Learning Portfolio Manager – Governance Expert (P4)

Organizational context:

With its Headquarters in Turin (Italy) and its second Campus in Bonn (Germany), the Staff College is a centre of excellence for training and knowledge management within the UN system. Each year, we offer learning initiatives that reach over 10,000 beneficiaries through residential courses, distance-learning, strategic exchanges and seminars.

The United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) is the primary provider of inter-agency training and learning for the staff of the United Nations system. Its overall objective is to promote and support UN inter-agency collaboration, increase the operational effectiveness of the UN system as a whole and provide UN staff and stakeholders with the required skills and competencies to face today’s global challenges.

UNSSC conducts a variety of learning and training activities, in Turin and Bonn, UN Headquarters as well as at the regional and country levels. The UNSSC Knowledge Centre for Sustainable Development, based in Bonn, Germany, is an integral part of the United Nations System Staff College tasked to provide support to the UN system and stakeholders in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change through learning, training and knowledge management.

The UNSSC Knowledge Centre for Sustainable Development supports, in collaboration with relevant UN and non-UN institutions, the policy and operational work of the UN through the development of learning tools, platforms of interaction and executive programmes around the five dimensions of sustainable development—people, prosperity, planet, partnership, and peace.

Responsibilities:

Under the overall guidance and responsibility of the Head of Office, and reporting to him/her, the Learning Portfolio Manager will be responsible and accountable for the development of a new portfolio (including human and financial resources) focused on substantive learning offerings in the area of Governance of/for Sustainable Development.

For the position, UNSSC is looking for a seasoned governance professional with practical experience in capacity building efforts in UN programme countries with both the UN and other stakeholders. The new portfolio will, among others, focus on the design and delivery

of learning products around governance of and for sustainable development; political acumen, consensus building and context analysis for sustainable development; ‘leave no one behind’; scenario planning and the design of a senior sustainable development dialogue/UN reflection series.

The incumbent will be responsible for the following functions:

· Learning and training with an emphasis on governance for and of sustainable development;

· Advocacy;

· Partnership Building;

· Knowledge Management;

· Resource Mobilisation.

Learning and Training with an emphasis on governance for sustainable development:

· Designing, developing, delivering and evaluating courses, and guiding and facilitating the implementation of learning and training activities using state of the art learning and training methodologies, resources and tools;

· Collaborate with and contribute show_content support to other Learning Portfolio Managers in the areas of responsibility;

· Ensuring quality assurance of courses, events and products as assessed by end users, i.e. participants and clients, partners, and donors;

· Staying abreast of research and policy developments in the focus areas, and drawing on experiences emanating from UN country offices, regional hubs, and global policy-making design and deliver quality learning and training offerings;

Advocacy:

· Play a strong advocacy role with regard to familiarisation of the UN system with the UN System Staff College;

· Develop knowledge and learning products that will further position the UNSSC as a global (inter-agency) learning centre of excellence;

Partnership Building and collaboration:

· Strengthen partnerships with UN Agencies, Funds and programs, donors, civil society organizations and other relevant bodies interested in learning for sustainable development;

Knowledge Management:

· Apply the knowledge management cycle in the design and development of all learning offerings;

· Actively facilitate knowledge brokering and enhance the use of lessons learnt, best practices, and relevant knowledge products in learning and training for sustainable development;

Resource Mobilization

· Lead resource mobilization efforts with regard to the learning offerings in the areas of focus and achieve financial sustainability of activities

Competencies:

Professionalism: Knowledge and understanding of: governance practice, theories, concepts and approaches directly relevant to training and learning activities; political acumen, consensus building and context analysis; ‘leave no one behind’ and scenario planning. Practical experience in programme/project management and administration; good research, analytical and problem-solving skills; willingness to keep abreast of new developments in the field.

Planning and Organising: Sets clearly defined objectives; identifies and mobilises resources; creates and manages timelines; coordinates activities and efforts of internal and external stakeholders; makes contingency plans; monitors progress against strategies; takes account of changing plans while continuing to coordinate efforts effectively.

Collaboration and Teamwork: Establishes good relationships with all stakeholders; identifies and creates opportunities for internal and external partnerships; works with others to develop a collaborative vision and fosters commitment to teamwork; shows respect and sensitivity to differences in gender, culture, religious faith and ethnicity; manages conflict effectively, balancing collaborative approaches with assertion when necessary.

Communication: Good communication skills, including the ability to draft/edit blogs, podcasts, studies and other communications. Technology Awareness: Fully proficient computer skills and use of relevant software.

Qualifications and Experience

Education

Advanced degree in political science, public policy, law, economics or equivalent relevant field.

Work Experience

At least seven years of professional experience in governance capacity building, four years of which should ideally have been in the context of an international organisation.

Experience with UN inter-agency work would be an advantage;

Demonstrated experience, knowledge and understanding of governance of/for sustainable development and proven ability to translate that experience into relevant training and learning activities;

Excellent networking and interpersonal skills, including the ability to establish and maintain high-level contacts with representatives from government, international organisations, CSOs, academia and other partners.

Languages

Excellent knowledge of English and at least one other official UN language, as well as accompanying presentation and communication skills. The ability to train and facilitate in at least two official UN languages is considered an important advantage.