Programme Management Office Specialist

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 Livelihoods and Food Security Fund (LIFT), the Joint Peace Fund (JPF), Nexus Response 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, including 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.

The Programme Management Office (PRMO) Specialist will be working within the Programme Management Office at MMCO.

The Programme Management Office (PRMO) Specialist reports directly to the Head of Programme Management Office who provides direction and general supervision. The Programme Management Office (PRMO) Specialist will ensure close collaboration and engagement with the Programme Units of MMCO as well as other PMO and MMCO Departments. He/she will play as an advisory role in the operations management and will be responsible for standardising MMCO work, knowledge sharing and application of UNOPS relevant tools, systems, and processes. The Programme Management Office (PRMO) Specialist is responsible to achieve results in the area/s of responsibility. 

Fund/Programme Operations advisory

• Provide quality control for management products (project documents, reports, etc.)

• Provide quality assurance and advice on programme event and travel logistics

• Provide certification/review of cash advances as part of the oversight

• Participate in audits, investigations and donor verifications from inception until completion of the assessments.

• Coordinates procurement planning, quality assures TORs and looks for efficiencies between funds/programmes

• Coordinates HR planning, quality assures TORs and looks for efficiencies between funds/programmes

• Ensure timely operational closure compliance including appropriate disposal of project assets

PMO operations

• Provide oversight and compliance checks with regards to travel management processes

• Prepare Terms of Reference (ToR) for required inputs in the Programme Management Office (individual and institutional consultancy services, procurement of goods and services, organization of training, seminars, etc.), with expert and/or client support as required.

• Provide management and oversight of the planning and timely implementation of logistics related to PMO  activities (e.g. organisation of meetings/workshops/events, green events) as requested.

• Conduct skills mapping, gap identification, retainer pool replenishment and engagement management for PMO/CFM retainers.

• Ensure completion of maturity improvement activities under RBPA/P3M3 workplan related to operations such as resource management, management control and financial management perspectives 

• Contribute to drafting of management approaches on resource management, management control and financial management perspectives and, asset management and information management threads.

• Ensure all PMO operations including recruitment, procurement, travel and event management needs are run effectively and

• Mentor and guide the PMO operations advisory staff for satisfactory client-oriented services.

 Process improvement and knowledge building

• Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for planning and knowledge building.

• Contribute to expertise in tools and techniques.

• Continuously identify learning needs, develop materials, and contribute to various knowledge-building initiatives within Programme Management Office.

• Actively contributes to the organization and conducting of training for the operations/projects personnel.

• Formulate training plans for the Programme Management Office based on the available training opportunities for staff development.

• Assist in the development and/or review of internal policies to ensure compliance with the UNOPS legislative framework, including but not limited to engagement acceptance, procurement, third-party engagements, human resources, project management, and travel administration.

• Liaises with MMCO on operational matters and participates actively in the different practice groups (Gender, HSSE, etc.) in order to be updated.

• Ensure application of MMCO archiving and information management practices.

The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

Education

• Master’s Degree in Project Management, Business or Public Administration, International Relations, Social Science, Development Studies, or other related fields is required. 

• Bachelor’s Degree in combination with 2 additional years of qualifying relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience

• At least 5 years’ of professional-level experience in project management operations support/ administrative management  is required.

• At least 2 years of operations advisory experience is required.

• Knowledge or certification of PRINCE2 or other Project Management certifications will be an asset.

• Experience and demonstrated knowledge of UN rules and procedures in finance and procurement are highly desirable.

• Experience in UN common system agencies in the fields of administrative services or in other related fields is highly desirable.

• Experience with G Suite is desirable.

• Working knowledge of ERP and using financial management electronic systems is desired.

Language

• Full knowledge of English and Myanmar language is essential.

Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA) Contract level:  ICS 10/ LICA 10
Contract duration: Open-ended (subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds, and satisfactory performance)

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• 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 (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.