Programme Coordinator - UNOPS - Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Vacancy code: VA/2013/B5501/1685

Position title: Programme Coordinator

Level: ICS-12

Department/office: APO, Bangkok

Duty station: Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Contract type: Fixed Term

Contract level: P5

Duration: 1 year with possibility of extension

Application period: 11-Jan-2013 to 27-Jan-2013

Background Information - UNOPS

“UNOPS plays a critical role in providing management services for our life-saving, peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. I have seen many examples of how these activities help suffering people in troubled parts of the world.”
-Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General

UNOPS mission is to expand the capacity of the UN system and its partners to implement peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations that matter for people in need.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, UNOPS vision is to always satisfy partners with management services that meet world-class standards of quality, speed and cost effectiveness.

By assisting UN organizations, international financial institutions, governments and other development partners, UNOPS makes significant, tangible contributions to results on the ground.

UNOPS employs more than 6000 personnel and on behalf of its partners creates thousands more work opportunities in local communities. With its headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark, a network of five regional offices and a further 20 operations and project centres, UNOPS oversees activities in more than 80 countries.

UNOPS is committed to achieving a truly diverse workforce.

 

Background Information - APO

Asia and the Pacific Regional Office
The Asia and the Pacific Regional Office is based in Bangkok, Thailand, and was established in 1995 to bring UNOPS closer to partners in the region. The regional office provides implementation support and project management services to operations throughout the region, supplying financial oversight of projects, procuring goods and services, and managing human resources. It helps ensure that projects are executed to the highest standards, ensuring that best practices and lessons learned are shared within the region and beyond.

Background Information - Job-specific

In December 2012, UNOPS was selected by the Cambodia Country Coordinating Mechanism for The Global Fund to Fight AIDS,Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) to become the Principal Recipient (PR) for the Single Stream of Funding (SSF) Malaria grant for Cambodia. The management responsibility for this grant will be handed over to UNOPS on April 1st 2013.
As the designated Principal Recipient for the Global Fund SSF Malaria grant, UNOPS is responsible for the quality financial management, timely procurement of supplies and service delivery as well as efficient monitoring and evaluation of grant implementation activities.  From early 2013 UNOPS will have to complete all the groundwork to start-up the Principal Recipient operations so that there is minimal lag between grant signature and full commencement of operations. 

 

Functional Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Regional Coordinator and in accordance with UNOPS policies, procedures and practices,the Programme Coordinator is responsible for holding, disbursing and monitoring the start-up and overall on-going performance of the PR operations. The Programme Coordinator will be assisted by a team of international and national professionals, and his/her duties include, amongst others:

• Representing UNOPS Cambodia for all grant negotiations with the Global Fund and the Cambodia Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCC).
• Managing the overall start-up and negotiations process leading to grant signatures
• Ensuring that systems are put in place and maintained for:

1. implementing the goals and objectives of the Global Fund grant proposals;
2. managing grant funds prudently and ensuring effective cash flow management;
3. ensuring timely reporting to the Global Fund and other stakeholders;
4. coordinating activities with the other PRs in Cambodia;
5. appropriately managing and disbursing funds to all Sub-Recipients (SRs) where applicable;
6. carrying out procurement and supply management in compliance with the Global Fund’s policies;
7. monitoring and evaluation of and reporting on progress made towards program objectives to the Global Fund; and
8. Complying with all other Global Fund policies including policies relating to the Additional Safeguards Policy.

• Ensuring that the PR Operations are managed independently and transparently, interalia by establishing and implementing transparent procedures in accordance with UNOPS Regulations and Rules, including procurement and distribution procedures and internal regulations on the use of resources.
• Contracting independent agents to undertake specific tasks including, where appropriate,procurement, studies, audit and monitoring.
• Ensuring the development and implementation of an effective M&E system including the Performance Frameworks meeting Global Fund requirements, as well as ensuring that systems are in place for effective monitoring of the beneficiaries actions.
• Overseeing the preparation of regular financial and implementation progress reports to the Global Fund.
• Ensuring an appropriate flow of information for the benefit of the CCC.
• Providing comments to the CCC on activities in relation to, as well as on the effectiveness of, the national M&E system.
• Proposing to the CCC and sub-recipients any additional outputs and activities not initially included in the National Programmes but which may be necessary to ensure the effectiveness of the Fund based on Fund priorities.
• Implementing effective risk management practices.
• Maintaining close and frequent contacts with the Global Fund, CCC, CNM (National Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control) and all national and international stakeholders.
• Guiding the development and implementation of an effective communication strategy.
• Other duties as may be assigned by the PR Programme Coordinator for UNOPS Cambodia.

Impact of results:

• Well-coordinated and supervised team of national and international UNOPS Grant Management Unit Staff.
• Annual Work Plan developed for all grant activities and timeframes.
• Leadership,guidance and on-the-job training provided whereby work standards are achieved,both in terms of quantity/quality of input/output processed.
• Timely,thorough, accurate and high quality reports on the implementation of the grant initiatives by PRs and SRs using appropriate Global Fund tools. This includes comprehensive & informative reports readily available for monitoring &evaluation of grant implementation progress including compliance requirements and/ or recommendations for strengthening measures, including a timeframe, to resolve identified problems.
• Synthesis of lessons learned and best practices in Global Fund grant management.
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

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

Education/Experience/Language requirements

• Advanced university degree (Masters or quivalent) in public health, management, social or political sciences, or in a similar discipline.
• PRINCE2 Foundation or Practitioner levels are an asset.
• Relevant job-related experience preferably in health, development and/or social sectors at steadily increasing seniority/levels, including 10 years of significant international exposure to project design and management and demonstrated managerial performance, with relative independence and decision-making authority for more complex projects. Previous involvement in public health projects (with emphasis on Malaria) would be a significant asset.
• Fluency in English is a must and knowledge of Khmer language is desirable.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrated ability to conceptualize and convey strategic vision, adapted to a changing external environment.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective work relationships with a wide range of counterparts and substantive offices.
• Demonstrated ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor own workplan and those under his/her supervision.
• Willingness to travel in area of responsibility, including to hazardous duty stations.
• Demonstrated ability to write in a clear concise manner and to communicate effectivelyorally.
• Demonstrated ability to seek and apply knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside of UNOPS.
• Demonstrated ability to work successfully in a challenging environment where resources are accounted for in a transparent manner.
• Demonstrated ability to work with minimum supervision in a decentralised environment.

Skills:

• Proven networking, team building and motivational, organizational, leadership andcommunication skills.
• Proven conceptual analytical and evaluative skills and ability to conduct independent research and analysis, identifying issues, formulating options and makingconclusions and recommendations. A complete in-depth grasp of programme/projectmanagement principles and practices.
• Excellent interpersonal, co-ordination and negotiation skills, and the ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people in amulti-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
• Extensive experience in dealing with international and local NGOs, civil societies and government entities required. Good knowledge of donororganizations, especially the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria highly desirable. Prior experience and familiarity with the PR would be a significant asset.
• Excellent command ofthe English language; verbal and oral;
• Proven track record in South and/or South-East Asia and demonstrated experience in the implementation of complex projects. Prior experience in Cambodia would be a significant asset.
• Sound knowledge of relevant UN financial rules, contracting and procurement modalities and procedures. Knowledge of UNOPS rules and policies is an asset.
• Excellent planning, organisation and problem solving skills.
• Computer literate includingknowledge of Word, Excel, PowerPoint & Access.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Staff
Contract level: P5
Contract duration: One year initially, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability

For more details about United Nations staff contracts, please follow this link:
http://www.unops.org/english/whoweneed/contract-types/Pages/United-Nations-staff-contracts.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 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.   

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