UNV Jobs - 63429- Policy Specialist (Volunteerism Knowledge and Poli

Policy Specialist (Volunteerism Knowledge and Policy for SDGs)

Advertised on behalf of

UNV

Location :

Bonn, GERMANY

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

11-Feb-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-4

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

1 year initially

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 Volunteer Knowledge and Innovation Section (VKIS) is responsible for advancing the understanding of the value, and strengthen the contribution, of volunteerism to sustainable development as well as to enhance UNV’s proactive capacity to mainstream volunteerism into peace and development initiatives through:

Strengthening the knowledge base on volunteerism through deepening research, measurement and convening volunteer involving organizations (VIOs) and civil society organizations (CSOs), as a means to convert this knowledge into policy and practice thereby contribution to an enabling environment for volunteerism;
Leading and promoting the production of the State of the World’s Volunteerism Report as a flagship report for showcasing the contribution of volunteerism to peace and development;
Building the capacity of UN Volunteers and UNV personnel to optimize the impact of volunteers and volunteerism;
Fostering innovation in UNV’s contribution to volunteerism, drawing upon good practices and concrete results achieved in the field and stimulating ideas for new approaches to volunteerism emerging from within and beyond UNV;
Positioning volunteerism as a credible solution for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Reporting to the Chief, Volunteer Knowledge and Innovation Section (VKIS), the Policy Specialist (Volunteerism Knowledge and Policy for SDGs) coordinates the global policy and research agenda for volunteerism in response to SDGs, as well as the assessments on the value of volunteers and volunteerism for peace and development. She/he also is responsible to develop and implement a partnership engagement plan and business cases for key areas of work under this pillar.

Duties and Responsibilities

Lead the research and measurement of volunteerism for sustainable development

Develop a business case and implementation plan of the global research agenda on volunteerism, including the State of the World’s Volunteerism Report;
Guide the development of and coordinate UNV’s work relating to the global research agenda on volunteerism for peace and development based on a review of ongoing and emerging volunteer programming needs;
Coordinate the development of knowledge products to ensure effective dissemination of knowledge about volunteerism for sustainable development to internal and external stakeholders, including the United Nations (UN) system;
Lead the development and partnerships on measurement framework/s that allow UNV, VIOs and governments to report on progress on the value and contribution of volunteerism to the SDGs;
Coordinate the consultations and production of the UN Secretary General’s Report on Volunteerism.

Develop policy on positioning volunteerism for peace and development

Scan, track, and analyze key developments and trends within UNV and within the volunteerism communities for relevance to volunteerism policies, practices, and learning;
Articulate policy positioning of UNV on volunteerism and sustainable development in UNV, UN and other development fora;
Contribute to policy papers and reports on volunteerism for peace and development as well as to internal and external publications, including reports to the Executive Board and UNDP/UNV; provide inputs to UN agency reports, good development practice guidance notes, and Human Development Reports; draft features for academic publications and on-line publications;
Promote volunteering-supportive legislation by advocating in the appropriate fora, and by acting as a resource person within UNV on volunteering-related legislation and policy;
Represent UNV in conferences, workshops or meetings to highlight the importance of volunteer infrastructure, to promote it.

Facilitate effective external partnerships and convene knowledge exchange on volunteerism for sustainable development

Work with key partners in governments, civil society and academia to generate and codify cutting-edge knowledge relating to volunteerism and sustainable development;
Identify and disseminate knowledge on the role and contribution of volunteerism to sustainable development, both from UNV’s own programmes and engagements, and that of the broader volunteerism community;
Develop a business case for the operationalization of the Plan of Action to integrate volunteerism into the next decade and beyond and implement the UNV component;
Develop the structure for a community-of-practice on volunteerism for peace and development in UNV;
Oversee the development and implementation of an engagement strategy that ensures broad participation among internal and external stakeholders.

Project Management

Develop projects to implement the business cases on research and policy, and manage their implementation;
Develop project budgets, identifying the impact that will be achieved and ensuring that it materializes;
Support the Chief, VKIS, in collaboration with the Partnerships Section, to mobilize the identified necessary resources;
Oversee the recruit of the necessary project personnel;
Assign specific duties to project personnel and oversee the performance of their work, ensuring it achieves the expected quality.

Management

Ensure the effective management of the staff under the Volunteerism Knowledge and Policy for SDGs pillar;
Create a high performing team and ensure that measures for the wellbeing of staff are in place;
Promote team building and support staff development to ensure that staff are up to the tasks.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Knowledge of the Sustainable Development Goals and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations.

Research

Knowledge of analytical tools and methods for undertaking substantive research on various policy related issues.

Civic Engagement

Knowledge of frameworks and dialogue processes for effective and transparent engagement of civil society, women’s and youth groups, indigenous peoples and other excluded groups in national development and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations.

Partnerships

Ability to engage with other agencies, donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships.

Substantive Networking

Ability to substantively engage and foster networks with academia, research institutions, and think tanks.

Results-based Management

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

Project Management

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

Facilitation and Knowledge Exchange

Ability to harvest country voices for global policy dialogues on policy frameworks.

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, or related fields.

Experience:

7 years of relevant experience in research, policy development, and project management preferably in an international organization;
Previous experience with partnership building and civil society is highly desirable;
Experience in managing volunteer programmes and/or in a development context, involving volunteers is required.

Language:

Fluency in English;
Working knowledge of an additional UN language is desirable.