UNDP Jobs - 51916- Project Manager, "Support to Kazakhstan to deliver

Project Manager, "Support to Kazakhstan to deliver development assistance to countries in Africa, Oceania, and the Caribbean through capacity building trainings to young professionals", UNDP (only for Kazakhstan citizens)

Location :

Astana, KAZAKHSTAN

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

17-Dec-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SB-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

12 months

Languages Required :

English Russian

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

For many years Kazakhstan has been providing official development and humanitarian assistance, helping various countries in the Central Asian region and beyond. To promote peace and security, Kazakhstan has provided an estimated $100 million worth of humanitarian and development aid to other countries so far. To strengthen its role as an emerging donor, Kazakhstan wants to systematize and professionalize its efforts and align official development assistance with the priorities of its foreign policy. The country is working to create the Kazakhstan Agency for International Development. To do so Kazakhstan is working to expand the geographical and thematic dimensions, types and formats of technical assistance to the countries in need.

In particular, Kazakhstan, as a facilitator of knowledge exchange, may offer expertise in coal, oil and gas mining, urban sanitation, production of wheat, arid land irrigation, sustainable transport management, corporate planning and information technology.
For this end the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (hereinafter, MFA) and UNDP in Kazakhstan agreed to partner and implement a joint project aimed at developing and implementing a Partnership Program to deliver capacity building and professional training to young professionals, postgraduates, and master’s degree students in a number of countries of Africa, Oceania, and the Caribbean.
The project will provide support to the Government of Kazakhstan to design and implement a Partnership Program between governments, academic institutions, and corporations of Kazakhstan and countries in Africa, Oceania and the Caribbean. It is aimed at enhancing the development of important economic sectors in the recipient countries through improved capacity of professionals in these countries. The project will develop a comprehensive Partnership Program based on rapid needs assessments in the recipient countries and ensure access to the best available knowledge and practice within Kazakhstan’s institutions. The Program will be completed through a number of capacity building models like university courses, internships, short-term thematic trainings, field trainings, study etc. - all supported with relevant educational and training materials and recommended readings. This Program will seek to efficiently match the sectoral development targets, capacity needs, and educational gaps in recipient countries with available opportunities in Kazakhstan through improved professional training of individual nominees.

The Project Manager (PM) will be responsible for the daily management of all project activities at the national level. The PM will provide supervision of all consultants, contracted companies, and technical and administrative staff within the project. The PM will work under the general oversight of the National Project Director and the Project Board, with direct supervision from the project coordinator at UNDP (Head of Strategic Support Unit). All work conducted by the PM will be coordinated with the MFA, which is the national implementing agency for the project from the Government of Kazakhstan.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Manager will be responsible for project implementation and the dissemination of its results.

Summary of Key Functions:

- Overall technical support to the MFA in conducting the required training programme
- Day-to-day management of the project planning, monitoring and evaluation vis-à-vis the Kazakhstan-UNDP partnership, in accordance with the specific rules and procedures
- Day-to-day management of the project’s human resources, finances and procurement

1. Overall technical support to the MFA in conducting the required training programme
- Design and endorse the Partnership Program is in collaboration with MFA, and respective universities/schools of Kazakhstan. For that develop a detailed application requirements and guidelines for the Partnership Program, including selection criteria for the potential candidates.
- Ensure that the project team focuses on:
- Development of the training and capacity building modules for the agreed sectors, including description of the theoretical courses and other activities, timeframe, type of activities (certified courses, internship, workshop, field surveys, conferences etc.), price, and minimum placement requirements (including degree, professional experience, language level).
- Based on Kazakhstan’s offer, recipient countries identification of needs and selection of the modules most relevant to the countries’ context.
- The legal framework for the Partnership Program is established
- Travel logistics for the Program participants arranged (with the help of a project assistant)
- The training and capacity raising activities are arranged and completed.
- Communication and coordination of the Program activities with UNDP CO and MFA focal points arranged.
- Communications maintained with institutions and individuals in the recipient countries of the Program related issues (programmatic and logistics).
- Coordination of the project activities with relevant institutions in Kazakhstan at the Program development stage and on-wards.
- Procurement of the project related goods and services in accordance with UNDP requirements.
- Reporting to UNDP CO and MFA RK as appropriate.

2. Day-to-day management of project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation vis-à-vis the Kazakhstan-UNDP partnership, in accordance with the specific rules and procedures

- Ensure qualitative implementation of the entire project management cycle (planning, implementation, monitoring, risk assessments and result dissemination);
- Monitor the project implementation, in order to insure that both the beneficiaries and the contractual partners fulfill their contractual obligations
- Daily liaison between UNDP and the Kazakhstan MFA, academia, UNDP COs in targeted countries, other state institutions, etc.
- Regular reporting and communication with the Project Board and UNDP about project status, including problems
- Preparing the key project documentation, including analytical pieces and periodic updates on the status of the partnership, codifying the acquired learning and ensuring effective sharing of information with all key stakeholders
- Networking with beneficiaries, contractual partners as well as co-financers, if any, on the project implementation
- Evaluation of results and of the project impact; providing feedback for increasing the impact of future initiatives
- Networking with international organizations active in the field for coordination and cooperation

3. Day-to-day management of the Project’s human resources, finances and procurement

- Oversee the project team (project assistant, short-term expert(s)) on an ongoing basis as well as temporary consultants as necessary
- Prepare and submit financial reports, quarterly progress reports, annual project implementation review reports, annual work plans and other reports as may be required
- Where necessary, perform the function of ATLAS User, approving requisitions and performing other relevant ATLAS processes
- Initiate and manage the procurement actions required by the project’s work plan as well as the necessary administrative action related to hiring of consultants
- Lead in organization of events/trainings/study visits, including project external missions’ arrangements and other logistical arrangements
- Lead administrative support to the project in full compliance with UNDP procedures, while ensuring effective utilization of the funds and in full compliance with the project documents and agreements
- Perform budget revisions, annual inventory and auditing, and assist external evaluators in fulfilling their mission
- Carry out other project-related tasks assigned

Impact of Results

Results of the work of the Project Manager will have an impact on the overall completion of the target that MFA sets, i.e. deliver development assistance to countries in Africa, Oceania, and the Caribbean through capacity building trainings to young professionals.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:
- Demonstrating ethics and integrity
- 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 favoritism

Functional Competencies:

Development and Operational Effectiveness:
- Ability to perform a variety of project management related tasks
- Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting

Leadership and Self-Management:
- Focuses on impact and result for the project beneficiary
- Leads teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills
- Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
- Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills
- Builds strong relationships with project beneficiary and external actors
- Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure
- Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities
- Responds positively to feedback and differing points of view
- Solicits feedback from staff about the impact of his/her own behavior

Knowledge Management and Learning

- Shares knowledge and experience and contributes to UNDP practice areas
- Promotes a learning environment in the office
- Demonstrates strong coaching/mentoring skills, regularly providing helpful feedback and advice to others in the office
- Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more practice areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills

Required Skills and Experience

Education: Advanced University degree (Master’s or equivalent) in international affairs, pedagogics, social sciences, communications, or other relevant field.

Experience:
- At least 5 years of relevant work experience in project management with any international public or private organization, NGO, or UN with a focus on capacity building.

- Proven previous experience in organizing educational (vocational) trainings for various groups or related work for UNDP or other international organization/ NGO/ public institutions is a strong advantage.

- Experience with project management and in liaising and cooperating with government officials, NGOs, media, academia is a strong advantage.

Language Requirements:
- Fluency in written and oral Russian and English

- Knowledge of Kazakh is preferable

!IMPORTANT INFORMATION

How to apply: Interested and qualified candidates should apply on-line through this site by clicking "APPLY NOW" button. Please ensure that you upload your UN Personal History Form-P11 (on the 2nd page of the application by selecting "UPLOAD RESUME" option).

Incomplete applications will not be given consideration. Please note that only short-listed applications will be contacted.

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.