Background

UNDP is the UN's global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. UNDP is on the ground in 177 countries and territories, offering global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations. As the UN's global development network, UNDP links and coordinates global and national efforts to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). UNDP is working with a wide range of partners to help create coalitions for change to support the goals at global, regional and national levels, to benchmark progress towards them, and to help countries to build the institutional capacity, policies and programmes in the following areas of work: sustainable development pathways; inclusive and effective democratic governance; resilience-building.

The Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has corporate responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the strategic results, outcomes and outputs with respect to UNDP’s Strategic Plan. BPPS, its teams and their members provide technical advice to Country Offices; advocate UNDP corporate messages; represent UNDP as required, including at multi-stakeholder fora including in public-private dialogues, government and civil society dialogue initiatives, South-South and Triangular cooperation initiatives; and engage in UN interagency coordination in specific thematic areas.

The Bureau 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. It supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data driven including in its programme support efforts.

The Director is the leader of the Bureau at Headquarters and regional levels, and is a member of UNDP’s corporate leadership group, and as such, serves as a role model for corporate values, behaviors and substantive skills.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Director, Bureau for Policy & Programme Support, reports to the Administrator/Associate Administrator. He/She is a member of UNDP’s Executive Group and contributes to shaping and monitoring overall corporate strategic directions. He/She directs and manages the Bureau to address priorities and achieve outcomes.

The scope and principal functions of the position include:

• Participating in UNDP’s highest level corporate decision-making body, the Executive Group (EG), helping to identify and implement strategic directions for the Organization as a whole;
• Building strategic partnerships with key stakeholders to carry out UNDP’s mission and achieve results.

Manages the Bureau for Policy & Programme Support and works collaboratively and collegiately across UNDP to achieve outcomes and results in line with UNDP’s Strategic Plan, including the Integrated Results & Resources Framework:

• Provides overall leadership and shapes strategic thinking for UNDP in the areas of policy & programme support;
• Provides executive leadership and management for the Bureau, supporting the overall goals of UNDP and the UN system;
• Leads the integration and coherence of UNDP policy and programme support within the UN system, including leading UNDP’s coordination role in inter-agency processes in thematic policy areas;
• Oversees the management of UNDP’s Global Programme and associated global projects;
• Represents UNDP in multi-stakeholder fora in such areas as public-private dialogues, government-civil society dialogue initiatives; South-South and Triangular cooperation initiatives and engages in UN interagency coordination in thematic policy areas;
• Advocates UNDP’s development policy/programming priorities to influence public policy and resource allocations decisions;
• Serves as part of UNDP senior management externally advocating for UNDP development priorities with development partners, the Executive Board, the media;
• Guides strategic alliances and approaches to resource mobilization, partnerships, and communications for Thematic Trust Funds, vertical funds, and Global Programmes; and
• Oversees and is responsible for Bureau’s operations in financial, human resources, procurement and general administration.

The result of the work of the Bureau Director greatly impacts on the standing and reputation of UNDP in all areas related to policy and programme support. When requested by the Administrator/Associate Administrator, the Bureau Director represents UNDP in international and national fora, liaises and interacts on behalf of UNDP with external clients and partners including government, media, civil society as well as other international organizations. The Bureau Director is accountable to the Administrator/Associate Administrator for the timely and effective delivery of UNDP policy and programme support to Country Offices.

Competencies

• A clear understanding of  development challenges and priorities;
• Demonstrated ability to identify high level strategic issues, opportunities and risks, develop organizational strategies to meet objectives, and generate and communicate organizational direction and expected outcomes to all stakeholders.

• Proven track record of excellent management, leadership and representation skills;
• Demonstrated effectiveness in establishing productive relationships and networks to achieve outcomes; strong people management skills; demonstrated competence for incorporating gender perspectives;
• Demonstrated personal drive and commitment to organizational objectives;
• Proven experience in leading change.

• Demonstrated ability to provide strategic direction;
• Demonstrated excellence in successful management of a complex portfolio of responsibilities including translating goals into practical implementation strategies;
• Proven ability to build organizational capability and responsiveness to achieve outcomes;
• Mature judgment and initiative.

• Influential and confident oral and written communication skills;
• Proven ability to negotiate persuasively and achieve objectives;
• Proven ability to establish and maintain effective inter-personal relationships in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

• Ability to work collaboratively and collegiately with internal and external stakeholders to achieve corporate goals;
• Capacity to anticipate and address difficult issues;
• Demonstrated commitment to acting ethically and with integrity and commitment to the values enshrined in the UN Charter.

• Demonstrated commitment to acting ethically and with integrity and commitment to the values enshrined in the UN Charter;
• Building support and political acumen;
• Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation;
• Building and promoting effective teams;
• Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication;
• Creating an emotionally intelligent organization;
• Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards;
• Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning;
• Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking.

Required Skills and Experience

• Advanced University degree in development-related disciplines, Economics, Business Administration, Public Policy or other relevant Social Sciences or disciplines.

• At least fifteen years of progressively responsible, substantive experience and results achievement at the international level;
• The candidate should have in-depth knowledge of development-related advisory services, managing complex development situations, interagency and international cooperation, negotiation of partnerships, mobilization of resources and management of programmes in development related areas with national, regional, international entities, including the ability to influence/advance policy dialogue and present such material at global and regional fora.

• Proficiency in English is required. Proficiency in another UN language is desirable.