UNDP Careers Hiring for Programme Specialist – Home based at New York, United States Full Time

Job Description

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.

Job Purpose and Organizational Context

The Joint SDG Fund supports countries as they accelerate their progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It operates through joint programmes (JPs) that provide the mechanism for transformative solutions implemented by governments and national stakeholders and supported by the UN Country Team led by Resident Coordinators (RCs). Strategic direction for the Fund is provided by the Strategic Advisory Group chaired by the Deputy Secretary-General as the chair of UN Sustainable Development Group. The Fund is managed by the Operational Steering Committee, comprised of representatives of UN entities, and with the support from the Secretariat of the Fund. The UN Development Coordination Office (DCO) hosts the Fund and provides for the alignment with the broader UN Development System reforms. The Administrative Agent of the Fund, in charge of financial management, is the Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTF-O). Official documents (e.g. Terms of Reference and Operational Guidance) of the Fund and information on funding can be found on the Gateway portal.

To advance the dual mandate of supercharging the UN Development System reform to be fit for purpose and, in turn, supporting the acceleration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Fund incentivizes coherent and coordinated join UN action, anchored in the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks at country level under the leadership of Resident Coordinator (RC). Serving as the catalytic funding to piece together emerging policy priorities and financing strategies, the Fund aims to galvanize the UN Country Teams around integrated policies and identify the fiscal space to overcome the political and financial hurdles to scale and accelerate progress towards the SDGs.

The key objective of this position is to support the Head of the UN Joint SDG Fund Secretariat in aligning the work of the UN Joint SDG Fund with the Development Coordination Office (DCO) and the Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG), as well as supporting the implementation of the strategy of the UN Joint SDG Fund in close collaboration with partners.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Policy coordination and strategic alignment/positioning
• Contributes to the alignment between the UN Joint SDG Fund, the Development Coordination Office (DCO) and the Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG.)
• Supports the implementation of the strategy of the UN Joint SDG Fund in close collaboration with DCO and EOSG.
• Produces comprehensive background notes and relevant material for the participation of the Joint SDG Fund Head of Secretariat, DCO Director, and the Deputy Secretary-General in various meetings.
• Provides strategic support to outreach activities and facilitates substantive contributions from a Joint SDG Fund perspective to UNDCO leadership and EOSG.
• Organizes and prepares written outputs on policy issues e.g. draft background papers, briefing notes, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, and key messages.
• Coordinates information management and knowledge sharing on Member State positions in different UN fora including ECOSOC, General Assembly, and specialized meetings.
• Contributes to the technical-level preparatory meetings and processes for UN Senior leadership visits and meetings relevant to the Joint SDG Fund.
• Facilitates knowledge management and exchange of best practices amongst the Joint SDG Fund, DCO and EOSG.
• Develops draft policy recommendations on UN Joint SDG Fund support issues, including the review and analysis of issues and trends; prepares evaluations or other research activities and studies.
• Partnership management and support
• Provides strategic support to the Head of Secretariat and the partnership specialist in his/her work with expanding partnerships.
• Participates in working groups to ensure efficient support to DCO, EOSG, RCs/UNCTs by the Joint SDG Fund.
• Contributes to outreach activities; conducts training workshops, seminars, etc.; makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Provides substantive backstopping to consultative and other meetings, conferences, including proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations on sustainable development issues.
• Support activities related to budget funding on strategic partnerships and programmes; prepares relevant documents/reports (e.g. pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.)
• Programmatic management and support
• Supports programmatic duties of the Joint SDG Fund on one or two transitions, in partnership with the relevant UN entities.
• Participates in the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of assigned programmes/projects, etc.; monitors and analyses programme/project development and implementation.
• Reviews relevant documents and reports; identifies problems and issues to be addressed and proposes corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; identifies and tracks follow-up actions.
• Leads and/or participates in field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting mission summaries, etc.
• Performs other related duties, as required.

Institutional Arrangement

The Programme Specialist will report to the Head, Joint SDG Fund Secretariat.

Core

Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process

Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making

Competencies

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Thematic Area Name Definition

Business Direction and Strategy Business Acumen

Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome.

knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization and ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks

Business Development Knowledge Facilitation Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally

Business Management Customer Satisfaction/Client 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 fulfill 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 clients’ upcoming needs and concerns.

Business Management Risk Management Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks.

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.

UN System Affairs Intergovernmental affairs Knowledge of intergovernmental bodies (General Assembly, ECOSOC, UNDESA, etc.), including respective mandates, ways of working, and negotiation processes

Partnership management Relationship management Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding

Education

Required Skills and Experience

• Master’s degree in political science, international relations, social sciences, management science, development, law or related field.
• Bachelor’s degree in the same fields with additional 2 years of experience will be accepted in lieu of the master’s degree.

Experience

• A minimum of 5 years with master’s degree or 7 years with bachelor’s degree of progressively responsible experience in providing reporting and coordination support in inter-governmental development organizations is required.
• Experience working at regional or global level in multilateral organizations and/or the UN system is required. Specific experience in inter-agency coordination and international organizations is required.

Required Skills

• Ability to extract, analyse and visualize data (using excel or other tools) to form meaningful insights and aid effective decision making is required.
• Knowledge of intergovernmental bodies (General Assembly, ECOSOC, UNDESA, etc.), including respective mandates, ways of working, and negotiation processes is required.
• Knowledge of UN country planning processes and documents is required.
• Evidence of strong writing skills and the ability to synthesize information is required.

Desired Skills

• Experience working in developing country settings is an asset.
• Professional experience within governmental domains of development coordination is an asset.

Required Language(s)

• Fluent in written and spoken English.
• Knowledge of another UN languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish) is desirable.

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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