Portfolio Manager

Summary of key functions 

• Overall management and supervision of implementation of the SDG-16 portfolio in line with UNDP’s and local partners’ priorities and approved agreements, and as per UNDP operational policies and guidelines. This includes management and coordination of a larger team of project staff based in the Colombo and field deployments.
• Establish an effective monitoring and evaluation system and ensure quality and timely reporting according to UNDP and donor reporting schedules.
• Develop, strengthen and maintain constructive working relations and partnerships with key partners and counterparts, including government officials, other development partners, UN entities and civil society.
• Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing, and advocacy relevant to the assigned thematic area

Duties and Responsibilities

Overall management and supervision of implementation of the SDG-16 portfolio in line with UNDP’s and local partners’ priorities and approved agreements, and as per UNDP operational policies and guidelines. This includes management and coordination of project staff based in the Colombo and field deployments:

• Ensure technical coherence, quality and standard throughout the programme and its project components;
• Maintain close working relations with national and local partners to ensure optimum programme impact as well as participation and ownership by national authorities and other partners, including civil society;
• Lead and direct programme work planning in all its aspects, including forecasting of programme requirements timing and priorities, budgeting, work distribution and tasking to ensure satisfactory progress and timely completion of the overall programme and its constituent project components;
• Supervise and manage the work of project staff in Colombo and the field, and conduct performance assessments as per agreed TORs and workplans;
• Ensure close coordination, harmonized planning and information exchange with the nationally implemented components of the Programme.
• Adhere to UNDP’s rules and regulations and internal control mechanisms in the areas of contracting, assets, procurement, recruitment etc, as required. Serve as approval authority for financial transactions in the system up to designate level, as required.
• Be responsible for ensuring the effective and efficient utilization of all programme financial and human resources with a view to maximizing programme performance and impact;
• Encourage and find opportunities for cross-pillar synergies, identify cross-cutting issues and work to advance enablers such as digital and innovation.
• Identify opportunities for bringing on board international experiences and best practice to the portfolio.
• Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned from the programme for organizational learning

Establishan effective monitoring and evaluation system and ensure quality and timely reporting according to country office and donor reporting schedules:

• Establish an effective monitoring and evaluation system, to track and measure results of activities in line with the TOC. This includes ensuring continuous data collection, including field level data collection systems.
• Ensure timely and accurate input to the Country Office for compliance with programme-related UNDP and donor reporting obligations and requirements (includes drafting of annual progress report).
• Ensure periodic collection of case studies, human interest stories, new partnerships and best practices for inclusion in donor reports, the UNDP newsletter and UNDP website.
• Advance communications and visibility of results in close collaboration with the Communications Team.
• Support/facilitate external evaluation, audits and donor assessments;

Develop, strengthen and maintain constructive working relations and partnerships with key partners and counterparts, including government officials, other development partners, UN entities and civil society.

• Support the country office to strengthen partnership/donor relationship management including visibility, strategic engagement and  advise senior management to establish link with results and resource mobilisation efforts in line with the overall CPD;
• Strengthen and maintain a substantive network of partnerships with relevant counterparts at different levels, civil society organizations, national NGOs, the private sector, implementing partners, other UN entities and the donor community;
• Support the country office to meet resource mobilization targets including by leading development of donor proposals and maintaining a responsive partnership liaison system;
• Guide and oversee implementation of an effective communication strategy to promote and foster awareness about the programmes among its multiple stakeholders and the public at large;
• Contribute, as much as possible to national policy dialogues and stakeholder groups to promote and strengthen UNDP support to policy advice and capacity building at the national level.
• At the national and district levels, UNDP’s role in and support to inclusive development is strengthened, and entrusted resources effectively and efficiently delivered.

Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing, and advocacy relevant to the assigned thematic areas. 

• Identify capacity building needs and opportunities. Ensure appropriate training, project workshops and other relevant activities are organized and implemented in a consultative manner, involving technical experts and stakeholders that may include the government, private sector, NGOs, donors, and/or academia.
• Ensure portfolio reports capture results, lessons learned and good practices for possible wider application.
• Participate in and ensure sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice on development and portfolio related issues. Support establishment of knowledge platforms for the portfolio facilitate innovative mechanisms for dissemination of knowledge from the project, and develop knowledge resources and products to share with portfolio partners and to support UNDP’s engagement in this area.
• Promote advocacy for UNDP’s work and opportunities for collaboration in addressing development trends in coordination with the portfolio partners, stakeholders, and UNDP communications staff.
• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Key Indicators:

• Achievement of results as identified in approved programme and project agreements, and programme planning frameworks
• Effective and efficient delivery of financial resources in line with the above.
• Mobilization of additional resources (financial and other) in support of the work of the programme
• Expanded partnership with the programmes and initiatives of other UN system agencies, bilateral and multilateral organizations; NGO/CBO actors in Sri Lanka
• Feedback from partner surveys, independent evaluations and assessments, audit etc.
• Quality of reporting, monitoring and improvements introduced into the programme and its project component

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent)  in Social Policy, Public Policy, Politics, Economics, management, Development Studies or a related area is required. OR
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree;

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible experience in project management, design and implementation, monitoring and evaluation and leading development projects is required.
• At least 3 years of experience in the development sector is required.
• Experience managing and coordinating large-value projects is an asset;
• Experience in working in the area of governance and peacebuilding is an advantage;
• Experience working in the UN System or with other development partners is an asset.

Required Languages:

• Fluency in Sinhala and/or Tamil with excellent English communication skills is required.

Source: https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/requisitions/job/19695