Head of Implementation Support Unit (ISU)

Job Description

Background Information - Job-specific

THOH

Thailand Operations Hub (THOH) is a UNOPS business unit under the UNOPS Asia Regional Office and it was established to better support, develop and oversee the UNOPS portfolio of projects in South East Asia and the Pacific.

The Hub comprises three main portfolios –THOH Thailand, THOH Indonesia and THOH Pacific and provides a wide range of services including Project Management, Transactional HR, Financial, and Procurement to clients that include other UN entities, INGOs and governments/government agencies donors.

BRG Results Enabling Facility (BRG REF)

Seasonal peatland fires are now compromising Indonesia’s economic and social development by creating considerable threats to health, the environment, and the economy. In 2015 peat fires and their related haze resulted in the hospitalization of more than half a million people due to acute respiratory infections. These fires that raged through 2.6 million hectares of forest and peatland areas in the islands of Kalimantan and Sumatra released 1.6 Gts of CO2e, surpassing the annual CO2 emissions of advanced industrialized nations such as Germany, France, and others. Direct and indirect damages cost the Indonesian national economy an estimated USD 16 billion, about 2% of its annual GDP.

In recognition of the importance of peatlands for biodiversity conservation, water resource management, reducing forest and land fires, livelihood support for local communities and carbon storage, the Government of Indonesia through Presidential Regulation No 1/2016 constituted the Peatland Restoration Agency (BRG). BRG has an important mandate: prevent forest fires, especially in peatland areas, as well as restore 2 million hectares of peatlands devastated by forest and land fires. The Agency identified 7 target provinces for peatland restoration and fire prevention activities in Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan and Papua.

Since its establishment in 2016, Norway has been supporting BRG, as current support to the BRG by the Norwegian Government falls within the wider partnership between Norway and Indonesia established in 2010 through the Letter of Intent (LOI) to reduce emissions from deforestation and land degradation of forests and peatlands with USD 1 billion over the next few years. The USD 1 billion support is part of an international climate mitigation initiative (UNFCCC) supported programme that uses international aid to counter forest degradation in various parts of the world, and this is one of the largest ever contribution made to reduce deforestation.

In the framework of this background, Norway and BRG have asked UNOPS to develop a flexible multiyear administrative support mechanism for managing Norway’s financial support to BRG through the establishment of the BRG Results Enabling Facility (BRG REF). The mechanism has within its scope a back-office management component and a service, procurement, grants management and a delivery component.

The Head of the Implementation Support Unit (ISU) reports directly to the Fund and Country Manager, who provides direction and general supervision. The role contributes, as part of the BRG REF senior leadership team, to the development and implementation of strategies to ensure the facility is managed using sound Project Management practices as per UNOPS guidelines and that effective pprogramme management support is provided to BRG.

Functional Responsibilities

Summary of key results:

1. ISU governance, implementation and coordination
2. Management and leadership of all ISU tasks in support for BRG
3. BRG Capacity Development
4. Knowledge management and innovation
5. Centre of Excellence

Duties and Responsibilities:

1) ISU governance, implementation and coordination

• Responsible for all ISU service areas including budgeting and financial reporting, grant/contract management, programme specific operational support, audit, output analysis and oversight, in accordance with the ISU charter, UNOPS Rules and Regulations, and under delegation of the Country/BRG REF Manager.
• Responsible for effective coordination of ISU activities with all ISU stakeholders and within BRG REF in order to ensure overall success of Programmes.
• Foster clear communication within the ISU team and with the other ISU stakeholders.
• Establish and execute the ISU implementation plans in collaboration with the team and stakeholders, including setting objectives, performance measurements, standards and results expected to ensure timely and cost effective client oriented services and efficient application of UNOPS tools, systems, and processes in accordance with BRG REF and UNOPS THOH goals.
• Identify, assess and manage risks and opportunities for the ISU. Â
• Collaborate with the UNOPS THOH management and business development colleagues to provide expertise in project/programme start-up, and prepare proposals and partnerships engagements by providing technical expertise and relevant inputs in furtherance of the BRG REF.

2) Management and Leadership

• Attract and retain talent in the ISU to develop an agile and empowered team with the skills and competencies needed to ensure optimum performance and ability to respond to changing environment.
• Lead the different work streams of the ISU, facilitate and foster a solution-focused culture, and promote teamwork and collaboration, providing clear direction, objectives and guidance to enable the teams to perform their duties responsibly, effectively and efficiently, ensuring the highest standards of conduct are observed.
• Develop innovative approaches and continuously assess team and individual performance and effectiveness, making changes and/or taking corrective actions in structure and/or operations to enhance and maintain effectiveness in changing environment.
• Lead the planning, implementation and organization of strategic capacity building of personnel, and knowledge sharing with clients and stakeholders.

3) BRG Capacity Development

• Support in building BRG’s capacity in a range of areas including risk management; strategic partnerships development and in the identification of staffing needs including procurement in support for BRG’s work planning
• Support BRG in report development and in monitoring and evaluating activities with the M&E advisor to ensure impact in all activities implemented by BRG with support from the BRG REF
• Problem analysis and support BRG in troubleshooting challenges as they present in the implementation of the BRG plan of action
• Lead the BRG REF in strategic planning and in maximising support from other implementing partners assisting in BRG’s mandate and work plan

4) Knowledge management and innovation

• Keep abreast of and incorporate good practices, approaches and technology to enhance programme delivery and results.
• Institutionalise and share good practices and lessons for corporate development planning and knowledge building.
• Develop policy papers and/or recommend policy changes to align ISU operations with the changing business environment.
• Coordinate with the Infrastructure and Project Management Group (IPMG) for tailoring good practices to meet the specific needs of BRG REF.

5) Centre of Excellence

• Through leadership and support, build a recognized centre of excellence in programme management by setting and attaining high standards, defining and encouraging consistent practices and procedures, and delivering reliable quality services.
• Contribute to documenting BRG REF fund management and programme management experience and in making that expertise available to other business units within UNOPS.

Perform any other related duties as required.

Impact of Results

The effective and successful performance of the Head of ISU directly impacts achievement of programme results and consequently reinforces the visibility and image of UNOPS THOH as a partner of choice and preferred service provider in project services and fund management.

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Social Sciences, Economics, Development Economics, International Relations, Public Policy Studies, Public Administration or related field required.
• First university degree (bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in the above-mentioned areas in combination with 2 additional years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in project or programme management that combines strategic and managerial leadership in social development, business development, grant management, executive management or programme management planning and operations in a large international and/or corporate organization.
• Minimum of 2 years of building/developing capacity of counterpart or partner organization, particularly public institutions, is required.
• Experience in peatlands management a distinctive advantage.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in building and leading successful teams is required.
• Experience as head of Programme/Project Management Office (PMO) an asset.
• Prior experience in working in Asia would be an asset.
• Experience in UN system organizations is desirable.
• Good understanding of UNOPS Rules and regulations is an advantage.

Language:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Working knowledge of Bahasa desired.

Certification:

• PRINCE2 Practitioner certification desired.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: International ICA
Contract level: IICA-3
Contract duration: 1 Year renewable subject to performance. The project is up to 2020. For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

About the Organization

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale.Â