UNDP Jobs - 49986- Re-advertisement - Policy Specialist, UN RC Leader

Re-advertisement - Policy Specialist, UN RC Leadership Development and Coordination

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

11-Jan-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

One year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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. 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.

Background

Candidates who previously applied need not re-apply.

Important message to all applicants:

Please ensure that you include and upload a signed Personal History Form (P.11) [download form here: http://sas.undp.org/documents/P11_Personal_history_form.docx] with your application. Failure to do so may lead to delays in the screening process and ultimately will disqualify your application from being reviewed.

Under the leadership of the UNDG Chair, and with the guidance of the UNDG, DOCO brings together the UN Development System to promote change and innovation for a UN that delivers together for sustainable development. DOCO provides field evidence to inform policy, promotes excellence in UN leadership and coordination, and facilitates the achievement of shared strategic results for the UNDG. To achieve this, DOCO supports the UNDG at all levels to ensure coordinated and coherent support to the UN’s national partners in meeting the MDGs/IADGs and the development priorities in a post 2015 agenda. The core objective is a relevant and impactful UN contribution to sustainable development. DOCO works closely with other UN entities and stakeholders (including DPA, DPKO, DSS, WB, OCHA and the Policy Committee in case of crisis countries), and through various interagency mechanisms to enable the following:

Analyze and advocate for improved policy, strategy and operational coordination as inputs for discussion and decision by UNDG;
Develop, manage and facilitate interagency networks of expertise to support the innovation, development and implementation of UNDG strategic priorities and work plans for reforms and shared results;
Address and support UN development system coordination and coherence issues at regional and country levels; and enable the lessons and experiences from the field to translate into improved policy;
Support the UNDG Chair, Regional UNDGs and UN Resident Coordinators in their leadership and coordination functions;
Provide advice and support to the Director in the context of opportunities to leverage UN development coordination objectives at all levels.

Under the general direction and overall guidance of the Policy Adviser, the Policy Specialist is responsible for providing coordination support and assistance to RC interagency working mechanisms and other related deliberative and policy-making entities to operationalize UNDG’s strategic priorities; to ensure effective and substantive support to the design and delivery of RC-related training activities, to manage key databases of the unit, and that all content and materials from supported processes conform to applicable information sharing and access requirements and that knowledge relevant to UNDG development coordination is managed in accordance with UNDG policies.

Duties and Responsibilities

Support to RC-system inter-agency mechanism

Provide coordination support and assistance to RC system interagency mechanisms and other related/associated deliberative and policy-making entities established to develop, refine, and operationalize UNDG strategic priorities;
On behalf of UNDG working mechanisms, draft and finalize policies, technical documents, guidance and protocols; develop briefing papers and discussion points for consideration by the UNDG working mechanisms;
Monitor and follow-up on activities and commitments by interagency mechanisms; maintain status and tracking systems for action items, and prepare periodic and special progress/ status reports to help sustain focus and visibility for forward momentum and task completion;
Provide technical support to the Policy Adviser on RC system and related issues and serve as liaison with the DOCO Country & Regional Support Team;
Establish and maintain open communication and relationships with key managers and senior staff from UNDG member organizations, the UN Secretariat, working group or task/project team principals and members, individuals and other entities to facilitate achievement of group objectives and to advance UNDG strategic priorities for enhanced development coordination.

Leadership and RC training

Support the coordination of the design and delivery of leadership development programmes, in consultation with the UNDG and within DOCO, including overall training/capacity building for the RC system (orientation, induction, continued learning);
Analyze RC training needs assessments, evaluation and facilitation team reports of the training events and UNCTs’ feedback and submit conclusions/synthesis to benefit future events;
Collect and analyze information on talent management and career development support program/s and advise on the need for improvement and/or enhancements;
Coordinate with learning and training facilities and providers (including UN System Staff College) on the organization of the events and update training events agenda and learning material;
Liaise with DOCO partners in the design, planning and monitoring of trainings focusing on the ongoing professional development and talent management of RCs, including through;
Mapping learning opportunities and preparing options;
Monitoring the use of RC learning tools;
Setting-up and launching professional development newsletters, bulletins and other RC training and learning materials, in collaboration with the UNSSC, DOCO and other interagency mechanisms involved in the ongoing professional developments for RCs.

Knowledge management

Maintain continuous awareness of DOCO knowledge management practices and precepts, sharing/reinforcing concepts and requirements with groups/teams/task forces supported and ensuring that all content and materials resulting from supported processes conform to applicable information-sharing and access requirements;
In coordination with Policy Specialist managing RC selection processes, ensure maintenance of databases and regular circulation of relevant lists of: a) RC candidate pools; b) the DSRSG candidate pool; c) sitting RCs and d) RCs ad interim. Manage and ensure up-to-date data and relevant information in the RC Online website managed by DOCO.
In coordination with Policy Specialist managing the RC performance appraisal process, support the annual RC/HC/DO and UNCT performance appraisal process and system;
In coordination with the Policy Advisor, and relevant UNDG networks, develop and manage the UNDG RC Handbook which will be a reference guide for RCs;
Provide support to the development and monitoring of the Unit work plan and budget;
Other tasks, as required by the Policy Advisor, RC Leadership Development and Coordination Team.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Advocates and promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the UN;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
Demonstrates and promotes the values of the UN in actions and decisions and acts in accordance with the standard of conduct for international civil servants;
Shows willingness to work without bias with all persons regardless of gender, nationality, religion or culture;
Contributes effectively to team-based activities, working collaboratively and sharing information openly; works effectively with colleagues inside the UN as well as its partners and other stakeholders to pursue common goals;
Facilitates and encourages open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
Remains calm, composed and patient when facing conflict, manages conflict productively, focusing on mutually acceptable solutions;
Takes initiative and seeks opportunities to initiate action;
Actively produces and disseminates new knowledge; creates/contributes to mechanisms to collect and share knowledge;
Actively seeks learning opportunities; demonstrates commitment to ongoing professional development;
Proposes innovative ideas and new solutions to work.

Functional Competencies:

Demonstrated ability to support and maintain inter-agency networks and partnerships;
Familiarity with RC system;
Keeps abreast of new developments in area of focus, especially in talent management and training;
Good basic understanding of talent management, capacity-building, learning and training practices;
Good knowledge of UN reform;
Ability to support development of policies, procedures and guidance;
Demonstrated ability to contribute to the development of change processes;
Demonstrated ability to adapt best management practices to support the achievement of Unit/team goals;
Demonstrated ability to contribute to the development of approaches to capacity-building, knowledge management and organizational learning;
Ability to contribute effectively in team-based setting, especially in the area of knowledge-sharing and learning;
Ability to write clearly and convincingly, adapting style and content to different audiences; speaks clearly and convincingly, demonstrating strong presentation and facilitation skills;
Anticipates clients’ needs; demonstrates understanding of clients’ perspectives; solicits feedback on service provision and quality.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master) in political, social, economic, business management or other related social science field is required.

Experience:

At least 5 years relevant experience in development, some of which should be with developing countries and within the UN system, Agencies, Funds or Programs;
Experience in technical training, leadership development, and learning an asset.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in oral and written English is required;
Proficiency in another UN working language is desirable.