sharing with the MOH, national stakeholders, technical partners, donors and UN entities, Regional Bureau, BMS and BPPS (Global Fund Team); and
Actively participates in UNDP and other relevant external networks to promote the programmes and UNDP’s health and development work (e.g., conferences, community of practice, Yammer) and represents UNDP in relevant technical meetings, working groups at country, regional and global level and gathers lessons learnt to apply to the programme.

Any other duty assigned by the Deputy Resident Representative.

Competencies

Demonstrated experience in developing and managing effective partnerships with governments in procurement of health products.

Desired Skills and Competencies

Experience of UN or UNDP procurement policies and procedures is an asset.
Demonstrated experience in building capacity of national entities in the area of procurement of health products is an asset.
Experience in health procurement in the Europe and Central Asia region is an asset.
Previous experience working with UN agencies in health-related projects is an asset.

Competencies and Selection Criteria

Core – Level 3

Achieve Results

Demonstrate focus on achieving quality results and impact
Consistently strive to meet or exceed excellence standards
Hold self and others accountable for results
Efficiently establish appropriate plans and resources for self and others to accomplish goals

Think Innovatively

Look beyond conventional approaches and established methods
Propose new ideas, approaches and solutions to problems
Seek patterns and clarity outside boxes and categories while resisting false certainty and simplistic binary choice

Learn Continuously

Actively pursue opportunities for learning and self-development professionally and personally
Keep abreast of new developments in one’s professional area
Cоntribute to the learning of others

Adapt with Agility

Participate in, support, contribute to or drive meaningful change in UNDP
Be comfortable with ambiguity and effectively managing multiple demands

Act with Determination

Pursue everything with motivation and drive
Not give up in the face of adversity and setbacks; demonstrate resilience and composure

Engage and Partner

Demonstrate and encourage teamwork and co-creation internally and externally to achieve joint objectives and results
Establish and develop networks that deliver powerful collaborations
Encourage and respect the views of others; accept views and ideas other than one’s own

Enable Diversity and Inclusion

Treat all individuals with respect, consider ethical implications and respond sensitively to all differences among people
Fully accept and value all people, creating an inclusive environment
Understand that inclusion is multi-faceted (e.g. race, gender, age, disability, culture, etc.)
Understand and appreciate issues from the perspective of others •Treat everyone fairly and equally
Demonstrate honesty and transparency

Cross-functional competencies – Level 3

System Thinking

Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Strategic Thinking

Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions
Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP

Effective Decision Making

Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources

Partnerships Management

Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies

Risk Management

Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks 6 Resource Management

Resource Management

Ability to allocate and use resources in a strategic or tactical way in line with principles of accountability and integrity

Knowledge Facilitation

Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally

Communication

Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels

Working with Evidence and Data

Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making

Technical competencies – Level 3

Health

Procurement services of health products

People Management competencies – Level 3

Motivate and Direct

Create and communicate a compelling vision and purpose
Align people and resources with organizational vision, strategy, objectives •Understand and proactively builds the team/organization culture

Build an Enabling Workplace

Create a working environment where people are engaged and want to do their best; empower and enables team members to perform and have a positive workplace experience
Promote honestly, openness, trust and psychological safety and create opportunities to innovate and learn
Recruit and promotes individuals based upon objective measures and meritocracy; acknowledge and utilize the talent of others Encourage collective action and integration

Build Capability

Identify and develop talent in individuals, providing positive support to enable them to achieve their potential
Foster learning or development of others by giving feedback, guidance, and support; support career development of others
Have willingness and ability to delegate to help people learn, including from failure

Manage Performance and Ensure Accountability

Ensure regular conversations with people about work
Provide positive and constructive feedback
Discuss poor performance in a timely manner
Provide praise and recognition, as well as ensure accountability

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in Management, Economics, Procurement, Pharmacy, Business Administration, or related area. Complimentary qualifications in social science, public health, medicine or any development-related field of study is an asset.

Experience:

Minimum of 7 years of progressive relevant experience with three year in international level in public procurement of health products.

Disclaimer

Important information for US Permanent Residents (‘Green Card’ holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

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