Programme Management Office Specialist(Grants and Contracts)

Functional Responsibilities

Summary of key results:

1. Grant management
2. Capacity assessment and Capacity building
3. Team Management
4. Knowledge management and innovation

Grant Management:

The Programme Management Office (PRMO) – Specialist (Grants and Contracts) will supervise and manage his/her team to deliver on following activities:

• Timely preparation of grant awards requests, drafting of grant agreements and amendments thereof, using the approved templates ensuring that all agreements and amendments are constructed and issued in line with UNOPS legal and financial rules and regulations.
• Monitoring budgets in grant proposals and verification of their consistency with prevailing market rates.
• Provision of assistance in discussing/negotiation fee/cost as required.
• Verifications of reporting requirements and ensuring adherence to those requirements.
• Liaising closely with the Programme and M&E teams on any delays, risks or other difficulties in grant management.
• Review of payment requests and supervise processing payments based on the agreed payment schedules.
• Coordination of the process of the operational closure of projects.
• Contributing to the coordination and follow up on the audits of Implementing Partners (IP).
• Quality assurance all request for award to ensure compliance with UNOPS grants policies

Capacity assessment and Capacity building

The Programme Management Office (PRMO) – Specialist (Grants and Contracts) will ensure the following activities are successfully delivered for respective programmes:

• The team contributes to the review and update of the financial and operational capacity assessment approach of the fund managers, incorporating best practices and assessment tools.
• Financial and operational capacity assessments/Due Diligence Assessments (DDA) of the IPs are conducted as necessary, and follow-up actions are managed and identified in the assessment reports.
• IP capacity development and training in financial and organisational management are organized and delivered.
• Liaising with the MMCO capacity building unit for timely review and completion of Capacity Assessment/DDA reports and action plan.
• Day-to-day help and guidance to the IPs is provided and coordinated with Program Unit to ensure IP understanding of, and compliance with, these standards.
• IPs receive required assistance in developing or strengthening their internal guidelines and policies to guide their project financial management and organisational activities and to ensure accountability.
• Standardization to the extent possible of IP capacity development efforts by UNOPS in Myanmar.

Team Management

• Oversee and manage the work of Grants and Contracts team by establishing team objectives, a work plan with key performance indicators and measurements, standards and expected results.
• Attract and retain talent and develop an agile and empowered team with the skills and competencies needed to ensure optimum performance and ability to respond to changing environment.
• Plan and propose to the Programme Management Office Specialist (Grants and Contracts) – International for the required resources.
• Plan effectively and allocate resources to achieve goals and ensure the cost effective and appropriate use of resources in accordance with UNOPS standards of ethics, integrity and accountability framework.
• Promote teamwork and collaboration by providing the team with clear direction, objectives and guidance to enable them to perform their duties responsibly, effectively and efficiently.
• Continuously assess team and individual performance and effectiveness and recommend changes and/or corrective actions in the team structure and/or operations to enhance and maintain effectiveness in changing environment.

Knowledge management and innovation

• Keep abreast of and incorporate latest policies especially on grants and finance, best practices, approaches and technology to enhance the programme delivery and results.
• Institutionalise and share best practices and lessons for corporate development planning and knowledge building.
• Draft policy papers and/or recommend policy changes to align operations with changing environment.
• Conduct regular learning reviews with the team on grant topics as part of continuous improvement.
• Lead the planning, implementation and organization of strategic capacity building of personnel, clients and stakeholders especially in the field of grant management.

Other

• Establish solid working relationship with key individuals across the range of implementing partners supported by the MMCO Programmes.
• Foster a positive work environment, respectful of both men and women, and ensure that the highest standards of conduct are observed.
• Manage the information flows between the implementing partners and team through consistent and consolidated reporting using dashboards to provide a high-level overview of performance.
• Ensure smooth workflow and communication with Programme and Finance teams.
• Update the Programme Management Office Specialist (Grants and Contracts) – International on any deviations, outside of established tolerances, from the programme plan and the impact of changes or issues that arise during implementation accompanied by a range of solutions where possible.
• Identify and manage risks across all implementing partners to attain a programmatic overview of risk exposure.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

• A Master’s degree in business administration, finance, development studies or relevant discipline is required.
• A Bachelor’s Degree in combination with 2 additional years of experience relevant to above duties and responsibilities may be accepted in lieu of the Master’s Degree.
• Certification in PRINCE2 or PMP is preferred.

Work Experience

• A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in project and financial management is required.
• Experience in fund / grant management operations is a distinct advantage.
• Experience in building and leading successful teams is an advantage.
• Good understanding of UNOPS Rules and regulations is an advantage.
• Experience in contract or/ and grant management would be an asset.
• Experience with Google workspace is an asset.

Languages

Full knowledge of English and Myanmar language is essential.