UNDP Jobs - 54883- Country Liaison Associate

Country Liaison Associate

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

FTA Local

Starting Date :

01-Jun-2015

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

GS-6

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 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’s Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS (RBEC), established in 1992, covers 22 countries and territories in Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia. The Bureau consists of headquarters in UNDP New York, country offices (COs); and a Regional Hub in Istanbul (IRH), with a sub-regional hub in Almaty, which administers the regional programme and provides substantive support to Country Offices.

At headquarters, the Country Office Liaison and Oversight Team provides liaison and oversight to Country Offices in the RBEC region, and the country support function is provided by the Country Support Team based in RBEC’s Regional Hub in Istanbul.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Head of the Country Office Oversight and Liaison team, the Programme Associate performs functions that support the work of the unit. The Country Liaison Associate promotes a client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations. The Country Liaison Associate works in close collaboration with other units and Central Bureaus for resolving programme-related issues and information delivery.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

Programmatic and Operational Support;
Programmatic and Administrative Support to the Country Office Oversight and Liaison team and Directorate;
Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing and cooperation with the Country Support team in Istanbul.

Programmatic and Operational Support

Responds promptly and efficiently to queries and requests from senior management and provides inputs on UNDP country office programmes and operations-related questions;
Provides support for visits to HQ by staff from country offices;
Provides programmatic and operational support to the Country Office Support and Liaison team and country offices during the preparation and implementation of programme cycles;
Undertakes financial monitoring of country office core and non-core resources, updating databases and producing reports on the current and projected financial status and liaising with the respective HQ units as necessary;
Reviews and compiles tables on the allocation of core and non-core programme resources, liaises with the relevant HQ Units and guides and advises corrective measures to country offices;
Supports project-financed team activities by reviewing periodic and annual reports, project inputs, budgets and expenditures to ensure funds availability;
Monitors conformity with management action’s schedules and follows up and summarizes audit recommendations and comments; updates databases for analyzing individual country office Integrated Work plans.

Programmatic and Administrative Support to Country Office Liaison and Oversight Team and Directorate

Researches necessary programmatic and financial data on countries for the analysis and reporting requirements of the Bureau Directorate, Central Bureaus, and others;
Supports team’s activities, both substantive and logistical, in organizing conferences on behalf of the Directorate.
Liaises and follows up with other UNDP/UN HQ units, other UN Agencies, permanent missions, and donors about country programmes and activities, cost-sharing, trust funds, and reporting, to assist in fulfilling the “one-stop-shop” function of the team.
Consolidates and disseminates country office publications and reports and maintains and disseminates a record of country office publishing plans and achievements;
Monitors compliance of operational and programme policies and procedures by the country office;
Provides support for visits to country offices by Directorate and team staff;
In support of team and country offices, performs ad hoc requests from Head of Team as requested;
Prepares and manages mission travel of the team;
Provides backup support for colleagues on the team as required.

Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the team and cooperates with the Country Support Team in Istanbul focusing on achievement of the following results:

Support in organization of trainings for the operations/ projects staff on programme both in the team and country offices.
Maintenance of database, web linkages on best practices and experience received from country offices.
Contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Impact of Results:

The key results have an impact on the overall team efficiency in country office support and success in implementation of regional programme strategies. Accurate analysis and presentation of information enhances UNDP position as a strong development partner. The information provided facilitates decision making of the management.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Advocacy/Advancing Policy Oriented Agenda

Support the preparation of information for advocacy

Identifies relevant information for advocacy for a variety of audiences.

Reaults-based programme developmemnt and management

Contributing to results through provision of information

Provides information and documentation on specific stages of projects/programme implementation.

Building Strategic partnerships

Maintaining information and databases

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

Innovation and marketing new approaches

Implementing processes and uses products

Documents and tracks innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches;
Responds positively to new approaches.

Resource mobilization

Providing information and documentation to resource mobilization

Translates financial information from project documents and agreements into a series of financial records.

Promoting organizational learning and knowledge sharing

Basic research and analysis

Researches best practices and poses new, more effective ways of doing things;
Develops awareness of the various internal/external learning and knowledge-sharing resources.

Job knowledge/technical expertise

Fundamental knowledge of processes, methods and procedures

Understands the main processes and methods of work regarding to programme implementation;
Identifies new and better approaches to work processes and incorporates same in own work;
Demonstrates in-depth understanding and knowledge of current guidelines and project management tools, and utilizes these regularly in work assignments;
Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks.

Global leadership and advocacy for UNDP's goals

Research and analysis

Supports the identification of opportunities for advocating for UNDP’s mandate.

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 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 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;
Informed and transparent decision making.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Secondary Education, preferably with specialized certification in Accounting and Finance;
University Degree in Business or Public Administration, Economics, Development Studies, Political or Social Sciences would be desirable but not a requirement.

Experience:

6 years of progressively responsible administrative or programme experience is required at the national or international level;
Practical experience in a UNDP country office and/or at Headquarters in a Regional Bureau dealing with project funding and programme modalities is desirable;
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web based management systems.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in spoken and written English;
Working knowledge of another UN language is an asset.