Head of Field-Office – P4

Background

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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.

A total of 671,000 Rohingya have fled violence across the border from Myanmar into Cox’s Bazar and the Chittagong Hill Tracts since August 2017 triggering a major crisis encompassing social, economic and environmental aspects of life in the CoX’s Bazar district which is one of Bangladesh’s most impoverished areas. The influx has further increased the stress on social and productive infrastructure and services, already under pressure prior to August 2017.

UNDP has actively joined the UN’s crisis response since November 2017. Its’ strategy focuses beyond the immediate emergency and also encompasses medium and longer-term interventions, focused on building the resilience of the Cox’s Bazar District and communities well beyond the scope and time frame of the Joint Response Plan (JRP).  UNDP has developed a Strategy Note for its response to the Rohingya Crisis based on a prerequisite for do-no-harm, conflict sensitive programming and will deploy expertise in this area. The strategy will be implemented in a two-phased approach. In the short-term, UNDP will contribute to the collective immediate crisis response; to help address the most immediate and acute negative impacts on host communities and on the wider Cox’s Bazar district; and to undertake the critically important pilot activities that can be gradually scaled-up to achieve sustainable solutions. In the medium- to longer-term, UNDP will help Cox’s Bazar authorities implement the approaches, instruments and solutions required for managing the crisis and its impact. In this, a longer-term perspective will be adopted, to help strengthen Cox’s Bazar District’s resilience and capacity for efficient coping, adaptation and transformation in response to the Rohingya crisis.

To take forward both field level programming and implementation, UNDP has now established a Field-Office in Cox’s Bazar town with a mix of programme and project staff led by a Head of Field-Office.

 

Position Purpose

Under the overall guidance of the Resident Representative (RR) and the direct supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative (DRR), the Head of Field-Office sets the strategic direction at the local level and oversees all Field-Office activities and projects.

The Head of Field-Office leads and supervises the field-office staff and project staff working (matrixed with senior staff based in the Country Office) in the geographic area of responsibility of the Field-Office, ensuring cross-unit cooperation and coordination. The Head of Field-Office ensures a client-oriented approach and consistency with UNDP rules and regulations in conformity with the UNDP Internal Control Framework and good management practice. 

The incumbent will work closely with internal and external counterparts, including Government, national institutions, civil society, private sector etc., to successfully deliver UNDP programme at the local level.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. This is a recognition of interconnected nature of development risks & crises that the world is facing and that call for assembling of multidisciplinary teams for an integrated & systemic response. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across issues, units, functions, teams and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration

 

Duties and Responsibilities

Leads strategic programme planning, coordination and implementation in the geographic area of responsibility of the Field-Office, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Analyses the socio-economic and political situation and trends in the area and identifies opportunities and entry points for UNDP.
• Provides guidance and manages the overall Field-Office programme development and implementation including planning, budgeting, implementation and monitoring.
• Ensures overall efficient coordination of programmes/projects including planning processes and timely delivery of results taking into consideration agreed upon work plans with the UNDP country office and consistency with UNSDCF/ CPD priorities.
• Ensures identification and promotion of joint programming and planning opportunities.
• Identifies and develops new programme and project opportunities and leads on local resource mobilization efforts.
• Facilitates capacity building of national counterparts and local NGOs/development partners.
• Oversees project implementation through close monitoring of results. Ensures effective application of RBM tools, management of scorecard targets and other benchmarks.
• Coordinates and follows through on decentralized local evaluations.
• Ensures full compliance with audit requirements and timely follow-up to audit recommendations.
• Promotes identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned for organizational sharing and learning.

Responsible for effective office management focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Ensures smooth running of the Field-Office, builds an effective Field-Office team, promotes teamwork and an environment that is conducive to delivering results.
• Ensures full responsibility for the appropriate use and management of resources attributed to the Field-Office by tracking use of financial resources, ensuring the integrity of financial systems and consistent application of the Internal Control Framework and/or rules and regulations. Continually find ways to systematically identify and integrate efficiency gains and cost reductions in all operations of the Field-Office.
• Approves contracts and Quantum transactions under written delegated authority from the RR, if and when provided. Responsible for the management of the Field-Office staff, monitors their performance, completing performance assessments where necessary.
• Ensures timely and regular reporting.
• In collaboration with the Country Office Operations Manager, ensures that the security needs of office and projects are met. Under the supervision of the RR and in collaboration with the Security Advisor ensures enforcement of security procedures and MOSS/MORSS requirements in the Field-Office.
• Mitigates possible risks and impacts associated with the Field-Office operations (e.g. logistical, security etc.) by proactively designing reduction measures in collaboration with the Security Advisor.
• Builds capacity of the office staff by identifying capacity needs and establishing training/learning programmes.
• Ensures full compliance with the internal control frameworks as formally applicable from time to time to the Field Office.

Responsible for Representation and Coordination in the area focusing on achievement of the following results:
 

• Represents UNDP in all key engagements with local stakeholders including district authorities, UN agencies, INGO and NGO, other international development partners.
• Provides strong coordination support to UN Agencies, national authorities and other organizations through the establishment of a wider consultation process.
• Ensures proper coordination and inputs to Interagency initiatives.
• Maintains collaboration and coordination with the other Heads of Field-Offices and ISCG in Cox’s Bazar to ensure programmatic integration and sharing of best practices.

Promotes communication flow in the office contributes to knowledge management focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Maximizes communication between the various portfolios and ensures that stakeholders (development partners, bilateral and multilateral donors, private sector, civil society, UN agencies and Government agencies) have one consistent UNDP counterpart.
• Ensures internal communication and coordination at Field-Office level and effective and proactive communication between relevant CO units (both programme and operations units) and the Field-Office.
• Monitors the perception of UNDP at the local level and suggest media activities that positions UNDP more strategically and effectively as a neutral broker for local development. Enhances local visibility for UNDP in development effectiveness.
• In collaboration with Communication Unit in the country office, proactively leads and supports all communication efforts to maximize positive media attention to UNDP’s response efforts.
• Promote knowledge management to ensure access to best available expertise and facilitate organizational learning.

Fosters partnership building, resource mobilization and donor liaison focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Contributes to the development of the CO Partnership and Resource Mobilization (PRM) strategy, including planning tools to implement the strategy.
• Identifies new partnerships and strengthens existing ones at the Field-Office level through innovative approaches to partnership development.
• Encourages ways of increasing Field-Office funding base, with support from CO Senior Management Team, such as engaging in resource mobilization efforts in consultation with local counterparts and following-up with donors on local opportunities.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Supervision and performance management of field office personnel

Competencies

• Core 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

• Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Direction & 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 Direction & Strategy-Negotiation and Influence: Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiates mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and creates ‘win-win’ situations.

Business Management-Portfolio Management: Ability to select, prioritize 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 optimizing return on investment

Business Management-Results-based Management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results
Business Development-Integration within the UN: Ability to identity, and integrate capacity and assets of the UN system, and engage in joint work; knowledge of the UN System and ability to apply this knowledge to strategic and/or practical situations

Business Development-UNDP Representation: Ability to represent UNDP and productively share UNDP knowledge and activities; advocate for UNDP, its values, mission and work with various constituencies

2030 Agenda: Prosperity-Inclusive Growth: Addressing developmental impacts of COVID 19 and safeguarding progress towards the SDGs

 

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in International Development, Social Sciences, Public Administration, Business Administration, Engineering or other relevant development areas is required. Or
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above-mentioned fields of study in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree

Experience:

• A minimum of 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of senior level responsibilities in the relevant areas of development and post-disaster management is required.
• Demonstrated experience and results in development in a governmental, multilateral or civil society organization in a multi-cultural setting is desired.
• At least 3 years of demonstrated working experience with national, regional, and international entities with senior-level management responsibilities of similar size and complexity is an asset.
• Demonstrated experience of representing organization in key engagements with local stakeholders, government authorities and other international development partners is desired.

 

Language: 

• Proficiency in oral and written English is required. Working knowledge of another UN language desirable.

Note: Please upload copies of your academic qualifications and 3 latest UN Common System performance evaluations (if applicable).

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

 

Disclaimer

Important information for US Permanent Residents (‘Green Card’ holders) 

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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