Project Analyst (Home-based)

Remote | New York City

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
Location: Remote | New York City
Grade: Junior level - IPSA-9, International Personnel Services Agreement
Occupational Groups:
- Project and Programme Management
Closing Date: 2025-02-11

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

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work is carried out through a network of advisors and specialists located at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, to ensure that local knowledge and context specific expertise is linked to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP provides its policy advisory and programme support functions through the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains, in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan. Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan and works closely with the Crisis Bureau (CB) that has the responsibility to guide and implement UNDP’s corporate crisis-related strategies and vision for crisis prevention, response and recovery.

UNDP's 2022-2025 Strategic Plan highlighting our continued commitment to eradicating poverty, accompanying countries in their pathways towards the SDGs and working towards the Paris Agreement. As part of the Global Policy Network in the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP's Nature, Climate Change, Energy, and Waste (NCE&W) Hubs promote and scale up integrated whole-of-governance approaches and nature-based solutions that reduce poverty and inequalities, strengthen livelihoods and inclusive growth, mitigate conflict, forced migration and displacement, and promote more resilient governance systems that advance linked peace and security agendas.

BPPS’ Hubs on Nature, Climate, Energy and Waste works with governments, civil society, and private sector partners to integrate natural capital, environment and climate concerns into national and sector planning and inclusive growth policies; support country obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements; and implement the UN’s largest portfolio of in-country programming on environment, climate change, and energy. This multi-billion-dollar portfolio encompasses:

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services including forests
Sustainable Land Management and Desertification including food and commodity systems
Water and Ocean Governance including SIDS
Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
Sustainable Energy
Extractive Industries
Chemicals and Waste Management
Environmental Governance and Green/Circular Economy and SCP approaches

UNDP has a growing portfolio of global projects implemented directly by the UNDP Nature Hub. These deal with emerging issues such as nature economies and green finance, support to country action on Convention on Biological Diversity, private sector engagement, work with NGOs. The projects are managed in the corporate ERP system, and support to participating countries and agencies is coordinated by UNDP Nature Hub at UNDP HQ in New York (within BPPS). Global projects in the area of nature conservation and sustainable development involve direct engagement with Responsible Parties (RPs) and subcontractors, and in some cases (when projects presuppose ground activities) with country offices. A global technical team at UNDP HQ led by Principal Technical Advisor, includes a number of thematic advisors and specialists who provide technical advice and support. They are supported for administrative and finance aspects by Project Analyst, helping with transactions initiation and recording, reporting and communications throughout global project implementation.

The private sector engagement workstream under the Nature Finance pillar of the UNDP Nature Hub, is expanding its programs focusing on the work with private sector with blended instruments, in particular related to conservation of iconic species. UNDP is currently rolling out programs dedicated to tiger conservation in South East Asia, in particular the Tiger Landscapes Investment Fund (TLIF) programme funded through the Nature Investment Facility and the Government of Germany. The programs involve partnership with private sector and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF). The Project Analyst will ensure timely and effective project administrative support, budget management, data collation backing and junior research to ensure successful implementation of these programmes. The position will also be asked to provide support to adjacent programs in the private sector engagement workstream of the Nature Hub, such as programs related to the support of the Taskforce on Nature Related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and Biodiversity Credit Alliance (BCA).

Scope of Work

Under the overall supervision of the Senior Nature Economist / Team Lead of Private Sector Engagement and Project Coordinators (PCs) the Project Analyst will provide assistance to the UNDP team in the day-to-day project management, support the operational implementation of the projects and contribute to the quality assurance. The Analyst will be part of Nature Hub’s operational structure and is expected to contribute across the Hub as needed.

Ensure Programme Coordination and Implementation of the assigned projects:

Support the Project Managers in the operational management of the programme;
Leads the logistics, documentation, preparation/review of budgets and authorization of expenses; prepares and revises the workplans, both in ERP and offline, and; prepares transactions for the approval of the Project Managers (PMs);
Liaises with Project Coordinators and team members, Responsible Parties, Programme Specialist and participating Country Offices (CO) to provide operational guidance and support on programme implementation in accordance with UNDP’s rules and regulations;
Ensures full compliance of operational activities with UN/UNDP rules, regulations, policies and strategies
Monitors projects’ delivery on a quarterly basis, submission of progress reports and budget revisions through ERP; identifies reasons for shortfall in delivery and recommends ways to correct situation; initiates management actions and prompts corrective steps; generates and explores NAP business intelligence; provides a quarterly overview of project performance
Preparation of inputs for reporting, including donor reporting;
Supports the organization of events, the recruitment of consultants, the procurement of goods/services and organisation of travel;
Draft needed presentations and briefing notes and maintain all project management documents in a shared repository;
Performs any other duties as required by the supervisor in relation to the team objectives.

Contribute to the quality control, planning, submission and oversight:

Ensures milestones are met, tracked and updated in ERP;
Reviews and revises budgets and procurement plans as needed, in coordination with the Project Managers before submission.
Assist in all aspects of private sector engagement workstream management, including tracking of standard project-related management actions, monitoring and evaluation requirements and progress reports including processing of required documentation.
Review financial interim progress reports and support RPs/COs, and UN to UN agreements, in applying corrective actions.
Prepare and perform payments for consultants (ICs) and short-term IPSAs and assist in settlements of DSA and other claims of staff and other service providers as per UNDP rules.
Review quarterly Fund Authorization and Certification of Expenditures (FACE) reports of the responsible parties in light with the guideline of corporate NIM manual and ensure timely submission to UNDP
Perform a role of Originator (travel arranger) and Travel Processor (certifying officer) to facilitate official travel according to UNDP Rules and Regulations
Monitors the submission of progress reports, analyses delivery and budget revisions through ERP and suggests corrective actions where needed;
Ensures projects comply with the latest UNDP policies;
Maintain close contact with RPs and COs on projects in varying stages of the project cycle, tracking project development and/or implementation progress against established timeframes for project maturation and/or the attainment of implementation milestones as indicated in project annual work plans, recommending courses of action as appropriate and bringing to the project manager attention all technical issues that require attention/resolution.

Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing and advocacy

Identify, synthesize and document best practices and lessons learned that are generated from the project and implementing partners;
Promote advocacy on development trends and opportunities to collaborate in coordination with the project partners, stakeholders, and UNDP communications staff.

Institutional Arrangement

The incumbent will work from home;
The incumbent will report to the Senior Nature Economist, with a second reporting line to the TNFD Global Project Manager. The incumbent will be part of Nature Hub’s operational structure and is expected to closely liaise with and support operations colleagues across the Hub.
The incumbent will be given access to relevant information necessary for execution of the tasks under this assignment;
The incumbent will be responsible for providing her/his own workstation (i.e. laptop, internet, phone, scanner/printer, etc.) and must have access to a reliable internet connection;
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	LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
Think Innovatively	LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
Learn Continuously	LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
Adapt with Agility	LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
Act with Determination	LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
Engage and Partner	LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion	LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Thematic Area	Name	Definition
Partnership Management	Relationship Management	Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations , trust and mutual understanding.
Business Management	Communication	Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience; Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.
Business Management	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 and actual 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.
Business Management	Resource Management	Ability to allocate and use resources in a strategic or tactical way in line with business needs and priorities and principles of accountability and integrity
Finance	Budget management	Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets
Finance	Financial planning and budgeting	Ability to create and manage processes to achieve UNDP's long and short-term financial goals, including through planning, budgeting, forecasting, analysing and reporting
Business Direction & Strategy	Systems 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 of the Successful IPSA

Min. Education requirements

Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Administration, Business, Economics, Project Management, International Development, or a related field is required. OR
A first-level university degree (bachelor's degree) in the same fields in combination with additional 2 (two) years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Min. years of relevant Work experience

Minimum 2 years (with Master’s degree) or 4 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in the field of international development, project and finance management and/or business administration.

Required skills

Experience in administrative management of projects/initiatives with different partners/ agencies involved;
- Experience in monitoring and analysis of project budgets and expenditures, preferably at the global level;
- Previous experience coordinating donor reporting and supporting oversight of donor-driven projects.

Desired skills

Demonstrated experience in environmental policy or nature finance project/program oversight support at a global or regional level is desired.
Experience in organizing events and/ or workshops is an advantage.
Experience using finance/project management, procurement and travel modules of Quantum, or similar ERP system will be considered an asset; 
Experience of UNDP regulations, policies, procedures, and practices is desirable.

Required Language(s) (at working level)

Fluency in the English language is required.
Fluency in Spanish and/or French is an advantage.

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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