Strategy and Planning Specialist

Job title:

Strategy and Planning Specialist

Company

United Nations Development Programme

Job description

Advise and support country portfolio analysis, coordination and stakeholder engagement

• Develops and maintains comprehensive briefing notes and analytical reports on country, sub-regional and regional aspects of the assigned portfolio, ensuring quality and strategic relevance of content.
• Coordinates preparatory activities and stakeholder engagement prior to meetings to inform positioning and develop common perspective, prepares minutes, and ensures systematic follow-up on action points with all stakeholders.
• Proactively engages with internal and external stakeholders to gather strategic inputs for briefings, position papers and corporate documents, ensuring comprehensive information collection and analysis.
• Conducts thorough quality review of documentation, produces analytical reports and presentations, and participates in UNDP coordination activities, including crisis response, providing regular updates to supervisors and relevant parties.
• Provides inputs and recommendations to Bureau leadership on country-specific and thematic issues within the assigned portfolio, working closely with Country Offices, Istanbul Regional Hub teams, and other UNDP units to ensure effective information sharing and coordination.
• Engages with key stakeholders, including intergovernmental bodies, donor governments, Missions to the United Nations, and regional organizations such as the European Union, to enhance coordination across priority areas and foster strategic partnerships.

Provide substantive contributions to RBEC’s regional and corporate strategic initiatives

• Provides substantive contributions to RBEC’s planning and strategy processes, including regional results planning, integrated work planning, results reporting, and development of indicators and tracking mechanisms.
• Serves as focal point for assigned regional and corporate initiatives, ensuring effective coordination and delivery of key outputs in line with team priorities.
• Develops and delivers high-quality technical presentations and authoritative communications for external fora and partners, conducting research and maintaining current analysis of emerging opportunities in collaboration with relevant country offices.
• In coordination with Country Offices, the partnership team and other relevant units, provides regular monitoring of relevant donor contributions at specific stages of projects/programme implementation, ensuring up-to-date and accurate information is conveyed to relevant colleagues in a timely manner.
• Prepares comprehensive briefing materials for RBEC and UNDP senior leadership engagements with external partners, coordinating and consolidating strategic inputs from various UNDP units and stakeholders.

Provides analytical services and facilitates knowledge building and management

• Tracks and analyzes regional political, economic and social trends, preparing periodic reports for RBEC management with emphasis on strategic implications for UNDP’s work at country and regional level.
• Provides comprehensive analytical support to RBEC management on key thematic areas, analyzing information and documents from across the organization to identify emerging opportunities and challenges.
• Draws on experiences from diverse organizations and institutional contexts to enhance analytical services, inform strategic planning, and foster knowledge exchange and partnerships, contributing to innovative and impactful development solutions.
• Identifies strategic opportunities for programmatic interventions within assigned thematic/sectoral areas, translating RBEC’s priorities into actionable recommendations.
• Synthesizes policy-relevant analysis and research from across the region, documenting best practices and lessons learned to inform programming.
• Actively contributes to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Bureau and the Organisation.Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: No reporting lines to this position.Competencies Expected Demonstration of CompetenciesAchieve 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 ContinuouslyLEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiencesAdapt with AgilityLEVEL 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 resultsEngage and PartnerLEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaborationEnable Diversity and InclusionLEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivityCross-Functional & Technical competencies Thematic Area Name DefinitionBusiness Direction & StrategySystem 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
Business Direction & Strategy Strategic Thinking Develop effective strategies and prioritised plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to realityon 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 foresightBusinessManagementPortfolioManagement Ability to select, prioritise 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 management
Business Direction & Strategy Effective Decision-making 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 Management CommunicationAbility 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 audienceAbility to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels
Business Development Knowledge GenerationAbility 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 developnew concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.
2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness Effectiveness RBM standards and practices for programmingRequired Skills and ExperienceEducation:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in International Relations, Economics, Policy Science or other related Social Sciences is required. Or
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above-mentioned fields in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum of seven (7) years (with a master’s degree) or nine (9) years (with a bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible professional work experience in development, economics, or other related field of work is required.
• Experience working in international context on development or related issues in a multilateral and/or bilateral context required.
• Professional experience in UN entities is desirable.
• Experience working for a bilateral government or another international organization on international development or related matters, including providing substantive strategic advice at the international level, is considered an asset.
• Ability to draw on experience from diverse organizations and institutional contexts to inform and enhance strategic planning, programme design, and foster effective partnerships in a development setting is desirable.
• Experience in foreign and development policy analysis and related areas is desirable.
• Experience in drafting high-quality briefs and talking points for senior officials is desirable.
• Experience in supporting comprehensive strategic planning processes, including developing integrated work plans, coordinating stakeholder engagement, and/or tracking results through established reporting mechanisms is desirable.

Language:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required
• Working knowledge of another UN language is desired

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

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 02:32:05 GMT

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