The Strategic Plan 2018-2021 – and more broadly supporting the achievement of the 2030 Agenda – requires making UNDP a more nimble, innovative and enterprising organization. The position of Programme Specialist is located in the Executive Office and is part of the Business Model Surge Team that supports the UNDP Administrator in the design of the new business model to deliver the Strategic Plan 2018-2021. The Programme Specialist reports to the Senior Advisor, Business Model and Process and supports the coordination and implementation of specific organization-wide, time-bound initiatives contributing to UNDP’s future business model and processes. As per the operating modality of the Surge Team, the Programme Specialist will work in support of – and in close coordination with – a range of technical focal points and leads of strategic initiatives and provide them with a range of support to ensure their delivery. 

• Supporting the Senior Advisor and technical leads in coordinating cross-organizational initiatives;
• Conducting research and analysis of key documents on technical areas to support deliberations and decisions of UNDP teams assigned to specific initiatives; 
• Coordinating advocacy and engagement activities with internal and external stakeholders and partners as part of the specific organization-wide initiatives; 
• Supporting the development of project concept notes or similar documents for the purposes of partnership and/or resource mobilization;
• Coordinating reporting on results of specific organization-wide initiatives to demonstrate progress/results; 
• Assists the Senior Advisor on Business Models in other functions as needed.

• Ensures coordination is effective and inclusive of key stakeholders through forward planning, close collaboration with technical leads, and ensuring strategic prioritization of engagements; 
• Within the scope of specific organization-wide initiatives, coordinates the preparation of briefs, inputs to briefs, speeches, and position papers, ensuring completeness, substantive accuracy, strategic messaging, alignment with corporate policies, standards and guidelines;
• Tracks internal decisions and follows up to ensure implementation; flags lack of follow up to the technical leads and Senior Advisor as necessary.

• Coordinates timely preparation of substantive documents in liaison with relevant technical leads and UNDP units, ensuring quality control for substance, clarity, completeness, and context-appropriate messaging;
• Collects, analyzes, and synthesizes relevant background information and materials to facilitate strategic engagement and decision-making by the teams working on specific cross-organizational initiatives;
• Drafts knowledge products, such as documents, PPTs and other types of presentations and digital materials, in support of the project coordination and implementation;
• Provides quality control of key documents, ensuring alignment with corporate guidance and standards as well as quality and comprehensiveness of input; and 
• Channels feedback/comments/questions from the technical leads to various UNDP teams and vice versa.

• In close collaboration with technical leads, relevant UNDP units, BERA, and ExO Press Secretary, support the development of key messages aligned to each cross-organizational initiative for the purposes of informing internal and external stakeholders and mobilizing support as necessary;
• Coordinate the implementation of advocacy and engagement activities including mapping detailed schedules for activities, ensuring the timelineness and accuracy of such activities;
• Develop creative, novel approaches to internal and external stakeholder engagement including through the use of digital channels; 
• Maintain regular contact with the Directorates of other Bureaus, and external stakeholders such as Missions to the UN, UN System partners, IGOs, NGOs, donors, and other multilateral agencies to keep the Senior Advisor and technical leads abreast of key developments; and 
• As request provide input to speaking notes, speeches, and other external materials for senior management and technical leads of the specific cross-organizational initiatives. 

• In close coordination with the Senior Advisor and the technical leads, support and coordinate the drafting of concept notes and/or project documents to facilitate partnership and resource mobilization;
• Ensure robust internal-stakeholder participation in the development of concept notes/project documents through the development and implementation of transparent participatory formulation and review processes; and
• Coordinate and support the facilitation of online and in-person multi-stakeholder dialogues with relevant UNDP units so as to source up-to-date and compelling solutions for concept notes/project documents.  

• Supports the Senior Advisor and relevant technical leads in developing compelling, results-oriented reports as required by donors and other partners; 
• Monitors reporting deadlines and supports the Senior Advisor and technical leads in complying with such;
• Coordinates internal stakeholders to ensure that results are well captures and conveyed to appropriate audiences; and 
• Assists as needed in project closure activities.  

• Ability to make new and useful ideas work

• Ability to persuade others to follow

• Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

• Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

• Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

• Ability to think and act strategically with good political awareness
• Ability to deliver in a high-pressure environment
• Willingness and ability to manage large of amounts of detail with great care and accuracy – keen eye for details
• Ability to handle complex situations and multiple responsibilities simultaneously, mixing long-term projects with the urgency of immediate demands.
• Ability to deal with highly confidential information.
• Ability to collaborate with and achieve actionable results
• Ability to build strong and sustainable relationships and capability to interact at all levels within the organization.

• Advanced university degree (Masters) in Development Studies, International Relations, or equivalent 
• Bachelor’s degree with addtional 2 years of relevant experience

• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience is required at the national and/or international level related to  project and programme coordination.
• Demonstrated professional expertise in supporting and/or coordinating high-visibility initiatives and events.
• Demonstrated professional expertise in coordinating and liasing with bilateral partners to advance funding goals.
• Field experience is required. 
• Experience in the usage of computers and basic office software packages (MS Word, Excel, Power point, Visio, etc), and specific knowledge of PowerBI and Access advantage.

• Excellent knowledge of English, as well as writing, presentation and communication skills. Fluency in other UN languages is an asset. 

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.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Scam warning

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

Contract Duration: 364 days