UNDP Head of RC Office / Strategic Planning Advisor Job Vacancy in Monrovia, Liberia

HEAD OF RC OFFICE / STRATEGIC PLANNING ADVISOR

Location : Monrovia, LIBERIA

Application Deadline : 31-Jan-13

Additional Category: Management

Type of Contract : FTA International

Post Level : P-5

Languages Required : English

Starting Date : (date when
the selected candidate is expected to start) 01-Mar-2013

Duration of Initial Contract : Twelve months

Expected Duration of Assignment : Twelve months; renewable

Background

The role of the incumbent is to strengthen the
capacity of the UN Country Team in Liberia, and provide support to the RC in
planning, coordinating and implementing an integrated and more effective UN
response in the post conflict and transition phase through guidance and the
management of the Office of the Resident Coordinator and provision of strategic
advisory services to the RC and the UNCT.

It is often the case that conflict and
conflict-induced humanitarian crises wipe out hard-won development gains.
By the same token, both often reflect shortcomings or failures in
poverty-reducing development interventions. Sustained transition should
aim at a seamless process of scaling down humanitarian assistance and scaling
up of reconstruction and recovery linked to longer-term development
goals.

In 2010, the Government officially requested that Liberia become a Delivering
as One self-starter country making it the first post-conflict country with an
Integrated Mission to embark on the UN reform process. The Government of
Liberia has recently launched its second Poverty Reduction Strategy, the Agenda
for Transformation 2012-2017, and under the auspices of Delivering as One, the
United Nations has rolled out the One Programme which is fully aligned with
Government priorities. The One Programme constitutes an UNDAF and Costed Action
Plan and is the business plan of Resident and Non Resident UN agencies, funds
and programmes, UNMIL and the World Bank in Liberia 2013 to 2017.

The United Nations in Liberia is committed to
provide integrated policy advice, technical assistance and capacity development
support to the Government. Enhancing the prospects for joint collaboration at
the time of transition from humanitarian to longer-term development requires a
correspondingly strengthened coordination and implementation support capacity.

In Liberia, the UN Country Team and UNMIL
collaboration takes place within an integrated mission framework. UNMIL’s DSRSG
for Recovery and Governance is also the UNCT Resident Coordinator (RC).
The Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) support RC functions in close
collaboration with the Office of the DSRSG.

Duties and Responsibilities

Organizational Context:

Under the direct supervision of the RC, and in
collaboration with the other staff in the RC Office, the incumbent’s main
duties and responsibilities are:

Summary of key functions:

Transition advice/policy
Planning, Programming and Promotion of UN
Reform Agenda
Partnership and resource mobilization
Management of RC Office
Ensure Transition advice/policy:
Provide guidance and support in the assessment
and analytical processes for the UN system in the transition from the
humanitarian crises and post-conflict situation, strengthening the
peacebuilding dimension.
In close collaboration with actors in County
Support Team mechanism, provide support to ensure coordinated and
strategic response to county challenges.
Ensure appropriate linkages are made to other
ongoing initiatives – e.g. the preparation of the national budget, PRS and
donor strategies.
Reinforce capacity of the UN Country Team to
analyze political, social and economic trends, including support to
preparation of key periodic situational analyses.
At request, represent RC in various
national and UN meetings

Ensure Planning, Programming and Promotion of UN
Reform Agenda to achieve the following results:

Facilitate the establishment and management of
effective mechanisms for strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation of
UNDAF implementation in consultation with UN Agencies, UNMIL, Government,
civil society, multilateral and bilateral institutions.
Provide strategic and technical support to the
UNCT and UNMIL in regards to Integrated Mission planning and monitoring
processes for transition response.
Where the UNCT decides to promote joint
programmes in a given area, support the elaboration, negotiation and
implementation of these programmes.
Support the development and implementation of
a UN strategy on common services and common premises, which effectively
links security, financial, operational aspects;

Ensure Management of RC Office by focusing on
achievement of the following results:

Supervise staff in the RC office, including
those of some joint programmes.
Ensure effective budgeting, reporting and
management of RCO resources.
Support UN Cluster Leads, Working Groups and
Theme Groups as appropriate for the efficient functioning of the UN
system.
Support the RC in the management of ordinary
and extraordinary meetings of the UNCT, meetings with international
development partners, etc;

Impact of Results

The key results have an impact on the strengthening
of the capacity of the UN Country Team in Liberia, and provide support to the
RC in planning, coordinating and implementing an integrated and more effective
UN response in the post conflict and transition phase through guidance and the
management of the Office of the Resident Coordinator and provision of strategic
advisory services to the RC and the UNCT.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning
Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a
learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example
Works actively towards continuing personal
learning and development in one or more practice areas, act on learning
plans and applies newly acquired skills.

Development and Operational Effectiveness

Good knowledge of UN system, procedures and
operational activities for development. Previous experience in UNDAF
development, UN Transition Plans, or recovery plans required.

Plans strategically, ability to lead
results-based management and reporting.
Ability to handle effectively multiple tasks
without compromising quality, team spirit and positive working
relationships;
Formulates and manages budgets, manages
contributions and investments, manages transactions, conduct financial
analysis, reporting and cost-recovery.
Devises new systems and processes, and
modifies existing ones, to support innovative behaviuors;
Generates creative, practical approaches to
overcome challenging situations.
Conceptualizes and analysis problems to
identify key issues, underlying problems, and how they relate.
Good knowledge of accounting.
Ability to successfully lead the Finance team.
Excellent IT skills, knowledge of Atlas.
Ability to implement new systems and affect
staff behavioral/attitudinal change

Management and Leadership

Ability to negotiate at decision-making level
Approaches work consistently with energy and a
positive, constructive attitude
Strategic vision and strong technical and
analytical capabilities. Good political judgment.
Excellent organizational, management and
leadership skills.
Demonstrates good oral and written
communication skills
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to
manage complexities;
People skills and Team working;
Recognizes and responds appropriately to the
ideas, interest and concerns of others.
Recognizes and respond appropriately to the
ideas, interests and concerns of others.
Works as a team member, ability to be a good
listener, well organized, pay attention to details, and meet deadlines.
Builds trust and engender morale by displaying
open, transparent and credible behavior.
Respects individual/cultural differences;
utilize diversity to foster teamwork.
Ensures others’ understanding of, involvement
in, adaptation to a change process.
Sets clear performance goals and standards.
Executes responsibilities accordingly; provide
and respond constructively to feedback (correction or recognition).
Strong interpersonal skills

Core Competencies:

Ethics and Values: Promoting ethics and
integrity / Creating organizational precedents;
Organizational Awareness: Building support and
political acumen;
Developing and Empowering People / Coaching
and Mentoring: Building staff competence, creating an environment of
creativity and innovation;
Working in Teams: Building and promoting
effective teams;
Communicating Information and Ideas: Creating
and promoting enabling environment for open communication;
Self-management and Emotional Intelligence:
Creating an emotionally intelligent organization;
Conflict Management / Negotiating and Resolving
Disagreements: Leveraging conflict in the interests of the organization
& setting standards;
Knowledge Sharing / Continuous Learning:
Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of
knowledge sharing and learning;
Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making:
Fair and transparent decision-making; calculated risk-taking.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Masters degree, in development economics,
political science, statistics, international development and/or management
and coordination.

Experience:

At least ten years work experience in
humanitarian, development and/or transitional operations. At least
four years experience in the field, ideally in a post-conflict setting.

Language Requirements:

Excellent knowledge of English, including
writing and oral skills.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity
in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups,
indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to
apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

Click Here to Apply

Closing Date: Thursday, 31 January 2013