Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
Organizational Context:
UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.
Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. BPPS’s staff provides technical advice to Country Offices, advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government and civil society dialogues, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. In addition, BPPS works closely with UNDP’s Crisis Bureau (CB) to support emergency and crisis response. While ensuring that issues of risk are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes, BPPS also assists UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results-based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working. Lastly, BPPS supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data-driven including in its programme support efforts.
The newly established UNDP Nature Hub is the arrowhead of UNDP’s commitment to a “Nature Pledge” that aims to put nature at the heart of sustainable development. UNDP’s Nature Pledge for 2030 focuses on three systemic shift areas that are necessary to trigger accelerated and scaled action for achievement of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). Importantly, the Nature Hub leads several global project funds, such as the Biodiversity Finance Initiative, Nature for Development Programme, Food and Agriculture Commodity Systems, the GEF Early Action Support, Umbrella Programme on NBSAP Support, Global Biodiversity Finance Programme. These global projects are linked to country level work and help connect people on the ground to the national, regional and global decision makers and influencers, as well as, fostering exchange and learning between communities, landscapes, and governments in different countries and continents.
Position Purpose:
Under the direct supervision of the Director, Nature Hub, and working closely with the relevant Principal Technical Advisors and thematic leads and other team members, the Global Project Specialist – Management Support Unit (MSU) will be responsible for: (i) leadership, management and coordination for ensuring effective implementation of a portfolio of global projects under the Nature Hub; (ii) strategic leadership, operational policy development and innovation under Nature Hub; (iii) partnership, advocacy and resource mobilization; (iv) knowledge management, tools and learning. The incumbent is expected to exercise full compliance with UNDP programming, financial, human resources, procurement and administrative rules, regulations, policies and strategies as well as implementation of effective internal control systems. In doing so s/he is expected to lead a team of project implementation and support staff responsible for providing effective implementation services to different global programs and projects.
UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration
Duties and Responsibilities
Leadership, management and coordination to ensure effective implementation of a portfolio of global projects:
- Oversee the work of the members of the Global Projects Execution Support Unit and guiding the project coordination focal points on various project management and operational issues; facilitate organization of Nature Hub Operations meetings.
- Develop and implement internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) in Finance, HR, Procurement, Travel, Administration and Project Management for the Nature Hub projects;
- Assess annual and medium-term financial and other resource requirements of global projects and support to the country focused work with a view to optimizing resource management and cost-efficiency;
- Coordinate targets setting for corporate performance indicators, monitoring progress and undertaking necessary actions to ensure their achievement;
- Lead the maintaining of proper filing and other management system to store primary and strategic documents of relevant global projects and Nature Hub for audit purposes;
- Anticipate and respond to needs and opportunities for the operational efficiency and effectiveness of global projects portfolio, resolve unexpected audit management issues, and other periodic activities ensuring quick readjustment of the operations and advising on legal considerations and risks;
- Coordinate the compilation, analysis and presentation of various project management and operations data for the Nature Hub portfolio;
- Oversee procurement and recruitment processes for the Nature Hub including: reviewing TORs, advising on applicable methods and procedures, facilitating contracting processes, and ensuring compliance with relevant UNDP procurement and Human Resource policies and regulations;
- Perform other relevant duties as may be required.
Coordinate strategy development, operational policy development and innovation:
- Contribute to a strategic understanding of, and engagement with, the substantive technical issues, institutions and processes related to the Nature Hub’s global projects, including establishing contact and developing partnerships with other agencies, donors, NGOs, the private sector, financial institutions, scientific institutions, etc;
- Provide substantive guidance to regional bureaus, country offices and governments on the effective implementation of global projects and other technical matters;
- Support the development of strategic UNDP policy position papers and internal briefing notes and talking points;
- Facilitate policy analysis and the development of technical tools and guidance including substantive contributions to design of financial mechanisms and development of funding proposals for global projects;
- Keep the Senior Management Group of the Nature Hub informed of relevant emerging issues related to the global projects.
Contribute to partnership, advocacy and resource mobilization
- Contribute proactively to strengthening donor relationships and raising resources for implementation of the UNDP Nature Pledge;
- Provide support to the Nature Hub Senior Management Group on resource mobilization in relation to corporate guidelines, rules and regulations for engaging with and entering into agreements with donors and other partners at the global and/or regional levels;
- Support the development of and implementation of appropriate resource mobilization and partnership strategy for the Nature Hub;
- Contribute to the corporate programme planning, monitoring and reporting exercises such as ROAR and others as necessary;
- Prepare and review donor contributions agreements and liaise with donor counterparts and relevant UNDP teams (e.g. the Legal Support Office, GPN Joint Directorate, OFRM, and BPPS Operations) to obtain necessary clearances and signatures;
- Prepare and review other partnership agreements (MoUs, Development Services Agreements, Responsible Party Agreements, Low-Value Grants, etc.) and liaise with counterparts and relevant UNDP teams (e.g. the Legal Support Office, GPN Joint Directorate, BERA, OFRM, and BPPS Operations) to obtain necessary clearances and signatures;
- Ensure timely reporting to donors and collaborate with relevant project staff to prepare necessary reports including preparation of financial reports to donors, consistent with specific agreement requirements.
Ensure sound knowledge management and learning and development of tools
- Evaluate, capture, codify and synthesize lessons and stimulating the uptake of best practices and knowledge from global projects;
- Coordinate the application of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and results-based management (RBM) approaches to the portfolio under the Nature Hub;
- Ensure effective risk management and assurance practices across the unit; build a culture of risk management amongst staff and other partners.
- Peer review, comment on, and seek to improve the technical quality of Nature Hub global projects, policies, practices, guidelines, advisory notes, publications, etc.;
- Support the development of relevant tools, internal guidance, templates and forms to facilitate communication and operational efficiency among teams implementing global projects and wider Nature Hub staff; preparation and delivering of training courses and events as necessary;
- Contribute to the Nature Hub and corporate learning and development efforts; develop and carrying out a personal learning plan;
- Perform other relevant duties as may be required.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.
Competencies
Achieve Results:
LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
Think Innovatively:
LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
Learn Continuously:
LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
Adapt with Agility:
LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
Act with Determination:
LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
Engage and Partner:
LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
Enable Diversity and Inclusion:
LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity
People Management: UNDP People: Management Competencies can be found on the dedicated site.
Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies:
Business Direction and Strategy: System Thinking
- Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system
Business Management: Results-based Management
- Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results
Business Management: Portfolio Management
- Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimising return on investment
Business Management: Partnerships Management
- Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts, and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
Business Management: Communication
- Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience
- Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels
Business Management: Operations Management
- Ability to effectively plan, organize, and oversee the Organizational business processes in order to convert its assets into the best results in the most efficient manner. Knowledge of relevant concepts and mechanisms
Agenda 2030: Planet: Nature Climate and Energy
- Ecosystems and biodiversity
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced University degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Management, Finance, Project Management, Environmental Studies, Social Science, or other closely related fields is required, or
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above disciplines or related fields, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of master’s degree.
Experience:
- Minimum 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant progressively responsible experience in project/programme management and/or coordination is required.
- Demonstrated experience in internationally financed project/programme management and operations support is an asset.
- Demonstrated experience in Monitoring & Evaluation and Results Based Monitoring approaches is an asset.
- Demonstrated experience in developing tools and methodologies to follow-up on project management and implementation and/or increase operational efficiency is an asset.
- Professional experience in UN system or with a multilateral organization of similar size and complexity is an asset.
- Experience in supporting biodiversity conservation or other environmental programmes is advantage.
- Demonstrated experience in developing and supporting the implementation of various donor contribution and partnership agreements is desirable.
- Experience in supervising programme and operations staff is highly desirable.
- Experience of working in global virtual teams is a strong asset.
- Additional certifications in Project Management (PRINCE2), Programme Management (MSP), People/HR Management, Public Procurement (CIPS) or Finance Management is an asset.
Language:
- Fluency in English is required.
- Fluency in another UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) is an asset.
Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
Disclaimer
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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