Programme Management Associate-Nationals Only

This position is open to Thai Nationals Only 

BACKGROUND

UNDP is the frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for actions at regional, national and local levels to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Across Asia and the Pacific, UNDP helps countries formulate and implement their own solutions to address urgent development challenges. It implements the UNDP Strategic Plan (2022-2025) in the region through the Bangkok Regional Hub (BRH), various Country Offices (COs) and the Global Policy Network (GPN) which provides policy and programme advice to ensure alignment of country programmes with regional and global and corporate priorities. Several integrated solutions are identified in the Strategic Plan which include the following:

• Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery for Building Resilience
• Environment and Energy
• Poverty and Inequality

UNDP’s Environment and Energy team within the GPNs 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 the 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; Renewable and Modern Energy; Extractive Industries; Chemicals and Waste Management; Environmental Governance and Green/Circular Economy and SCP approaches. This work advances crosscutting themes on innovative finance, digital transformation, capacity development, human rights, gender equality, health, technology, and South- South learning. UNDP's Nature, Climate and Energy practice spans 137 countries, with a portfolio directly benefiting 86 million people. Our support to Governments focusses on enabling an inclusive, resilient, green recovery by: building competency to accelerate access to sustainable energy and climate and nature-positive policies and finance; scaling capacity to ensure No One is Left Behind; catalyzing SDG and Paris-aligned investments (public and private); delivering client-focused solutions that respond to countries' immediate, mid- and long-term recovery and socio-economic development priorities; and leveraging our on-the-ground presence and networks to unlock bottom-up solutions that deliver lasting impacts at country level.

Position Purpose: 

As a member of Environment and Energy Team, and under the direct supervision of the Programme Management and Oversight Specialist and overall guidance of the Regional Team Leader for Environment and Energy Team, the Programme Management Associate provides support in management advisory and oversight functions of the Regional VF funded programmes and ensures execution of assigned services in implementation of various projects and initiatives of the Regional Bureau. The Programme Management Associate promotes a client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.

S/he works in close collaboration with programme, operations and project teams in the COs and the Regional Hub; staff in HQ Units and the Global Shared Services Centre (GSSC), Project Implementing Partners as well as other UN agencies to successfully deliver programme and management services.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Key Duties and Accountabilities

1.) Supports effective implementation of regional initiatives and projects, including those managed by the Regional Bureau on behalf of the Country Offices;

• Provide effective support to implementation of the regional projects and initiatives including on project appraisal, implementation, donors reporting (with focus on environment vertical fund portfolio), evaluation, operational and financial management;
• Create projects in Quantum, preparation of required budget revisions, project status, determination of unutilized funds and follow up to project closure; 
• Ensure provision of guidance to the implementing partners and responsible parties on implementation issues and UNDP requirements; 
• Support with preparation of the guidance and follow-up on HACT (Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers) audits and requirements;
• Review of financial reporting including HACT FACE Form submission, Project Delivery Reports and other required documentation; preparation of the requests for both Purchase Order [PO] and non-PO vouchers for assigned projects; 
• Monitor and update assurance plans, and provide advice on project formulation, day-to-day project management, project monitoring and evaluation;
• Ensure timely corrective actions on all vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers;
• Create requisitions in Quantum for development projects, register of goods receipt in Quantum; support contract management (HR and procurement) and perform other administrative functions, as required. 
• Participate in the evaluation and review panels; preparing evaluation reports and submission to procurement, grants and other review committees, as required;
• Exercise a back-up function to perform programme and operations related responsibilities based on the demand and request of the E&E Team;

2.) Supports in data collection and analysis on key management aspects and processes on environment vertical fund portfolio; 

• Support in data collection and analysis towards preparation of VF Programme/Projects for the Programme Management and Oversight Specialist and/or Regional Team Leader, including for relevant background materials, briefing notes, presentations, reports and /or talking points. 
• Prepare/generate graphs, analysis and relevant reports on programme/projects under implementation and in development to support programme/project management;
• Support in data collection and analysis and remedial actions related to programme finance and enterprise risk management at regional portfolio level, in consultation with relevant RBAP staff, based in the Bangkok Regional Hub;
• Support in tracking and reporting on mobilized resources. Review of contributions agreement, managing contributions in Quantum;
• Provide support in data collection and analysis on key management aspects of CO portfolio performance, including vertical funds programming (e.g. review of COs workplans; implementation and reporting; addressing bottlenecks and deficiencies in issues related to programme and operations);
• Review data on financial and operational performance and support analysis on regional portfolio level performance, including verification of evidence documentation;
• Provide and facilitate quality assurance and secondary reviews of project documents, work plans, budgets, procurement plans and transactions, financial management processes, financial transactions and reports for assigned offices and projects; 
• In close cooperation with GSSU and other relevant units ensure effective oversight on transactions and processes through enhancing business processes, increased oversight and monitoring actions and special measures. Develops visualization and presentations on best practices, analysis of portfolio level processes and recommend remedial actions.

3.) Ensures support to oversight and quality assurance activities;

• Assists in ensuring full compliance of implementation of programming initiatives and activities with UN/UNDP rules, regulations, policies and procedures; implementation of effective internal controls, troubleshooting and analysis of parameters in support of effective design and functioning of management advisory support to COs and for vertical Fund portfolio in the Asia-Pacific region;
• Ensures effective support to monitoring and oversight activities of the Regional Bureau, including on enhanced oversight on the regional vertical fund programming; 
• Perform quality assurance on CO and portfolio performance, and support analysis and implementation support to COs on management strategies agreed with the Bureau; addressing bottlenecks and deficiencies in issues related to programme and operations;
• Accurately, accumulate fund portfolio and project information and its analysis, forecasting potential problems and planning, allowing for alternative, creative solutions;
• Conduct periodic quality assurance and oversight of programme and operations management, remotely and on site, and make recommendations for improvement to CO and/or BRH project management teams;
• Provides efficient support in regular monitoring and quality assurance of project and programme management actions by COs and Implementing Partners of Regional VF projects to ensure that they are performed consistently and in accordance to corporate standards (e.g. workplans and reporting, governance arrangements, risk management and mitigation etc.);
• Provide quality assurance support to project implementation activities, focusing on programme and financial matters;
• Perform liaison services with GSSU in addressing programme management and implementation issues aimed to ensure enhanced oversight by the Regional Bureaus; 
• Work with the supervisor on audit or other assessment related activities to ensure that actions across various audit-mandated and compliance tasks are completed in a timely manner; and
• Provides on demand on-site and remote programme and project management services to COs and Implementing Partners as required.

4.) Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing.

• Support the organization of regional training events on programme and operations, including technical inputs and support to logistics;
• Assists in organization of training and learning activities for UNDP personnel on specific project management and financial issues, the application of Quantum finance and PM module, STREAM, Executive Snapshot, Portfolio Dashboards, etc.; 
• Facilitates knowledge building and management, documentation of lessons learned and good practices, and innovation and knowledge transfer in the country office, region and globally and the Implementing Partners.
• Support the Program Management and Oversight Specialist and/or Regional Team Leader in developing knowledge products, briefs/communication materials.
• Support other/ad hoc activities as relevant and needed,
• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization

Core Competencies

• 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:

Business Management  Project Management-Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

Business Management  Risk Management-Identify and organize action around reducing, mitigating and proactively managing risks

Business Management  Customer Satisfaction/Client Management

• Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers' needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients' immediate requests.
•  Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.

Business Management Communication - 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.

Finance Budget Management-Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets

Finance Financial reporting and analysis

• Understands changes in regulatory, legal and ethical frameworks and standards for financial reporting in the public sector. 
• Ability to extract, evaluate financial data, derive relevant findings and present them in a meaningful and coherent manner to facilitate effective decision making and performance monitoring.
• Understands the benefits of integrated reporting, including non-financial resources such as human, social and intellectual capital, and environmental and governance performance

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Secondary Education, preferably with specialized certification in Accounting and Finance. 
• University degree (bachelor’s degree) in Business or Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences or other related fields will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement;
• Certification in programme/ project management (e.g. Managing Successful Programme, Project Management Professional, PRINCE 2, etc.) would be an advantage.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills:

• Minimum 7 years (with secondary education) or 4 years (with bachelor´s degree) of progressively responsible administrative or programme experience is required at the national or international level.
• Experience with ERP systems is highly desirable (i.e. Oracle Cloud, Quantum or others).
• Experience working with UNDP or other UN agencies is desired.
• Experience in dealing with Environmental Vertical Funds such as GEF, GCF or others is desirable.
• Experience in preparation or review of financial reports is desirable.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, MS Project etc.) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English and Thai is required. 

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

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 descriptions, 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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