Background

The UNV Field Units in peace keeping missions are efficient functioning units, providing full administrative, operational and programme support to the serving UN Volunteers, and programme support to the UN system in the country.

Reporting to the Portfolio Manager of the respective Portfolio Team in the Peace Programming Section at UNV Headquarters, the Programme Manager is responsible for the effective strategic planning, advocacy, programming, coordination and overall management of the day to day operations of UNV’s programme activities in the assigned country. In the context of the integrated UN Missions, the Programme Manager coordinates the operations of both UNV Field Units in the country.  The Programme Manager, though under the supervision of UNV Headquarters, also reports locally on daily operational matters to the Director/Chief of Mission Support, of the UN peace-keeping operation and regularly updates the UNDP Deputy Country Director (Programme) on UNV’s activities and initiatives in the country.  The Programme Manager supervises a multifunctional team.

Duties and Responsibilities

Provide administrative, operational and programme support to UN Volunteers:

  • Manage the UNV Field Unit within the peace-keeping mission, including the UN Volunteer Support Officers, and supervise the UNV Programme Officer (UNV Field Unit within the UNCT) to ensure maximum efficiency and output of UNV involvement in UN activities in field locations, including the administrative and corporate backstopping to the UN Volunteers in the UN Mission, in accordance with the stipulations of the Global MOU concluded between UNV and DPKO/DFS;
  • Monitor the security situation in the country, liaising with the Designated Official and the Security/DSS staff;
  • Manage efficiently UNV programme budgets including for all UNV peacekeeping related activities in the country, as well as the training budget of the EOL (i.e. mission budget) – in coordination with the UN Mission’s Training Unit – and the budget provided by UNV HQ for the promotion of volunteerism;
  • Ensure adequate UNV Field Units (2) supervision and coordination of operations in the country;
  • Manage the efficient compliance of the UN Volunteers with UNV’s Volunteer Reporting System (VRS), including working towards a maximum response from the supervisors, and build on the outcome of the reports.

Continue UNV programme development with UN Agencies, host Government and other partners present in the country of operations:

  • Develop regular contact with relevant partners and colleagues at the sub-regional, country and, if required, at headquarters level, in order to strengthen existing collaboration and promote/identify new opportunities for UNV in the areas of peacekeeping, humanitarian, and crisis prevention and recovery activities;
  • Where appropriate, develop and follow up on leads and planning exercises with key post-conflict electoral activity partners, including the UNDP Country Office and the Electoral Assistance Division (EAD) at the field level, with the view to create new UN Volunteer involvement in the areas of electoral supervision, monitoring and observation with the view to create and expand collaboration. This includes preparation of programming advisory notes, programme strategy papers, and project documents;
  • Position strategically UNV as a reliable programmatic and implementing partner in the UNCT and Mission (joint projects and programmes, quick impact projects –QIPs--, national capacity building etc.), and assist the UN Mission in its national capacity development efforts in both substantive and technical support roles;
  • Identify, design and implement volunteerism promotion activities/events/projects/joint programmes, including exploring funding opportunities (both internally and externally); liaise with local volunteer associations to ensure local ownership and local volunteer mobilization, as well as with UN partners and international stakeholders for volunteer mobilization, co-funding and logistical support in implementation of activities;
  • Contribute to the creation of a corporate identity for the UN Volunteers and to the promotion of volunteerism through the UNV volunteers in the country.

Advocacy and public information activities on UNV involvement and volunteer activities in the country:

  • Identify, pursue and develop inputs to UN Mission, UNDP, UNV and other publications and working documents for programme development purposes;
  • In coordination with UNV’s Communication Section, identify, pursue and develop news stories, case studies, and briefs for publication in DPKO, DFS, DPA, UNDP, UNV and other publications.

Integration of UNV’s work in the country into UNV’s corporate business plan as well as strategic documents at country level (UNDAF, etc.):

  • Participate in UNDP, DPKO, and UNV corporate and country level discussions and planning, including the preparation of portfolio summary reports, contributions to UNV business plans, global programme inputs, project appraisal committees, and routine preparation of briefing and advisory notes.

Managerial Functions; accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the management of UNV resources:

  • Represent the UNV Programme with UN partners, including senior UN officials, with Government and with civil society and other partners;
  • Ensure adequate office management, including set-up of in-country sub-offices as needed;
  • Manage the recruitment, performance and career management of international UNV Programme Officer,  Support Officer and national GS staff, to motivate and promote organizational excellence;
  • Manage learning activities, including establishing learning plans and ensure staff supervised meets their development needs while meeting the needs of the UN Integrated Mission in the country;
  • Implement procurement processes and provide oversight to contract implementation and certification of  payments;
  • Supervise the UNV Field Unit in the UNDP Country Office and ensure the efficient coordination, joint planning and operations in the spirit of “Delivering as One”.

Competencies

Innovation

  • Ability to make new and useful ideas work.

Leadership

  • Ability to persuade others to follow.

People Management

  • Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.

Communication

  • Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.

Delivery

  • Ability to get things done.

Peacebuilding and Reconciliation

  • Ability to support peace processes to facilitate recovery and development.

Human Resources Management (General)

  • Knowledge of HR management issues and principles and the ability to apply them to strategic and/or practical situations.

Substantive positioning of UNV

  • Knowledge of global institutions (such as the UN, IFIs), processes (such as G20 and various UN initiatives), good grasp of UNV’s niche, and ability to engage and foster strong networks with those institutions.

Project Management

  • Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.

Partnerships

  • Ability to engage with other agencies, donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships.

Development Planning

  • Knowledge of development planning processes at the national and local level and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations.

Results-based Management

  • Ability to manage programmes and projects with a strategy aimed at improved performance and demonstrable results.

Knowledge Management

  • Ability to efficiently handle and share information and knowledge.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Master degree in social sciences, public administration, humanitarian, international relations/development studies, law, human resources or other relevant field.

Experience:

  • Minimum 5 years of relevant work experience at the field level, preferably with UNDP/UNV in the areas of humanitarian relief, development aid, electoral assistance, special operations in DPKO environment and communications;
  • Demonstrated experience in project development and management;
  • Work experience as UNV Specialist / Programme Officer in a field location is an asset;
  • Previous experience in a civil society setting and/or as a volunteer with volunteer management and/or promotion of volunteerism is a distinct advantage;
  • Proven experience in crisis management response is an asset.

Language Requirements:

  • Fluency in English and French;
  • Working knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

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