UNDP Jobs - 13672- Project Manager

Project Manager - RE-ADVERTISED

Location :

Minsk, BELARUS

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

25-Jan-10 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SB-5

Duration of Initial Contract :

12 months with a possibility of extension

Languages Required :

English Russian

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 project objective is to mainstream biodiversity conservation priorities into Belarus’ territorial planning policies and practices. Given that territorial planning legislation has a superior and more over-arching value than sector-specific legislation in Belarus, mainstreaming biodiversity considerations into territorial planning is considered an effective way of favorably modifying sector practices. Further, the limited GEF resources available to Belarus would not be sufficient to cover land-use regulations, together with a comprehensive coverage of such large-scale sectors as agriculture, forestry, and water management. The project will therefore focus on removing the systemic regulatory and knowledge barriers identified above to mainstreaming biodiversity conservation into territorial planning. Demonstration of the effective integration of information on vulnerable/ threatened biotopes and species into territorial plans will be undertaken in 10 pilot districts where sector practices will be modified in line with minimal standards and requirements established under the territorial plan.

The long-term goal to which the project will contribute is to ensure ecologically-balanced land use planning at the district level, wherein productive activities outside protected areas are managed in ways that guarantee a normal functioning of ecosystems and their components and the preservation of historically established conditions of evolution of genetic resources. The project goal and objective will be achieved through the following two outcomes: i) Enabling regulatory, policy and institutional framework for land-use planning that reflects biodiversity considerations outside protected areas, and ii) Tested models for development and enforcement of biodiversity-compatible land-use plans at the district levels.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Belarus will act as a national implementing partner to this project.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Manager assumes the leading role in implementation of the UNDP-GEF project “Mainstreaming Biodiversity Conservation into Territorial Planning Policies and Practices”, and ensure efficient project management, producing planned outputs, coordination and supervision of the of the project activities in line with the respective UNDP/GEF rules and procedures, achievement of the project goals and objectives, UNDP/GEF timely reporting.

He/she will:

Supervise and coordinate the project implementation to ensure its results are in accordance with the Project Document and the rules and procedures established in the UNDP Programming Manual
Assume primary responsibility for daily project management - both organizational and substantive matters – budgeting, planning and general monitoring of the project
Prepare GEF quarterly project progress reports, as well as any other reports requested by the Executing Agency and UNDP
Ensure adequate information flow, discussions and feedback among the various stakeholders of the project
Ensure adherence to the project’s work plan, prepare revisions of the work plan, if required
Assume overall responsibility for the proper handling of logistics related to project workshops and events
Prepare, and agree with UNDP on, terms of reference for national and international consultants and subcontractors
Guide the work of consultants and subcontractors and oversee compliance with the agreed work plan
Maintain regular contact with UNDP Country Office and the National Project Director on project implementation issues of their respective competence
Monitor the expenditures, commitments and balance of funds under the project budget lines, and draft project budget revisions
Assume overall responsibility for meeting financial delivery targets set out in the agreed annual work plans, reporting on project funds and related record keeping
Liaise with project partners to ensure their co-financing contributions are provided within the agreed terms
Assume overall responsibility for timely reporting on project in accordance with the respective UNDP and GEF requirements progress vis-à-vis indicators in the logframe
Assume overall responsibility for recruitment of project personnel and short term consultants, along with procurement of goods and services performed by the project in accordance with the Project Document and with approved annual work plans;
Undertake any other actions related to the project management as requested by UNDP or the National Project Director.

Competencies

Managing of international technical assistance, particularly UNDP, projects;
Familiar with biodiversity conservation, particularly with integration of biodiversity concerns into spatial planning;
Professional written and spoken English will be an asset;
Good knowledge of personal computer, and of the most popular Ms Office and Internet software.

Required Skills and Experience

University degree in Environmental Management, Environmental Policy, or related fields; ora university degree supplemented by at least 7 years of working experience in the area of environmental management;
Minimum five years of work experience in managing international technical assistance projects in the field of environment; or in coordinating biodiversity conservation actions at the country level.
Proven professional experience in biodiversity conservation will be a strong asset;
Familiarity with integration of biodiversity concerns into territorial planning is desirable;
Outstanding organizational, management, communication and reporting skills;
Good spoken and written English will be an asset;
Computer literacy.

Applications procedures:

UNDP WILL CONSIDER APPLICATIONS FROM RESIDENTS OF BELARUS ONLY

Applicants are requested to apply on-line.

Information about the condition of the SSA/SC contract: http://un.by/vacancy/undp/conditions/

Applicants have to:

Complete the form stating their interest in and qualifications for the position (in English);
Upload completed Personal History Form (PHF) in the required resume field. The PHF form can be downloaded from: http://un.by/vacancy/undp/form/.

Responsible applicants will be shortlisted, and at least three applicants will gain a personal, or telephone hearing.

Women are encouraged to apply.

UNDP is non-smoking work environment.