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.
Office/Unit/Project Description
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. BPPS works closely with UNDP’s Crisis Bureau (CB) to support emergency and crisis response. BPPS ensures that issues of risk are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes. BPPS 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. BPPS supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data driven including in its programme support efforts.
BPPS’s Hubs on Nature, Climate, Energy and Waste, with the support of the Vertical Fund Programme Support, Oversight and Compliance Unit, works with governments, civil society, and private sector partners to integrate nature, climate, energy and waste related concerns into national and sector planning and inclusive growth policies, support country obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements, and oversee the implementation of the UN’s largest portfolio of in-country programming nature, climate change, energy and waste.
The newly established UNDP Climate Hub is the arrowhead of UNDP’s commitment to the “Climate Promise” that aims to support programming countries designing and implementing pledges under the Paris Agreement, including ambitious National Determined Contributions, with climate change mitigation and adaptation interventions fully embedded in the national development planning and budgetary processes. The Climate Hub will build on UNDP’s existing over USD 4 billion country-level climate portfolio on Climate Change Policies and Strategies, Climate Change Adaptation, Climate Change Mitigation, Climate and Forests, covering over 142 countries, as well as on UNDP’s Nature portfolio, UNDP’s Sustainable Finance Hub, UNDP’s Digital offer and other relevant portfolios on youth, gender, health, climate security among others.
The UNDP Climate Hub is responsible for:
- Thought leadership on Climate and to be the custodian of UNDP policy positions on Climate;
- Strategy and vision formulation;
- Pipeline development in coordination with the other hubs and the Vertical Fund Programme Support, Oversight and Compliance Unit;
- Provision of integrated policy and programme support to Country Offices;
- Global engagement, advocacy in collaboration with BERA;
- Integration across thematic areas;
- Strategic Partnerships development and resource mobilization;
- Lead and Support global flagship initiatives and partnerships on Climate;
- Serve as focal point with relevant UN coordination mechanisms and Conventions (UN Framework Convention on Climate Change);
- Cross-organization knowledge and learning; and
- Innovation.
UNDP is recruiting a Operations Analyst to support financial, administrative and operational oversight to the assigned portfolios, ensuring effective and transparent utilization of resources and integrity of services.
Scope of Work
1. Coordinate effective programme planning and implementation, and operational strategies.
- Contribution to and ensuring compliance with internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in Finance, Procurement, Logistical, Quality Assurance and Results Management;
- Ensure operational management of the assigned portfolio, including through timely administration, procurement of goods, services and/or infrastructure (as relevant), travel and event management services, effective management of financial resources, payment management, etc.
- Guidance and implementation support for global programmes and projects;
- Coordinate a detailed event management plan with timings, agendas, travel, accommodation, and other related logistical support for programme/project events.
- Ensure relevant colleagues and stakeholders from both programme and operations are consulted in the identification, costing, and management of risks for the programme, projects, and portfolios in the unit when applicable;
- Coordinate/manage the day-to-day activities of the assigned portfolio and the overall implementation process, including planning and monitoring in order to optimize the use of resources and to ensure the successful achievement of programme objectives and results specified in the programme document. Provide subject matter technical advice and support and ensure outputs are delivered on time, within the set budget and specified constraints, and to high-quality standards;
2. Coordinate effective programme finance reporting.
- In collaboration with operations staff, ensure full compliance with UN/UNDP rules, regulations, and policies of financial activities, financial recording/reporting system, and follow-up on audit recommendations;
- Capacity assessments and capacity building of implementing partners on financial reporting;
- Support the implementation of financial management strategies;
- Carry out the entry of data for new grants and monitor their status as requested;
- Coordinate development and preparation of financial resources of the Programme, including budgeting and budget revisions, and expenditure tracking and reporting;
- Oversee and monitor the allocation and disbursement of funds to programmes/projects;
- Regular monitoring of the Climate Hub’s delivery, including follow-up budget allocations, monitoring budgets vs. expenditures, and ensuring availability of funds for expenditure requirements;
- Support to budget planning and budget revision processes;
- Maintain an organized document management system necessary for audit purposes;
3. Coordinate effective support for monitoring, reporting, evaluation, and results-based management of Climate Hub’s programmes and projects.
- Coordinate implementation and application of efficient and evidence-based results monitoring and, as applicable, quality assurance work for the programme and project development and delivery;
- Prepare reports analyzing the progress and results of projects;
- Provide support to the management and coordination of third-party monitoring and/or any other data collection interventions;
- Contribute to the establishment of statistics database and dashboards.
4. Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing, and advocacy relevant to the assigned thematic area(s).
- Identify, synthesize, and document best practices and lessons learned that are generated from the programme, programme finance, and operation management;
- Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
5. The Operations Analyst performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Institutional Arrangement
- The Operations Analyst reports directly to the Programme Specialist. S/he will be part of the larger Climate Hub.
- Given the global consultations to be undertaken during this assignment, the Operations Analyst is expected to be reasonably flexible with his/her availability for such consultations taking into consideration different time zones where applicable.
- The Operations Analyst will be responsible for providing her/his own working station (i.e. laptop, internet, phone, scanner/printer, etc.) and must have access to a reliable internet connection.
- The Operations Analyst will engage/interact with the Supervisor by email and Teams/Zoom on a regular basis. In addition, the HR Analyst will also engage with other UNDP colleagues based in NY, relevant regional hubs, and country offices through these same virtual platforms.
- The Operations Analyst shall work home-based for the duration of the assignment; hence should be able to work independently and be easily accessible through email, Teams, Zoom, etc.
Competencies
Core
Achieve Results: | LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline |
Think Innovatively: | LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements |
Learn Continuously: | LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback |
Adapt with Agility: | LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible |
Act with Determination: | LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident |
Engage and Partner: | LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships |
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: | LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination |
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
Thematic Area | Name | Definition |
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 Management | Result-based management | - Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.
|
Business Management | Project Management | - Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
|
Business Management | Operations Management | - Ability to effectively plan, organize, and oversee the organization’s business processes in order to convert its assets into the best results in the most efficient manner.
- Knowledge of relevant concepts and mechanisms.
|
Administration & Operations | Events management (including retreats, trainings and meetings) | - Ability to manage events, including venue identification, accommodation, logistics, catering, transportation, and cash disbursement, etc.
|
Finance | Budget management | - Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets.
|
Procurement | Financial analysis | - Knowledge of evaluating businesses, projects, budgets, and other finance related transactions to determine their performance and suitability.
|
Minimum Qualifications of the Successful IPSA
Min. Education requirements
- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Management, or related field is required;
- Or a first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional two (2) years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Min. years of relevant work experience
- Minimum two (2) years (with Master’s degree) or four (4) years (with Bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible administrative, programme, and procurement experience at the national or international level is required.
Required skills
- Demonstrated experience in project management and financial reporting is required.
- Experience and advanced knowledge of web-based management systems such as ERP is required.
- Demonstrated experience in the organization of regional and global events is required.
- Demonstrated competency in using online platforms such as Teams, Sharepoint, etc. is required.
- Ability to operate corporate and commercial software applications such as Microsoft Office, Outlook, and Excel is required.
- Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section • Experience in supporting the implementation of global projects and initiatives and working in global virtual teams is desirable.
- Experience in using Oracle Cloud, Quantum, etc., is desirable.
- Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced environment is desirable.
Required Language(s)
- Fluency in English is required.
- Fluency in other UN languages will be considered an asset.
Professional Certificates
- Certification in programme management or related areas is desirable.
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.
Scam warning
The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.