UNV Jobs - 55608- Portfolio Manager

Portfolio Manager

Advertised on behalf of

UNV

Location :

Bonn, GERMANY

Type of Contract :

TA International

Starting Date :

01-Jun-2015

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

364 days

Languages Required :

English French

Expected Duration of Assignment :

364 days

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 Portfolio Team within the Peace and Development Programming Sections is responsible for the implementation of UNV’s programmes, including volunteer management, at global, regional and local levels.

Reporting to the Chief, Development Programming Section, the Portfolio Manager (PM) is responsible for effective strategic planning and programming in a portfolio of countries based on the UNV’s Strategic Framework, building and maintaining relationships with main partners, effective coordination between HQ and Field Units, monitoring of the programme implementation and providing substantive inputs to corporate initiatives related to programming and volunteer management. The Portfolio Manager supervises the overall Portfolio Team, consisting of Portfolio Associate(s) and Field Units.

In addition, the PM acts as a focal point for one of the thematic focus area for UNV providing substantive programme and policy advice on all matters related to that focus area. He/She is expected to have and/or develop the knowledge, competencies, skills and networks necessary to support UNV HQ and Field Units on all substantive issues and queries related to that focus area.

Duties and Responsibilities

Perform strategic planning and programming based on the UNV Strategic Framework

Keep abreast of development challenges and priorities in countries under portfolio to identify relevant entry points for UNV programming and mobilization of volunteers;
Keep abreast of and provide substantive guidance or strategic direction on volunteerism in specific focused areas and appropriate programming approaches;
Initiate, formulate and manage projects and programmes contributing to the Strategic Framework in priority countries;
Forecast demand for UN Volunteer assignment in countries and programme within the portfolio;
Maintain substantive documentation regarding country portfolio, including country profiles and statistics sheets.

Build and strengthen relationships with main partners within the UN system and external partners on the operational and programmatic issues

Build and strengthen relationships with the UN partners on programmatic matters relating to his/her portfolio and focus areas, as well as with VSOs, CSOs, NGOs, universities, community organizations and other partners at the regional and national level in support of programme operation in close cooperation with the Partnerships and Communications Division (PCD);
Plan, negotiate and monitor Exchange of Letters (EOL) and budget in line with agreements with partners;
Provide advisory support on UNV programme and mandate to different stakeholders;
Identify potential sources of funding to support the programme approaches at the local and regional levels, and provide guidance and support to resource mobilization at the local level in close collaboration with PCD.

Ensure effective coordination between HQ and Field Units for quality programming and volunteer management

Provide guidance and coordinate all aspects of volunteer management;
Ensure strategic use and implementation of all UN Volunteers modalities as per prevailing relevant provisions;
Review and approve terms of reference in line with corporate policies and parameters guiding the recruitment of volunteers;
Provide guidance to Field Units on programme design and integration, and on results based management;
Based on programmatic and operational requirements and priorities, organize capacity building events (e.g. regional, local meetings, conference and workshops, etc.);
Ensure responses to critical incidents are processed in a timely and proper manner; support effective crisis management practice in the field; document lessons learned.

Monitor the implementation of programming and volunteer management at the field level

Monitor compliance with periodic volunteer reporting (VRS) with view to extracting data for analysis and use in making improvements of portfolio operations and use in corporate documents, advocacy and learning;
Monitor the implementation of joint and non UNV implemented projects, extracts and analyses financial reports and conduct regular reporting on expenditure and budget balance as required;
Assess project progress and ensure quality of project reporting;
Perform project management, including in Atlas, for UNV implemented projects, extract and analyze financial reports and conduct regular reporting on expenditure and budget balance as required.

Provide substantive focus area inputs and support to cross-unit and corporate initiatives related to programming and volunteer management activities

Act as focal point on assigned focus area; provide relevant inputs to project development, and coordinate and consolidate inputs from projects and programmes in the assigned focus area for corporate and other UN global reports;
Support the development and implementation of UNV’s corporate policy and programme in assigned focus area;
Represent UNV in global meetings and with main agencies working on assigned focus areas; build network and partnerships for substantive and operational cooperation on volunteerism in assigned focus area;
Provide support to the implementation of corporate (global) projects in assigned focus area;
Support knowledge management and UNV staff capacity building in assigned focus area.

Ensure effective management of the portfolio including Field Units

Establish annual workplan for the Portfolio Team to support group level and corporate planning targets;
Manage portfolio staff including supervision and guidance of Portfolio Associates, as well as the Field Units, in a matrix arrangement with UNDP Country Offices and UN missions, including participating in Programme Managers, Programme Officers and Programme Assistants performance assessments and capacity development activities.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Development Planning

Knowledge of development planning processes at the national and local level and the ability to apply 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.

Resource Mobilization

Ability to identify and organize programmes and projects to implement solutions and generate resources.

Sustainable Development

Knowledge of sustainable development concepts, principles and issues 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.

Core 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.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

Master’s degree in social sciences, political science, public or business administration, economics or related fields.

Experience

5 years of relevant professional experience and proven track record in managing and implementing development programmes at HQ and/or field offices;
Of which 2-3 years of experience should be in an international organization, preferably UNDP/UNV;
Experience in managing volunteer programmes and/or in a development context involving volunteers is highly desirable.

Language Requirements

Fluency in English and French;
Knowledge of Portuguese is an asset.

Other

UNV is a Non-Smoking environment.

Note

Applications should be submitted on line and include an up to date UNDP Personal History Form (P11) posted at http://sas.undp.org/Documents/P11_Personal_history_form.doc; Please group all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document;
Only short-listed applicants will be contacted;
The successful candidate will hold a UNDP letter of appointment.