Programme Management Specialist

The Programme Management Specialist will work in programme and grant management to address critical health needs and those that impact regional and global health security working with a multi-donor pooled fund (The Fund). The Fund aims to serve poor and vulnerable people from conflict-affected areas by improving access to quality health services. 

 Functional Responsibilities:

• Under the supervision of the Senior Programme Manager, the Programme Management Specialist is responsible for the following:

Portfolio Management :

• Support the development and implementation of a Portfolio Management System and ensure alignment with the overall Fund strategy, principles, cross cutting themes, approaches and Theory of Change.
• Ensure delivery through the most efficient and effective approach (number and nature of Implementing Partners, work through existing/sustainable structures, etc.).
• Ensure portfolio and grants management systems adopt principles of localization, building local partnerships and local capacity.

Grant Management:

• Manage grants with respect to principles of localization and simplification, including:
• Lead call for proposal processes
• Manage grant negotiations
• Facilitate contracting and fund flow
• Oversee grant management processes
• Facilitate timely reporting from implementing partners, including review of results
• Support partners to manage grant-level risks, sharing risk burden wherever possible
• Conduct budget revisions where necessary
• Manage grant closure processes
• Maintain a clear understanding of grant outcomes, in particular as they relate to the strengthening of health systems and the improved health situation of vulnerable communities. Regularly communicate these outcomes with partners and stakeholders.
• Work closely with implementing partners to understand and overcome their challenges.
• Mainstream cross-cutting themes of gender equality, conflict-sensitivity, inclusion, disability-inclusive health and rehabilitation, accountability and community feedback mechanisms, environmental. safeguards
• Ensure compliance of partners to UNOPS processes and procedures, including PSEA.
• Maintain flexibility and responsiveness to support partners to overcome challenges and ensure the delivery of activities.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Coordinate program visits from the donors and team, where relevant.
• Maintain strong M&E systems for funded projects.
• Conduct timely reviews of program deliverables and of technical and financial reports.

Coordination:

• Work closely with colleagues from the Fund to ensure coordination, as well as other partners where relevant.
• Attend relevant coordination meetings at all levels, to ensure the activities funded meet needs and avoid duplication.

 Information and Knowledge Management:

• Stay abreast of developments in the relevant geographic area and areas of operation.
• Draft bi-annual achievement and narrative reports and/or case studies that highlight key developments in the area for reporting.
• Document and share lessons learned.
• On a regular basis, critically analyze risks to investments in the area. Develop, implement, and update mitigation plan(s) for identified risks, helping to maintain the risk register.
• Ensure that program activities are aligned with conflict-sensitivity principles, utilizing a conflict-sensitive programme management approach.

Reporting:

• Support the Programme Manager with information and assistance in establishing and maintaining  reporting systems (narrative, financial and results) as per donor requirements in full coordination.

 Education/Experience/Language requirements:

Education:

• A Master’s degree preferably in international development, public health, public administration, sociology, political science or related fields with five (5) years of relevant experience. Preference is given to medical background.
• A Bachelor’s degree preferably in the above fields with additional two (2) years of relevant experience is considered as equivalent.

Work experience:

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in managing grants or projects is required.
• Minimum of three (3) years of working experience in the health sector is required.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (e.g. MS Office newer versions, Google Suite Applications) is required.
• Previous experience of working in the health sector is strongly preferred.
• Experience of working in a culturally diverse setting is an asset.
• Previous experience with fund management is desirable.
• Experience in writing reports, policies, memos or other professional writing products is desirable.
• Proven experience of managing budgets and maintaining and communicating financial figures and overviews is an asset.
• Strategic planning, including the use of the logical framework approach and other planning activities is desirable.
• Risk management experience, particularly in conflict sensitive areas, is desirable.
• Experience or exposure to development aid, health, and humanitarian aid architecture is desirable.
• Experience working in local governance, including but not limited to formal local government structures, local and community based NGOs, traditional governance systems, and informal networks is desirable.

Languages:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.

Source: https://jobs.unops.org/Pages/ViewVacancy/VADetails.aspx?id=29616#1