UNDP Jobs - 63753- Deputy Director, UNDP Washington Representation Of

Deputy Director, UNDP Washington Representation Office

Location :

Washington, DC, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

04-Apr-2016

Application Deadline :

02-Mar-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-5

Duration of Initial Contract :

One Year

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

The Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy (BERA) is responsible for UNDP’s external relations and advocacy functions. The Bureau leads and supports the organization in cultivating, building and nurturing strategic relationships and alliances that are essential for advancing and successfully achieving the mission of UNDP. These relationships encompass a wide range and number of key constituencies and development partners, that includes programme countries, existing and prospective donor countries/emerging economic powers, multilateral institutions such as the IFIs, the European Commission, civil society, the private sector, foundations, academia and think tanks, the wider UN system, various UN inter-governmental bodies, as well as global, regional and national media.

The Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy comprises the Directorate, including a Strategy and Innovation Unit, and the following groups: Communications; Resource Partnerships and UN System Affairs. In addition, BERA has Representation Offices in five major donor cities : Brussels, Copenhagen, Geneva, Tokyo and Washington.

The mission of the UNDP Washington Representation Office (WRO) is to enhance the U.S. Government’s understanding of and support for UNDP and its work and to contribute to resource mobilization.

In this regard, the WRO seeks to:

Build understanding and support for UNDP’s role and programs among substantive and functional specialists in the U.S. Congress and the Executive Branch;
Inform the wider Washington, DC community, including NGOs, academic and Think Tank experts, diplomatic officials, the Bretton Woods institutions, private sector representatives and media regarding UNDP’s role, programs and impact on global development;
Assure the transparency and accountability of UNDP to U.S. government agencies and Congressional committees who oversee and fund the organization;
Contribute to an increase in core and non-core resources while aiding in the diversifying of UNDP’s funding base.

Under the direct supervision of the Director, the Deputy Director will be responsible for shaping and providing strategic direction to the WRO’s efforts to increase overall support for UNDP on the part of key constituencies and partners in Washington D.C. These efforts include the development and implementation of strategies and efforts to enhance the overall U.S. UNDP strategic relationship, mobilize core and non-core resources, scale up corporate outreach and communications efforts, expand and deepen partnerships with key constituencies, and respond to and/or clarify public or private queries on UNDP.

The Deputy Director also supervises a Communications Officer and an Administrative Associate.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Deputy Director will assist the Director in outreach and constituency building targeted at Congressional members and staff, U.S. Government Executive Branch agencies, NGOs/Think Tanks, as well as the general Washington public:

Deepens UNDP’s support base with Congressional and the Executive Branch officials (State Department International Organizations Bureau, Office of Foreign Assistance, OMB, US/UN) which influence the U.S. contribution to the core budget, by organizing bilateral meetings, as well as preparing briefing materials, position papers and communications highlighting UNDP’s value to the U.S., addressing criticisms targeted at UNDP; and updating key constituencies on UNDP related issues of interest to them (e.g, overall reform, greater transparency and accountability).

Provides regular analysis and updates on US Government global development and foreign policy priorities:

Assists the Director in analyzing the environment (political, economic and social) in the U.S. and provides input to the development of a strategy on how best to generate support for UNDP from the U.S. Government; and
Provides conceptual and political underpinning to UNDP’s Washington’s work by preparing regular analyses of the US Government (Executive Branch and Congress) development and foreign policy priorities (thematic, regional and programmatic) as distilled from the President’s National Security Strategy, the President’s global development strategy (PSD), the QDDR, the US Post-2015 strategy, major policy statements, Congressional foreign assistance reform proposals and other efforts; and identify convergence with UNDP’s own strategic priorities.

Provides regular strategic advice on how to adapt and sharpen UNDP’s messaging, outreach and advocacy efforts focusing on Government institutions (Executive Branch and Congress), and Washington DC based NGOs/think tanks:

Serves as a close link to UNDP headquarters and the field in order to effectively draw upon the support of the Regional/Central Bureaux and Country Offices to help explain the value of UNDP ‘s work to U.S. audiences with respect to themes and countries that are of importance to the U.S., as well as address any questions or concerns about UNDP that may arise;
Shapes and supports the building of constructive partnerships between UNDP and key U.S. Government entities (e.g., the Congress, the State Department, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the National Security Council, US/UN, USAID), who are interested in themes, countries or policies supported by UNDP; as well as with members of the Washington-based NGO community, the private sector, professional groups, and associations and think tanks headquartered in Washington;
Assists in shaping and overseeing the development and implementation of the office’s outreach and communications strategies and efforts (e.g. seminars, symposia, briefings, brown-bag lunches, with the purpose of educating members of the U.S. Congress and Executive Branch, media, NGOs, and other constituencies with respect to the activities of UNDP; and
Represents UNDP at and/or contributes to important conferences and meetings being held in Washington.

Assists the Director and the WRO’s efforts to mobilize and protect U.S. core and non-core contributions to UNDP:

Explores non-core funding opportunities, and helps facilitate the smooth implementation of existing UNDP programmatic partnerships in high priority countries including Afghanistan, Myanmar, Haiti, and Iraq; and
Identifies opportunities with the private sector and foundations, including with any non-government actor that may contribute to UNDP’s mission and resources.

Supports the Director in the day-to-day operations of the Office:

Serves as alternate liaison for UNDP with the United States Government, including the U.S. Congress, the White House, the Department of State, the National Security Council and the OMB;
Assists in the preparation of the office work plan, strategy and budget;
Supports the Director's management and oversight of the office; and
Deputizes for the Director during his/her absences.

Competencies

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.

Technical/Functional:

Primary:

Partnerships:

Knowledge of anti-corruption concepts, principles and policies and the ability to apply in strategic and/or practical situations.

Representation:

Ability to productively share UNDP knowledge and activities (at UN and other venues).

Resource Mobilization:

Ability to identify and organize programmes and projects to implement solutions and generate resources (definition is unclear and not well linked to the stated competency).

Strategic Planning:

Ability to make decisions that align with strategy, vision, and mission.

Multilateral Affairs:

Knowledge of multilateral agencies (IFIs, for example), Regional Development Banks, etc.), including respective mandates and ways of working.

Secondary:

Brand & Quality Management:

Ability to position a UNDP brand and uphold it to a high level of quality.

Negotiation:

Ability to reach an understanding, resolve point of difference, or gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue.

Risk Management:

Ability to identify and prioritize risks, and organize action around mitigating them.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in Political Science, Social Sciences, International Law, International Development, Management or related fields.

Experience:

At least 10 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in development and related policy;
Familiarity and experience of working with the US Administration, and ideally with Congress and US non-governmental organizations, and knowledge of US government budgetary processes, particularly with respect to foreign assistance;
Excellent public relations, advocacy and communications-written and oral- skills; and
Proven networking skills with political and non-governmental organizations.

Language:

Excellent spoken and written skills in English;
Knowledge of a second UN language is an asset.