Background
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.
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
General Assembly Resolution 2186 (XXI) decided to โbring into operations the United Nations Capital Development Fund as an organ of the General Assembly which shall function as an autonomous organization of the United Nations. The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) assists developing countries, especially least developing countries, in the development of their economies by supplementing existing sources of capital assistance by means of grants, loans, and guarantees. UNCDFs vision is to help mobilize and catalyze an increase of capital flows for SDG impactful investments to Member States to address the most pressing development challenges facing vulnerable communities in these countries and thereby contribute to sustainable economic growth and equitable prosperity.
UNCDF utilizes its unique capability in the UN system to deploy grants, loans and guarantees to crowd-in finance for the scaling of development impact. UNCDF focuses on where the needs are greatest, a deliberate focus and capability rooted in UNCDFโs unique investment mandate to support the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the realization of the Doha Programme of Action for the least developed countries, 2022โ2031.
As per its Strategic Framework, UNCDF works to deploy its functions as a hybrid development organization and development finance institution. UNCDF responds to Member States requests for assistance by providing targeted technical and financial advisory services on investments for development outcomes, designing bespoke financial structuring solutions, undertaking financial derisking of investments, and enhancing investment readiness of SDG aligned projects in partnership with private sector, UNOs, International and Local Finance Institutions, Development Finance Institutions as well as Foundations and Philanthropy, among others. UNCDF works to develop local financial systems, new markets and mobilize and crowd in capital from public and private sources. UNCDF is driven by a partnership mindset which enables it to deploy its different capital capabilities in highly tailored and responsive ways in order to mobilize investments flows from other sources, in particular from the private sector. ย By structuring transactions which are highly impactful, but also recognize the need for multiplying the impact of its own capital, UNCDF seeks to position itself as a preferred partner for different stakeholders. ย UNCDFโs work is focused on six priority areas, including:
Sub-national and local infrastructure financing Women owned enterprise financing Nature and climate financingย Energy and decarbonization finance Sustainable food systems financing Inclusive digital financeFollowing a recent restructuring, UNCDFโs organizational set up includes an Investment and Implementation Division (IID), Investment and Finance Oversight Division (IFOD), Operations and Oversight Division (OOD) and a Directorate of the Executive Office. UNCDF staff and personnel are located in regional hubs based in Dakar (Senegal), Nairobi (Kenya) and Bangkok (Thailand) with sub-regional presence in a number of locations in the Caribbean and Pacific Regions. UNCDF is led by an Executive Secretary based out of New York, USA. Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 2321(XXII, para 1.a), the Administrator of the UNDP performs the function of the Managing Director of UNCDF. UNCDF is overseen by the Executive Board of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and performs the function of the Executive Board of UNCDF.
Position Purpose
Reporting directly to the Chief Operations Officer (COO), the Operations Assurance and Effectiveness Advisor is responsible for the strategic guidance on operations management, advisory functions, and development of corporate guidance while ensuring a client-orientated approach and in compliance with UNDP/UNCDF financial and programmatic regulations and rules, policies and procedures. ย Internally within UNCDF, the incumbent works closely with other units within the Operations and Oversight Division, as well as the Investment and Implementation Division to develop strategies that ensure projects/programmes perform sound programmatic and financial management of resources, address problem areas, exercise assurance, and make other improvements and adjustments including identification and mitigation of risks. ย
The Advisor will work on improving the overall efficiency and effectiveness of UNCDF, promotes a work environment in UNCDF globally that is conducive to innovation and engagement with a diverse set of stakeholders, and ensures cross-unit cooperation, coordination, teamwork, inclusion and the empowerment of staff and of counterparts. The incumbent ensures consistency with UNDP/UNCDF rules and regulations and good management practice. All managerial/leadership functions are performed in line with the established UNDP and UNCDF management norms, rules and regulations, and in conformity with UNCDFโs internal accountability framework for Senior Managers which emphasizes, inter alia, the highest standards of ethics, integrity and accountability in the personal and professional domains.
The Advisor leads and manages a global team focused on human resources, procurement, travel, data analytics, business intelligence, digitalization, ICT, and assurance to UNCDF Senior Management on all global, regional, and country level activities. The position will be based in Bangkok, Thailand, will require travel. S/he supervises multiple teams that are globally dispersed. UNCDF staff may be periodically redeployed, in accordance with capability, consent, and due process, to a different regional hub or HQ as needed.
UNCDF adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages cross interventions to achieve its strategic goals. This is a recognition of interconnected nature of development risks & crises that the world is facing and that call for assembling of multidisciplinary teams for an integrated & systemic response. Therefore, UNCDF personnel are expected to work across issues, units, functions, teams and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.
Duties and Responsibilities
1. Provision of oversight, leadership, and advisory role for enhanced operational practices
Leads the effective design and management of a focused, coherent, cost-effective and high impact portfolio of UNCDF operations services; creates an effective platform of coordinated delivery. Performs the focal point function for UNCDFโs Internal Control Framework (ICF) in close coordination with the COO and Executive Secretary. Advises Senior Management on management issues affecting programme delivery and overall operations. Facilitates effective business planning and ensures robust key performance indicators and management targets for enhanced management practices. Leads high quality human resources, ICT, travel, and procurement support at HQ, regional, and country level fostering client orientation in business practices. Advises the COO on innovative approaches and modalities to achieve development targets including through business processes re-engineering, etc. Identifies approaches and modalities to achieve management targets and increased cost-effectiveness and monitor their implementation.ย Implements effectiveness and assurance activities related to the implementation of UNCDF initiatives at global, regional, and country levels in line with delegated authorities and governance arrangements. Provides preventive oversight and advisory services to improve operational performance and compliance in applying human resource, procurement, finance, and PPM policies.ย Provides leadership on leveraging ICT to improve information sharing and client service.2. Supervision and management of Operational Effectiveness and Assurance Team
Leads and ensures that the assigned team acts as an efficient and client-oriented โgo-toโ resource for operational and implementation activities.ย Ensures compliance with project and programme management actions to ensure they are implemented consistently and following corporate standards.ย Responsible for monitoring the implementation of corporate performance tools for programme and operational effectiveness, establishment of performance management targets, and monitoring achievement of results. Oversees UNCDFโs compliance with corporate human resources policies and strategies; supports management in ensuring optimal staffing of the offices and projects/programmes.ย Responsible for implementation of the people management systems and supervision of UNCDF personnel to motivate and promote organizational excellence to ensure talent alignment with business strategies, leveraging the entire workforce and foster people engagement. Oversees, and is responsible for, implementation of procurement processes and methods. Conduct periodic quality assurance, focusing on operational and risk management, remotely and on-site, and recommending improvement to regional and field offices.ย Leads team planning in line with corporate vision and priorities and ensures adaptive management for quality delivery of results.3. Enhance operational effectiveness and achieve efficiency gains
Developing/updating corporate and policy guidance and standards on areas related to procurement, human resources, ICT, travel, business intelligence and digitalization. Act as the liaison with UNDP on related policy areas to ensure UNCDF policies adhere to corporate standards. Focal point for operationalization of UNCDFโs supplemental policy guidelines as it relates to HR, ICT, procurement, data analytics, travel, business intelligence, and digitalization. Contribute to monitoring operational compliance requirements for project/programme portfolios.ย Ensures compliance with project and programme management actions to ensure they are implemented consistently, following corporate standards, and signed donor agreements.ย Ensures effective human resource and procurement planning and projection as part of the project management cycle, develops templates and guidance notes for improved forecasting and planning for results. Manages UNCDF travel, logistics, and premises. Ensures that Business Continuity Planning is in place and tested to ensure operability of UNCDF in all circumstances. In collaboration with Senior Management, ensures effective management of the PMD cycle and Global Staff Survey results follow-up. Advises the COO on the development and implementation of the UNCDF learning strategy. Oversees the provision of travel support in all locations. Oversees maintenance of proper custody of UNCDF assets and facilities.4. Lead implementation of digitalization and business automation initiatives for enhanced business intelligence
Leads the business process reviews and the automation of business processes for UNCDF at all levels. Ensures development of data analytics tools to inform decision-making processes at UNCDF, focusing on procurement, HR, project management and other priority areas, as requested. Conduct needs assessment and propose business case and digitalization initiatives for business automation. Identifies opportunities for process optimization and data-driven decision-making at UNCDF, in close collaboration with teams and stakeholders. Supervises business automation tools piloting and further scaling up at UNCDF. Analyze UNCDF data and case evidence to distill relevant lessons on assurance and audit policy implementation and support advocacy for further policy changes with global policy owners.5. Lead Knowledge management and learning
Drives and coordinates impactful management capacity building and risk awareness raising, including comprehensive and well-coordinated training, communications, and awareness raising initiatives to manage various types of corporate risks, ultimately aiming for their prevention.ย Socialize corporate policies and procedures to reinforce a coherent approach throughout the Organization, through benchmarking within UNCDF and across UN agencies and any other relevant organizations.ย Promotes and disseminates policies, guidance, good practices, and lessons learnt related to all areas of operations; provide support and input for SOPs, tools, methodologies, and initiatives.ย Promotes best practice and standards on assurance and effectiveness of UNCDF initiatives and ensures that all relevant personnel know and understand their obligations in relation to the areas of work and acquire necessary digital skills to perform their functions. Follows emerging approaches, stays up to date with trends and applies best practice in area of responsibilities.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: Supervision, development and performance management of the team will be required. Competencies
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
People Management
UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicatedย site.ย
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
Business Direction & Strategy: Strategic Thinkingย ย ย ย
Develop effective strategies and prioritised plans in line with UNDPโs mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight.Business Direction & Strategy: Systems Thinkingย 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 systemAdministration & Operations: Business Continuity Planning and Managementย ย ย ย
Ability to identify and assess risks, prepare, update and maintain Business Continuity Plans (BCPs) including testing the effectiveness of existing communication protocols and updated plans.Business Direction & Strategy: Effective Decision Makingย ย ย ย
Take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one's authority, area of expertise and resources and take into consideration potential wider implications.Business Direction & Strategy: Negotiation and Influenceย ย ย ย
Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiates mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and creates โwin-winโ situationsBusiness Management: Portfolio Managementย ย ย ย
Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization's programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio managementBusiness Management: Risk Managementย ย ย ย
Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks Required Skills and ExperienceEducation: Advanced university degree (masterโs degree or equivalent) in Economics, Finance, Business Administration, or relevant related field is required, OR A first-level university degree (bachelorโs degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
A minimum of 10 years (with a masterโs degree) or 12 years (with a bachelorโs degree) of professional experience in the areas of Operations Management or Assurance/Compliance functions using UNDP/UNCDF policies and procedures. Experience with UNDP/UNCDF at a senior level is required. Experience in managing teams in multiple locations is required. Excellent knowledge of UNDP/UNCDF policies on human resource management, procurement, and administration and/or programme management is an advantage. Comprehensive understanding and experience of using and interpreting UNDP POPP is an advantage.ย Strong IT skills, including business automation is a distinct advantage.Language Requirements:
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN Official language is an asset. Disclaimer ย Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)ยUnder 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
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.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.
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
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
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