Country Coordinator - Field Unit Thailand

Reporting to the Portfolio Manager/Specialist, Regional Office, the Country Coordinator leads and manages the UNV Field Unit. She/he is responsible for effective strategic planning, leading to mobilization and placement of UN Volunteers, select administrative/operational support to volunteers, and advocacy and positioning of UNV interests in the country, in line with UNV’s Strategic Framework.  The Country Coordinator builds and maintains relationships with main partners, and effectively coordinates with the Regional Office and HQ organizational units, on volunteer mobilization, programme implementation, and provision of substantive inputs and facilitation of corporate initiatives. The main responsibility of the Country Coordinator is to increase volunteer volume in-country through these programmatic and partnership functions. 
 

1. UN Volunteer mobilization and management 

• Liaise with UN agencies in the country to ensure an understanding of UNV’s mandate, key offers and the added value that UN Volunteer assignments bring in support to the achievement of their respective mandates; 
• Maintain business intelligence on UN agencies, identifying specific entry points to diversify partnerships with the key result of increased volunteer assignments, including the assessment and reporting on the forecast demand for onsite and online UN Volunteers in the country; 
• Identify volunteer placement opportunities and present UNV value proposition and volunteer modalities with the objective of maximizing international and national volunteer presence, including collaboration in the preparation of descriptions of assignment, with partner agencies and other partners;  
• Ensure that incoming and outgoing UN Volunteers are adequately briefed and debriefed and extend personal support and guidance to UN Volunteers serving in the country; 
• Work closely with the Field Security Officer and provide support to the UN Designated Official to ensure a detailed understanding among UN Volunteers on all security-related issues; 
• Monitor the well-being and performance of serving UN Volunteers through routine field visits to their duty stations and discussions with their supervisors and counterparts; 
• Oversee and approve UN Volunteers’ entitlements as delegated, authorized, or needed;  
• Attract relevant national talents and manage local talent sources as per the country demand forecast and agreed talent acquisition priorities, in coordination with the regional Talent Acquisition Analyst;
• Provide overall management and administrative support to UN Volunteers.

        2. Advocacy, partnership building, and UNV programme integration

• Lead UNVs’ field efforts as the representative of the organization in the country, ensuring key results and delivery of the Strategic Framework and the Sustainable Development Goals;  
• Establish, foster and maintain effective outreach and relationships, including the formalization of partnerships and other exchanges of confidence such as inclusion in the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), as well as with government, UN agencies, NGOs, the private sector and other relevant development partners; 
• Participate in UN thematic forces, UN-led assessments, Programme Management Team (PMT) meetings, post-conflict needs assessments, UNSDCF planning processes, technical missions, and funding appeals to identify opportunities for volunteerism and volunteer placement; 
• In coordination with HQ, identify resource mobilization entry points with key partners and donors in the country if and when applicable.
• Establish, foster and maintain effective outreach and relationships with local civil society organizations, prioritizing those focused on volunteerism, to contribute to community-led sustainable development in the country; 
• Encourage national and local actors to establish a framework on volunteer infrastructure that supports volunteerism for peace and development, including the adoption of relevant policies and legislation; 
• Strengthen and determine business intelligence related to partnerships, promotion of volunteerism and shaping and delivering volunteer infrastructure advisory services and conduct country scans as input for corporate planning processes; 
• In close coordination with the Regional Office and the Communications Section at headquarters, prepare, disseminate and present country-specific promotional information on the mandate and work of UNV with relevant development partners and the media;  
• Coordinate activities and plan events, in collaboration with other agencies, for annual, national, and UN-recognized international celebrations, including the International Volunteer Day (IVD); 
• Encourage and monitor serving UN Volunteers to embrace the ideals of volunteerism, act as advocates for volunteer action, and document their experiences in promoting volunteerism; 
• Support, in the case of UNV-funded projects UNV programmatic engagement. 

        3. Management

• Develop and manage the implementation of the Field Unit’s annual work plan, including management and reporting on UNV support funds and budget; 
• Lead the UNV country-presence to ensure coordinated and effective delivery of services as well as enable a supportive and collaborative work environment;
• Establish and monitor implementation of the FU’s annual work plan and set performance indicators.

• Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline 

• Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements  

• Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback

• Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible 

• Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident

• Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships

• Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

System Thinking

• Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgment to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact other parts of the system

Negotiation and Influence 

• Reach a common understanding/agreement, persuade other, resolve points of difference through a dialogue, negotiate mutually acceptable solutions and create ‘win-win’ situations.

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.

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

Partnerships Management 

• Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies

Digital Awareness and Literacy 

• Ability to monitor new and emerging technologies, as well as understand their usage, potential, limitations, impact, and added value. Ability to rapidly and readily adopt and use new technologies in professional activities, and to empower others to use them as needed. Knowledge of the usage of digital technologies and emerging trends.

Event planning and execution

• Ability to plan, manage and execute of public and private events to ensure that they support and amplify individual communications and advocacy initiatives, as well as UNV's overall brand and mandate.