Background
ย Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:ย 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 โleave no one behindโ 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.
ย 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. ย
UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDPโs policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels offers a spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in its Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in UNDPโs Strategic Plan.ย
Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policies and guidances responsible for UNDPโs Strategic Plan. BPPS staff provide technical advice to Country Offices, advocate for UNDP corporate messages, represent UNDP at multi-stakeholder dialogues including public-private, government and civil society dialogues, and engage in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas.ย ย
UNDP's 2022-2025 Strategic Plan highlights our continued commitment to eradicating poverty, accompanying countries in their pathways towards the SDGs and working towards the Paris Agreement. As part of the Global Policy Network in the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP's Nature Hub and Climate Hub promote and scale up integrated whole-of-governance approaches and nature-based solutions that reduce poverty and inequalities, strengthen livelihoods and inclusive growth, mitigate conflict, forced migration and displacement, and promote more resilient governance systems that advance linked peace and security agendas.ย
BPPS work with governments, civil society, and private sector partners to integrate nature, climate, energy and waste related concerns into national and sector planning and inclusive growth policies, support country obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements, and oversee the implementation of the UNโs largest portfolio of in-country programming nature, climate change, energy, and waste and chemicals. This multi-billion-dollar portfolio encompasses:ย ย
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services including forests;ย ย Sustainable Land Management and Desertification including food and commodityย ย systems;ย ย Water and Ocean Governance including SIDS;ย ย Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation;ย ย Sustainable Energy;ย ย Extractive Industries;ย ย Chemicals and Waste Management;ย ย Environmental Governance and Green/Circular Economy; and SCP approaches.ยThis work advances crosscutting themes on innovative finance, capacity development, human rights, gender equality, health, technology, and South-South learning and digital transformation.ย
UNDP launched its first Digital Strategy in mid-2019 to harness digital transformation within the organization. Building on a long history of project-level digital support for partners, the strategy represented a systematic and corporate-driven transformation process to reimagine the way UNDP serves its partners and operates its systems and processes. UNDP continues to accelerate these efforts in response to growing demand from partner governments and to support our development partners to ensure that the arc of future digital transformation protects human rights andย leaves no one behind.
In line with the Digital Strategy 2019-2021, Digital Strategy 2022-2025 maintains and accelerates the momentum that has already been generated across UNDP and among its partners. Many of the components are already in place such as the Accelerator Labs, the Digital Advocates Network, a comprehensive IT transformation, and the Chief Digital Office (CDO).ย ย
Being a part of the BPPS the Nature Hub and Climate Hub embarked on a road to accelerate digital transformation in collaboration with the CDO in the Executive Office, bringing digital technologies and data into different levels of decision-making processes and programming within the portfolio. The Nature Hub is working with multiple partners and stakeholders to advance the digital transformation for green transition. A new global project โDigital Transformation for Green Transitionโ which aims to provide global support to the GEF/GCF portfolio, while leveraging the strong portfolio to enable other financing opportunities. The project objective is to enable scaled digital support to countriesโ green transition, through Digital Public Goods / Infrastructure for transparency and green finance; data capacity building; and Digital Readiness assessment and demonstrations. One of the project objectives is also to highlight the importance of digital as one of the key enablers, build upon the digital strategic Plan, and put forth a vision whereby digital is an empowering force for people and planet.ย
UNDPโs Digital Public Goods for Development (DPG4D) global project funded by the Government of Norway/Norad aims to improve the availability and discoverability of Digital Public Goods (DPGs) for development. DPGs are open-source software, open data, open AI models, open standards, and open content that adhere to privacy and other applicable best practices, do no harm by design and are of high relevance for attainment of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As part of this effort, the Chief Digital Office (CDO) works with the Nature Hub to implement effective, inclusive, rights-based DPGs. The project is anchored within the upcoming global project / preparation.ย
At this time, there are several ongoing DPGs being scoped, developed, and implemented within various national context to enhance transparency and access to environmental finance:
Climate Transparency DPG:ย underscores the necessity of embracing digital systems that encompass Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) mechanisms alongside national carbon registries and the Greenhouse Inventory system. These digital infrastructures are indispensable for nations seeking access to climate finance. They serve as pivotal technological components, empowering countries to bolster the transparency and reliability of their reports on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) as mandated by the Paris Agreement. Moreover, they play a pivotal role in facilitating efficient carbon credit trading, thereby enabling countries to secure financial support for both climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts.ย
Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) DPG: PES is an innovative cash transfer mechanism that can directly provide benefit sharing of climate finance to farmers and local communities, which UNDP has a long-standing experience in supporting governments for policy and implementation. Leveraging on emerging technologies, of which many are open source, UNDP is designing the base architecture and convening partnerships with existing providers, to create a coherent, working PES system for countries newly embarking on a PES mechanism.ย
In addition, a Digital Readiness Assessment (DRA) tool is being developed to support the DPG deployment and to find entry points to opportunities. The DRA is a survey-based system that provides quick, high-level insights into a country's digital capabilities and opportunities. This may be applied to countries in parallel to embarking on digital system development and will need to be closely coordinated.ย ย
Within this overall background, reporting to the Lead, Digital Innovation for Nature Climate and Energy, the DPG Product Management Specialist will be responsible for 1)ย Ensuring operation and maintenance of the DPG global codebaseย as well as act as a product manager for the development of additional modules and new features, in close collaboration with technical experts and advisors. 2)ย Providing technical support and assistance to installing and customizing DPG systems in various countries.ย
The DPG Product Management Specialist is expected to work collaboratively with cross-functional DPG teams, Partners and stakeholders to enhance DPG services and play a significant role in advancing the organization's overarching objectives.
ย
The Digital Public Good Product Management Specialist will oversee the product design and development process of the Climate Transparency DPG, and any related DPG products that are identified across the Nature and Climate Hubs. The role will involve the ongoing evolution and management of products that amplify the green transition and effective delivery of the Digital 4 Planet portfolio.
The Incumbent will perform the following functions:
A - Manage the DPG product, which includes oversight of the DPG open-source codebaseย and development of additional modules and new features.
Product planning:
Develop, manage, update and communicate product plans/roadmaps with the relevant stakeholders of the assigned products. Strive to understand and document product end-user needs to ensure products continue to be user centric, cost-efficient and impact oriented.ย ย Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure appropriate product oversight and organisational buy in required for the product vision to be realised.ย ย Support the research, prototyping, testing, and conceptual development of the products. Draft Terms of References (ToR) for vendor and Individual Consultancy (IC) procurement related to product development.Product development, continuous improvement, and support:
Enable continuous development process for products under management, overseeing deployment of regular product releases, updates and fixes in collaboration with the CDO and delivery partners. Recommend specifications on functionalities and design for the advisory group and project team, CDO and delivery partners. Implement and maintain the necessary technical and organizational infrastructure for product delivery, including documentation/communications materials in collaboration with CDO and delivery partners. Provide responsive product support to relevant stakeholders. Provide product training sessions for relevant national stakeholders. Attend update meetings with CDO and delivery partners to ensure quality and timely delivery. Regular testing of theย DPG systems and raising of performance, security, and UX/UI issues.B - Providing technical support and assisting in installing and customizing DPG systems in various countries.
Support Country Offices and advise national IT officers, vendors or ICs on Country installation and adaptation of the DPG to the national context:
Advise Country Offices on entry points, assumptions, work planning and requirements for national system development using the DPG code.ย Support the technical scoping exercise (e.g. help design workshops to identify sector names and institutional set up). Review concept notes, work plans and IT-related ToRs and specifications for country implementation. Present and explain the system functionality as requested. Install the DPG system in various countries and address technical inquiries and issues from users and stakeholders. Provide guidance and support to government users in utilizing DPG systems effectively.Handover & Training support in collaboration with local IT officers, vendors, or ICs:
Advise on Video/screen recording walkthrough, to ensure proper handover to countries. Support the submission of source code to the official UNDP GitHub repository with full source documentation, use cases, and functional requirements. Assemble and hand over Digital Public Goods standard adherence documentation.C- General project management, work collaboratively with cross-functional DPG teams, Partners and stakeholders to enhance DPG services, knowledge management:
Work closely with cross-functional teams, including developers, Country coordinators, and project managers, to support DPG initiatives. Prepare materials for advisory group meetings, weekly project meetings, community of practice and other events. Participate in meetings, Community of Practices and discussions related to DPG system requirements and enhancements with partners, countries, and other stakeholders. Attend D4C Working Group meetings and represent UNDP project perspectives, proactively build collaboration opportunities. Contribute to broader knowledge management, through drafting blogs and concept notes, contribution to knowledge products, preparation of webinars and communication material. ย Manage budget execution, contracts and broader tasks required to scale the product and partnerships. The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the OrganizationInstitutional Arrangement
The incumbent will work from home.ย The incumbent will report to the Lead, Digital Innovation for Nature Climate, Energy and Waste based in New York, USA. The incumbent will supervise the Digital Country Analyst, consultants and vendors engaged into the project. The incumbent will work in close collaboration with the Product Management Support from CDO, other team members and technical experts across the Climate and Nature Hubs as required.ย S/he will liaise closely with the respective CDO focal point / team on opportunities for engagements and share learning. The incumbent will be given access to relevant information, systems GitHub necessary for the execution of the tasks under this assignment. The incumbent will be responsible for providing her/his own workstation (i.e. laptop, internet, phone, scanner/printer, etc.) and must have access to a reliable internet connection. Given the global support to be provided during this assignment, the incumbent is expected to be reasonably flexible with his/her availability for such support taking into consideration different time zones. Competenciesย Core Competenciesย Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impactย Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problemsย 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 demandsย 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
Digital & Innovationย - Programming, Web and App development:ย Ability to build websites, platforms and apps that are effective and intuitive to use. Business Managementย - Communication:ย Ability to 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.ย Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels Digital & Innovationย - Cocreation:ย Ability to design and facilitate a process that enables a diverse group of stakeholders to solve a common problem, develop a practice, or create knowledge together.ย Ability to embrace diversity, work with a diverse group of stakeholders, understand their interests, perspectives and views and tap into to them as a source for creativity.ย Ability to facilitate processes and create conditions that are open for diverse inputs, stimulate collaboration and sharing. Digital & Innovationย ย ย Digital public goods:ย Knowledge of how DPG works, understanding of the opportunities, replicability and challenges for governments and society. 2030 Agenda: Planetย - Nature, Climate and Energy:ย Climate Change Policies: Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Business Managementย - Project Management:ย Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goalsBusiness Direction & Strategyย ย ย System Thinkingย ย ย โข ย ย ย 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.
Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section:
Experience developing any of GHG inventory systems, national MRV tools and databases to track climate mitigation outcomes, results-based payments or project reporting systems is a strong asset. Experience with DPG system is desirable. Experience managing a project team is an asset.ย Experience with code quality assessment is desirable. Experience with real time high availability setups and business critical systems is an advantage. Experience in continuous integration and continuous delivery including automated testing for the delivery of clean robust, reliable and extensible software solutions is an advantage. Experience working in international development is an asset.ย Demonstrated experience with one or more of below technologies and tools are considered an asset: mail processing (IMAP/POP3) API programming (NodeJS /PHPโฆ)ย data extraction (non-PII) โ JSON, XML, CSV Database Development: e.g. MSSQL, MariaDB, MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL.ย JavaScript, Html5, CSS3, Typescript and front-end frameworks like Angular; ReactJS; Vue.JS DevOps: Azure DevOps, Docker, Git, Deployment pipeline, test automationย Required Skills and Experience
ย Education: Advanced university degree (masterโs degree or equivalent) in computer sciences, data sciences, web resources development, web design, programming, climate finance, environmental management or other closely related field is required, or A first-level university degree (bachelorโs degree) in the said fields with 2 additional years of qualifying experience will be considered in lieu of Masterโs degree Experience: Minimum 5 years (with masterโs degree) or 7 years (with bachelorโs degree) of experience in software development related to enterprise software, Life Cycle Assessment software, environmental finance, transparency or monitoring and reporting.
Required Skills:
Previous experience with human-centered design and agile software development and methodology. Demonstrated experience in managing the end-to-end lifecycle of digital products including quality software delivery code quality assessment and vendor management. Demonstrated experience with technical documentation and change request management. Demonstrated experience in managing IT projects with extensive stakeholder engagement and a client facing role. Demonstrated experience in scaling digital productsLanguage:
Fluency in English language is required.ย Knowledge of other UN language is an advantage.Travel:ย ย
International mission travel may be required (destinations to be identified).ย Expected mission travel would be discussed upon commencement of assignment and updated quarterly; Any necessary mission travel must be approved in writing and in advance by the supervisor. The BSAFE course must be successfully completed prior to commencement of travel; The incumbent is responsible for obtaining any visas needed in connection with travel with the necessary support from UNDP and for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director; S/he is required to comply with the UN security directives set forth underย https://dss.un.org/dsswebThe following documents shall be required from the applicants:
ย Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers. Disclaimer
ย Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)ย ย 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.ย ย 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. ย Applicant information about UNDP rosters ย Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.ย 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. ย Non-discrimination ย 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.ย ย ย 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.ย ย Scam warning ย The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.