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Project Specialist

Suva

  • Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
  • Location: Suva
  • Grade: Level not specified - Level not specified
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Project and Programme Management
  • Closing Date: Closed

Background

 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:  we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

 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.
 
Organizational Context

The Pacific region is facing considerable economic and social development challenges due to the increasing impact of climate change and geo-hazards. At the same time, development in these countries is potentially increasing this vulnerability to climate change and disasters. The Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific (FRDP), endorsed in 2016 by Pacific leaders, demonstrates a clear recognition that managing climate change and disaster related risk must be undertaken in the context of economic development and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 
The Governance for Resilience Project works with Pacific governments to ensure that countries adapt their decision making and governance systems towards more resilient development. The projects theory of change rests on a core assumption that Pacific Island people will be more resilient to the impacts of climate change and disasters if countries manage all development through a risk informed approach. This is consistent with the Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific which calls for the ‘mainstreaming’ of climate and disaster risk treating risk management as fundamental to all development decisions.
The Gov4Res Project three outcomes areas to work with countries across the region to address these risks by development: 1) government planning and financing systems enable gender and socially inclusive risk-informed development; 2) country oversight and accountability systems require gender and socially inclusive risk-informed development; and 3) regional organizations, policies and practices are actively supporting gender and socially inclusive risk-informed development. 
UNDP is working with a range of partners to deliver this project across the Pacific including Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the United Kingdom Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).
 
Job Purpose

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Gov4Res Project Manager based in UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji, the Project Specialist will coordinate and manage the overall implementation of the Gov4Res project under the supervision of the Project Manager. They will provide strategic oversight of technical planning, financial management, partnership management and budgeting, implementing, and monitoring of the projects in line with corporate standards and guidance. 
The Project Specialist will play a role in all aspects of project delivery, strategic planning and partnership and provision of technical assistance to its different components aiming to reach planned targets and expected results with high quality and in a timely manner. They will facilitate knowledge management and sharing as well as elaboration of resilience-building initiatives of UNDP.
UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.
 

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Ensures effective project management

  • Provides oversight of technical planning, budgeting, implementing, and monitoring of the projects.
  • Contributes to the design and formulation of AWP activities and interventions on the basis of lessons learned and with the input of innovative approaches.
  • Prepares, reviews, and adapts project Annual Work Plans, including human resources and procurement plans, in line with Projects’ Activity Matrix and Results Framework and compliant with UNDP’s Rules and Regulations.
  • Ensures project is implemented in alignment with UNDP’s Rules and Regulations and donors Practical Guide to contract procedures for six development partners.
  • In partnership with the Operations Lead, manages partnerships, Letters of Agreement (LoAs) and contract arrangements with government counterparts and responsible/implementing partners for project implementation.
  • Coordinates and collaborates with the project M&E Specialist to ensure that the projects’ monitoring mechanisms and evaluation moments are designed and implemented according to UNDP Fiji MCO standard operating procedures, UNDP programme and project management guidelines, and donors’ requirements.
  • Ensures quality and timely preparation of results-focused and accountability reports (quarterly, bi-annually, annually and final, as required) and ad-hoc updates if and when requested and Quantum updates in line with donor agreement and UNDP programme and project management guidelines and donors’ standards and ensure timely submission.
  • Oversees the development and implementation of the projects’ risk management framework in line with UNDP’s Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) policy.
  • Ensures quality and timely planning, conduct of and follow up on projects’ oversight and governance initiatives and recommendations – projects’ reviews, audits, monitoring missions, evaluations and board meetings.
  • Backstops for the Project Manager in their absence.

2. Ensures project development, coordination, partnership building and resource mobilization

  • Together with the PM, engages and coordinates with other relevant projects implemented by UNDP Fiji MCO, as well as UN organizations, NGOs and other agencies, to ensure complementarity, minimize overlaps and/or duplication, and identify synergies and areas of cooperation.
  • Supports the development of strategic partnerships and alliances within UNDP Pacific office projects and other partners projects within the same area of work to optimize impact.
  • Establishes new partnerships, adapting standard agreements to project needs, and monitors their implementation.
  • Together with the PM, designs and develops resource mobilization strategies for additional, funding support, within and beyond the current project duration; engages with potential donors and supports the negotiations in establishing new donor agreements.
  • Participates in relevant meetings and forums, representing the project, as per guidance of the PM.

3. Ensures innovation, knowledge-building/management and communication

  • In collaboration with the PM and involving Project Team and responsible parties, leads activities to build capacity and raise awareness on innovation, shares global good practice in innovation, coordinates regular activities to identify opportunities for innovation of the Projects’ activity portfolio and ensure follow-up on recommendations.
  • Leads the identification and synthesizing of lessons learnt and best practices emerging from the project.
  • Together with PM, actively promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture within the project team and the responsible parties.
  • Ensures the development and dissemination of knowledge and communication products.
  • Leads activities to build capacity and create awareness around PPM and ERM within the Gov4Res Project Team.

4. Support Implementation of Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion Objectives

  • Support GEDSI mainstreaming throughout the project life cycle, including design, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
  • Support the team to capture and disseminate lessons learned particularly related to GEDSI during project implementation.
  • Ensure coordination and partnership with GEDSI mechanisms, women-led organizations, academies, networks, and associated forums
  • Support the institutional and technical capacity of the project team and stakeholders on GEDSI as well as social safeguards aspects.
  • Build capacity of partners on UNDP’s policy on zero tolerance for sexual harassment.
  • Contribute to the country office communication, and knowledge management system on GEDSI.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Project team
 

Core Competencies
  • Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
  • Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
  • Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
  • Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
  • Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
  • Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
  • Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity
     

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site. 

  • Business Direction & Strategy: System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system
  • Business Development: Knowledge Generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need
  • Business Management: Portfolio Management: Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization’s project and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment.
  • Business Management: Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
  • Business Management: Partnerships Management: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
  • 2030 Agenda: Peace: Governance: Local Governance 
  • 2030 Agenda: Peace: Governance: Municipal Planning and Basic Service Delivery (including budgeting & financing
     
Required Skills and Experience

Education:
  • Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in finance, business management, social sciences, international development, governance, public-sector administration, or fields relating to climate change or environmental management is required, or 
  • A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in above mentioned fields in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
  • Minimum 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible relevant experience in project or programme planning and implementation of technical assistance activities.
  • Experience with design, planning, implementation and monitoring and reporting of programmes; preferably with exposure adaptive management is an asset. 
  • Experience in advising and working with government and non-governmental implementation partners, on governance, and institutional strengthening is an asset.
  • Experience integrating gender and social inclusion is an asset.
  • Experience in an international setting with the UN or with international organisations is an asset.
  • Experience working with government counterparts building national capacities is an asset.  
  • Ability to work effectively and harmoniously with other colleagues from various cultures and professional backgrounds.  
  • Solid experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Office incl. Word, Excel, PowerPoint) as well as experience in handling of web-based management systems; 
  • Knowledge of project cycle management in the public or private sector or international organizations is desirable; 
  • Knowledge of UN rules and regulations is an asset.

Language requirements 

  • Fluency in English is required.
     

Note: Please upload copies of your academic qualifications and 3 latest Performance Evaluations (if applicable) 

Disclaimer

 

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Non-discrimination

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.  

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status. 

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This vacancy is now closed.
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