Regional Portfolio Specialist

Background

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: 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 ‘leave no one behind’ 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.

The UNV Regional Offices (RO) provide oversight and strategic guidance to the UNV Field Units in their respective geographical assignments and are mainly accountable for the placement of UN Volunteers mobilized for UN Agencies, Funds, and Programmes focused on peace, development and humanitarian needs. Furthermore, the Regional Offices represent, and strategically position, UNV and bring UNV’s services and solutions closer to its partners from governments, UN entities, civil society and private sector. The Regional Offices also lead in scoping and delivering UNV’s advisory service offer on volunteer infrastructure.

Reporting to the Manager, Regional Office, the Regional Portfolio Specialist is responsible for the effective management and monitoring of a of portfolio of countries in the respective region. She/he is responsible for business development and intelligence, relationship management and volunteer mobilization for portfolio countries. In doing so, she/he remotely manages Field Units (FU) personnel and supports the identification of entry points for UNV’s support and showcasing the value added of volunteers and volunteerism based on UNV’s Strategic Framework. She/he builds and nurtures relationships with government counterparts and other key stakeholders to enhance UNV’s role in key programmatic interventions and oversees field units for quality performance and volunteer mobilization targets.

Duties and Responsibilities
1. Business development and portfolio management for volunteer mobilization and placement

• Keep abreast of development challenges and priorities in countries under portfolio to identify relevant entry points for UNV’s mobilization of volunteers;
• Provide technical guidance on volunteerism in specific focused areas and on UNV’s integration into appropriate programming approaches, including guiding UNV Field Units in their engagement with UN Agencies and their applicable planning tools;
• Facilitate UNV positioning in relevant strategic forums, United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) planning processes, Country Programme Documents (CPDs), UN thematic forces and assessments to identify opportunities for volunteers and volunteer placement;
• Leverage the value added of UNV’s impact on development through its products and services with special emphasis on priority countries, to identify niches for UNV’s positioning including in countries with no field presence;
• Supervise performance of the assigned regional portfolio with special attention to compliance with volunteer mobilization targets, timely and quality delivery of outputs and accuracy and quality of reporting;
• Advise the Manager, Regional Office on critical and emerging issues including progress/response to evaluations and audit interventions relevant to the region as well as coordinate and consolidate regional inputs for developing briefing documents for senior management meetings and missions;
• Ensure quality and accuracy of comprehensive data including analysis of political and socio-economic issues and trends;
• Supervise the assigned UNV Field Units, for quality volunteer management, including oversight of national volunteer recruitment, volunteer management, monitoring of the volunteer reporting system, development of outreach strategies and compliance with business workplans and delegated authority.

2. Partnerships building, external relations and coordination

• Build and strengthen relationships with the UN partners on interventions relating to his/her portfolio and focus areas, as well as with VSOs, CSOs, NGOs, universities, community organizations and other partners, harnessing resource mobilization opportunities and strengthening positioning with donors;
• In coordination with the New York Office, assist the Manager, Regional Office in building partnerships with UN organizations including peace keeping mission offices, regional entities and field based organizations to identify opportunities and promote UNV and volunteer mobilization;
• Participate in relevant fora and inter-agency meetings and events including in countries with no field representation to seize opportunities for volunteer mobilization;
• Participate in crisis response coordination mechanisms with UN partners, external missions and other key stakeholders;
• Plan, negotiate, and monitor Exchange of Letters (EOL) and budgets in line with agreements with partners;
• In coordination with headquarters pertinent units, support the dissemination of UNV ‘s global agenda and mandate to stakeholders of special relevance in the region.

3. Management and quality assurance, including knowledge and innovation

• Supervise the portfolio Field Units, establish workplans and monitor performance;
• Provide guidance and coordinate all aspects of volunteer management;
• Ensure strategic use and implementation of all UN Volunteers modalities as per prevailing relevant provisions under each scheme;
• Ensure quality of Descriptions of Assignments in line with corporate policies and parameters guiding the recruitment of volunteers;
• Provide guidance to Field Units on programme design and integration, and on results based management;
• Oversee the recruitment process of selected candidates and the efficient volunteer management;
• Contribute to the review of knowledge products development in close coordination with the Volunteer Advisory Services Section through information and data retrieved from specific projects, and lessons learned exercises;
• Ensure knowledge is documented, systematized and fed back into volunteer opportunities through contributing to knowledge networks;
• Provide guidance to Field Units on Digital Transformation related processes;
• Based on UNV requirements and priorities, organize capacity building events (e.g. regional and local meetings, conferences, workshops, etc.).

Core Competencies

Achieve Results

• Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact

Think Innovatively

• Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems

Learn Continuously

• Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

Adapt with Agility

• Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands

Act with Determination

• Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results

Engage and Partner

• Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

Enable Diversity and Inclusion

• Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

People Management

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

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

Knowledge Facilitation

• Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally

Results-Based Management

• Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results

Partnerships 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/UNV strategy and policies

Data literacy

• Understand the potential as well as the limitations of using data driven innovation.
• Ability to use a mix of data sources (quantitative, qualitative or real-time techniques) to develop understanding, identify patterns to inform decision making or identify opportunities for further exploration.

Resource mobilization

• Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities, and establish a plan to meet funding requirements

Required Skills and Experience
Education:

• Advanced University degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in social sciences, political science, public or business administration, economics or related fields.
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant professional experience in managing programmes or large portfolios, ideally including experience in partnership development and coordination;
• At least 2 years of relevant experience should be internationally, preferably within the UN system;
• Experience managing staff and team or project workplans;
• Experience in managing volunteer programmes and/or in a development context involving volunteers is highly desirable.
• Fluency in English
• Fluency in other language(s) of the region an asset.
• Proficiency in another official UN language is an asset.

Disclaimer

• Only short-listed applicants will be contacted;
• The successful candidate will hold a UNDP letter of appointment.

Important information for US Permanent Residents (‘Green Card’ holders)

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.

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. 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

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.

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.

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