Applications for this vacancy MUST be sent with the relevant attachments (Cover Letter & CV) to the following email address:  exo.cos@undp.org.   Only applications received at this email address will be accepted.  Kindly indicate the following reference on your application:  # ASG, RBLAC.

UNDP works in nearly 170 countries and territories. Anchored in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and committed to the principles of universality, equality and leaving no-one behind, UNDP’s priorities are set in its Strategic Plan (2022 - 2025), aiming to help countries achieve sustainable development by eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, accelerating structural transformations for sustainable development and building resilience to crises and shocks. The Strategic Plan sets out a vision for the evolution of UNDP over the next four years, responding to a changing development landscape and the evolving needs of our partners.

The RBLAC includes 26 offices, covering 42 countries and territories, and also one Regional Service Centre. Across the region, UNDP helps countries build and share their own solutions to urgent development challenges, supporting coalitions for change and connecting individuals and institutions so they can share knowledge, experience and resources. As countries develop local capacity, they draw on the staff of UNDP and our wide range of regional and global partners. The regional priorities include democratic governance, sustainable development, reducing inequalities, disaster and conflict risk reduction and the advancement of women, among others.

The Director is the leader of UNDP in the region as well as a member of UNDP’s corporate leadership and, as such, serves as a role model for corporate values, behaviours and substantive skills.

The Director of RBLAC reports to the Administrator / Associate Administrator. He / she is a member of UNDP’s Executive Group and contributes to shaping and monitoring overall corporate strategic directions. He / she directs and manages the overall policy and ongoing regional programme and country office operations of the region to address priorities and achieve outcomes. He supports regional coordination with the wider UN system, under the leadership of the Deputy Secretary-General/Chair of regional collaboration platforms.

The following scope and principal functions of the position include:

• Participating in UNDP’s highest level corporate decision-making body, the Executive Group, helping to identify and implement strategic directions for the Organization as a whole;
• Building strategic partnerships with key stakeholders to carry out UNDP’s mission and achieve results;
• Managing the Regional Bureau and working collaboratively and collegiately across UNDP and with the wider UN system in the region, to achieve outcomes and results in line with UNDP’s Strategic Plan including by:
  • Providing overall leadership and shaping strategic thinking for UNDP’s engagement in the region;
  • Identifying existing and emerging development challenges and priorities in the region; defining the strategic programming priorities at the regional and country levels and implementing measures to improve the quality and impact of programmes;
  • Providing intellectual leadership for region-specific knowledge products, including Regional Human Development Reports;
  • Providing guidance to the Resident Representatives and other senior managers in Country Offices, including playing a facilitating role with host Governments, donors and counterparts as needed;
  • Overseeing Country Office performance and ensuring timely action on problems and challenges;
  • Guiding the implementation of strategies for Bureau resource mobilization and delivery;
  • Ensuring effective implementation of the UN development system reforms, at the regional and country level, through guidance and support to country offices;
  • Building and maintaining strategic partnerships for UNDP in the region, with a focus on knowledge sharing, joint activities and resource mobilization and representing UNDP, as required, in high-level events and fora relating to the region;
  • Representing the Bureau in key policy, programme, management, advocacy forums and conferences;
  • Serving as Co vice-chair of the collaborative platform in the region, to support the UN Resident Coordinator system; and advocating for greater coherence and harmonization of UN Country Teams;
  • Supporting the implementation of UN reform initiatives in the region, in line with corporate policies and guidance from the UN Sustainable Development Group.

The Regional Director:

• Leads by example and encourages excellence, professionalism, competence, integrity and the ethics and values enshrined in the UN Charter;
• Guides, mentors and develops a team of senior managers in New York, the Panama Regional Hub, and Country Offices;
• Oversees and is responsible for the Bureau’s operations in financial, human resources, procurement and general administration.

Experience:

• A strong record of progressively responsible, substantive and results achievement experience at the international level, including in development programming, resource mobilization and advocacy is especially relevant;
• Experience in interagency and international co-operation, and negotiation of partnerships are especially relevant. The candidates will have held leadership roles and demonstrated his/her ability to advocate for and support the implementation of effective solutions;
• In-depth knowledge of crisis response activities, managing related complex situations, interagency and international cooperation, negotiation of partnerships, mobilization of resources and management of programmes in crisis related areas with national, regional, international entities, including the ability to influence/advance dialogue and present such material at global and regional fora;
• Experience of the UN and/or other intergovernmental institutions and international entities.

Languages:

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations. For this position, fluency in English and Spanish is required. A working knowledge of another United Nations official language will be an advantage.

Applications for this vacancy MUST be sent with the relevant attachments (Cover Letter & CV) to the following email address:  exo.cos@undp.org.   Only applications received at this email address will be accepted.  Kindly indicate the following reference on your application:  # ASG, RBLAC.