UNDP Jobs - 58004- Policy Specialist

Policy Specialist

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

01-Sep-2015

Application Deadline :

20-Jul-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

One year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Two years

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 Corporate Strategy and Governance Unit based in the Executive Office provides support to effective organisational leadership by the Administrator and Associate Administrator, including overarching organisational steering and tracking as well as organisational governance and accountability of top management. The Unit also performs coordination and monitoring of a limited number of ‘mission critical’ issues (which will change over time). In addition, the Unit maintains an underlying capacity for continuous change management over time (readiness and expertise).The Unit is composed of three teams which collaborate closely together:

Strategic Plan (SP) Design and Implementation Team. This team focuses on the development of the new Strategic Plans and provides corporate oversight of current Strategic Plan Implementation.

Organisational Governance and Accountability Team. This team is responsible for the design and development of internal organisational governance arrangements, as well as strategic management of UNDP’s engagement with the Executive Board’s decision making role. It performs the joint secretariat function for the Executive Board, the Executive Group, and Organisational Performance Group.

Organisational Strategy Team. This team provides capacity to support continuous organisational change for improved organisational effectiveness in line with strategic directions. As required, it initiates and coordinates projects to address gaps and/or innovate before handing over to the relevant business unit(s), and supports organisational level reporting on management performance to the governance bodies.

Under the guidance and primary supervision of the Strategic Plan Coordinator who manages the SP Design and Implementation Team, the Policy Specialist provides technical advice, prepares substantive (analytical) reports, guidelines and presentations, organizes technical training for staff, coordinates, as needed, with units across UNDP Headquarters, maintains strong, on-going working relationships with technical staff in Central and Regional Bureaux and prepares briefs and other relevant materials for senior management. S/he focuses, in particular, on supporting the effective implementation of UNDP’s strategic planning, monitoring and reporting framework (Annual Business Plans, Integrated Work Plans, mid- and year-end reporting); development of and trouble-shooting on the ‘corporate planning system’ that underpins the strategic planning, monitoring and reporting framework; and secretariat functions for the Programme Coordination Group (PCG).

Duties and Responsibilities

Support development of the UNDP Annual Business Plan (ABP) and associated Integrated Work Plans (IWPs):

Prepare background analytic and methodological papers/notes for the yearly ABP Workshop;
Help organize and participate as a facilitator at the yearly ABP Workshop;
Prepare comprehensive summaries of the output of the yearly ABP Workshop;
Arrange and contribute to technical discussions among Headquarters units on the draft ABP;
Draft substantive sections of the ABP;
Serve as a resource person for Central and Regional Bureaux as well as independent units during preparation of IWPs linked with the ABP;
Analyse the content of IWPs at Headquarters and country level for monitoring and oversight purposes.

Serve as the primary technical focal point for ABP and IWP monitoring:

Contribute to methods and techniques for reviewing corporate implementation of the ABP/IWPs;
Assist with continuing improvement of designs for quarterly ABP Progress Reviews and mid- and year-end IWP monitoring reports;
Troubleshoot on the full integration of IWP mid- and year-end monitoring with the Results-Oriented Annual Report (ROAR);
Prepare analyses of ABP/IWP implementation;
Draft specific sections of the quarterly ABP Progress Reviews;
Coordinate and help manage a schedule of regular discussions/consultations between senior managers at ExO and Bureaux as well as independent units on ABP/IWP implementation.

Serve as technical focal point for development and effective on-going operation of the ‘corporate planning system:

Act as a technical resource person on the ‘corporate planning system’ and related systems (Atlas and others);
Offer substantive ideas for the future development of the ‘corporate planning system;
Coordinate maintenance and development of different modules of the ‘corporate planning system’ connected to planning, monitoring, risk management and reporting, among other things;
Ensure systems readiness for the timely and effective rollout of the ABP/IWPs;
Develop guidelines and presentations as well as organize training workshops/events/webinars to support the development of the ‘corporate planning system’ as well as the annual planning, monitoring and reporting process;
Maintain close working relationships with OIST and Central and Regional Bureaux as well as independent units to ensure effective process management, information-sharing and coordination and on-going trouble-shooting for timely implementation;
Develop and maintain contacts with staff handling similar systems in peer institutions.

Perform secretariat functions for the Programme Coordination Group (PCG):

Maintain an updated membership list and forward agenda for the PCG;
Ensure timely organization of monthly and ad hoc meetings of the PCG;
Prepare and maintain adequate records of discussions at the PCG;
Follow-up with Central and Regional Bureaux as well as independent units on actions agreed at the PCG;
Liaise with other coordination groups managed by ExO.

Competencies

Core

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.

Technical/Functional:

Priority-Setting:

Ability to scan and synthesize diverse sets of information to arrive at strategic priorities and positioning recommendations.

Results-Based Management:

Ability to manage programmes and projects with a strategy aimed at improved performance and demonstrable results.

Monitoring and evaluation:

Knowledge of methodologies, tools, systems and apply practical experience in planning, monitoring, evaluating and reporting and ability to apply to practical situations.

Project management:

Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.

Relationship management:

Ability to engage with other parties and forge productive working relationships.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master`s degree or equivalent in International Development Studies, Economics or Management.

Experience:

At least 5 years of relevant national/international working experience in development;
In-depth knowledge of all aspects of the programme/project cycle;
Field level experience in planning, programme management and/or M&E in a developing country, whether in UNDP, another UN or multilateral/bilateral institution or NGO.

Language:

Excellent command of English (oral and written);
Working knowledge of French and/or Spanish would be an asset.

Other:

Good knowledge of current development issues;
Evidence of substantial written output (e.g. programme or project documents, analytic papers, performance reports);
Proficiency in Microsoft Office;
Knowledge of statistics/quantitative methods and associated software (SAS/SPSS) would be an asset.