Background

Likely interview date will be sometime during 16-26 March 2015. The selected candidate is expected start work around first week of May 2015.

Background:

UNDP operates in more than 170 countries and territories around the world. UNDP offers global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations that can withstand crisis, and that drive and sustain growth that improves the quality of life for everyone.

In India, UNDP has been operating since 1951.  UNDP has been collaborating with the Government, civil society and people of India to help them find their own solutions to meet global and national development challenges. UNDP’s approach has been to develop and sustain strategic partnerships that find innovative solutions to address gaps on both the demand and supply side of development processes.

In India, UNDP projects are designed in consultation with national stakeholders and contribute directly to the Government of India – UNDP Country Programme and the United Nations Development Action Framework (UNDAF). Projects are aligned to one or more of the following programme areas: poverty reduction, democratic governance, environment and energy, crisis prevention & recovery, and HIV & development. Most of UNDP projects are nationally executed under the signed country programme, and are implemented in partnership with national partners in one or more of the UNDAF states of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

In support of its development mandate, UNDP India has partnered with the IKEA Foundation in a “Creating employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for women in India” project.  This project contributes to India’s development goals of reducing poverty head count ratio by 10% points by 2017, generating 50 million new work  opportunities and providing skilling for equivalent number of people. The project directly contributes to two MDGs:  Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger and Goal 3: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women.  “Creating Employment and Entrepreneurship opportunities for Women in India” project aims to reach 1,000,000 women and girls by providing them with necessary skills and knowledge for employment or entrepreneurship. Through an integrated skilling and job placement/ enterprise start up approach, the project will create linkages between education & skills and employment & growth in India through public – private partnership and support women & girls progress towards economic empowerment. As a result, the project hopes to enable women to increase their incomes, improve their productive investments, improve consumption, build assets and invest in their children.  The project has three strategies: entrepreneurship, job placement and close collaboration with the government. With this project UNDP hopes to support and add value to GOI initiatives, reach women from marginalized background, collaborate with a range of stakeholders (public, private, nongovernmental organizations, civil society) and promote knowledge sharing, learning and collaboration.

The project is expected to last from 2015 to 2017, with a possible extension dependent on the results and funding availability.

Duties and Responsibilities

Role Summary:

UNDP India is looking to recruit a dynamic, seasoned professional to manage the “Creating Employment and Entrepreneurship Opportunities for women in India” project. In this highly strategic role, the Project Manager will provide leadership, direction and strategy for the project and will be responsible for delivery of all project outputs. S/he will be responsible for leading the project team through planning, implementing and managing the delivery of activities, reports, knowledge products and other results approved in the project document or annual work plans. S/he will be a part of management team of the UNDP Country Office and will closely work with UNDP Operations unit, Programme divisions, Government officials, IKEA Foundation, private sector, local government, non-government and civil society organizations. S/he will supervise a team of approximately 15 staff.   The Project Manager will work under under the overall guidance of the Country Director, and the day-to-day supervision of the Deputy Country Director.

Summary of Key Functions:

In this role the Project Manager will be responsible for project management ensuring quality and results by:

• Overseeing and managing of the project on day-to-day basis;
• Overseeing monitoring and evaluation activities of the project;
• Managing partnerships, policy, resource mobilization and advocacy efforts, and;
• Facilitating knowledge management and sharing.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Under the overall strategic guidance of the Country Director, and the day-to-day supervision of the Deputy Country Director, the Project Manager has the following duties and responsibilities:

Oversee and manage the project on day-to-day basis

• Manage the project team (technical specialists, project officers, support staff, consultants) and ensure timely implementation, results –orientation and accountability for project results;
• Lead the development of annual programme/project delivery targets and guide the team to achieve the targets;
• Set direction for the team including roles and responsibilities, accountability and reporting ensuring that the work of the team is conducted in accordance with UNDP’s relevant business processes and that high – quality outputs are delivered on time;
• Guide the project staff to perform project oversight, quality assurance, monitoring, reporting, field missions, audits, evaluations, formulations and project support services providing day-to-day guidance by enhancing team work within the project and with other Country Office units;
• Monitor the progress on agreed results framework and performance indicators and take action/decision and/or provide timely support to project staff;
• Undertake performance management of staff including establishment of annual results, on-going feedback and mid-term and final assessments in line with UNDP Rules and Regulations;
• Provide intellectual and strategic guidance in the area of economic empowerment and private sector development, prompting gender equality and inclusion of marginalized populations ensuring conflict – sensitivity and compliance with UNDP’s Social and Environmental standards and other rules and regulations;
• Ensure project meets expectations with respect to quality, budget, delivery timelines, and strategy;
• Brief and consult with senior management on project progress and provide information and advice as required to contribute to the Country Office initiatives;
• Guide on ways to incorporate and apply HRB/RBM/M(S(DG) approaches as well as addressing cross cutting themes (e.g. gender) in project design and project activities;
• Identify areas of improvement by applying best practices/lessons learnt using UNDP corporate monitoring tools and corporate reports;
• Manage project budgets and ensure timely and accurate reporting, and;
• Undertake and supervise financial and administrative tasks including ATLAS transactions.

Manage partnerships, policy, resource mobilization and advocacy efforts

• Advise, guide and provide support in partnerships with the private sector and specific project partners;
• Seek engagement to promote social business opportunities in India;
• Provide policy advice to UNDP and the project to enable private sector engagement and Public Private Dialogue;
• Set and manage donor expectations and manage day-to-day donor interaction;
• Seek and identify additional partnership and funding opportunities, and oversee the preparation of funding proposals, donor briefing and presentations in support of resource mobilization to advance UNDP’s and the project goals;
• Mobilize, foster and strengthen strategic partnerships with UN agencies, and other relevant multilateral and bilateral organizations to advance and support the project;
• Foster and enhance collaboration with relevant Government bodies by working closely with Government counterparts and national partners;
• Establishes strong ties to and with national programmes, and relevant government ministries;
• Lead the analytical and policy development work of the project team;
• Contribute to the UNDP’s work on economic empowerment and poverty reduction in support of UNDP’s India country strategies, and;
• Promote the corporate social responsibility and the UN Global Compact.

Oversee Monitoring and Evaluation activities of the project

• Ensure close financial and procurement oversightand monitoring of all activities of the project;
• Set direction for monitoring and evaluation priorities in accordance to UNDP rules and regulations;
• Guide development of overall monitoring and evaluation systems for the project and put mechanisms in place for proper and timely reporting to the country office and the donor;
• Oversee relationships with external parties on M&E;
• Lead quarterly review meetings and annual project reviews by monitoring the progress of project implementation, assessing results and identifying areas of weaknesses to ensure the project achieves the planned results in accordance with relevant plans;
• Monitor and manage any strategic risks/issues facing the project; submit new risks/issues to the Board for consideration and decision on possible actions if required; update the status of these risks/issues by maintaining the Project Risks/Issues Log;
• Ensure project’s procedural alignment with UNDP position, rules and regulations and mandate;
• Evaluate all key project deliverables, as well as final product to ensure traceability of requirements, high quality and client acceptance.

Facilitate knowledge management and sharing

• Ensure regular assessment of strategic, implementation, action plans identifying areas of emphasis to guide project improvements and future plans;
• Use sound judgment in all project communication and ensure that project communication meets needs of different audiences (government, private sector and so forth)
• Manage stakeholder expectations and participate in communication activities to inform stakeholders of progress and issues;
• Manage the formation of project panel of advisors to guide the work of the project
• Establish and maintain a usable, auditable and well-communicated records of the project;
• Lead the process of knowledge creation and dissemination related to national, regional and global know-how in the subject area. In this context, partner with practitioners and members of the national think tanks, UNDP global networks, leadership of the practice and sub-practice teams in civil service, recruitment process, change management, HR policy and other related Bureaux on knowledge management services;
• Ensure staff implementation of mandatory training and promote learning and development;
• Ensure proper coordination with Regional Hubs and HQ;
• Work closely and collaboratively with initiatives and institutes across UNDP systems, especially with the Istanbul Institute for Private Sector Development and UNDP’s Global Alliance for Sustainable Employment (GASTE);
• Communicate progress, risks, expectations, timelines, milestones and other key project metrics to clients and team members;
• Organize internal and external networks or communities of practice covering prominent experts in government, non-government, think tanks, private companies, international development organizations and the UN system;
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of the programme knowledge networks and practices and development of knowledge products, and;
• Represent the project with donors, governments and national and international forums.

Impact of Results:

The key results of the role have an impact on the overall success of the project and directly contribute to the country office goals.  In specific, the key results have an impact on design, operations and management of activities, creation of strategic long-lasting partnership as well as reaching overall project aims. 

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Job Knowledge and Technical Expertise

• Demonstrates substantive and technical knowledge to meet responsibilities and post requirements with excellence;
• Possesses expert knowledge of advanced concepts in primary discipline, a broad knowledge of related disciplines, as well as in-depth knowledge of relevant organizational policies and procedures;
• Applies a broad knowledge of best management practices, defines objectives and workflows, positions reporting relationships in such a way as to obtain maximum effectiveness for the project;
• Keeps abreast of new developments in areas of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop her/himself personally;
• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in all work assignments;
• Responds flexibly & positively to change through active involvement;
• Possesses ability to lead strategic planning, result – based management and reporting;
• Possess excellent work/project planning skills;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complex, ever-changing environments;
• Possesses ability to leadimplementation and monitoring of private sector development programmes and women empowerment programmes; and
• Possesses ability to formulate and manage budgets, and fundraise.

Result Based Project Development and Management

• Uses variety of UNDP resources to achieve results;
• Generates innovative, practical solutions to challenging situations
• Plans and produces quality results to meet established goals;
• Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside UNDP;
• Is highly motivated and results driven, and;
• Ensures the full implementation of project activities and financial resources to obtain results.

Advancing a Policy – Oriented Agenda

• Builds consensus concerning UNDP’s strategic agenda with partners on joint initiatives;
• Dialogues effectively with national counterparts and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen advocacy and policy efforts, incorporating country, regional and global perspectives, and;
• Advocates for increasing priority given to human development and inclusive growth issues.

Innovation and Judgment

• Creates an environment that fosters innovation and creative thinking;
• Conceptualizes more effective approaches to project development, implementation and mobilization and use of resources;
• Conceptualizes and analyses problems to identify key issues, underlying problems and how they relate;
• Contributes creative, practical ideas and demonstrates sense of entrepreneurial initiative to deal with challenging situation, and;
• Strives for quality client-centered services (internal/external) when making decisions and taking action.

Client Orientation

• Demonstrates an understanding of client/partner/donor perspective;
• Anticipates constraints in the project delivery and identifies solutions or alternatives;
• Identifies, develops and discusses solutions for internal and external clients, and persuades management to undertake new project and services; and
• Advises and develops strategic and operational solutions with clients that add value to UNDP programmes and operations.

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Promotes UNDP as a learning organization;
• Participates effectively in a team-based, information-sharing environment, collaborating and cooperating with others
• Has excellent knowledge of monitoring best practices;
• Has excellent communication skills (written and oral) demonstrating sensitivity and responsiveness to all partners, and;
• Maintains respectful and helpful relationships with other UN agencies, national counterparts, civil society organizations, private sector and the donor.

Building Strategic Partnerships

• Makes effective use of UNDP’s resources and comparative advantage to strengthen partnerships;
• Demonstrates experience of working with government counterparts especially on building successful partnerships;
• Creates networks and promotes initiatives with partner organizations, and;
• Has strong networking capabilities and ability to associate him/herself with a broad range of actors with a view to build relationships and facilitate links.

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Builds support and political acumen;
• Builds staff competences, creating an environment for creativity and innovation;
• Builds and promotes effective and emotionally intelligent teams;
• Adapts easily to rapidly changing, multiple pressing demand work context;
• Leverages conflict in the interest of UNDP and sets standards;
• Shares knowledge across the organization and builds a culture of knowledge sharing and learning;
• Examples fair and transparent decision making and calculated risk-taking, and;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Required Skills and Experience

Educational Qualifications:

• Essential: Post Graduate degree (Masters) from a reputable institution preferably in business and/or economics, business administration, public policy or other related disciplines.

Required Experience:

• A minimum of 10 years of relevant, practical working experience within both public and private sector preferably in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Experience working in other South Asian countries, specifically India will be preferred; 
• Exposure to the design, implementation and management of pro-poor initiatives and development projects;
• Management experience of private sector development programmes or projects, and working with private foundations would be highly desirable;
• Experience working with government counterparts at high levels;
• Strong technical knowledge of at least two technical areas of the project would be desirable (skilling, job placement, women empowerment, entrepreneurship);
• Strong leadership, management and negotiation skills;
• Strong ability to work as part of a team and actively pursuing networking;
• Strong ability to lead and manage change environment;
• Experience with UNDP and a strong understanding of UNDP and its mandates, policies and procedures would be an advantage;
• Excellent computer skills and ability to use information technology as a tool and resource, and.
• Excellent analytical and problem solving skills.

Language Required:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

Duration:

The duration of this position, financed by the IKEA Foundation, is expected to be for a minimum of three year, renewable annually subject to satisfactory performance evaluations. A competitive international remuneration package reflecting UNDP remuneration standards will be offered. New Delhi is a family and low security risk duty station.