Background

UNDP Country Programme (2013-17) is aligned with the Government of India’s Twelfth Plan priorities and seeks to improve the effectiveness of national programmes and policies for disadvantaged regions and groups especially women, Scheduled Castes, Schedule Tribes, minorities, displaced persons and persons with disabilities. UNDP’s partnership with the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) under “Governance and Accelerated Livelihoods Support” aims to strengthen the effectiveness of key Ministry programmes by providing (a) technical assistance to the state government and NGOs in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha to improve sustainable livelihoods with linkages to Panchayati Raj Institutions for governance in left wing extremism affected areas (b) policy advice and technical assistance to the Ministry and the state governments to help improve the efficiency, accountability and inclusiveness of National Rural Livelihoods Mission and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Scheme and (c) policy advice and technical assistance to the Ministry and state governments to help “green” select schemes.
 
The Government of India, Ministry of Rural Development has launched the “National Rural Livelihood Mission” (NRLM) in June 2011 after restructuring its existing centrally sponsored flagship Scheme “Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana” (SGSY). The NRLM functions in a mission mode for target based time bound delivery of outcomes following a demand driven approach which would allow the states to formulate their own poverty alleviation plans on the basis of available allocation, resources and skills.
 
UNDP, under the GOALS Project, provides technical support to NRLM for efficient and inclusive implementation through (a) positioning professional managers and domain experts to improve implementation at the state level; (b) strengthening the social mobilisation in favour of women from persistently excluded groups; and (c) developing and testing of context-specific, market-led, livelihood strategies that will enable institutions of the poor women to secure their role in markets and supply chains and ensure higher and sustained returns. 
 
As part of its support to NRLM, UNDP is looking for a dynamic individual for the position of Chief Operating Officer, Social Development (SD), NRLM.
 
Summary of Key Functions:
 
The Chief Operating Officer (SD) will work under the guidance and supervision of the Mission Director, NRLM and Programme Analyst, UNDP. 
 
The incumbent will primarily be responsible for leading a portfolio of activities in National Mission Management Unit (NMMU) and facilitate/support National Resource Organization(s) (NRO/s) and the State Rural Livelihoods Missions (SRLMs) in various states in rolling-out NRLM implementation in general and in social development in particular.  The COO will work towards attainment of the results envisaged by the Mission to the required standards of quality and within the constraints of time and cost. 
 
For this, s/he will ensure that the social development component of NRLM:
  • Delivers on its objectives; and
  • Leads the social development team at national and state levels in achieving its goals.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance and direct supervision of Mission Director, NRLM and Programme Analyst, UNDP, the Chief Operating Officer (SD) will: 
  • Support/facilitate select SRLMs in rolling out NRLM, liaise with state governments and provide Technical Assistance to SRLMs;
  • Support NMMU as its core strategy team member;
  • Lead the Social Development portfolio of activities;
  • Facilitate Food, Nutrition, Health and Social Security and Vulnerability Reduction processes;
  • Lead convergence including PRI-CBO Convergence and MGNREGS Convergence;
  • Facilitate SRLMs in developing protocols for various activities including pilots and scaling-up the successful pilots;
  • Facilitate support for various activities at multiple levels in various ways;
  • Perform any other related tasks consistent with the level of the post and/ or assigned by the Mission Director, NRLM and Programme Analyst, UNDP.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:  
  • Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Treats all people fairly without favoritism.  

Functional Competencies: 

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise:

  • Deep understanding of issues pertaining to poverty reduction, livelihoods, and social development;
  • Good understanding of development issues such as human development, inclusive development, gender and participation;
  • Possesses ability to research and conceptualise on issues related to poverty reduction and livelihoods, and analyze data;
  • Strong facilitation and presentation skills to varied audience.

Building Strategic Partnerships:

  • Ability to build and sustain effective partnerships with Government Agencies and main constituents, advocate effectively, communicate sensitively across different constituencies;
  • Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances;
  • Consultative and collaborative capacities.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

  • Ability to plan and organize work programme;
  • Capacity to gather comprehensive information on complex problems or situations, evaluate information accurately and identify key issues required to resolve problems;
  • Ability to monitor performance against development and other objectives and corrects deviations from the course;
  • Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks;
  • Generates new ideas and approaches, and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things.

Leadership and Self-Management:

  • Ability to work under supervision as well as with self-initiative and motivation;
  • Effective team leadership and conflict resolution skills;
  • Ability to establish priorities for self and other members of the team; Ability to ensure optimum use of time and resources;
  • Proven ability to coordinate the work of others and to work as part of a team and share knowledge with others;
  • Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view. Also solicits feedback from staff about the impact of her/his own behaviour;
  • Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complex situations;
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.  

Required Skills and Experience

Education: 

  • Master’s Degree or equivalent in Science, Engineering, Technology, Management, Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Dairying, ICT, Statistics, Economics, Social Sciences, Development Studies or related fields. 

Experience:

More than 20 years of overall experience in general with: 
  • More than 15 years of relevant experience at the state/national level in;
  • Hands-on design and implementation of large development projects;
  • Large Poverty Reduction/Livelihoods/Social Development Projects as part of senior management;
  • Facilitating Convergence with various stakeholders ;
  • Coordination and facilitation of senior, complex teams;
  • Providing management advisory services;
  • India’s development administration systems.

Language:

  • Proficiency in English;
  • Good knowledge of Hindi is desirable and any state language/s is an asset. 

Travel: 

  • Willingness to travel.

Remuneration package is Rs. 295,978/- per month (taxable).