UNDP Jobs - 51045- Project Officer - Projects Implementing Unit (PIU

Project Officer - Projects Implementing Unit (PIU) in Policy Analysis, Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Employment Promotion

Location :

Chisinau, MOLDOVA

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

24-Nov-2014

Application Deadline :

09-Nov-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SB-4

Duration of Initial Contract :

2 months, with possibility of extension

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

3 years

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. 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.

Background

Over the last decade or so, the Republic of Moldova has made significant positive progress towards poverty alleviation. However, the progress is far from uniform, with growing disparities between rural and urban settlements. Recent developments indicate that the country will be meeting some of its MDG commitments, particularly in terms of poverty reduction, while will have to make additional efforts for meeting its targets in other areas, in particular health, environment, among others.

The Government of the Republic of Moldova, under its Moldova 2020 Strategy, committed to further promote economic development, support infrastructure improvements, support education sector, and improve access to finance, among others .

Under the current UNPF (2013-2017), the United Nations committed to support the Government and people of the Republic of Moldova in the set priority areas, also pillars of the partnership framework: (a) Democratic Governance, Justice, Equality and Human Rights; (b) Human Development and Social Inclusion and (c) Environment, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management. Support is directed towards tackling major development challenges currently affecting the development of the country. However, how to prioritize such challenges? How to address such challenges in an effective and efficient manner, given the existing developmental constraints? What innovative policy and programmatic responses are there available to generate new sustainable jobs, promote employability and entrepreneurship, re-channel remittances towards productive sectors?

To provide evidence-based answers to the above and pilot interventions addressing sustainable human development and inclusive growth, UNDP Moldova aims at developing a dedicated Projects Implementing Unit that would focus on: (a) policy analysis, (b) implementation of various joint interventions that would promote entrepreneurship and employability at local level, and (c) promotion of innovations throughout joint interventions for poverty reduction and inclusive growth.

The Implementing Unit will now be structured on three interlinked components, i.e. policy analysis, employability and innovative entrepreneurship. Each component will be having specific interventions and sub-components that may be activated or deactivated depending on the corporate decision and needs of the national counterpart(s).

The policy analysis component will be in charge of: producing regular policy briefs on critical areas where evidence-based analysis is needed to identify options and policy alternatives; development of the National Human Development Reports and related analytical background papers or summaries of in-depth interviews of FG interviews; coordination of the development of national MDG reports and related analytical papers; other analytical tasks for other components in the Unit;

The employability component will contain interventions that target skilled unemployed in search for relevant employment of local market and improvement of their soft skills to search for a decent job. Such component will be also dealing with promotion of new jobs created in the entrepreneurship component and work with LPAs willing to start-up small-scale career advisory centers or connect to the existing ones.

The innovative entrepreneurship component contains interventions for the creation of Business Innovations Lab, of an Innovations fund to support business start-up and business development, financial support instruments to be managed based on UNDP rules and regulations, creation of a Innovations Matching Forum, support to selected LPAs for the revision of the local economic development plans and scaling-up of a seed-money fund to support innovative start-ups at local level.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the UNDP Project Manager, the Project Officer of the Implementing Unit ensures the effective and efficient management of and coordination over the employability component of the Implementing Unit and provides selective support to other component when necessary, implicitly of all planned interventions. The Project Officer applies and promotes the principles of results-based management (RBM), as well as a client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.

The Project Officer works in close collaboration with the Project Manager, Programme, Operations, Communications and other teams in the Country Office (CO) for effective achievement of results, anticipating and contributing to resolving complex programme/project-related issues and information delivery. The incumbent is expected to exercise full compliance with UNDP programming, financial, procurement and administrative rules, regulations, policies and strategies, as well as implementation of the effective internal control systems.

Summary of Key Functions:

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the Officer will be responsible to:

Coordinate all projects and interventions that fall into the employability component of the Implementing Unit and those interventions that are edging with the entrepreneurship component, in particular the pilot phase of the seed-money support to unemployed but skilled people.
Coordinate the five established career advisory and employment centers and coordinate activities of such centers at national level, ensure synergetic implementation of activities in all centers. In particular, ensure proper monitoring of the implementation of the SYSLAB methodology, collecting of progress reports from regional center, development of the donor report for project board meetings, ensure that the internal SOP on methodological transfer and coordination is fully implemented, collect and analyze implementation risks and report to Project Manager.
Supervise the national team of career advisors and external consultants in all centers; ensure that all recruitment and trainings activities are aligned and that there is mutual learning among centers.
Provide support to the Project manager in the development and implementation of the entrepreneurship component of the Unit by actively participating into the key processes of staff selection, recruitment, key training and coaching activities.
Maintain and develop relations with private sector to develop the employability component and related seed-money fund.
Develop and submit annual narrative and financial reports on the employability component and submit to Project Manager.
Contribute to the fundraising process to ensure financial future sustainability of the career advisory centers and their network.
Provide support to UNDP Policy Unit with the coordination and implementation of various activities, including the activities of the recently established Social Innovation Hub and the like.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values.
Exerts strict adherence to corporate rules, regulations and procedures. Familiarity with the internal control framework and results-based management tools is a must.
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
Ensures that programmes and projects are consistent with UN/UNDP values
Treats peers fairly by maintaining consistent values inspiring trust and confidence through personal credibility
Accepts responsibility and accountability for the quality of the outcome of his/her decisions

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning

Shares knowledge and experience
Focuses on tasks/activities which have a strategic impact on programme and capacity development activities
Promotes a supportive environment to enhance partnerships, leverages resources and build support for UNDP’s strategic initiatives
Collaborates with regional, national and local partners to create and apply knowledge and concepts that will help partners achieve UNDP’s development objectives within the country and regional context
Actively works towards continuing personal learning, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills
Good analytical skills, in particular in the area of social policy and development related issues.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise / In-depth knowledge of the Subject-matter

Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines
Serves as internal consultant in the area of expertise and shares knowledge with staff
Continues to seek new and improved methods and systems for accomplishing the work of the unit
Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally
Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments

Development and Operational Effectiveness

Ability to perform a variety of specialized tasks related to Results-Based Management, including support to design, planning and implementation of Programme, managing data, reporting
Ability to provide input to business processes, re-engineering, implementation of new system, including new IT based systems.
Ability to engage with various partners and stakeholders at different levels, to establish and maintain contacts with senior-level officials of the host government and represent UNDP in national and regional fora.
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, is required to obtain, evaluate and interpret factual data and to prepare accurate and complete reports and other documents.
Capacity to implement the strategic vision and programmatic goals as laid down in the Project Document;
Proven performance in organizing and coordinating major initiatives, events or challenging inter-organizational activities;
Adapts flexibly to changing situations, overcomes obstacles and recovers quickly from set-backs.

Leadership and Self-Management

Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
Ability to achieve results and meet strict deadlines in an effective manner, maintaining a high quality standard throughout
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
Tolerates conditions of stress, uncertainty or ambiguity and continues to maintain a positive outlook and to work productively

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree (or equivalent) in any of the following areas: Social Sciences, Public Policy, Political Sciences, Management, Economics, Public or Business Administration

Experience:

At least 3 years of progressively responsible experience is required at the national or international level in the areas of development and/or research. Previous experience with UNDP is an advantage.
Relevant experience with issues of employment, labor market development, poverty reduction, private sector development, innovative entrepreneurship, sustainable human development and social and economic development in transition economies; knowledge of contemporary social and development issues at the national level.
At least 2 years of progressively responsible project coordination experience at the national level is required in the area of Social Sciences, Political Sciences, Management, Economics, Public or Business Administration. At least 1 year of relevant experience in managing teams of national consultants for projects is mandatory.
Experience and advance knowledge in the usage of information technology and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, Power Point, etc) and spreadsheet and database packages; experience in handling of web based management systems; experience in developing infographics is a strong asset.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in both oral and written English and Romanian.
Working knowledge of one or more additional languages relevant for Moldova, including Russian, Bulgarian, Gagauzian, Romani, Ukrainian or sign language would be an asset.

This is a local position, therefore only citizens of the Republic of Moldova or others legally authorized to work in the country are eligible to apply.
Applications should be submitted on line and include fully completed Personal History Form (P11) as attachment instead of CV/resume.
Please note that only applicants who are short-listed will be contacted.