Project Analyst (Manager)

Over the last years, the Republic of Serbia has stepped up its efforts at closing the digital divide separating it from more advanced EU member states, both through prioritizing the ICT industry as a source of economic growth and through investing more substantial energy into developing a functioning and citizen-oriented system of e-government. The Government of Serbia set digitalization as one of its foremost priorities – a process that should be “the most important catalyst of innovations, competitiveness and growth” for Serbia in the coming years.

With digital transformation of the national economy and public administration high on the government agenda, Serbia has a good chance for future-proofing its administration's capabilities for rapid deployment of cost-effective, secure and citizen-focused e-services, coordinated implementation of ICT policies, and strategic digital transformation of the economy and society. The trajectory has been set with the establishment of the central Office for IT and e-Government (ITE), strengthening of the Ministerial Council for IT and Innovative Entrepreneurship, launch of the national Center for the 4^th Industrial Revolution, establishment of the national AI Institute, as well as significant strides in the digitalization of education, health, and multiple other key areas. 

UNDP Serbia is well equipped to help the Government address the existing development challenges by leveraging cutting-edge global and national expertise, applying digital technologies and solutions, bringing innovation in delivery models, co-creation, collaboration, and advocacy journeys. Globally, UNDP has significant record of achievements in these areas - digital dialogue platforms, personalized communications and engagement at scale solutions. UNDP set out in 2019 to build the world’s largest and fastest learning network on sustainable development challenges, the Accelerator Labs. Serbia was the first country office to host such a lab and today they are present in over 90 countries, creating actionable intelligence and testing solutions with national partners.

UNDP’s portfolio of projects and programs supporting digitalization has likewise grown. The Digital Innovation Portfolio currently includes projects addressing the following areas: 

• Support and capacity development of the Office for IT and e-Government, including support for development of digital services as well as strategic infrastructure such as the National Data Center
• Digital skills development, including the national IT retraining program, future skills in education, and multiple initiatives aimed at closing the digital divide for vulnerable groups
• Governance of emerging technology, including support to the Center for the 4^th Industrial Revolution, as well as capacity development of the Institute for Artificial Intelligence
• The national open data initiative and data for development
• Components of various other UNDP projects and pipeline where digital technology plays a strategic role, such as e-health, post-Covid recovery, etc. 

The current portfolio team is seeking to expand with new Project Analysts (Managers), who will be responsible for one or more projects in the above described areas under the guidance of the Portfolio Analyst. 

The Project Analyst (Manager) is responsible for day-to-day management and decision-making for the relevant project(s). The Project Analyst (Manager)'s primary responsibility is to ensure that the project produces the results specified in the Project Document, to the required standard of quality and within the specified constraints of time and cost. 

Management of designated projects/components in accordance with UNDP Program and Operations Policies and Procedures and UNDP Serbia Standard Operating Procedures: 

• Be responsible and accountable for the overall management and administration of the project, and the timely and quality delivery of all project outputs.
• Ensures implementation of project activities, by working closely with project team and other staff assigned to the project. Supervises and manages the project staff. Builds, motivates and leads the project team.
• Prepares all project work plans, annual work plans and ensures timely and good-quality implementation of workplans activities. Oversees and participates in the mobilization of personnel, goods and services and oversees contractors’ work.
• Develops and manages, in coordination with partners, an overall project implementation strategy. 
• Prepares Project Work Plans and presents them to the National Project Director/Project Board for review/approval.
• Provides support to the work and decision-making of the Project Board by providing timely, detailed and accurate information to the Project Board`s members. 
• Develops Monitoring and Evaluation Plans for tracking and evaluating progress against the agreed targets. 
• Monitors expenditures of financial resources to ensure compliance with rules and procedures and accuracy and reliability of financial reports; ensures preparation of budget revisions as necessary; follows up with the National Project Director and the Project Board on issues. 
• Coordinates an exit strategy at least 6 months ahead of the project closure date; ensures closure of the project is done per the established procedures. 
• Designs Terms of Reference for engagement of consultants and companies. 

 Monitor progress and manage risks, ensuring that changes are controlled, and problems addressed. Report on progress and issues: 

• Monitors project progress to ensure that it is in accordance with the timetable set out in the Project Document and preparation of regular updates to Project Boards on project progress, implementing issues, emerging risks/problems and proposals for necessary remedial actions. 
• Collects and manages project data as required by the M&E Plan.
• Monitors financial resources and accounting to ensure accuracy and reliability of financial reports.
• Manages project risks; informs the Project Board on emerging issues and risks updates the issue and risk status. 
• Ensures reporting to National Project Director/Project Board is prepared timely and the reports are meeting the standards. 
• Supports the preparation of reviews and evaluations as defined in the project document.
• Prepares final project reports and papers.

 Networking and support to resource mobilization: 

• Maintains good cooperation and coordination between national counterparts, project partners and other stakeholders.
• Maintains regular contact with beneficiaries to ensure relevance and quality of project outputs.
• Pursues networking and information sharing and follow up on partnership related issues.
• Supports the partnerships and advocacy activities agreed by the UNDP office in the area/sector covered by the project. 
• Contributes to the development of pipeline initiatives primarily under the themes covered by the project. 

Communication, knowledge management and learning: 

• Provides policy advice on issues within the scope of the project.
• Ensures regular exchange of information/experience with other projects, cross-learning and sharing results and good practices.
• Ensures that project activates, results and learnings are communicated to all relevant groups.
• Prepares communication materials for dissemination inside and outside the UNDP.
• Captures lessons learnt during project. 
• Participates in internal meetings.
• Participates in training events, communities of practice.
• Facilitates team learning and knowledge sharing.

  Institutional Arrangement

The Project Analyst (Manager) will work under the overall guidance and supervision of the Portfolio Analyst (Manager), Digital Innovation. The position is based in Belgrade, however potential official travel might occur.

• Achieve Results - LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work.
• Think Innovatively - LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking.
• Learn Continuously - LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others, and support their learning.
• Adapt with Agility - LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process.
• Act with Determination - LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously.
• Engage and Partner - LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships.
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion - LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making.

• Show Managerial Courage
  • Face up to organizational and people problems 
  • Not be afraid to take decision and action when and as needed 
  • Not hold back anything that needs to be said, respectfully and diplomatically 
  • Address conflict in a timely manner, not allow conflicts in teams linger
  • Help others through emotional or tense situations, tactfully bringing disagreements into the open and finding solutions all can endorse
• Motivate and Direct       
  • Create and communicate a compelling vision and purpose 
  • Align people and resources with organizational vision, strategy, objectives
  • Understand and proactively builds the team/organization culture
• Manage Performance and Ensure Accountability             
  • Ensure regular conversations with people about work 
  • Provide positive and constructive feedback 
  • Discuss poor performance in a timely manner 
  • Provide praise and recognition, as well as ensure accountability

• Business Direction & Strategy- Strategic Thinking            
  • Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks, and opportunities, linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions.
• Business Direction & Strategy-Effective Decision Making              
  • Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources.
• Business development- Human-centered Design              
  • Ability to develop solutions to problems by involving the human perspective in all steps of the problem-solving process.
• Business Management- Project Management    
  • Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals.
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