TEAM LEADER AND REGIONAL LIAISON ADVISOR (RLA)

Location : New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Application Deadline : 06-Dec-12 Type of Contract : FTA International Post Level : P-5 Languages Required :

English   Duration of Initial Contract : 1 year  

Background

Under the leadership of the UNDG Chair, and with the guidance of the UNDG, the overall objective of the United Nations Development Operations Coordination Office (DOCO) is to support the strategic priorities of the UNDG, and related coordination goals, and to meet DOCO's responsibilities under the Management and Accountability (M &A) system, in furtherance of the QCPR framework. DOCO supports the UNDG at all levels to better support national partners in meeting the MDGs/IADGs and other critical national development priorities, specifically, the UNDG and its Advisory Group at Headquarters, Regional UNDG Teams, and RCs and UNCTs. In carrying out its responsibilities, DOCO works closely with other UN entities and stakeholders (including DPA, DPKO, DSS, WB, OCHA and the Policy Committee in case of crisis countries), and through various interagency mechanisms.

The Field Support Team (FST) is composed of a Regional Liaison Unit and a Knowledge Management and M&E Unit. As such the FST is DOCO's field facing coordination support and knowledge management team that provides the following  four primary services in coordination with the Headquarters Support Team: (HST).

• Supports the Regional UNDG Teams and UNCTs to implement the UNDG strategic priorities, the Management and Accountability (M&A) system responsibilities and the agreed commitments on aid effectiveness, including through tools related to UNDAF programming, harmonization of business practices, change management, RC system, crisis/post-conflict countries, and Delivering as One measures.
• Serves as the primary interface for DOCO communication with Regional UNDG Teams and UNCTs to ensure a clear, shared understanding of UNDG strategic priorities and guidance, and of regional and country coordination issues.
• Gathers, analyzes, disseminates and communicates information, lessons learned and best practices regarding regional and country coordination to support the achievement of UNDG strategic priorities and M&A System objectives.
• Provides advice and support to the Director to deepen engagement of senior UNDG leaders in key regional and country-level issues and to identify opportunities to leverage UNDG/DOCO leadership authority/influence in pursuit of development coordination objectives.

The RLA Team Leader, reports to the Deputy Director DOCO, for general direction and guidance, and is responsible to coordinate the strategic outputs and contributions  of the Regional Liaison Unit. 

While coordinating the Regional Liaison Team, the Team Leader, in her/his functional role as Regional Liaison Advisor will principally act alongside the Advisors of the Regional Liaison Unit. The RLA / Team Leader serves as a the principal focal point  for DOCO for regular contact and communication with the Regional UNDG Teams and RCs on UNDG strategic priorities under her/his direct supervision and provides support to the respective assigned Regional UNDG Team(s), and as required to the Resident Coordinators (RC) and UN Country Teams (UNCTs) in the geographic region(s) assigned to her/him , on the implementation of UNDG strategic priorities and the Management and Accountability  (M & A) system and agreed commitments on common country programming, aid effectiveness, business operations, joint funding, support to Delivering as One, crisis/post-crisis transition planning and coordination, and human rights.

The RLA Team Leader coordinates the outputs of the Regional Liaison Unit and acts as the principal focal point for all interactions between the Unit and DOCO senior management. 

The RLA Team Leader and all Advisors of Unit will be assigned geographically to support one or more Regional UNDG Team(s), and may be required to cover other region(s) as necessary.

Duties and Responsibilities

Management of the Regional Liaison Unit:

• Establish the Unit work plan; determine priorities, timelines and results, including individual performance objectives ensuring alignment with FST and DOCO work plans. Oversee progress in the implementation to ensure delivery of results according to standards and objectives. Take timely decision to ensure objectives are met.
• Supervise the RLA team promoting team-building/approaches/synergy, build staff capacity and encourage excellence in performance.
• Determine the resources required (financial, human, etc) and provide input in the budget preparation process with DOCO Senior Management. Manage allotments for optimum use and to ensure compliance with organizational rules, regulations, policies and procedures and of integrity and transparency. Identify and recruit technical resources, consultants and other services, establish the TOR and oversee and supervise delivery of quality results.
• Represent the Unit in all Management oversight and decision support structures set up by DOCO Senior Management to facilitate the governance of the Office
• Responsible for the day-to-day management delegated by the DOCO Director of the Capacity Gap Initiative for Crisis & Transition Countries (part of the Country Coordination Fund / UN CCF) – including the following tasks in coordination with the DOCO Business Service Centre: preparation of allotment decisions to DOCO Director, narrative reporting to donors, supporting the DOCO Director in their role as co-chair of the Capacity Gap Deployment Steering Committee, establishing and maintaining an M&E system of the Initiative and any other related activities and tasks pertaining to proper project / fund management.

Liaison, collaboration, coordination and advisory support:

• Reinforce understanding of UNDG strategic priorities with the Regional UNDG Team and UNCTs through active collaboration, partnerships and alliance building to facilitate dialogue and shared understanding of and commitments to the UNDG strategic priorities and other key developments by stakeholders.
•  Identify guidelines, tools, and/or resource person(s) and share with regional staff to assist them to effectively implement UNDG strategic priorities. Coordinate and facilitate follow-up access to subject matter experts and/or tools, in collaboration with the HST and its expert networks, the Knowledge Management unit and other UN entities.
• In consultation with the Regional UNDG Team, participate at the technical level in  Secretariat-led, country-specific mechanisms involving crisis countries and participate in related missions, keeping abreast of rapidly evolving policy issues, provide clear and timely feedback to the HST/ Crisis/Post-Crisis Transition Planning and Coordination Unit  on issues to be addressed through global mechanisms, and ensure the effective provision of critical, timely support and assistance to crisis/post crisis transition countries facing immediate, broad scale, and/or intensive coordination requirements and challenges; prepare country-specific briefs for the Director and UNDG Chair, as required, including Policy Committee deliberations on country-specific issues.
• Ensure the assigned Regional UNDG Team receives required second line trouble shooting support In accordance with the M&A system, and as requested by Regional UNDG Team, provide direct assistance to UNCTs.

Capacity building and contribution to knowledge management:

• Collaborate with Regional UNDG Team(s) to determine the support that FST can provide to actively and effectively assist the UNDG Team(s) to build and sustain expertise.
•  Coordinate requests for advice from RC office staff, UNCTs and Regional UNDG Team(s) to ensure consistent application of UNDG guidelines and tools. Provide technical assistance to regional workshops, UNCT retreats and other country level events to reinforce mainstreaming and implementation of UNDG reform measures and to strengthen their capacities for UNDAF preparation and implementation, post-crisis transition/integrated missions planning preparation and implementation.
• In consultation with Regional UNDG Teams,  coordinate the Regional Liaison Unit review and, prioritization of requests for allocation of DOCO managed financial resources to support region-specific initiatives or activities to enhance field capabilities in UNDAF preparation and implementation, harmonization of business practices, or crisis and/or transition planning and coordination, and human rights.
• Collaborate with regional staff to contribute to planning and designing workshops, strategic retreats, annual/mid-term reviews and/or events to enhance field capacities, refine systemic learning and operationalize UNDG strategic priorities in programming and harmonization of business practices and operations, crisis/post-crisis transition planning and coordination.
• Consult with Regional UNDG Team(s) to identify and address UNCT/RC issues and capacity gaps; review and prioritize requests from the UNCTs for allocation of SRC and CCF funds.
• Provide advice to the Regional UNDG Team(s) and support the deployment of experts from the UNDG Expert Rosters in response to requests from the Regional UNDG for assistance to UNCTs to fill any capacity gaps experienced by their team, and obtain feedback on experts for internal use.
• Coordinate within the RLA Team,  in consolidating and disseminating best practices and lessons learned across regions, in collaboration with the Knowledge Management Unit and HST.
• Lead the Regional Liaison Unit's provision of advice and collaborate with HST to refine and strengthen corporate policies to improve development outcomes and performance based on best practices and lessons learned.

Monitoring and evaluation support:

• In collaboration with the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, ensure UNDG--approved tools and indicators are applied at the regional and country levels to continuously monitor and measure progress in implementing UNDG policies and guidelines.

External relations:

• Ensure regional awareness and use of UNDG policies, guidelines and tools among relevant parties at the regional and country levels and assist in interpreting/applying standard information to differing country circumstances. 
• In coordination with HST identify opportunities and issues at the regional and country levels for engaging senior UNDG leaders to achieve UNDG strategic priorities and lead on recommending courses of action to the DOCO Senior Management.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN's values and ethical standards
• Advocates and promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of  the UN
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Treats all people fairly without favoritism

• Demonstrates and promotes the values of the UN in actions and decisions and acts in accordance with the standard of conduct for international civil servants.
• Shows willingness to work without bias with all persons regardless of gender, nationality, religion or culture.

Contributes effectively to team-based activities, working collaboratively and sharing information openly; works effectively with colleagues inside the UN as well as its partners and other stakeholders to pursue common goals;

• Facilitates and encourages open communication in the team, communicating effectively.
• Remains calm, composed and patient when facing conflict, manages conflict productively, focusing on mutually acceptable solutions;
• Takes initiative and seeks opportunities to initiate action.
• Actively produces and disseminates new knowledge; creates/contributes to mechanisms to collect and share knowledge;
• Actively seeks learning opportunities; demonstrates commitment to ongoing professional development

Proposes innovative ideas and new solutions to work

Functional Competencies:

• Proven experience in leading multi-disciplinary teams and experience in supervision of clerical and non-clerical personnel.
• Demonstrated ability to create and build networks,  partnerships and alliances
• Good understanding of UNDG strategic priorities, especially from field-based perspective
• Good  understanding of DOCO's substantive areas of focus, with a solid knowledge and understanding  in at least one of these areas (ie. common country programming, business operations, crisis/post-crisis transition planning and coordination, Delivering as One and/or human rights)
• Very good understanding of development operations coordination issues, tools and challenges, especially in programmatic areas.
• Good  understanding of the UN common system and the UN reform, in particular, the roles of the UNDG and DOCO, and key stakeholders, especially at the regional and country levels
• Anticipates and understands internal and external issues and opportunities that may impact on the organization
• Demonstrated ability to promote organizational agenda
• Demonstrated ability to provide change advice and develop strategies to enable staff/office to deal with change effectively
• Demonstrated ability to identify needs and develop strategies for capacity-building, especially at field-based level
• Ability to contribute effectively in team-based setting, especially in the area of knowledge-sharing and learning; leverage the different experiences and expertise of team members to achieve better outcomes
• Keeps abreast of new developments in areas of focus
• Ability to speak and write clearly and convincingly, adapting style and content to different audiences
• Strong writing skills.
• Proven ability to advise and develop strategic and operational solutions with clients; anticipates constraints in the delivery of services and identifies solutions
• Proven effectiveness in disseminating and promoting use of sound methodologies and tools to assist organizational units in carrying out results-based monitoring and evaluation

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advance university degree in international relations, public or business management or other social sciences and related field is required. 

Experience:

• At least 10 years relevant experience, including three years in an advisory or technical capacity with the UN system, Agencies, Funds or Programs at the country or regional level.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in oral and written English is required. Proficiency in another UN working language, as may be required for a given region, would be an asset.

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.

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Closing Date: Thursday, 06 December 2012