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, RBAS.

UNDP works in nearly 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience in order to sustain development results.

UNDP is working to strengthen new frameworks for development, disaster risk reduction and climate change. We support countries' efforts to achieve the new Sustainable Development Goals, which will guide global development priorities for the next 10 years.

RBAS covers 17 Country Offices (with the 18th located in the occupied Palestinian territory) and one Regional Service Centre, located in Amman.  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 people of UNDP and our wide range of regional and global partners. The regional priorities include democratic governance and peace building, sustainable development, reducing inequalities, disaster and conflict risk reduction, climate change and the advancement of women, among others.

The Regional 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, behaviors and substantive skills.

The Director of RBAS 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. 

The following scope and principal functions of the position include:

• Participation in UNDP’s highest level corporate decision making body, the Executive Group (EG), 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 in collaboration with the wider UN development system 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 and implementing measures to improve the quality and effectiveness of programmes;
• Providing intellectual guidance for region-specific knowledge products, including Regional Human Development Reports;
• 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;
• Oversight of Country Office performance and timely action on problems and challenges
• Guiding the implementation of strategies for Bureau resource mobilization and delivery;
• 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;
• Coordinating the UNSDG in the region, to support the UN Resident Coordinator system; advocating for greater coherence and harmonization of UN Country Teams; oversight of the performance of UNDP resident representatives in UN Country Teams in the region [and contribution to overall performance evaluation of UN Country Teams].
• Supporting the implementation of UN reforms 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 ethics and values enshrined in the UN Charter;
• Guides, mentors and develops a team of senior managers in New York, the Regional Hub, and Country Offices; 
• Oversees and is responsible for the Bureau’s operations in financial, human resources, procurement and general administration

Functional Competencies:

Strategic Thinking:

• A clear understanding of development challenges and priorities;
• Demonstrated ability to identify high level strategic issues, opportunities and risks, develop organizational strategies to meet objectives, and generate and communicate organizational direction and expected outcomes to all stakeholders.

Leadership:

• Proven track record of excellent management, leadership and representation skills;
• Demonstrated effectiveness in establishing productive relationships and networks to achieve outcomes; strong people management skills; demonstrated competence for incorporating gender perspectives;
• Demonstrated personal drive and commitment to organizational objectives;
• Proven experience in leading change.

Results Focus:

• Demonstrated ability to provide strategic direction;
• Demonstrated excellence in successful management of a complex portfolio of responsibilities including translating goals into practical implementation strategies, and allocating resources accordingly;
• Proven ability to build organizational capability and responsiveness to achieve outcome;
• Strong resource mobilization and partnership building skills; mature judgement and initiative.

Achieves Results:

• Demonstrated ability to provide strategic direction;
• Demonstrated excellence in successful management of a complex portfolio of responsibilities including translating goals into practical implementation strategies;
• Proven ability to build organizational capability and responsiveness to achieve outcomes;
• Mature judgment and initiative.

Communication:

• Influential and confident oral and written communication skills;
• Proven ability to negotiate persuasively and achieve objectives;
• Proven ability to establish and maintain effective inter-personal relationships in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Professionalism:

• Ability to work collaboratively and collegiately with internal and external stakeholders to achieve corporate goals;
• Capacity to anticipate and address difficult issues;
• Demonstrated commitment to acting ethically and with integrity and commitment to the values enshrined in the UN Charter.

Education:

• Advanced University degree in development-related disciplines, Economics, Business Administration, Public Policy or other relevant Social Sciences.

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, negotiation of partnerships, mobilization of resources and management of programmes are especially relevant. The candidates will have held leadership roles and demonstrated his/her ability to advocate for 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.
• Senior documented experience of the UN and/or other intergovernmental institutions and international entities.

Language:

• Fluency in the English language is mandatory.
• Fluency in Arabic is a distinct advantage and knowledge of other UN languages is welcome.

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, RBAS.