Programme Manager

The Accelerating a Just Energy Transition in Republic of Moldova Programme (Programme) aims to drive a comprehensive and systemic just energy transition in the Republic of Moldova, effectively addressing the root causes of the energy crisis. It strives to promote sustainable development and ensure equitable access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy for all individuals and communities in the country.

The Programme aims to achieve five key ambitions, co-designed with energy stakeholders:

• Accelerate Energy Diversification and Efficiency: By supporting the modernization of infrastructure, buildings, and the grid, the Programme aims to increase access to renewable energy sources, promote energy efficiency, and encourage investment in renewable energy and innovative technologies.
• Decarbonize Industries and Economic Sectors: sectors The Programme seeks to drive the decarbonization of various economic sectors such as construction, transportation, agriculture, and the private sector. It aims to promote sustainable practices, share green business models, and develop vocational skills for the green energy sector to create equitable employment opportunities and support the transition to a low-carbon economy. 
• Foster Sustainable Consumption Patterns: Through comprehensive public awareness campaigns and educational materials, the Programme aims to deepen understanding of energy efficiency and renewable energy among community members, business leaders, and government agencies. It strives to promote behaviour change towards sustainable energy practices, particularly among vulnerable populations.
• Strengthen Inclusive Energy Governance: The Programme recognizes the importance of inclusive energy governance at both the national and local levels. It aims to strengthen the capacity of relevant institutions and stakeholders to effectively govern and manage the energy sector. By promoting transparency, accountability, and participation, the Programme seeks to ensure that decision-making processes related to energy transition are inclusive, empowering all segments of society, including marginalized groups.
• Address Energy Vulnerability and Promote Resilience: One of the Programme 's primary focus is to address energy vulnerability and promote resilience among households and businesses. It will provide further support to the Government in improving and implementing compensation mechanisms, including the established an on-bill compensation mechanism targeting the households by level of vulnerability. This intervention aims to provide immediate relief to energy-poor households and the private sector, while also fostering long-term energy resilience and efficiency. The Programme places a strong emphasis on meeting the energy needs of vulnerable groups, prioritizing affordability, reliability, and sustainability. To this end, it will explore conceptualisation of decentralized energy solutions, off-grid options, and harness the role of energy access in conflict and disaster recovery efforts, livelihoods, and social inclusion.

The Programme duration is envisaged between 2023- 2027.

Lead, manage, coordinate, and develop effective project planning and implementation:

• Ensure effective content and operational management of the programme;  
• Oversee day-to-day operations and implementation of programme activities;
• Exercise close monitoring of programme activities and produce monitoring reports; 
• Ensure the timely and efficient delivery of Programme outcomes, outputs and products, as per the Project Document, leading to the achievement of expected results;
• Develop Work Plan, periodic narrative progress and final reports and expenditures status reports and submit to the supervisor; 
• Ensure the implementation of the activities under the Programme work plan according to indicators for achieving planned results, as well as the overall management of the Prorgamme in line with UNDP rules, regulations and procedures;
• Contribute UNDP CO in effectively managing human resources pertaining to the Programme, including staff, consultants and short-term experts; conduct periodic performance appraisals; build, lead and motivate a solid team of professionals;
• Ensure the efficient management of the Programme financial resources, including budgeting and budget revisions, as well as expenditure tracking and reporting;
• Continuously record and maintain Programme issues and risks and suggest mitigation measures;
• Lead and coordinate the organization of meetings, workshops, conferences, trainings, study visits and related activities relevant to the implementation of the Programme;
• Maintain a continuous effective dialogue with the key stakeholders, central and local government authorities, other UN agencies and actors active in the sectors pertaining to the just energy transition, CSOs, partner organizations, international and national experts, and donors in the areas of the Progamme intervention in view of identifying synergies and avoiding overlapping of assistance, but also to support with resource mobilisation and expansion of the Programme; 
• Maintain a close collaboration with other related UNDP programmes to ensure synergies and complementarities; 
• Ensure high quality information and visibility of the programme activities to the mass media and stakeholders and support mechanisms for exchange of information, experience and lessons learned at the local, national, and as required at international levels;
• Perform any other duties connected directly with the implementation and evaluation of the Programme as required. 

Facilitate Knowledge Management and Sharing:

• Assist in coordinating the exchange of information internally and between relevant Programme’s   stakeholders;
• Ensure timely and proper documentation of the programme implementation process and products produced in accordance with the UNDP guides;
• Ensure high quality information and visibility of the programme activities to the mass media and stakeholders and support mechanisms for exchange of information, experience and lessons learned at the local, national, and as required at international levels;
• Capture and disseminate good practices locally, nationally and as required internationally;
• Provide feedback and inputs to the design of a functional portfolio approach in the area of just energy transition. 

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization

Institutional Arrangement:

The Programme Manager will work under the direct supervision of the Climate Change, Environment and Energy Cluster Lead  and overall guidance of UNDP Moldova Deputy Resident Representative and ensure the provision of development services and products commensurate with the scope of the Programme and assigned area of responsibilities of the highest quality and standards to national and local counterparts and clients through applying HRBA and GE approaches. 

He/she is accountable to the Programme Steering Committee for the Programme’s results. 

The Programme Manager will manage/coordinate the programme team, currently consisting of up to 4 full time employees and part time consultants, as envisaged in project organizational chart. Recruitment of additional staff to facilitate implementation of the Programme is ongoing. 

The Programme Manager will work in close cooperation with the the Programme, Operations, Communications and other teams in the UNDP Country Office (CO) for effective achievement of results, anticipating and contributing to resolving complex programme/project-related issues and information delivery. 

He/she also collaborates with other UN projects, national stakeholders and other development partners in supporting the Government in just energy related area. 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.

The Programme Manager in close collaboration with the Deputy Resident Representative, Energy, Environment, Climate Change Cluster Lead, and Programme Analysts, supports UNDP Country Office in developing concept notes and project documents in the energy related area to further develop the Programme portfolio of UNDP Country Office in area of just energy transition.
 

• Achieve Results: 
  • LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.
• Think Innovatively: 
  • LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.
• Learn Continuously: 
  • LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.
• Adapt with Agility: 
  • LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands. 
• Act with Determination: 
  • LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.
• Engage and Partner: 
  • LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: 
  • LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

• Results-based Management:    
  • Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.
• Project Management:   
  • Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
• Risk Management:         
  • Identify and organize action around reducing, mitigating and proactively managing risks
• Monitoring & Evaluation:            
  • Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively. 
  • Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results. 
  • Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming. 
  • Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools. 
  • Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.
• System Thinking:            
  • Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
• Sustainable Energy Hub:            
  • Just Energy Transition.
• EU Partnerships:             
  • Knowledge and understanding of EU and other donors strategies, approached, processes and systems.