Positioning and Engagament Specialist (Home-Based)

Remote | New York City

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
Location: Remote | New York City
Grade: Mid level - IPSA-11, International Personnel Services Agreement
Occupational Groups:
Closing Date: 2025-01-22

Background

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

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.

Office/Unit/Project Description

Emerging and future digital technologies are one of the most profound drivers of change globally. Recognizing that these technologies bring both opportunities to accelerate progress in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals as well as presenting challenges to development, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been undergoing an organization-wide digital transformation since 2019. UNDP’s digital transformation seeks to help create a world in which digital is an empowering force for people and planet.

UNDP is the development arm of United Nations. Present in 170 countries with over 17,000 people, UNDP works on the world’s biggest challenges, from rising poverty and inequality to a rapidly changing climate, the emergence of crises and the continued degradation and destruction of our natural world. Our UNDP Digital Strategy 2022 – 2025 aims to support our partner countries to unlock the power of digital to tackle these pressing issues. The strategy lays out UNDP’s ambition to use a rights-based approach to digital technologies to improve our development results and help build inclusive digital ecosystems globally that leave no one behind. These aims are supported by the transformation of our internal, operational systems and building an agile, digitally capable workforce.

The Positioning and Engagement Specialist will provide expertise and direction to position UNDP in the digital development ecosystem. The role will also build strategic partnerships and lead CDO and UNDP’s engagement opportunities in the digital development space.

Scope of Work

Duties and Responsibilties

Provide expertise and direction to position UNDP in the digital development ecosystem

Contribute to the development of key emerging policy agendas in digital transformation and future of development contexts, in collaboration with policy teams at UNDP. Bring in perspectives and expertise from the Global South, via UNDP Country Offices and the Regional Bureaux as appropriate.
Develop CDO narratives and points of view on important and emerging digital development issues.
Ensure consistency of CDO messaging across knowledge products, events, public advocacy, media engagements, and communications.
Support overall coherence of CDO strategic approach across teams.
Identify opportunities for meaningful, impactful, and forward-looking positioning on important and emerging digital issues.
Identify advocacy opportunities through which to embed CDO key messages to strengthen UNDP’s position among peers and stakeholders, including but not limited to global and regional events, international outlets, online platforms, etc.
Engage with other teams at UNDP and UN partners to provide guidance and input to ensure CDO points of view are reflected.
As necessary, conduct and manage primary and/or secondary research and distil relevant lessons from projects and programmes to inform policy formulation and guidance.
Engage relevant partners on research or advocacy, hire and manage vendor and/or research partners as needed.
Lead the process of knowledge capture international know-how in relevant thematic areas and document project lessons, experiences, and best practices that may be useful in design and implementation of similar projects for organizational and external sharing and learning.
Work closely with the communications team within CDO to ensure coherence in external advocacy messages.

Build Strategic Partnerships and Lead UNDP’s Engagement Opportunities

Identify and engage strategic partners in the digital development space, including but not limited to Member State governments, private sector, foundations, think tanks, and multi- stakeholder alliances.
Assess, prioritize and deepen existing partnerships (including bilateral relationships and multi- stakeholder networks where UNDP has corporate participation).
Identify and cultivate partners for CDO's work, pursue overall resource mobilization and partnership opportunities for CDO, as well as support pillar engagement on the same for specific projects
Serve as key focal point managing CDO’s relationships with key multi-stakeholder or inter- agency platforms (including but not limited to: IGF, UNGIS, WSIS and GSMA), further establishing UNDP’s leadership role in these collaborations.
Advise and support CDO in ongoing Member State engagement to advance their understanding and support to our work – which may include briefings, meetings, events, newsletters and other updates.
Advise and support UNDP’s engagement in high-visibility events, assess and advise on prioritization of event invitations, and support senior management (Administrator, AA, ASGs, CDO) on their engagement.
Coordinate with colleagues at other relevant UNDP Headquarter/ regional/ country level offices to vet or propose key event opportunities on digital topics, and support with providing key messages/background material as needed
Work closely with relevant bureau across UNDP (including ExO, Regional Bureaux and BERA) to ensure CDO’s partnership work is conducted in a coordination with others.
Work with various CDO workstreams and BERA to target key stakeholder groups to grow awareness and engagement with the UNDP digital transformation agenda.
Lead UNDP’s engagement in high-visibility events, assess and advise on prioritization of event invitations, and support senior management (Administrator, AA, ASGs, CDO) on their engagement.
Coordinate with colleagues at other relevant UNDP Headquarter/ regional/ country level offices to vet or propose key event opportunities on digital topics, and support with providing key messages/background material as needed.

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 position will report into Head of Partnerships and Engagement within CDO Given the global consultations to be undertaken during this assignment, the incumbent is expected to be reasonably flexible with his/her availability for such consultations taking into consideration different time zones.

Competencies

Core

Achieve Results:	LEVEL3: Set andalign 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 withDetermination:	LEVEL 3: Think beyondimmediate task/barriers and takeaction to achievegreater results
Engage andPartner:	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

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Thematic Area	Name	Definition
Business Direction & Strategy	Business Acumen	Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome Ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization
Digital	Digital Ecosystems	Knowledge of how theywork, understanding of the opportunities and challenges for governments andsociety
Partnership management	Resource mobilization	Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities, and establish a plan to meet funding requirements
Partnership management	Strategic engagement	Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision andobjectives
Business Development	Knowledge Generation	Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.
Business Management	Results-based Management	Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools
Business Direction & Strategy	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

Minimum Qualifications

Min. Education requirements

Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Global Affairs, International Relations and/or Development Studies or related field is required. Or
A first-level university degree in the above-mentioned fields, in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree

Min. years of relevant work experience

A minimum of 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of experience in driving development programs and policies in a public, nonprofit, and/or development setting is required.

Required skills

Demonstrated experience and understanding of digital technologies.
Experience interacting with and steering stakeholders and partnerships across sectors towards a common objective.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the competencies section

Demonstrated experience in collaborating with diverse stakeholders.
Demonstrated capacity to capture and synthesize information on an ongoing basis to produce analysis and recommendations.
Demonstrated knowledge of the latest trends with technology innovations (e.g. emerging technology, artificial intelligence)
Demonstrated experience in crafting positioning strategies and documentation within digital development.

Required Language(s)

Fluency in English is required.
Working knowledge of another official UN language is advantageous.

Travel:

UNDP will cover the cost of travel of the individual to the duty station, as well as their return to their home upon completion of their services. Travel costs are covered only in the event that the function will be undertaken physically in the duty station and excludes working from home arrangements.
Include any official travel expected to be associated with performing the functions

Disclaimer

Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Non-discrimination

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

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