UNDP Jobs - 31916- Management Advisor, Oversight and Compliance Unit

MANAGEMENT ADVISOR, OVERSIGHT AND COMPLIANCE UNIT - UNDP AFGHANISTAN COUNTRY OFFICE - VA NO. 2012/08/103
Location :	Kabul, AFGHANISTAN
Application Deadline :	22-Aug-12
Type of Contract :	FTA International
Post Level :	P-5
Languages Required :	English
Duration of Initial Contract :	One year (With possiblity of extension)
Background
Organizational Context: UNDP supports stabilization, state-building, governance and development priorities in Afghanistan. UNDP support, in partnership with the Government, the United Nations system, the donor community and other development stakeholders, has contributed to institutional development efforts leading to positive impact on the lives of Afghan citizens. Over the years UNDP support has spanned such milestone efforts as the adoption of the Constitution; Presidential, Parliamentary and Provincial Council elections; institutional development through capacity-building to the legislative, the judicial and executive arms of the state, and key ministries, Government agencies and commissions at the national and subnational levels. UNDP has played a key role in the management of the Law and Order Trust Fund, which supports the Government in developing and maintaining the national police force and in efforts to stabilize the internal security environment. Major demobilization, disarmament and rehabilitation and area-based livelihoods and reconstruction programmes have taken place nationwide. UNDP Programmes in Afghanistan have benefited from the very active support of donors. UNDP Afghanistan is committed to the highest standards of transparency and accountability and works in close coordination with the United Nations Mission in Afghanistan and the UN system as a whole to maximize the impact of its development efforts on the ground Under the overall guidance and the direct supervision of the Country Director the Management Advisor will be responsible for leading and coordinating the overall work and day-to-day management of the Oversight and Compliance Unit, a stand-alone unit within the country Office structure directly reporting to the Country Director. The unit will consult with the Deputy Country Directors (Programme and Operations) and corporate bodies, such as the Division for Afghanistan within the Regional Bureau for Asia Pacific, the Bureau of Management, as well as the Office for Audit and Investigation as and if necessary. The overall aim is to ensure of quality assurance and oversight for the results as stipulated in Country Programme Action Plan (CPAP). S(he) will have responsibility and accountability for the effective and efficient provision of all service lines the Unit is offering to the Country Office and -in extension - to all projects implemented and overseen by the Office. The Management Advisor will supervise the staff of the Unit, and will be responsible for fostering collaboration within the Unit, and for working in close collaboration with the PSU (Programme Support Unit), the newly established External Relations unit, the Programme and Operation Units and others. The focus of the Unit is to provide coordinated, systematic, client-oriented and timely services for the benefit of the Country Office overall
Duties and Responsibilities
Summary of Key Functions: Overall management of the Unit, including supervision/mentoring of staff Lead Risk management and ensure and maintain effective control systems. Ex-ante quality assurance of programmes, projects and outputs. Post-facto oversight of procurement, human resources and finance processes. Lessons learned and good practices. Training of Country Office and project staff. Dedicated strategic/management support to Country Director Overall management of the Unit, including supervision/mentoring of staff: Manage day-to-day operations of Unit. Define the service lines of the Unit in coordination with the senior management. Develop and implement Unit’s strategy/annual work plan. Define the Unit’s modus operandi; develop procedures and mechanisms to effectively tackle challenges. Ensure compliance of Unit’s activities with UNDP rules, regulations and policies. Ensure proper staff performance appraisal and promote personal and professional capacity development. Undertake mentoring/coaching/capacity development of national staff, including national programme officers, to build national programme implementation capacity. Liaise with other unit heads in cross-practice activities, coordinate equitable workload distribution. Lead risk management and ensure and maintain effective control systems: Develop policy and procedures for risk management Establish a risk management, compliance and assurance system and process from project level to country director. Ensure appropriate analysis for risk management at programme, operations and project staff level. Support senior management to ensure risk management is central part of programme management, identify, evaluate and advice on significant exposures to risk. Adapt existing risk management tools to Afghanistan to ensure mechanisms are in place and functioning, advise and develop new tools and procedures. Ensure reporting on risk to country director and HQ is clear and consistent and accompanied by actionable recommendations. Provide advisory services, lead and undertake cross-practice capacity risk assessments. Evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of controls. Promote the continuous improvement of the control environment. Effectively communicate on risk and control systems and information with appropriate units. Ex-ante quality assurance of programmes, projects and outputs: Ensure LPAC quality assurance, including advice on implementation modalities and programme design. Provide advice for Letters of Agreement (LOA) under DIM implemented projects with a view on programmatic and results value vis-à-vis risk management. Provide ex-ante clearance for financially substantive or high risk contracts for NIM projects and DIM LOAs. Advise senior management on oversight, compliance and assurance issues affecting country programme, projects and operations. Ad interim, until hybrid implementation systems are phased out, keep an inventory of currently used SOPS/ NIM manuals. Post-facto oversight of assets, procurement, human resources and finance processes: Lead post-facto oversight for critical operations i.e. (assets, payments, procurement processes and human resources undertaken by CO and projects (both NIM and DIM). In co-coordination with PSU work on risk-profiles for clearance of NIM and DIM LOA and Operational advances. Review all financially substantive (direct) payments from a risk management perspective Identify approaches and modalities to achieve management targets and increased efficiency Codify Lessons learned and good practices/ Provide Training: Analyse lessons learned through M&E and other processes, and prepare knowledge products to be disseminated within country office and projects. Advice and lead provisions of training on appropriate accountability and monitoring strategies and implementation of corporate guidance in projects (Internal Control Framework, Delegation of Authority, etc.). Develop written uniform and harmonized standard operating procedures on main business processes, procedures and templates across all implementation modalities, including sub-offices and project offices. Promote knowledge sharing, learning and active participation of the CO in the management practice. Dedicated strategic/management support to Country Director to produce quality briefs/concept notes on accountability, oversight, compliance and quality assurance: Provide advisory services to CD concerning interactions/liaison with donors and partners on above, including preparation of inter-agency reports. Provide additional support to CD, and undertake any specific tasks requested by the CD. Provide quality briefs and options to senior management on issues related to the accountability, oversight, compliance and quality assurance
Competencies
Corporate Competencies: Demonstrates utmost integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards. Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP. Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability. Treats all people fairly without favouritism. Functional Competencies: Conflict Management/ Negotiating and Resolving Disagreements Remaining calm, collected and patient, when facing conflict. Resolving interpersonal conflict by focusing on mutually acceptable solutions. Using conflict as a potential source of creativity and innovation. Developing an environment where conflict or problems can be addressed and resolved. Setting standards for organizational behaviour. Development and Operational Effectiveness: Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting. Ability to monitor formulation, implementation and evaluation of management and development projects. Solid knowledge of financial resources, information and communication technology, general administration. Ability to lead business processes re-engineering, implementation of new systems (business side), and affect staff behavioural/ attitudinal change. Management and Leadership: Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback. Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude. Mature judgment combined with a proactive, resourceful and energetic approach to problem solving. Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills. Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities. Leads teams effectively and shows mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills. Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills. Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities. Knowledge Management and Learning: Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example. Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills
Required Skills and Experience
Education: Advanced university degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Law, or related field. Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) designation is an advantage as well as professional certifications (CISA, CFE) Experience: 10 years of relevant experience at the national and international level in providing management advisory services, audit services, project implementation and/or monitoring development programmes and projects. Exposure to project and risk management within the UN system or in the private sector is a significant advantage. Knowledge of and experience with UN/UNDP project implementation, monitoring systems and corporately available tools is a significant advantage. Experience with working in a multi-national settings with people from different cultural backgrounds. Advanced user of computers and office software packages and experience in handling of web based management systems. Language Requirements: Fluency in English (spoken and written). Knowledge of a local language (Dari, Pashtu) would be an asset. Interested and qualified national Afghan candidates should apply on-line through the UNDP Jobs site at www.undp.org.af/jobs and please ensure that to fill up and upload Personal History Form-P.11 which is available at www.undp.org.af/jobs in the relevant field of the on-line application Incomplete applications or applications received after the closing date will not be given consideration. Please note that only applications that are short-listed will be contacted. For more detailed information about UNDP Afghanistan please visit our website at www.undp.org.af Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply
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UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.