Fund Director

Functional Responsibilities

Under the overall responsibility of the UNOPS Myanmar Country Director and Representative, the Fund Director will provide leadership, strategic direction and promote best practice in performance and delivery of the JPF. S/he will oversee the Fund Management Office (FMO) of the Joint Peace Fund and is responsible for providing strategic guidance and policy advice, working in close consultation with the JPF Fund Board. With a thorough understanding of the terms, conditions, and respective roles and responsibilities of relevant partners and stakeholders, the incumbent will be responsible for achievement of the JPF objectives as found in the revised JPF Strategy and Description of Action.

1. Stakeholder Management

• Establish solid working relationships based on trust with the Fund Board, current and potential partners and key stakeholders.
• Manage JPF communications with stakeholders regarding Fund activities, progress and exceptions, enabling their ability to accept handover of Fund deliverables.
• Advise the partners on issues that may impact the achievement of their outcomes.
• Manage the information flows between the Fund Board, the UNOPS Director and Representative and the UNOPS team dedicated to the JPF.
• Represent the JPF and UNOPS at external events and meetings
• Represent JPF in the UNOPS Management Group (MG) to ensure coordination, effective delivery and information sharing
• Seek new donors for the Joint Peace Fund (if this is required).

2. Delivery and Performance

• Oversee the implementation of approved programme plans, manage delivery of the programme’s outputs, and initiate corrective action where necessary.
• Authorize, monitor and control work packages to be delivered by the UNOPS team or by implementing partners.
• Advise the Fund Board on architecture and processes to strengthen JPF’s engagement at all levels
• Identify and manage risks, advising the Fund Board and UNOPS Director and Representative of deviations that have or will exceed set tolerances as approved in the programme plan.
• Monitor and evaluate performance of service providers.
• Represent UNOPS at Fund Board meetings on a periodic basis as ex officio, non voting member in order to discuss key issues and propose solutions to challenges that arise.
• Monitor progress of the programme at a strategic level and ensure periodic progress and updates are made to the Fund Board.

3. Procedures

• Ensure compliance with UNOPS organizational policy and UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations.
• Manage the JPF Fund Management Office to ensure performance of the Fund in the areas of programmatic/technical results delivery, financial management (budget/cash flow/expenditure), work planning and resource mobilization, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), administrative (including regular reporting and audit results) and procurement operations.
• Manage budgets, cash flow and obligations, taking accountability for expenditures against the budget; ensure that deliverables are met and payments to contractors, grantees/ implementing partners and personnel are received on time.
• Understand and manage UNOPS pricing policy and related corporate charges as they apply to JPF.
• Ensure implementing partner capacity is commensurate with funding requirements.
• Ensure appropriate measures have been documented in a Closure Plan to facilitate the transition of operations in the final stage of delivery.

4. Knowledge Management

• Provide feedback to Practice Leads on policy, supporting guidance with an aim towards continuous improvement of UNOPS policies complete lessons learned as per reporting format.
• Support UNOPS Myanmar’s efforts in being a centre of excellence for programme management.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

• Master’s Degree in International Relations, Political / Security / Development Studies, Business / Public Administration or other relevant discipline is required
• Bachelor’s Degree in the subjects mentioned above with additional 2 years of relevant work experience to the above duties and responsibilities may be accepted in lieu of Master Degree.
• Project Management or Programme Certification such as PRINCE2®, PMP® , or MSP®– preferred

Work Experience

• A minimum of 10 years of programme implementation and management experience with increasing autonomy and decision-making authority.
• Among them, 5 years of experience managing government and/or donor relations, preferably for an international organization.
• Solid experience managing large programmes at a strategic level with financial oversight.
• Experience working in conflict-affected and highly political contexts is required.
• Demonstrated political acumen and agility in politically-sensitive situations is required.
• Experience in conflict analysis, conflict sensitivity, peace building and reconciliation is highly desirable.
• Experience in Asia is an advantage; experience in Myanmar would be considered a strong asset.
• Prior experience in supporting or managing multi-donor funds, including fiduciary responsibility and contract management would be a strong asset.
• Prior related experience in the UN system is an asset.
• Experience in Google-based office software packages is an advantage.

Language Requirements

• Fluency in English is essential (must be able to effectively communicate in both oral and written form).
• Full knowledge of another UN working language is desirable.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: staff
Contract level: P6

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*:*
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/UN-Staff-Contracts.aspx

*** While the duty station for this position will be Yangon, the incumbent is expected to be based in Bangkok until a work visa for Myanmar can be obtained.***