Project Specialist (Home based)

Job title:

Project Specialist (Home based)

Company

United Nations Development Programme

Job description

The Project Specialist will provide technical advice and oversight support to the growing portfolio of GFCR-financed UNDP implemented programmes. The Specialist will support project design and implementation processes for UNDP-GFCR projects, as well as oversee key project milestones such as mid-term reviews and terminal evaluations. This role will include liaison with UNDP Country Offices, Regional Technical Advisors, Government stakeholders (where appropriate and under guidance of the RTA), project teams, and other relevant consultants.For selected countries, the Specialist will provide regular technical advice for project development and implementation, including:

• Advise UNDP Country Offices (COs) and/or contracted experts in the development and writing of UNDP GFCR programme concept notes;
• Provide strategic advice to COs in the formulation and review of Initiation Plans and Terms of Reference for Project Preparation Grants;
• Lead in the review and editing of Project Documents for submission to the GFCR Executive Board;
• Provide strategic inputs into the writing/reviewing of TORs for Mid Term Reviews and Terminal Evaluations, as well as ensuring high quality delivered reviews and evaluations by consultants;
• Provide technical advice to COs on coral reef conservation and innovative financing, reviewing of assessments and business plans;
• Provide strategic advice to COs to finalize annual reporting processes including providing inputs to the commentary for each annual report, liaising with COs and project teams as required, and editing the annual report for yearly submission in October, as needed;
• Advise COs through the provision of tools and guidance to assist with inception, contracting and start-up of programmes/projects including establishment of indicators, benchmarks, and work plans;
• Coordinate with the COs to ensure compliance with GFCR and UNDP policies, inclusive but not limited to risk management, gender and inclusion, social and environmental safeguards;
• Coordinate with COs and Regional Teams to prepare reports and communications pieces effectively showcasing project results, including environmental and socio-economic development benefits;
• Coordinate the UNDP GFCR team on knowledge management and learning, including evaluating, capturing, and synthesizing lessons and facilitating the uptake of best practices and knowledge, including the development of knowledge materials, ensuring linkage to the GFCR REEF+ platform and community of practice;
• Strategically formulate responses to queries from the UN Global Team of GFCR and COs on programme/project progress, impacts and lessons;
• Coordinate, where possible, in the updating and maintenance of programme/project and portfolio information and corporate UNDP and GFCR information systems;
• Coordinate with COs in the identification and sourcing of technical expertise for UNDP-GFCR programs, including preparation of TORs and the identification and evaluation of experts, alongside the UNDP-GFCR team
• Ensure effective integration and coordination with existing and related UNDP portfolios and pipeline, including Vertical Funds and other donor supported initiatives.
• Provide strategic advice in the development and management of partnerships to promote the development and deployment of coral reef finance in UNDP/GFCR/BIOFIN countries, including potentially Seychelles and Belize.

Institutional Arrangement

• The Project Specialist will report to the UNDP Senior Technical Advisor for Oceans.
• The Project Specialist will be given access to relevant information necessary for the execution of the tasks under this assignment.
• The Project Specialist will be responsible for providing her/his own workstation (i.e. laptop, internet, phone, scanner/printer, etc.) and must have access to reliable internet connection.
• Given the global consultations to be undertaken during this assignment, the Project Specialist is expected to be reasonably flexible with his/her availability for consultations taking into consideration different time zones.
• The Project Specialist will engage regularly with the supervisor by email and other communication tools on a weekly and/or as needed daily basis.
• The Project Specialist shall provide the Supervisor with a monthly progress report on the status of the implementation of tasks.

CompetenciesCoreAchieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impactThink Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problemsLearn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiencesAdapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demandsAct with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater resultsEngage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agencyCross-Functional & Technical Competencies

• 2030 Agenda: Planet

• Nature, Climate and Energy

• Ecosystems and biodiversity
• Business management

• Customer Satisfaction/Client Management

• Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers’ needs.
• Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy.
• Look for ways to add value beyond clients’ immediate requests.
• Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns.
• Project management

• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
• Communication

• 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
• Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels
• Monitoring

• Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results
• Partnership 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
• Business Direction and 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

Minimum Qualifications of the Successful IPSAMin. Academic Education

• An advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Marine Science, Environmental Sciences, and Economics or Business Studies with a specialization in environment and development, or other closely related fields is required, or
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the said fields in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Min. years of relevant work experience

• Minimum 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant professional work experience with developing countries in the field of conservation, management, and financing.

Required skills

• At least 5 years of experience with conceptualizing and developing internationally financed projects and programmes is an asset.
• At least 5 years of experience with the Global Environment Facility (GEF), Green Climate Fund (GCF) and/or GFCR is an asset.

Desired additional skills

• Demonstrable experience in working across different disciplines and connecting natural resource issues with the sustainable development agenda
• Demonstrable experience in working on conservation finance
• Experience working with/in small island developing states and/or coral nations in the policy development and implementation processes associated with coral reef conservation is an advantage
• Experience in direct project development for vertical funds and guiding project implementation and management
• Experience working with multilateral, bilateral and/or regional environmental funds
• Experience in establishing and/or maintaining strategic and long-term partnerships.
• Working experience in an international organization/ UN System/ UNDP is an advantage

Required Language(s) (at working level)

• Fluency in English language is required
• Working knowledge of French or Spanish is an asset.

DisclaimerUnder 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.

Expected salary

Location

New York

Job date

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 00:10:11 GMT

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