Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
Summary of key responsibilities:
The Fund Director will provide leadership, strategic direction and promote good practice in performance and delivery of the LIFT Fund. The Fund Director is the head of the LIFT Fund Management Office, a team of 50 staff, including technical professionals as well as M&E, policy, knowledge management and programme support professionals.
This role represents a unique and exciting opportunity to lead a major investment in livelihoods and nutrition, at a dynamic time of political transformation in Myanmar. He/she will need to demonstrate strong management skills and be an advocate of continued external support to Myanmar’s poor. The incumbent will have exceptional ability to support work in challenging environments, such as conflict areas. He or she will also need excellent partnership skills, working with a broad range of stakeholders to achieve tangible results for people in need.
Under the overall supervision of the UNOPS Myanmar Director & Representative and working closely with the LIFT Fund Board, the Fund Director will be responsible for:
- Working closely with the Fund Board, represent LIFT with the government, private sector, civil society and other relevant stakeholders (including UN agencies) to promote excellence, good practice and policy dialogue.
- Representing the Fund Manager (UNOPS) vis-à-vis all other stakeholders and in the Fund Board (as ex officio, non-voting member).
- Advising the Fund Board on architecture and processes to strengthen LIFT’s policy engagement at all levels (township, state/regional, and central).
- Managing the LIFT Fund Management Office to ensure performance of the Fund in the areas of financial (budget/cash flow/expenditure), work planning and resource mobilization, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), programmatic/administrative (including audit results) and procurement operations.
- Implementing the Fund in accordance with the rules and regulations of UNOPS and in line with the Delegation of Authority received from the UNOPS Executive Director.
- Ensuring principles of human rights, gender equity, peace, voice and accountability, ‘doing no harm’ and aid effectiveness in all activities associated with the LIFT.
- Ensuring the smooth and effective transition or completion of LIFT supported projects and the orderly and efficient closure of the Fund in its present form.
- Supporting the LIFT Donor Consortium, other potential donors and UNOPS to explore future platforms to coordinate external investment in Myanmar’s agriculture, rural development and nutrition sectors.
- Leading LIFT’s risk management.
- Leading an effective communications strategy including ensuring effective relations with stakeholders to LIFT.
- Representing LIFT in the UNOPS Management Group (MG) to ensure coordination, effective delivery and information sharing.
- Other duties as directed or as may be necessary as a member of the UNOPS MG to ensure the effective delivery of the Fund Manager's responsibilities.
You may find more information at https://jobs.unops.org/Pages/ViewVacancy/VADetails.aspx?id=21323
Requirements
Education:
- Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent), preferably in a subject related to rural development, business administration, public administration or international relations is required;
- First level university degree (Bachelor's or equivalent) may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
Experience:
- At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in programme/project management is required.
- Solid experience managing large programmes at a strategic level with financial oversight is required.
Solid experience of managing, or having a worked in a senior position with a large multi-donor fund is desirable.
Solid practical experience in working with the UN, donors, Non-governmental organizations, public sector and/or civil society is required.
Solid experience of working in rural development and on cross cutting agendas like nutrition is desirable.
Working experience and knowledge and in Myanmar will be a strong asset. Previous experience in South and/or South-east Asia will also be an asset.
Experience and understanding of working in fragile states is an asset.
Experience of sector wide approaches in the agriculture or rural development sector will be an asset.
Knowledge of public sector financial rules, procurement and/or grant-making practices will be an asset.
Prior experience in public policy dialogue/development at a high level Experience in transition economies would be an asset.
Knowledge of aid architecture is essential with previous experience working in Grants Management is required.
Language requirements:
- Fluency in English is required;
- Knowledge of an additional UN language is an asset.