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Fund Portfolio Associate

New York City

  • Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
  • Location: New York City
  • Grade: Administrative support - GS-6, General Service - No need for Higher Education - Locally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Administrative support
    • Project and Programme Management
  • Closing Date: 2024-11-26

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.

Hosted by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTF Office) is the only United Nations unit exclusively dedicated to the design and administration of multi-stakeholder pooled financing instruments. Since 2003, it has supported over 200 UN-implemented pooled funds, providing an integrated platform of inter-agency pooled fund services to help UN organizations and partners make fast and efficient progress towards collective outcomes, like the 2030 Agenda. The MPTF Office’s current portfolio is over $16 billion in total, with more than $1.8 billion per year in contributions and includes more than 150 active pooled financing mechanisms.  

The MPTF Office’s trustee and fund design and administration service is a standard setter in the UN System - professionalized, highly transparent and firewalled from all UN implementing entities. The MPTF Office has put in place a number of tools and systems to support its transparent and accessible fund administration services such as its digital platform the MPTF Office Gateway. As a shared UN service provider, the MPTFO operates in a distinct and dedicated business unit. It provides an integrated service platform that, in addition to core trust fund design and administration functions, provides complementary services to users like data analytics, research administration, and knowledge management.

Position Purpose:

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. 

Under the supervision of the Senior Portfolio Manager and the overall guidance and direction of the Executive Coordinator of the MPTF Office, the Fund Portfolio Associate’s responsibilities will include the following main functions: 
 

Duties and Responsibilities

Ensures administrative support for assigned MDTFs/JPs focusing on achievement of the following results:
  • Prepare and facilitate signatures of standard Contribution Agreements (SAAs) and Memoranda of Understanding (MOU). 
  • Ensure timely set-up and update of GATEWAY pages of assigned MPTFs/JPs and related projects.
  • Prepare requests for setting up new donor and implementing agency codes, and initiate requests for supplier profile creation.
  • Maintain all relevant Fund files (hardcopy and e-copy on SharePoint).
  • Update on a regular basis all clients contact database including donor information.

Ensures programme support for assigned MDTFs/JPs focusing on achievement of the following results:

  • Provide routine programmatic support to Fund Secretariats and other Fund stakeholders by responding promptly and efficiently to queries and requests.
  • Create proposals and set up budgets in Quantum and route proposal and/or budget to Portfolio Manager for approval of award in MDTF1 / sending budget to KK.
  • Assist in the preparation of documents for the annual consolidated reporting for all MPTFs / JPs and in ensuring the timely receipt of narrative and financial reports from Participating Organizations.
  • Coordinate activities around project extensions and closure, including determination of unutilized funds and donor balances, and facilitation of donor refunds/transfer to new funds.
  • Conduct review of the MDTF1 Funds and projects to maintain accurate status information in Quantum (end date, budgets, active, inactive, operationally closed, and financially closed).

Provides finance support for the assigned MDTFs/JPs focusing on the following results:

  • Assist in managing of donor commitments and tracking of receipt of donor contributions and track donor earmarks.
  • Assist in monitoring and tracking project approvals, budget records, disbursements and statements of expenditure submitted by the Participating Organizations on an on-going basis.
  • Lead authorizing reviews of Fund Transfer Checklist, including proper checking of the supporting documents for payments and follow-up on missing documentation.
  • Prepare standard financial reports for inclusion in the annual consolidated progress reports for MDTFs / JPs.

Ensures knowledge sharing and facilitates knowledge building focusing on the following results:

  • Contribute to office strategy and workplan development. 
  • Support in the organization of knowledge events on specific Funds/JPs or the overall MPTF Office portfolio.
  • Synthesize lessons learnt and best practices related to specific aspects of portfolio administration.
  • Provides support to overall administrative and office management of the MPTF Office
  • Focal point and/or alternate for programme related travel and office operations tasks.

Other functions:

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

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: 

  • None
 
Competencies

Core - CoreBehaviouralCompetencies.pdf (undp.org)

Achieve Results:

  • Level 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline

Think Innovatively:

  • Level 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements 

Learn Continuously

  • Level 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback

Adapt with Agility 

  • Level 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible 

Act with Determination        

  • Level 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident

Engage and Partner

  • Level 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion

  • Level 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination 

 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Management - Monitoring & Evaluation

  • Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively; Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results.
  • Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming. 
  • Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools. 
  • Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.

Finance - Budget Management 

  • Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets 

Business management - Partnerships management         

  • 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

Business Management - Communication              

  • Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. 
  • Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels

Business Development - Knowledge Generation              

  • Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. 
  • Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. 
  • Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.
     
Required Skills and Experience
 
Education:
  • Completion of Secondary Education is required OR
  • University Degree (Bachelor’s) in Business, Public Administration, Economics or other relevant fields will be given due consideration but is not a requirement.
Experience:
  • Minimum 6 years (with Secondary education) or 3 years (with University Degree) of progressively responsible experience in administrative and/or programme support services is required.
  • At least 2 years of working with UN pooled financing mechanism would be an asset.
  • Experience in the use of computers applications and software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) as well as web-based management systems is required 
  • Experience in using ERP systems is desirable.

Language Requirement:

  • Fluency in English is required.
  • Knowledge of French and/or Spanish would be desirable. 

 

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

 
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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