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.
Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative Program, the Program Specialist acts as a manager of and advisor to Senior Management on all aspects of a CO program practice areas, manages a major program portfolio in the Environment Team covering areas of Sustainable Growth, Resilience, Energy, Biodiversity and Climate Change.
The main role is to manage the specific country program practice area including continued monitoring of implementation.
The Programme Specialist leads the programme team in strategic planning and identifies new program areas within his practice area while ensuring consistency with UNDAF/CPD priorities and creative responses to emerging challenges and opportunities. In addition to the practice area team management responsibilities, the Program Specialist is responsible for the management of the most important and complex projects within da practice area.
The Programme Specialist has a pivotal role in forging strong alliances with academia, governmental institutions, and other national and international partners to support the program country under her/his responsibility and thematic oversight. S/he leads the team in the strategic planning and the identification of new program opportunities within these three thematic areas with a view to successfully resource mobilization outputs while ensuring consistency with UNDAF/CPD priorities and creative responses to emerging challenges and opportunities as well as mindful of cross cutting considerations.
The Environment Team Programme Specialist is accountable for the implementation of the UNDP Gender Equality Strategy particularly with regards to the mainstreaming gender equality in all programs and projects under his/her oversight.
The incumbent is responsible for the quality assurance of the program interventions under her/his oversight.
The Programme Specialist supervises and provides strategic guidance to project/program staff and program support staff in her/his team, as well as oversees the coordination of activities related to the area under his/her responsibility with UNV (if applicable), M&E Units and project`s staff. The incumbent will also oversee program activities with technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society ensuring successful UNDP programs implementation.
Duties and Responsibilities
Position Purpose
- Program Strategies and Development Support
- Substantive Management Support and Quality Assurance and Oversight
- Substantive Support to Advocacy, Strategic Partnerships and Resource Mobilization
- Policy Advisory services and Knowledge Building Facilitation.
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 to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration
1/As a member of the Programme management team, ensures the strategic direction of UNDP program within the Practice Area focusing on achievement of results.
- Thorough analysis of the political, social, and economic situation in the country and collaborative preparation/revision of CCA, UNDAF, CPAP, AWP and other documents.
- Identification of strategic program areas of cooperation.
- Operationalization of UNDAF/CPD in collaboration with the main partners and other UN agencies, through active participation in the concerning Outcome Group and technical Working Groups.
- Identification of possibilities for joint programming.
- Analysis and presentation of UNDP policies and their implementation in the CO.
- CO business processes mapping and establishment of internal SOP in Results Management, control of the workflows.
2/Ensures effective management and supervision of the Practice Area programme focusing on quality control of the full cycle programming from formulation to implementation.
- Effective application of RBM tools, establishment of management targets and monitoring achievement of results.
- Design and formulation of CO program within the practice area of responsibility, translating UNDP priorities into local interventions.
- Coordination of practice area program implementation with the executing agencies.
- Strategic oversight of planning, budgeting, implementing, and monitoring of the practice area programme, tracking use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations.
- Effective monitoring, measuring the impact of the Practice Area program and evaluation. Constant monitoring and analysis of the program environment, timely readjustment of program.
- Follow up on audit recommendations.
- Aggregate reports are regularly prepared on activities, outputs, and outcomes.
- Preparation of donor reports
3/Establish and maintains strategic partnership and supports the resource mobilization within the Practice Area focusing on achievement.
- Implementation of the CO partnership and resources mobilization strategies to achieve program outcomes.
- Supporting coordination of partnership with the UN agencies, IFIs, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society, etc;
- Identification and proposal of programmatic areas of cooperation, based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and donor priorities.
- Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for cost-sharing.
4/Ensures provision of top-quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management within the Practice Area focusing on achievement
- Identification of sources of information related to policy-driven issues.
- Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned directly linked to program country policy goals.
- Coordination of development of policies and institutions that will address the country problems and needs in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners.
- Establishment of advocacy networks at national level and linked to international networks. Relevant, high impact advocacy campaigns are implemented with key partners.
- Sound contribution to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
- Organization of trainings for the operations/projects staff on programme
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Supervises programme and project staff.
Competencies
| Expected Demonstration of Competencies |
| Core : |
| 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
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
|
| Partnership Management | Strategic Engagement | - Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objectives
|
| Business Development | Knowledge Facilitation | - Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally
|
| Business Management | Client Satisfaction/Management | - Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers’ needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients’ immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns.
|
| Business Management | Results-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 | Portfolio Management | - Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization as 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
|
Education:
- Advanced University degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in International Relations, Environmental Sciences, Rural Development, Social Sciences, Economics, or related field. OR
- A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
- Minimum 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years of progressive working experience in program/projects management, with proven implementation experience with sound knowledge of all aspects of the project cycle (design, implementation, monitoring & evaluation) is required.
- Excellent experience/knowledge of project/programme development principles and best practice is required.
- Experience in sustainable development, including environment, energy and/or climate change is highly desirable.
- Sound understanding, experience and capability to empower and develop the capacity of staff and be a team player is desired.
- Proven ability to work effectively in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams.
- Excellent skills/experience in fundraising, resources mobilization and donor relations would be an asset.
- Strong interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills/experience .
- Experience to strong strive for innovative ideas and practices is desired.
- Project management training and certifications are desirable.
Language requirements:
Fluency in English and Portuguese is required (written and verbal). Excellent command of French would be an asset..
Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
Disclaimer
Please (apply)/(complete the P11 form) in the language in which the vacancy is published. Applications in another language will not be considered.
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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