Programme Management – Senior Officer At 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 peace and 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 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 labour force — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs. We continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage the recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

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

Background Information – Job-specific

UNOPS in Thailand

UNOPS team in Thailand supports, develops and oversees the UNOPS portfolio of projects in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

Located in Bangkok, the team supports UN agencies, international non-governmental organisations, and governments throughout the region. We provide a range of services, including human resources (HR), financial management, procurement and project implementation services.

UNOPS Thailand delivers large-scale and high volume transactional HR services on behalf of global partners.

To best serve partners’ needs, our team utilises standardised and unified systems and processes to ensure the highest quality of services and cost-effectiveness for partners.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment

The Programme Management Senior Officer will be an integral part of a humanitarian-development- peace programme, which was established to allow innovative, tailor-made, flexible, rights-based activities along the humanitarian-development spectrum in protracted crisis and/or conflict-affected communities. The officer will be responsible for supporting civil society organisations, NGOs and INGOs to implement projects and activities that support communities in need.

UNOPS acts as the Secretariat and manages the programme. The programme commenced in January 2020 and is expected to continue operations until December 2024.

Functional Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Programme Manager, the Programme Management Senior Officer will oversee the day-to-day implementation and monitoring and evaluation of programme grants. The incumbent will be responsible for:

Developing evidence-based and strategic programming

Organizing and participating in scoping missions to support the development of new calls for proposals.
Supporting the appraisal of project proposals submitted by applicants to assess their compliance with programme policies and strategic priorities.
Following up to ensure timely contracting of projects selected for funding

Supporting efficient and effective management of the programme

Reviewing work plans, progress and financial reports, budget revisions, no cost extensions and other documentation submitted by implementing partners (IPs) in Thailand to ensure they follow the guidelines and meet contractual obligations
Monitoring of progress on implementation of activities and budget expenditures, including through conducting regular field visits. Providing technical support to IPs through recommendations for strategic adjustments to improve results
Planning and organizing independent mid-term reviews and final evaluations of projects
Reviewing audit report findings for IPs and ensuring recommendations are addressed and implemented
Organizing donor field visits and preparing briefing materials on project activities and progress achieved
Communicating effectively with colleagues, IPs and donors to share information, ensure optimal cooperation and coordination, resolve challenges and increase the effectiveness of the programme
Building good relations with relevant stakeholders, including government agencies, trade unions, civil society organizations, private sector companies, UN agencies, INGOs, research institutes and media.
Participating and/or representing the programme at events and technical meetings as required
Supporting the implementation of the programme’s annual work plan

Contributing to knowledge management

Supporting implementation of the Monitoring and Evaluation for Accountability and Learning (MEAL) framework by ensuring that robust MEAL plans are developed and implemented by IPs.
Contributing to the preparation of the annual and semi-annual reports through analyzing narrative reports and MEAL data submitted by IPs
Supporting programme-level MEAL efforts by compiling MEAL results into a programme database.
Identifying and documenting good practices and lessons learned for projects, including identifying topics for more in-depth studies
Maintaining a detailed knowledge of the context and situational developments that may affect programming and promoting information sharing among stakeholders
Drafting monthly reports for the Steering Committee
Contributing to communications outputs to share information about projects and results achieved

Other duties

Drafting terms of reference for procurement of services as necessary
Assisting with interpretation and translation of documents in Burmese language when needed
Other duties relevant to the implementation of the programme

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.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

A Master’s degree preferably in international development, law/human rights, business management, peace studies, sociology or a related field from an accredited academic institution is required.
A Bachelor’s degree in the above fields with an additional two years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of a Master’s degree.

Work Experience

A minimum two (2) years of experience in project/programme development, project/programme management, monitoring and evaluation or in related field/s is required.
Technical expertise in conflict analysis, peace building and reconciliation, early recovery, livelihoods, and/or humanitarian response is considered a strong asset.
Proven ability to write analytical and summative reports in English is considered an asset.
Experience working in conflict affected areas on project development, management, and/or monitoring and evaluation is an asset.
Experience working with UN agencies, international organizations, civil society and/or labour organizations and/or other development stakeholders is considered an asset.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in both written and spoken English is required.
Knowledge of an additional UN language is desirable.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: LICA

Contract level: LICA 9 Contract duration: Ongoing ICA – ‘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

The position is based in a family duty station.

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.