Programme Management Officer

Job Description

Type of Job


Job Family
Programme Management

Job Opening Number
22-Programme Management-UNEP-188443-R-Nairobi (R)

Deadline: 17 Nov 2022

Description
Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the UN system’s designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional levels. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of Governments and the international community for action.

This post is located in the Programme Coherence and Assurance Unit (PCAU), Policy and Programme Division, in UNEP at the Nairobi duty station. The PCAU is mandated with the accountability and oversight to decision makers on the quality of project design, strengthening the results-based management approach and achievement of concrete programmatic impacts; developing capacity across the organization in results-based management and other areas to improve project and thus programme delivery, for alignment to the Organization’s programmatic and project quality standards as well as providing secretariat services for the Project Review Committee.

The Programme Management Officer reports to the head of the PCAU and within delegated authority, will be responsible for the following duties:

Responsibilities

Programme and Project Review process

• Contributes and supports the project review functions of the Project Review Committee (PRC);
• Provides high quality, substantive technical advice and practical guidance, in a timely manner, to project teams on ways to improve project designs, in line with results-based management principles, including theories of change, gender equality, safeguards and sustainability aspects);
• Gives quality inputs in the updating of PPMM (Programme and Project Management Manual);
• Contributes to the drafting of new guidance material and harmonization of PRC functions; and
• Supports the implementation of Programme/Project Management training courses.
  
  Results-based Management and Project Cycle Management
• Provides strategic advice and develops results-based management processes (including the required business processes) to improve the quality of project and programme delivery;
• Supports the Concept Approval Group (CAG) and PRC Secretariat functions, participating in PRC processes in particular leading the CAG-PRC Secretariat representation;
• Supports effective management of all engagements with the Deputy Executive Director’s (DED) Office in relation to the CAG-PRC Secretariat process;
• Effectively contributes to the harmonization of PRC processes for all of the UNEP projects including GEF, GCF, MEAS and Regional Seas.
  
  Programme and Project Management
• Assists in results-based management capacity development;
• Assists in the roll out and monitoring of the uptake of the project management training courses;
• Undertakes a proactive role in the annual update of the PPMM and production of any guidance material required by the quality assurance functions; and
• Contributes substantively to the roll out of project implementation support function currently under design, including on gender issues.
  
  Data Review and Analysis
• Ensures the incorporation of lessons learnt from outcome of evaluation and self-assessments into UNEP’s project cycle;
• Researches, analyzes and presents information;
• Contributes to policy development, including the review and analysis of issues and trends, preparation of evaluations or other research activities and studies;
• Undertakes survey initiatives; designs data collection tools; reviews, analyzes and interprets responses, identifies problems/issues and prepares conclusions; and
• Prepares various written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications.
  
  Administrative, Budget and Finance
• Makes inputs to ensure logframes and other results-based frameworks (including work plans and related activities) are commensurate with budgets and planned timelines;
• Provides substantive technical support to consultative and other meetings, workshops and conferences; and
• Undertakes outreach activities; conducts training workshops, seminars, makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.
  
  Competencies
  
  PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities and risks. Ability to generate and communicate broad and compelling organizational direction. Ability to communicate clearly links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals. Demonstrated ability to provide innovative technical leadership by performing and/or overseeing the planning, development, and management of operation. Demonstrated ability to negotiate and apply good judgment. Shows pride in work and in achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.The ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. The ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management.
  
  TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others. Places team agenda before personal agenda. Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position. Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
  
  PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required. Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work. Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning. Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary. Uses time efficiently.
  
  JUDGEMENT/DECISION MAKING: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly. Gathers relevant information before making a decision. Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them. Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization. Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information. Checks assumptions against facts. Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision. Makes tough decisions when necessary.
  
  Education
  
  An advanced university degree (Master’s or Doctorate degree, or equivalent) in environment or development field, international relations, environmental policy/science, project planning and management, or related disciplines, is required.
  
  A first-level degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in the specified fields of studies with two (2) additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
  
  Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.
  
  Work Experience
  
  A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible work experience in the environment development field, policy, inter-governmental and inter-agency activities related to results-based management, safeguards, gender equality, sustainable development, programme planning or related area, is required
  
  Experience of project design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation in an environment and/or development context is required.
  
  Experience in developing and implementing results-based management change processes,
  focusing on training programmes and materials, is required.
  
  Experience working within complex socio-economic contexts in developing countries is desirable.
  
  Work experience with the United Nations or a similar international organization is desirable.
  
  Two (2) years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.
  
  Languages
  
  English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable.
  
  NOTE: ”Fluency” equals a rating of ”fluent” in all four areas (read, write, speak, understand) and ”Knowledge of” equals a rating of ”confident” in two of the four areas.