UNDP Jobs - 54027- Risk Management Specialist

Risk Management Specialist - UNDP Country Office

Location :

Kabul, AFGHANISTAN

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

04-Mar-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-4

Duration of Initial Contract :

One year with possibility of extension

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

UNDP Afghanistan works to achieve transformation change that will lead to freedom from poverty and insecurity for every afghan, young or old, man or woman.

UNDP assists in the achievement of Afghanistan’s own priorities outlined in the Afghanistan National Development Strategy and National Priority Programmes, as well as international development frameworks such as the Millennium Development Goals, the New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States, and other global agreements in which Afghanistan participates.

In partnership with the Government, the United Nations system, the donor community and other development stakeholders, UNDP contributes to institutional development efforts and strengthens the capacity of national partners through projects and interventions in the areas of democratic governance, rule of law and security, women empowerment and gender, sustainable management of natural resources and climate change adaptation, resilience to natural and man-made chocks and disasters.

UNDP Afghanistan is committed to the highest standards of transparency and accountability and works in close coordination with the United Nations Mission in Afghanistan and the UN system as a whole to maximize the impact of its development efforts on the ground.

Under the overall guidance of the Country Director and the direct supervision of the Deputy Country Director for Strategy, Results and Communications, the Risk Management Specialist develops and oversees implementation of strategies, plans and activities related to risk management. S/he interprets and applies UNDP corporate policies and ensures an effective and state-of the art approach to management and mitigation of risks throughout UNDP´s operation in Afghanistan.

The Risk Management Specialist leads a team of national and international professional and support staff and plans and coordinates the work and activities of the Risk Management and Compliance Team. S/he works in close collaboration with the staff in the Office for Strategy, Results and Communications, Projects, Programme and Operations Teams, UNDP Regional Office and HQ staff and relevant UN agency and Government IP staff to ensure development and implementation of risk management systems, tools and mechanisms and sufficient capacities throughout the Country Programme.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

Ensures the development and implementation of policies and strategies related to risk and compliance management;
Ensures the development and implementation of a comprehensive risk management framework for the CO applying UNDP´s Enterprise Risk Management (ERM approach);
Facilitates knowledge building and management.

Ensures the development and implementation of policies and strategies related to risks and compliance management, focusing on achievement of the following:

Plans, manages and oversees implementation of risk management systems, tools and processes in the CO;
Initiates and conducts business process mapping and ensures the establishment and regular reviews and updates of internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in work areas. Develops internal guidance notes, checklists and other tools in the area of work;
Ensures adherence to UNDP policies and procedures and corporate guidance on risk. Ensures that UNDP policies as reflected in the POPP are applied to area of work;
Ensure accurate and timely information in all corporate systems. Provides inputs to BSC and other corporate planning and monitoring mechanisms;
Oversees the systematization of mechanisms and tools at the project levels. Ensures that processes and procedures are in place at project level and that these are efficient and standardised. Ensures that functions are sufficiently resourced, develops standard processes and formulates standard JDs, participates in selection of project personnel in area of work as necessary.

Ensures the development and formulation of a comprehensive risk management framework applying UNDP´s ERM approach, focusing on the following achievements:

Defines the risk management approach for UNDP Afghanistan based on UNDP´s ERM;
Formulates, and coordinates inputs to formulation of a coordinated and coherent Enterprise Risk Management Framework covering all risk sub-categories. Undertakes and coordinates regular reviews of the Risk Management Frameworks and updates it prompted by changes in the risk environment;
Leads development of risk mitigation measures, action plans and guides developed of specific risk response strategies and measures. Ensures that all risk sub-categories are appropriately responded to, and that strategies are in place. Supports formulation of strategies for various risk sub-categories;
Supports projects in formulation of risk management plans. Participates in project appraisal to ensure that the risk management framework is properly applied reflected in project designs;
Establishes, develops and coordinates internal mechanisms for risk management, establishes ad hoc mechanisms to respond to emerging situations and threats at CO and project levels;
Plans and oversees independent assessments and independent monitoring actions as appropriate;
Leads and coordinates procedural, systems and tools development in risk management and mitigation for the CO including projects;
Effectively communicates risks throughout CO and projects. Escalates risks based on assessment and monitoring findings to the Country Director and RBAP Senior Management.

Ensures the implementation of risk management throughout the CO and projects, focusing on the following achievements:

Coordinates implementation of the ERM cycle - identifies, assesses, prioritizises risks. Ensures coordinated and comprehensive responses to risks at all levels;
Ensures that all Units and Offices in the CO and all projects are implementing risk management according to the Risk Management Framework. Establishes strategies and procedures;
Provides ongoing support throughout the Organisations in addressing daily challenges and problems in risk management and implementation of risk action plans and strategies;
Provides continuous feedback on progress and quality of risk management by written feedback and systems;
Leads and coordinates risk reporting in the CO. Prepares regular and ad hoc reports, provides briefings and ensures information flows on risk related communication. Documents findings;
Participates in risk management fora and activities of the UN system in Afghanistan and UNDP regionally and globally. Ensures that joint activities and plans are appropriately implemented.

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

Leads activities to build capacity and create awareness around risk management in the CO Designs training to staff at all levels;
Identifies and synthetizes lessons learnt and best practices in the area of work;
Actively promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture within the CO;
Systematically builds capacities of national staff and trains CO staff in all areas of responsibility.

Impact of Results:

The key results have a profound impact on UNDP´s operation in Afghanistan. Effective risk management strategies, systems and tools impact the quality of the organisational and programmatic results. Minimization of risks exposure will improve efficiency and support the appropriate designs of both programmatic and operational strategies and thus contribute to increased cost and results-effectiveness.

Competencies

Core competencies:

Promotes ethics and integrity and creates organisational precedents;
Builds support and political acumen;
Builds staff competence and creates an environment of creativity and innovation;
Builds and promotes effective teams;
Creates and promotes environment for open communications;
Leverages conflict in the interest of UNDP and sets standards;
Shares knowledge across the organisation and builds a culture of knowledge sharing and learning.

Functional competencies:

Promoting organisational learning and knowledge sharing

Makes case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches;
Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms;
Develops and/or participates in the development of tools and mechanisms, including identifying new approaches to promote individual and organisational learning and knowledge sharing and informal mechanisms.

Job knowledge/technical expertise

Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines;
Serves as internal consultant in the area of expertise and shares knowledge with staff;
Continues to seek new and improved methods and systems for accomplishing the work of the unit;
Keeps abreast of the new developments in the area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to development him/herself professionally;
Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it;
Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments.

Promoting accountability and results-based management:

Ensures compliance with the organisational standards for accountability and results-based management;
Promotes culture of accountability in the Organisation;
Develops, disseminates and promotes the use of sound methodologies and tools to assist organisational units in carrying out results-based monitoring and evaluation;
Analyses audit, evaluation and policy application review results and extracts key elements and prepares proposals to address areas of weakness in the Organisation´s performance.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master´s degree in public or business administration, law, international law or related field.

Experience:

A minimum of 7 years professional work experience in strategic planning and programme management within an international organisation or internally operating private sector organisations;
Proven experience in establishing a Risk Management Frameworks and systems and undertaking risk assessment and formulating risk mitigation measures is a requirement;
Advanced analytical and/or investigative skills and experience strategic planning;
Experience at the country level, preferably in a post-conflict environment;
Solid experience in web-based information management systems;
Experience in training and mentoring is a strong asset.

Language Requirements:

Fluent written and spoken English.

Application:

Interested and qualified international candidates should apply on-line through the UNDP Jobs site at UNDP Afghanistan Vacancy Announcement and please ensure that to fill up and upload Personal History Form-P.11 which is available at UNDP Personal History Form (P.11 Form) .
Incomplete applications or applications received after the closing date will not be given consideration. Please group all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.Please note that only applicants who are short-listed will be contacted.

For more detailed information about UNDP Afghanistan please visit our website at www.undp.org.af.
Successful candidates must be prepared to start work within 6 weeks of the offer of appointment.
Qualified female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.