Global Coordinator – Spotlight Initiative

New York City

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
Location: New York City
Grade: Level not specified - Level not specified
Occupational Groups:
- Women's Empowerment and Gender Mainstreaming
- Gender-based violence
- Managerial positions
Closing Date: Closed

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.

Spotlight Initiative is the world’s largest effort to end violence against women and girls and a pooled fund of the United Nations (UN) system. It is a model for localization, unifying communities, civil society, governments, donors, and experts under a common approach rooted in local needs. Spotlight Initiative is also an SDG model fund, operationalizing the UN Development System reforms, and one of 12 UN High Impact Initiatives to drive acceleration across the SDGs. It is housed within the Executive Office of the Secretary-General with a reporting line through the UN Development Coordination Office (DCO).

Initiated with a seed investment of 500 million euros, it has, over 6 years, delivered proof of concept across 26 countries and 6 regions and will now scale up to greater investment and reach, bringing on board new countries and new partnerships. The Initiative will deepen its "whole-of-society" approach, placing the goal of ending violence against women and girls at the centre of national development priorities.

Job Purpose and Organizational Context

The Global Coordinator, as Head of the Spotlight Initiative Secretariat, and with delegated authority from the Deputy Secretary-General as head of the pooled fund, oversees all activities related to the management of Spotlight Initiative, including providing strategic, operational, and administrative leadership. The incumbent will report to the Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG) through the Director, United Nations Development Coordination Office, accountable to the Deputy Secretary-General, working closely with the Spotlight Initiative Governing Body, UN Resident Coordinators, Participating UN Organizations, and the Administrative Agent.

The Global Coordinator of the Spotlight Initiative leads strategic thinking and provides thought leadership for the Spotlight Initiative and guides and oversees the operational and administrative support to the governance mechanisms of the Spotlight Initiative. The incumbent is responsible for the growth and sustainability of the pooled fund, system-wide coordination and engagement, fund secretariat management, ongoing engagement with country and EOSG leadership, and day-to-day management of the fund. The Global Coordinator is guided by and works closely with the EOSG, and as well in close collaboration with DCO, Resident Coordinators, UN Agencies, and key stakeholders of Spotlight Initiative (Governments, Civil Society, and other partners). The incumbent leads advocacy on behalf of the Initiative and represents the fund with a range of internal and external partners, is responsible for outreach to Member States and other partners for securing additional investments, actively oversees replenishment, targeted outreach, and provides regular briefings to partners. The incumbent facilitates the creation of, and manages, an integrated multi-disciplinary, and culturally diverse team within the Secretariat and provides technical and content leadership on programme development, monitoring and evaluation, civil society engagement, strategic positioning, and policy development related to the fund.

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.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Global Coordinator of the Spotlight Initiative oversees all activities related to the management of the Spotlight Initiative. Key tasks include, inter alia, the following:

1. Advise to the Spotlight Initiative’s Governance Mechanisms

Advises and provides substantive technical and management recommendations to the Deputy Secretary-General as Governing Body head, the Advisory Board, Operational Steering Committee, and the Programme Appraisal Committee, in all aspects related to the Spotlight Initiative, including on policy, strategy, monitoring and compliance.
Acts as liaison between the Spotlight Initiative’s Advisory Board, EOSG, DCO, UN Resident Coordinators/UN Country Teams.
Supports the work and meaningful engagement of the Global Civil Society Reference Group.
Manages delegated authorities for the Fund.

2. Strategic Leadership

Ensure high-level support to the Advisory Board and the Operational Steering Committee on strategic priorities, programmatic and financial allocations, including through organisation and preparation of the Governing Mechanisms’ meetings and reports, drawing on all relevant sources of information.
Brief senior UN Officials on the Spotlight Initiative, including in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, UN Agencies, and DCO.
Brief senior UN representatives at regional and country level on Spotlight Initiative as appropriate, with targeted outreach to enable effective delivery of Spotlight Initiative programmes.
Ensure appropriate coordination with other UN Funds, programmes and initiatives, particularly on the acceleration of progress towards the achievement of the SDGs.
Identify and develop strategic and innovative partnerships with UN development system entities and initiatives to support the implementation of projects funded by the Spotlight Initiative.
Initiate quarterly meetings with the Deputy Director DCO, Director Sustainable Development Unit, and Director responsible at UN Women, to discuss the evolving transition toward the effective institutionalisation of Spotlight Initiative and alignment with the Independent Gender Review.

3. Managing Spotlight Initiative and the Spotlight Initiative Secretariat

Under Advisory Board and OSC direction, lead development of quality Investment Plans in collaboration with Administrative Agent, Recipient UN Organizations (RUNOs), and Global Civil Society Reference Group.
Coordinate and oversee the provision of quality technical and operational guidance, advice and support to UN Country and Regional Teams in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Spotlight Initiative programmes to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, in line with the Operational Manual and the latest technical evidence.
Manage the Spotlight Initiative Secretariat team to ensure effective support for implementation of the Fund’s programme of work, with support from RUNOs and other participating partner entities.
Ensure effective management of the Spotlight Initiative Secretariat, including preparation of budgets, reporting on budget/programme performance, evaluation of staff performance, recruitment, and preparation of inputs for results-based budgeting.
Liaise with the Administrative Agent on matters pertaining to overall Spotlight Initiative fund allocations, administration and delivery, including for the transfer/release of approved project funds, project/ fund extensions and closures, overhead budget, and tracking donor contributions to Spotlight Initiative.
Oversee the development and implementation of a results-based system for impact measurement, monitoring and evaluation, in collaboration with RUNOs, to track the change generated by Spotlight Initiative programmes, for decision-making, advocacy, risk management and accountability.
Ensure knowledge generation and management of the Fund’s programmes and the collection/dissemination of good practices and lessons learned.
Oversee development and implementation of Spotlight Initiative guidelines and tools, including through the facilitation of inter-UN processes, informed by emerging lessons and present them for periodic review by the DCO Assistant Secretary-General and the Chair of the OSC.
Ensure timely and robust reporting of results that clearly capture fund performance, including the Spotlight Initiative Annual Report, in accordance with the agreed results framework and respective indicators, and facilitate annual progress reviews.

4. Advocacy, Communication, Partnerships and Resource Mobilisation

Undertake outreach to strengthen engagement of key partners with the Spotlight Initiative, including multilateral and bilateral development actors, private sector investors, civil society and individual investors.
Advise the Deputy-Secretary General, DCO, Advisory Board and OSC Chairs on financing strategies for development and organise collection of critical data on financial contributions through bilateral and multilateral development channels.
Undertake outreach to brief Member States on the activities of the Spotlight Initiative, with a view to actively mobilise resources and monitor current contribution levels and activate pledges.
Manage senior level liaison with counterparts in development organisations, financial institutions, and regional, multilateral, and bilateral agencies in supporting and scaling up Spotlight Initiative Programmes.
Oversee external communication about and visibility of the Spotlight Initiative Fund within the UN System, with other development partners, donors, and international stakeholders, as well as with the public.
Represent Spotlight Initiative in various fora as necessary.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation, and as requested by the Spotlight Initiative’s Advisory Board, its Chair or the Director of DCO.

Competencies

Core - CoreBehaviouralCompetencies.pdf (undp.org)

Achieve Results:

Prioritize team workflow, mobilize resources, drive scalable results/strategic impact

Think Innovatively:

Easily navigate complexity, encourage/enable radical innovation, has foresight

Learn Continuously

Create systems and processes that enable learning and development for all

Adapt with Agility

Proactively initiate/lead organizational change, champion new systems/processes

Act with Determination

Able to make difficult decisions in challenging situations, inspire confidence

Engage and Partner

Construct strategic multi-partner alliances in high stake situations, foster co- creation

Enable Diversity and Inclusion

Create ethical culture, identify/address barriers to inclusion

People Management:

UNDP People: Management Competencies can be found on the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Management - Portfolio Management:

Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimising return
on investment.

Business Direction and 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.

2030 Agenda: Engagement and Effectiveness - Effectiveness:

Programming principles & standards and development effectiveness principles.

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.
Ability to provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy, and look for ways to add Value beyond clients' immediate requests.
Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.

Communications - Advocacy strategy and implementation:

Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactful change.

Partnership management - Multi-stakeholder engagement and funding:

Knowledge and ability to forge multi-stakeholder.
Partnerships, and remove any obstacles to resource mobilisation and multi-stakeholder funding platforms.

Business Development - Integration within the UN:

Ability to identify and integrate capacity and assets of the UN system and engage in joint work; knowledge of the UN System and ability to apply this knowledge to strategic and/or practical situations.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced University Degree (master’s or equivalent) in International Development, International Relations, Public Administration, Public Policy, or other relevant Social Sciences is required. OR
A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above listed fields of study, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree

Experience:

A minimum of fifteen (15) years’ (with master’s degree) or seventeen (17) years (with bachelor’s degree) of experience in international development in a government, multilateral or civil society organisation working in a multicultural setting, with a minimum of five years doing so outside of one’s own country.
Experience in management of diverse and complex multidisciplinary teams at a senior level is required.
Relevant experience on ending gender-based violence or promoting gender equality is required.
Experience in fund management (managing Multi-Donor Trust Funds or large-scale multi-stakeholder programmes including results-based management, risk management, finance and operations) and resource mobilisation, and knowledge of financing for development is highly desirable.
Significant experience in partnership management, resource mobilisation, and advocacy would be an asset.
Understanding and experience in innovative financing, joint programming and partnerships, and country level joint UN work, will be significant assets.
Experience of working at a senior level across departments and in initiating and leading complex institutional reform efforts desirable.

Language Requirement:

Fluency in English is required, working knowledge of other UN language is an advantage.

Note:

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

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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