Background

The Office of Financial Resources Management (OFRM), Bureau of Management, supports the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the promotion of its sustainable human development agenda. It achieves this by developing and making fully operational a dynamic and harmonized integrated resource management framework based on comprehensive analysis that   enhances UNDP’s financial and administrative performance, as well as facilitates UN reform and coherence. To these ends, the framework addresses strategically critical financial and administrative resource planning and management issues, including results based budgeting; the integration of the Programming Arrangements and the Institutional Budget within the context of the integrated budget from 2014 onwards; ; enhanced cost classification and cost recovery; capital budgeting; adherence to IPSAS; foreign exchange and investment activities ; facilities management; administration of office space, organizational assets and travel; Balanced Scorecard Management and other performance management initiatives; and support to UN harmonization.
 
Effective and efficient integrated resources management is enabled through a continuous and robust process comprising:
  • Formulation and implementation of corporate financial and administrative strategies, policies and procedures;
  • Formulation, alignment, documentation and implementation of UNDP’s funding frameworks, assuring their integrity, viability and alignment with the Strategic Plan;
  • Provision of policy guidance, advisory services and operational support to strengthen client capacities and help them achieve results, seeking to build consensus within UNDP and with key stakeholders on critical budgetary related matters requiring Executive Board legislation;
  • Administration of the organization’s internal control framework, overseeing and monitoring financial management of all global UNDP offices, including through formulation/implementation of resource planning, management and oversight tools and reports;
  • Promoting clear accountability for financial transactions and producing financial statements, including financial reporting to donors and the UNDP Executive Board;
  • Providing capacity building support and guidance to ensure that travel, facilities, insurance and fixed asset management is adequately addressed in all locations.  
This post is part of OFRM's the Office of the Chief Finance Officer (CFO), the goal of the Strategic Resource Planning (SRP) is the strategic planning of UNDP resources and the formulation of relevant policies and performs the critical functions described below.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Assistant Administrator, Deputy Director and Chief Finance Officer, Bureau of Management (“Deputy Assistant Administrator”), the Chief, SRP, in recognition of the cross-cutting requirements of the function, works across the Office of the CFO, the Bureau of Management (BOM), and strategic units of the organisation such as the Operations Support Group (OSG in leading the strategic planning of all UNDP resources - regular and other) as well as in formulating corporate and other appropriate results and monitoring frameworks and cost-recovery policy together with relevant and innovative approaches to business modeling including through liaising with UN entities, as appropriate. The incumbent shall support and, where applicable, leverage his/her functional expertise to lead initiatives that promote integration and collaboration within the Bureau of Management (BOM). Additionally, the incumbent manages staff of the SRP.
 
Summary of key functions:
 
In line with this enhanced focus on strategic planning and management, this position will perform the following functions: 
  • Analysis of current and emerging trends, including through the rigorous scanning of the environment;
  • Strategic resource and results planning;
  • Formulation and evaluation of business models;
  • Formulation of regulations, rules, policies and procedures;
  • ERP/Atlas systems requirements;
  • Management of human and financial resources.
 Summary of key results:
  • Formulation of the Integrated budget in accordance with the Executive Board decisions that will fund the UNDP Strategic Plan;
  • Integrated resources framework;
  • Cost recovery policy;
  • Other policies and procedures in relation to the above-mentioned areas together with best practices and synthesis of lessons-learnt;
  • Executive Board documents, Executive Group and Organisational Performance Group papers as well as other discussion and position papers.
Function 1:
Analysis of current and emerging trends, including through the rigorous scanning of the environment
  • Analyze on going trends in resource/fund management practices, instruments, cost categorization methodology and norms;
  • Regularly prepare information note for senior management that include recommendations that can be incorporated in UNDP’s policy reviews;
  • Best practices in cost recovery policies in similar/comparable organizations.
Function 2:
Integrated resources framework
  • Incorporate UNDP’s strategic plans with evolving resource management trends and prepare Integrated Resources Framework that includes resultant resource models for regular resources (both the institutional and the programme budget)other resources and cost recovery income;
  • Formulate/maintain the cost recovery policy taking into account its relevance to and impact on the Integrated Resources Framework;
  • Coordinates the analysis of institutional data, financial and non-financial, within the Bureau of Management and with other organisational units to continuously improve performance and risk-based decision-making in responding to internal and external challenges and opportunities.
Function 3: 
Formulation and evaluation of business models
  • Performs the function of focal point for the current and future business models of UNDP. This includes team role in formulation and evaluation of efficient and effective business models that deliver on value for money;
  • Integrates business models into the Integrated Resources Framework - articulating the funding sources for the said Framework.
Function 4: Formulation of regulations, rules, policies and procedures
  • Formulate clear resource planning regulations, rules policies and procedures and relevant training; contribute to related policy creation outside in related areas;
  • Maintain up to date resource planning regulations, rules policies and procedures and relevant training.
Function 5: 
ERP/Atlas systems requirements
  • Contribute in conjunction with other members of the Office to the ERP/Atlas business requirements;
  • Oversee implementation arrangements in relevant work areas;
  • Seek opportunities to automate manual practices with a view to improving business intelligence.
Function 6:
Management of human and financial resources
  • Leads  and manages staff in the formulation and implementation of the substantive work plan of the SRP;
  • Sets direction for the Team – including roles and responsibilities and reporting;
  • Oversee staff accountability and preparation of annual substantive workplans that are aligned with UNDP, BoM and OFRM priorities ensuring staff engagement;
  • Ensure that Results, Competency and Assessments (RCAs) are carried out according to UNDP policies and procedures;
  • Exercise oversight of the management of activities undertaken by the Team, ensuring programmed activities are carried out with timeliness and attention to quality;
  • Provide strategic guidance on HR matters and lead team’s talent management and career development with attention to staff motivation, empowerment; lead by example at the overall level;
  • Provide strategic guidance on financial matters, including application of authority on use of resources as delegated. 
Impact of Results
 
The results expected of this position will provide a logical integrated funding framework and the integrated budget that will underpin the strategic plan and will respond to the national priorities indicated in the Country Programme Documents. The institutional results framework and the business models will embody and promote continued efficiency, effectiveness and value for money in appropriately responding to the external and internal drivers for change. 

Competencies

Functional Competencies:
 
Advocacy/advancing a policy-oriented agenda
  • Advocates for the inclusion of UNDP’s focus areas in the public policy agenda;
  • Builds consensus concerning UNDP’s strategic agenda with partners on joint initiatives;
  • Dialogues with other stakeholders to strengthen advocacy efforts.
Building strategic partnerships
  • Makes effective use of UNDP’s resources and comparative advantage to strengthen partnerships;
  • Creates networks and promotes initiatives with partner organizations.
Innovation and marketing new approaches
  • Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking;
  • Conceptualizes more effective approaches to programme development and implementation and to mobilizing and using resources.
Promoting organizational learning and knowledge sharing
  • Actively seeks and promotes innovative methodologies and leads the development of supporting policies/tools to encourage learning and knowledge sharing;
  • Develops and/or participates in the development of policies and new approaches and participates in training of staff in their application throughout the organization.
Job knowledge and technical expertise
  • Possesses expert knowledge of advanced concepts in primary discipline, a broad knowledge of related disciplines, as well as an in-depth knowledge of relevant organizational policies and procedures;
  • Applies a broad knowledge of best management practices; defines objectives and work flows, positions reporting relationships in such a way as to obtain optimum effectiveness for the unit/branch;
  • Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself personally;
  • Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignment;
  • Demonstrates expert knowledge of the current programme guidelines and project management tools and manages the use of these regularly in work assignments.
Organizational leadership and direction
  • Actively contributes to the setting of organizational priorities in a consultative process;
  • Responds to changes in the operational and policy environment and adjusts organizational priorities when the situation requires;
  • Advocates for increased resources at international and national level.
Client orientation
  • Consults with clients and ensures their needs are represented in decision-making processes;
  • Advises and develops strategic and operational solutions with clients that add value to UNDP programmes and operations;
  • Anticipates constraints in the delivery of services and identifies solutions or alternatives;
  • Proactively identifies, develops and discusses solutions for internal and external clients, and persuades management to undertake new projects or services.  
Core Competencies:
 
Ethics & Values
  • Promoting Ethics and Integrity / Creating Organizational Precedents;
  • Demonstrates and promotes the highest standard of integrity, impartiality, fairness and incorruptibility in all matters affecting his/her work and status.
Organizational Awareness
  • Building support and political acumen;
  • Uses understanding of the organizational culture and key players to gain support for initiatives and to determine optimum timing to launch initiatives and address issues.
 Developing & Empowering People/Coaching and Mentoring
  • Building staff competence, Creating an environment of creativity and innovation;
  • Inspires, motivates and empowers staff creating an environment in which leaders can emerge.
Working in Teams
  • Building and promoting effective teams;
  • Builds effective teams, bringing diverse background, skills and expertise to maximize innovation and goal achievement.
Communicating Information and Ideas
  • Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication;
  • Keeps staff informed of decisions and directives of senior management and communicates them in a manner that ensures understanding and acceptance.
Self-Management & Emotional Intelligence
  • Creating an emotionally intelligent organization;
  • Demonstrates a genuine passion for the work, and leverages political forces and tacit knowledge to support the achievement of organizational goals and priorities.
Conflict Management/Negotiating & Resolving Disagreements
  • Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standard;
  • Creates an organizational climate of respect for others.
Knowledge Sharing & Continuous Learning
  • Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning;
  • Promotes knowledge sharing and management practices within his/her area of responsibility.
Appropriate and Transparent Decision-making
  • Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking;
  • Accepts responsibility and accountability for the quality of the outcome of his/her decisions.
Leadership
  • Demonstrated ability to think strategically and to provide credible leadership;
    Innovative approaches/experience on global development issues;
  • Demonstrated intellectual leadership and ability to integrate knowledge with broader strategic overview and cooperate vision;
Managing Relationships
  • Strong ability to manage teams, creating an enabling environment, mentoring and developing staff.
Managing Complexity
  • Demonstrated substantive leadership and ability to integrate knowledge with broader strategic, policy and operational objectives.
Knowledge Management and Learning
  • Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning.
Judgment/Decision-Making
  • Proven ability to provide strategic direction;
  • Independent judgment and discretion in advising on handling major policy issues and challenges, uses diplomacy and tact to achieve results.

Required Skills and Experience

Education
  • A minimum of a Master’s degree or equivalent in one or more of the following disciplines: business administration, public administration, management; international development, planning, public policy, economics or other relevant social sciences.
Experience
  • Minimum 15 years of progressively responsible professional experience at the national and international level in leadership positions within recognized development structures or organizations in a multi-cultural setting, with a proven track record of strategic planning and policy development areas;
  • Highly refined analytical capacity and drafting skills;
  • Proven track record of excellent management and leadership skills;
  • Work experience in senior level assignments with the UN system desirable, including field experience;
  • Knowledge of business modeling and practical application of the RBM principles.
Language Skills
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, with an adequate working knowledge of another UN language preferred.