UNCDF Jobs - 53910- Executive and Communication Associate UNCDF

Executive and Communication Associate UNCDF

Advertised on behalf of

UNCDF

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

FTA Local

Starting Date :

01-May-2015

Application Deadline :

27-Feb-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

GS-7

Duration of Initial Contract :

One year (renewable)

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

The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is a UN organization with a capital mandate (unique in the UN System) focused on reducing poverty and inequality first and foremost in the least developed countries (“LDC”s). To support the realization of UNCDF’s Business Plan and drive the rapid expansion of the organization’s capacity to assist LDCs to meet their graduation goals, respond to LDC demand for its services, and increase its geographical coverage of and average investment size in LDCs, UNCDF requires a partnership and business development strategy.

This strategy encompasses specific, and interlinked, strategies for partnerships, branding and communications, and resource mobilization, which capitalize on mandate-specific partnership building, inter-governmental/client relations, and specific business development opportunities.

By the end of 2015 the international community is expected to endorse a new and, probably, single and universal sustainable development agenda that will replace the existing Millennium Development Goals. This will likely be accompanied by a new financing framework to be adopted at the next UN Financing for Development summit. This new framework faces a rapidly changing development finance landscape that is characterized by an increased diversity of: providers and sources such as DAC and non-DAC donors (e.g. India, China and Brazil), philanthropic foundations, high net-worth individuals, crowd-sourced donations, remittances and other private sector providers – such as the emerging impact investing industry; and, types of funding including traditional ODA, loans, risk mitigation, equity and blending instruments, as well as innovative financing mechanisms and the increasing use of ODA to leverage private finance including from domestic sources.

Post Context - The Executive & Communications Associate is an integral part of the Directorate. Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Executive Secretary and Deputy Executive Secretary of UNCDF, and in close collaboration with the Partnership, Policy and Communications Unit, PPCU, the incumbent ensures effective and efficient functioning of the UNCDF Directorate maintaining full confidentiality in all aspects of the assignment, maintenance of protocol procedures, management of information flow and follow-up on deadlines and commitments made while supporting the coordination of communications and partnerships activities with a view to promoting UNCDF national and global programmes and projects.

She/he can supervise temporary support staff of the office and works in close collaboration with the UNCDF Directorate team as well as other UN Agencies and other strategic partners to ensure efficient flow of information, actions on instructions, agendas etc. In her/his role supporting the communications practice in the office, the incumbent will also work in collaboration with PPCU staff, Government officials, media, donor community, private sector etc.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions

Ensures effective and efficient functioning of the UNCDF Directorate office;
Provide support in the area of ??communications for UNCDF;
Provide inputs towards the update of UNCDF web pages, databases and knowledge management systems in coordination with the Communications team;
Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing.

Ensures effective and efficient functioning of the UNCDF Directorate focusing on achievement of the following results:

Maintenance of calendar of the Executive and Deputy Executive Secretary and the Partnership Advisor, arrangement of their appointments and meetings, and preparation of minutes of meetings when requested;
Maintenance of protocol procedures;
Preparation of high quality briefing materials for supervisor’s appointments, meetings, missions;
Preparation of informal translations;
Management of ES and DES missions and representation schedule and monitoring of travel budgets;
Maintenance of rosters of high-level partners, telephone lists;
Preparation of correspondence, directives, comments on behalf of ES and DES for her/his signature and ensuring appropriate follow up actions;
Use of automated office management systems for effective functioning of the office.

Provide support and in the area of ??communications for UNCDF and supports the coordination of interagency communications activities.

Provide inputs to the Communications Team in the formulation and implementation of a communications strategy as guided by ES and DES;
Supports the preparation of communications needs assessments for UNCDF (projects, country and global programmes and other corporate change initiatives, etc);
Provision of information for elaboration of UNCDF’s partnership outreach strategy;
Support the provision of information on an ongoing basis to national and international media -radio, press and television- on activities undertaken by UNCDF;
Contribute to the development of communication materials for marketing and awareness-raising campaigns, related to the agenda of the UNCDF practice areas including briefing materials and press briefs in coordination with the Directorate and communications team;
Support the Organization of roundtable discussions, press conferences, briefing sessions, interviews for national and international events for the UNCDF, Agencies Representatives and Permanent Missions’ Representatives;
Review of reference materials, identification of reference materials for retention;
Support practice areas in developing promotional material, kit and press releases, preparation of events, general communications strategies;
Develop promotional material and provide editorial support for the publication of special documents as requested;
Support the organization of events;

Provides inputs to update content and format of UNCDF web pages in coordination with the communications unit.

Assistance in the design and maintenance of the office web sites based on corporate requirements in cooperation with communication’s unit;
Preparation/checking/editing of content for UNCDF Website to ensure consistency of the materials and the proper transfer of updated content and its upload;
Provide briefings on the content to be published to Directorate.

Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:

Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned directly linked to UNCDF programme goals and activities and UN system wide initiatives;
Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice including corporate communications repositories;
Support to the Organization and facilitation of training workshops on communications issues;
Organization of trainings to UNCDF staff on administration, communications and protocol issues;

Impact of Results & Accountability Considerations

The key results have an impact on the efficiency of the UNCDF Directorate. Accurate analysis and presentation of information and communication processes strengthens the capacity of the UNCDF Directorate and promotes the image of UNCDF as an effective contributor to development with other UN agencies, strategic partners and the public at large as well as to promote its achievements and contribution to development.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Advocacy/Advancing a Policy-Oriented Agenda

Support the preparation of information for advocacy

Identifies relevant information for advocacy for a variety of audiences;
Makes research of contacts in the media, government, private sector, donors, other agencies, civil society and other stakeholders for UNCDF’s advocacy efforts.

Building Strategic Partnerships

Maintaining information and databases

Analyzes general information and selects materials in support of partnership building initiatives;
Maintains databases of counterparts, cooperation partners and donor information.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

Basic research and analysis

Researches best practices and poses new, more effective ways of doing things;
Documents innovative strategies and new approaches;
Identifies and communicates opportunities to promote learning and knowledge sharing.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

Fundamental knowledge of processes, methods and procedures

Understands the main processes and methods of work regarding the position;
Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks;
Identifies new and better approaches to work processes and incorporates same in own work;
Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning;
Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments.

Creating Visibility for UNCDF/Supporting UNCDF’s Capacity to Advocate

Research and information gathering

Disseminate information and materials on UNCDF’s development/humanitarian activities;
Collects, and disseminates information on UNCDF focus areas.

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNCDF’s Goals

Research and analysis

Identifies relevant information for advocacy for UNCDF’s goals for a variety of audiences;
Maintains a network of contacts in the media and civil society, for use in UNCDF’s advocacy efforts.

Conceptual Innovation in the Provision of Technical Expertise

Research and provision of information

Documents and tracks innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches;
Tracks bottlenecks, problems and issues, and proposes solutions;
Responds positively to new approaches.

Client Orientation

Maintains effective client relationships

Reports to internal and external clients in a timely and appropriate fashion;
Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines;
Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with national and international media and internal and external clients;
Responds to client needs promptly.

Core Competencies:

Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity;
Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
Self-development, initiative-taking;
Acting as a team player and facilitating team work;
Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
Creating synergies through self-control;
Managing conflict;
Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
Informed and transparent decision making;
Ability to address gender equality and empowerment of women considerations in strategic and operational activities of UNCDF.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Completion of Secondary Education with specialized training in communications and executive support to senior management;
University Degree or equivalent in Communications would be desirable, but it is not a requirement.

Experience:

7 years of work related to communications and executive assistance support in public or private institutions;
Basic knowledge and understanding of the mandate and work of UNCDF globally;
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, Photoshop etc.). Exposure to web-based management systems.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in written and spoken English. Fluency in a second UN language will be considered a comparative advantages.

Note:

Applicants are strongly encouraged to upload (as a *pdf attachment) the completed and signed UNDP Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded fromhttp://sas.undp.org/Documents/P11_Personal_history_form.docx Completion of all the fields is required.

Please group all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.