UNDP Jobs - 60378- Chief Technical Advisor

Chief Technical Advisor

Location :

Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

01-Dec-2015

Application Deadline :

21-Oct-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-6

Duration of Initial Contract :

One year renewable

Languages Required :

Arabic English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

12 months (Renewable for 12 months)

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

Saudi Arabia witnessed over the last four decades a monumental socio-economic development that spanned all sectors of the economy. Infrastructure projects were accorded priority in terms of budget allocations and in diversity. Within the last four decades, the Kingdom has been able to move from an underdeveloped status to a middle-income country with all the means of a promising and sustainable future. The GDP, for instance, increased from SR156 billion in 1969 to SR942 billion in 2011 in the constant prices. This is an ample evidence of the economic and social progress achieved at all sectors.

The population of Saudi Arabia increased from 7 million in 1974 to 25.37 million in 2009. According to the Ninth Development Plan (2010-2014), population growth was estimated to average 4.9% per year during the period 1974-1992, yet such a rate declined to 2.4% for the period 1992-2004. The 2004 national census indicates that almost two thirds of the population of Saudi Arabia live in three regions: Riyadh, Makkah and the Eastern region. That is, around 80% of the overall population is estimated to reside in urban areas. Despite the fact that there are about 258 urban centers, but the five cities of Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah, and Dammam host 45% of the overall population as in the preliminary results of 2010 census, with projections of constant increases in urbanization towards the year 2025.

Indeed such a high level of urbanization poses a host of challenges to development and its sustainability. In fact, urbanization is believed to be integrally linked to the three pillars of sustainable development: economic development; social development; and environmental protection. Particular challenges, probably specific to the national context of Saudi Arabia, include the increasing demand for municipal services, which in turn calls for an urgency to tap into the modality of public-private partnership in service provision with speed and cost-efficiency.

In this context, the incumbent shall lead and assume overall responsibility for the effective and efficient delivery of this strategic intervention by the UNDP in urban planning and management in Saudi Arabia with the objective of harnessing urbanization benefits to promote human development in its broader scope.

The key rationale for this post is that the incumbent shall be extremely competent as well as senior enough to manage the Spatial/Sectoral Coordination Unit that will entail leading a team of experts and coordinate diverse urban planning strategic efforts by public agencies as well as by other UN Agencies (namely, UNDESA; and UN-Habitat).

Work is expected to involve follow-up with 70 government institutions at the senior ministerial level to integrate priorities of the National Urban Spatial Strategy into their annual operational plans.

Under the overall supervision of the UNDP Resident Representative and the daily oversight of the National Project Manager since the post is a Project Funded Post, The Chief Technical Advisor through the NPM will liaise with the concerned units within the Government and other relevant department and ministries as well as the development agencies to achieve the expected results of the project.

Duties and Responsibilities

Key Result 1 – Advisory support to Government on urban planning and management:

Evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the project activities through regular monitoring and review of reports and studies mentioned in the PD and manage tasks to potential local advisors;
Lead a strategic plan for capacity building in the area of regional planning for agencies working at the central and local levels;
Integrate sustainable development issues and concerns in the implementation of the Saudi National Urban Spatial Strategy;
Spearhead in performing relevant studies for the development corridors and growth centers which have been recommended by the Saudi National Urban Strategy;
Guide and advise the implementation of the regional planning initiatives in the 10th five year development plan (2014-2019), and engage in policy formulation and policy dialogues relating to the optimal policy and strategy for promoting related issues such as regional governance, and regional capacities, gender and so on;
Promote an inter and intra country policy-oriented research and dialogue and development of regional based sectoral strategies;
Identifies and evaluates issues, lead and monitor work programmes, prepares terms of references, proposals for sector policies, and other papers as deemed necessary in working towards the overall project objectives and for implementing the National Urban Spatial Strategy;
Document various written outputs, e.g. background papers, analysis, substantial sections of reports and studies, etc.;
Lead the Project Management processes, including provision of advisory services to the National Project Manager on project reporting and budget (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and ensures preparation of related documents/reports;
To undertake such other tasks relating to regional planning implementation and policy as requested by MOM

Key Result 2 – Enhancing the indicator and monitoring systems:

Guide and advise the Development Index to include a comprehensive set of development indicators which reflect the quality of life for each of the 13 administrative regions in the Kingdom;
Lead the development of the regional /sectoral KPI’s to measure the progress of Urban Spatial Strategy objectives and policies based on computerized system.

Key Result 3 – lead the capacity development for Government:

Provide leadership to facilitate the conduction of workshops and seminars on strategic dimensions of urbanization prospects, urban planning and urban management, including the best and most efficient means to engage stakeholders throughout the implementation of the project while ensuring adherence to established policies and procedures;
Provide intellectual leadership in designing and implement on-the-job training in the area of regional planning for national staff of the regional planning department;
Provision of advisory services to conduct a functional assessment of current capacity, build capacity of relevant staff through training, and improve collaboration among relevant members.

The CTA is expected to contribute to the following key results:

Promoting the Government’s National Spatial Strategy towards efficient delivery of the mandate of the Government in benefiting from urbanization as key factor beyond economies of agglomeration.
Advisory support and specialized knowledge provided to UNDP and the key stakeholders on Regional Development Planning issues;
Overall guidance and support in relation to issues on the Regional Development Planning.

Competencies

Leadership:

Inspires others to reach new heights, and reach higher performance;
Conveys a vision that staff and clients can see and charts a clear course to achievement;
Positions the Government/UNDP partnership as a Centre of expertise and influence in urbanization.

Corporate Responsibility & Direction:

Serves and promotes the vision, mission, values, and strategic goals of UNDP.

People Management:

Empowers team managers to act independently;
Holds units accountable for setting challenging goals;
Sets high peer standards for measuring success and provides encouragement;
Anticipates and solves organizational conflicts;
Models best corporate practices and highest ethical standards;
Creates atmosphere of trust; builds acceptance and seeks diverse views, cultures and individual needs within the team;
Actively mentors and develops leaders.

People Skills:

Promotes a learning and knowledge sharing environment;
Facilitates the development of individual and multi-cultural/team competencies.

Managing for Results:

Plans and prioritizes work activities to meet organizational goals;
Strategic approach to problem solving.

Partnering & Networking:

Builds and sustains relationships with key constituents (internal/external/ bilateral/ multilateral/public/private; civil society);
Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside of the project;
Demonstrates ability to handle working relationships with senior officials, academics and technical experts.

Innovation & Judgment:

Conceptualizes and analyzes problems to identify key issues, underlying problems, and how they relate;
Generates creative, practical approaches to overcome challenging situations;
Devises new systems and processes, and modifies existing ones, to support innovative behaviors.

Communication:

Demonstrates outstanding communication skills, verbal and written, in English; abilities in Arabic a strong asset.

Job Knowledge & Expertise:

Possesses expert knowledge and advanced concepts in economic development, policy analysis and formulation;
Applies the required depth and breadth of knowledge and expertise in economic policy and development issues to support UNDP and the Government;
Demonstrates strong quantitative skills and the ability to carry out high quality research, including statistical analysis;
Possesses proven ability to analyze from a global perspective, with the ability to offer practical policy advice on economic issues based on local realities;
Uses Information Technology effectively as a tool and resource;
Keeps abreast of new developments in the area of economic theory and practice and seeks to develop him/herself professionally.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (Ph.D. degree or equivalent) in Regional Development Planning or relevant discipline.

Experience:

At least 15 years of progressive professional experience relevant to development planning and strategies;
Professional knowledge and experience in national spatial strategies, operation as well as in policy formulation and conducting policy dialogue in the gulf and Saudi Arabia;
Experience in the work environment of a national spatial strategies’ administration in an intergovernmental organization;
Working experience in National and multi-sectoral agency such as planning agencies;
Minimum 10 years relevant work experience in the Gulf Region.

Language:

Fluency in oral and written English and Arabic is required.