UNDP Armenia Country Office
TITLE: Programme Management Specialist
LOCATION: Yerevan, Armenia
JOB DESCRIPTION: Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative, the Programme Management Specialist is responsible for the overall management and coordination of the UNDP programming activities in the context and with particular focus on its synergy with the MYFF priorities, Atlas functioning and other corporate programmatic tools and priorities. The Programme Management Specialist is responsible for supervising Portfolio Atlas Associates. He/she works in close collaboration with the National Portfolio Directors and Implementing Partners, Portfolio Coordinators, Portfolio Atlas Associates, Operations Team, programme staff in other UN Agencies, UNDP HQs staff, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Provide management support and coordinate the implementation of the Country Programme in accordance with the UNDP Programming Guide, MYFF, UNDAF, CPD and CPAP/AWPs;
- Perform Internal Control and Programme Oversight Functions in accordance with the established corporate and CO internal control framework, management and oversight review points and the dashboards;
- Perform high level Atlas approval functions in accordance with the UNDP rules and regulations;
- Coordinate programme results and resources management activities in accordance with the UNDP results based management principles;
- Support CO resource mobilization efforts in accordance with the CO resource mobilization strategy and targets;
- Facilitate knowledge building and knowledge sharing.
Functions/Key Results Expected
1. Manage Country Programme in accordance with the UNDP Programming Guide, MYFF, UNDAF, CPD and CPAP, focusing on achievement of the following results:
- UNDP programming activities reflected in the Annual Workplans (AWP) are developed in accordance with UNDP’s vision, directions and strategies as established in the UNDP’s Multi-Year Funding Framework (MYFF), United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and UNDP’s Country Programme (CP);
- Portfolio AWPs contain clear, meaningful and monitorable development results and targets; resources are linked to results;
- Programming activities envisaged in the AWPs conform to results and plans;
- Progress towards achieving the AWP targets is regularly monitored and accountability framework is established;
- Strategic direction in each portfolio, interdependency in programme components are overseen by the UNDAF Thematic Technical Groups, monitoring and evaluation of programming activities are regularly conducted.
2. Ensure that Internal Control and Programme Oversight functions are performed in accordance with the established corporate and CO internal control framework, management and oversight review points and the dashboards, focusing on achievement of the following results:
- Sound Governance Structure is established in programme portfolios, roles and responsibilities are clearly defined, results are monitored, management review points are set up and the programme outcomes are well managed;
- UNDP country office dashboards are developed and corporate dashboards extensively used to monitor the programme management and assess progress and performance;
- UNDP rules, regulations and procedures are followed during all aspects of programme implementation including AWPs, Programme Appraisal Committees, preparation of budgets and audits;
- Internal and external evaluations and periodic audits of the programme activities are conducted, follow up actions on the audit recommendations are made.
3. Ensure that all high level Atlas approval functions are performed in accordance with the UNDP rules and regulations, focusing on achievement of the following results:
- All AWPs follow established formats and are cleared for data input into Atlas. AWPs are periodically reviewed, analysed and modifications are introduced as necessary; Programme Portfolio Pipeline is constructed and monitored in Atlas;
- Programme resources are committed; requests for procurement, recruitment and payment are examined to ensure conformity of transactions to the AWPs and the UNDP rules and regulations;
- Approval function for programme transactions are performed in Atlas;
- Close liaison is established with the Operations Team on operational issues, problems and operational bottlenecks are identified and remedial action implemented.
4. Ensure coordination of programme results and resources management activities in accordance with the UNDP results based management principles, focusing on achievement of the following results:
- Results-based management tools, including management targets and dashboards, are developed and used to justify, define, initiate, operate and close programme components;
- Results-based annual plans and reports, including indicators, baselines and targets are prepared and serve as a basis for monitoring and assessing programme effectiveness;
- Specific programme components are targeted, results-oriented, achievable and relevant;
- CPAP annual reviews are conducted as part of the UNDAF annual review and modifications are introduced as necessary;
- Regular programme resources are allocated according to the AWPs and country office resource mobilization and management strategy.
5. Support achievement of the CO resource mobilization targets, focusing on achievement of the following results:
- Negotiation strategies and cooperation frameworks for partnership and resource mobilization from IFIs, EC, bilateral and multilateral donors, private sector and Diaspora companies and organizations are identified or developed;
- Resource mobilization targets, results and resources frameworks are prepared and monitored;
- All partnership agreements are cleared to ensure conformity with the UNDP corporate policies, rules and regulations.
6. Facilitate knowledge building and knowledge sharing, focusing on the achievement of the following results:
- Prescriptive and descriptive content on the Programme Management in UNDP is periodically reviewed and analysed;
- Training, interpretation and advice is provided to programme portfolios on the programming rules, regulations and procedures;
- International standards and best practice on programme management is studied and new or revised procedures and practices are proposed for application by the CO.
Competences
Corporate Responsibility and Direction:
- Demonstrate integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
- Promote the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
- Display cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
Functional Competencies:
Knowledge, Management and Learning
- Share knowledge and experience and contribute to UNDP Practice Areas;
- Encourage office staff to share knowledge and contribute to UNDP Practice Areas;
- Demonstrate strong coaching/mentoring skills, regularly providing helpful feedback and advice to others in the office;
- Actively work towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.
Management and Leadership
- Focuse on impact and result for the client;
- Lead teams effectively and show conflict resolution skills;
- Consistently approach work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
- Demonstrate strong oral and written communication skills;
- Build strong relationships with clients and external actors;
- Remain calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
- Demonstrate openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
- Solicit feedback from staff about the impact of his/her own behavior.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Master’s degree or equivalent in development management, business administration or related field;
- 2 to 3 years of post-Master’s relevant experience at the national or international level in providing management services and hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects;
- Experience in the use of computers and office software packages and in-depth understanding and hands on experience on web based management systems;
- Fluent in English and Armenian languages.
Development and Operational Effectiveness
- Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
- Ability to supervise use of the corporate programmatic tools;
- Strong IT skills;
- Ability to lead implementation of new systems (business side), and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES: Applications can be delivered to the UN House Security Desk at: 14 P. Adamyan Str., (former 14 K. Liebknecht St.), to the attention of Ms. Naira Olkinyan.
A complete application form should consist of:
- A letter of motivation (in English);
- A full CV accompanied by a recent identity photograph;
- Copies of diploma(s).
Please clearly mention in your application letter that you learned of this job opportunity through Career Center and mention the URL of its website -
www.careercenter.am, Thanks.
OPENING DATE: 11 March 2005
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 28 March 2005, 17:00
UNDP Armenia Country Office
