UNDP Jobs - 59259- Programme Management Analyst

Programme Management Analyst

Location :

Baghdad, IRAQ

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

02-Sep-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-2

Duration of Initial Contract :

One Year

Languages Required :

Arabic 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

Due to the expansion of the UNDP program in Iraq, a service centre is being put in place which will need to guarantee the quick disbursement of funds for the crisis response and the Stabilization efforts in newly liberated areas in Iraq. The service centre is currently servicing the operational challenges of the above projects but may expand to other projects. It is currently funded through the Stabilization and crisis response which have overall budgets exceeding 40M USD in 2015, but may further increase.

The service centre is composed of finance, procurement, program management, administration and HR functions and is headed by the Operations Manager who has delegated authority as senior manager in the UNDP Iraq office, with senior approval levels.

The main operational challenges for the service centre relate to NGO contracting, tendering for light infrastructure rehabilitation works and direct purchasing by UNDP. The service centre would need to ensure full compliance with UNDP rules and regulations and it is a one-stop-shop.

Under the guidance and the direct supervision of the Operations Manager of the Service Centre, the Program Management Analyst is responsible for the monitoring and quality assurance of the UNDP Stabilization programme. The Programme Management Analyst analyzes political, social and economic trends and leads formulation, management and evaluation of programme activities in the area of Stabilization. The Program management analyst also supports the Stabilization project in ensuring proper budgets are set up, managed properly and expenditure overviews and reporting are produced regularly.

Duties and Responsibilities

Ensures implementation of programme strategies focusing on achievement of the following results:

Thorough analysis and research of the political, social and economic situation in the country and preparation of substantive inputs to CCA, UNDAF, CPD, CPAP and other documents;
Identification of areas for support and interventions within the thematic/sectoral areas assigned;
Business processes mapping and preparation of the content of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Results Management.

Ensures effective management of the CO programme within the area of Recovery/Stabilization focusing on quality control from formulation to implementation in area of Stabilization achieving the following results:

Effective budget management and expenditure control as well as resource planning;
Effective application of RBM tools, establishment of management targets (BSC) and monitoring achievement of results;
Ensuring that proper monitoring mechanisms are set up, specifically field monitoring in areas which are difficult to access for UN;
Clearance of letters of agreement/Micro capital grants or responsible partner agreements for the stabilization project;
Design and formulation of CO programme within the area of responsibility, translating UNDP’s priorities into local interventions. Coordination of programme implementation with the executing agencies. Introduction of performance indicators/ success criteria, cost recovery, targets and milestones;
Initiation of a project, presentation of the project to PAC, entering project into Atlas ( in small offices), finalization of contribution agreement; determination of required revisions; coordination of the mandatory and budget re-phasing exercises, closure of projects through review. Programme Analyst can perform functions of Manager Level 1 in Atlas for POs and vouchers approval, participates in recruitment processes for projects;
Ensuring that the relevant projects in program area adhere to the procedures of the POPP;
Financial and substantive monitoring and evaluation of the projects, identification of operational and financial problems, development of solutions. Participation in audit of NEX projects;
Follow up on audit recommendations. All exceptions are timely reported;
Aggregate reports are regularly prepared on activities, outputs and outcomes. Preparation of donor reports.

Ensures creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy in cooperation with the Management Support and Partnership Unit focusing on achievement of the following results:

Development of partnerships with the UN Agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society in the specific thematic areas based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and donors’ priorities;
Quality assurance for timely and quality donor reporting;
Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for initiation of new projects, active contribution to the overall office effort in resource mobilization.

Ensures provision of top quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:

Identification of sources of information related to policy-driven issues. Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to programme country policy goals;
Support to development of policies and institutions that will address the country problems and needs in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners;
Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice;
Organization of trainings for the operations/ projects staff on programme issues.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda:

Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating UNDP’s mandate.

Results-Based Programme Development and Management:

Assesses project performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into project work;
Researches linkages across programme activities to identify critical points of integration;
Monitors specific stages of projects/programme implementation;
Analyzes country situation to identify opportunities for project development;
Participates in the formulation of project proposals and ensures substantive rigor in the design and application of proven successful approaches and drafts proposals accordingly.

Building Strategic Partnerships:

Maintains an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up-to-date on partnership related issues;
Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders.

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches:

Generates new ideas and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things;
Documents and analyses innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches.

Resource Mobilization (Field Duty Stations):

Analyzes information/databases on potential and actual donors;
Develops a database of project profiles. Identifies opportunities for project proposals for presentation to donors.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing:

Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things;
Documents and analyses innovative strategies and new approaches.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise:

Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position;
Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks;
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;
Demonstrates in-depth understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments.

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals:

Identifies and communicates relevant information for advocacy for UNDP’s goals for a variety of audiences;
Identifies and takes advantage of opportunities for advocating for UNDP’s mandate.

Client Orientation:

Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion;
Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines;
Anticipates client needs and addresses them 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.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences or related field.
Experience:
2 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing management advisory services, hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects;
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web based management systems. Knowledge of Atlas or ERP is a requirement.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English and in Arabic.