Senior Development Coordination Officer, Strategic Planning and RCO Team Leaders, P5

Job Description

Application deadlines and requirements are specific to each position.

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Org. Setting and Reporting

These positions are located in the United Nations Resident Coordination Office (RCO) in various locations across the globe and reports to the UN Resident Coordinator (RC).

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Senior Development Coordination Officer, Strategic Planning and RCO Team Leader will be responsible of the following duties:

Summary of Functions:
1.Leads the provision of strategic guidance to the RC and UN Country Team (UNCT) on effective, quality and timely UN support for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda through the Common Country Analysis (CCA) and the PNG UN Development Assistance Framework 2018-2022 (UNDAF)
2.Initiates, establishes and coordinates external partnerships and joint resource mobilization efforts for the new generation of UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF)
3.Coordinates the Business Operations Strategy and develops business innovations
4.Manages and directs knowledge management and capacity development activities in and outside the UN System
5.Leads and coordinates overall management of the RCO to ensure efficient and effective substantive coordination support to the RC/UNCT and adherence to organizational policies and procedures

Description of Functions:
1.Leads the provision of strategic guidance to the RC and UNCT of effective, quality and timely UN support for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda through the CCA/ UNDAF 2018-2022 and the new generation of CCAs /UNSDCF

•Leads and coordinates substantive support to the RC/UNCT in articulating and actively communicating a credible and convincing strategic vision for the UN, articulated through the UNDAF 2018-2022, which is consistent with national development goals and priorities, UN values, aligned with the 2030 Agenda and committed to the principles of universality, equality and leaving no one behind;
•Provides strategic direction and develops recommendations to facilitate decision-making by the RC/UNCT in relation to repositioning of the UN System in country, especially related to the Standard Operating Procedures for Delivering as One;
•Develops policy recommendations to the RC/UNCT on the development, implementation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation of the new generation CCA/UNSDCF as the primary instrument for the planning and implementation of UN development activities in country;
•Ensures effective guidance to the RC/UNCT in asserting vision and accountability for the UN to operate as a nimble, innovative and enterprising development partner, demonstrating characteristics of a knowledge-based organization and thought leader;
•Leads the strategic design of UN’s policy and programmatic services, operational capabilities, and partnership mechanisms;
•Establishes and promotes close engagement across the humanitarian, development and peace domains, as required by the country context, in close coordination and collaboration with the Peace and Development Advisor;
•Leads the identification, analysis and prioritization of joint programmatic work of UN entities in response to national priorities and in line with the UNDAF 2018-2022 and the 2030 Agenda;
•Oversees the coordination of the UNDAF 2018-2022 and Joint Workplans; directs its monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and reporting through UNINFO; guides preparation and provision of the annual One UN Country Results Report to the Government and other stakeholders;
•Promotes the engagement of all agencies – resident and non-resident - and other relevant UN entities, including at Headquarters and at the regional level in inter-agency fora and in discussions with external partners;
•Ensures coherence in the different intra-agency coordination bodies, including with Humanitarian Country Teams and the Security Management Team.

2.Initiates, establishes and coordinates external partnerships and joint resource mobilization efforts for the UNDAF 2018-2022 and the new generation UNSDCF

•Initiates, establishes and coordinates effective working relationships with national and international public and private partners to ensure knowledge sharing in support of CCA/UNDAF development, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation;
•Directs substantive support for positioning the UN as a key provider of integrated services and as a platform in support of the SDGs, in consultation with a broad range of stakeholders;
•In close collaboration with the Development Partnerships Officer, leads the formulation and implementation of the UN Partnership Strategy as well as the Resource Mobilization Strategy, and other initiatives in support of SDG achievement through the UNDAF 2018-2022;
•Leads the design, formulation, implementation, monitoring and reporting of joint programming processes amongst UN entities;
•Liaises with the Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office and the contributing organizations on the PNG UN Country Fund, analyzing its performance and advising the RC/UNCT in their capacity as the Budgetary Framework Committee;
•Leads on the formulation of the Budgetary Framework that underpins the PNG UN Country Fund;
•Liaises with the UN System on the timely expenditures of projects funded by the PNG UN Country Fund and escalates any risks to the RC/UNCT;
•Based on UNDAF 2018-2022 and joint programmes, coordinates joint resource mobilization and partnering efforts at country level;
•Manages the implementation of the SDG Country Fund (where relevant) in support of the UNDAF 2018-2022 and SDG acceleration;
•Oversees strategic messaging and communication initiatives by RC/UNCT;
•In collaboration with the UN Communication’s Group (UNCG) directs substantive support to the RC/UNCT on communications and advocacy on the SDGs for the UN in country.

3.Coordinates the Business Operations Strategy and develops business innovations

•In collaboration with the Operations Management Team (OMT), directs substantive support to the RC/UNCT on business innovations for the UN in country;
•Provides substantive direction in formulating, implementing and monitoring the UN Country Business Operations Strategy;
•Guides the OMT in implementing common premises, and in establishing a common back office for location-dependent services;
•Promotes a culture of continuous improvement and client-orientation in operational service delivery;
•Ensures effective guidance on the establishment of common services arrangements to participating organizations/agencies at the country level.

4.Manages and directs knowledge management and capacity development activities in- and outside the UN System

•Coordinates the transfer of knowledge and effective communications across different UN and non-UN entities, including in collaboration with the UNCG;
•Leads the sharing of best practices, trends, knowledge and lessons learned across the UN system and with external partners;
•Directs thematic activities and knowledge-sharing forums and encourages others to participate;
•Coordinates knowledge sharing (including through training and facilitating peer exchange) amongst UN staff on issues related to UN strategic planning frameworks, methodologies and tools;
•Oversees the analysis of UN experiences, lessons learned and knowledge networking to contribute to strategic planning processes.

5.Leads and coordinates overall management of the RCO to ensure efficient and effective substantive coordination support to the RC/UNCT and adherence to organizational policies and procedures

•Coordinates the formulation and implementation of the substantive work programme of the UNCT; allocates and monitors RCO resources for delivery of outputs and reporting on results;
•Supervises the activities undertaken by the RCO, ensuring that programmed activities are carried out in a timely fashion;
•In close collaboration with UNDP, manages processes related to human and financial resource management, procurement, general administration, security, and information technology for the RCO;
•Manages, guides and trains staff under his/her supervision; promotes teamwork and communications among staff in the RCO and across organizational boundaries;
•Establishes and maintains a work environment in the RC Office and across UN entities that is conducive to innovation and engagement with a diverse set of stakeholders and delivers results in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Competencies

•Professionalism: Proven knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to sustainable development. 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. Proven ability to analyze complex data and produce reports leading to sound policy recommendations for achieving sustainable development; Solid understanding of the political environment and the programmes and activities of the UN system in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals; Ability to think strategically, to identify key emerging sustainable development issues and related policy implications. 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.

•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.

•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.

Managerial Competencies
•Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

•Judgment/Decision-making: Identifies key issues in complex situations, 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 actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in business or public administration, sustainable development, social sciences, education or related area. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in strategic planning, sustainable development policy, project/programme management, or resource mobilization in the context of development cooperation or related area is required.
Experience working on joint planning/programme management in the context of development cooperation is desirable.
Experience with inter-agency or interorganizational collaboration is desirable.
Field experience in development cooperation is desirable.
Experience in the United Nations system or a comparable international organization is desirable.
Experience working in the Resident Coordinator system or comparable is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the two working languages of the UN Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

This position is available for an initial period of one year. Extension of appointment is subject to the availability of funds.

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfill the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover letter.

About the Organization

At the country level, UN Resident Coordinators and UN country teams (UNCTs) implement the UNDG strategic priorities by identifying the national policies, programmes and capacity development gaps and challenges, to which the UN system can best contribute under national ownership and leadership by mobilizing the full range of mandates and expertise of the UN development system.

The United Nations has country teams in 131 countries, covering all of the 165 countries where there are United Nations programmes. The UN country teams encompass all the entities of the UN system that carry out operational activities for development, emergency, recovery and transition in programme countries.

The UNCT ensures inter-agency coordination and decision-making at the country level. The main purpose of the Country Team is for individual agencies to plan and work together, as part of the Resident Coordinator system, to ensure the delivery of tangible results in support of the development agenda of the Government.

The UNCT is led by the UN Resident Coordinator, who is the designated representative of the UN Secretary-General. The Resident Coordinator reports to the UN Secretary-General through the Chair of the UNDG.

https://undg.org/about/un-country-level/