Public Sector Innovation Projects Analyst (Task Lead)

Yerevan

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
Location: Yerevan
Grade: Level not specified - Level not specified
Occupational Groups:
- Project and Programme Management
- Innovations for Sustainable Development
- 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.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the knowledge frontier organization for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Over the recent years, Armenia made good socio-economic progress and set forward ambitious reforms. However, recent crisis events, including COVID-19 and military escalations in the region and beyond threaten to reverse hard fought development gains, poverty reduction efforts, exacerbating vulnerabilities and disproportionally affecting various vulnerable groups and regions, at the same time making room for new types of vulnerabilities and inequalities. These crises have underscored – more than ever – the need for a robust and shock-responsive social protection system in the country. In alignment with these objectives, the joint Action pursued by UNICEF, UNDP and WFP under the strong leadership of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs aims to contribute to inclusive, resilient and sustainable socio-economic recovery and growth in the post-crisis period, in line with the EU-Armenia CEPA provisions. This will be achieved through the specific objective of the Action of putting in place an agile, integrated, human-centered and shock-responsive social protection system that builds a person’s resilience to vulnerability, deprivation, and crises across the lifecycle through four interlinked components, showing a sequenced logic of interventions across policy and legal framework development, administrative data system strengthening and integration, capacity building and prototyping.

To support its commitment in promoting innovation in the public sector and strengthening the social protection system in Armenia, UNDP Innovation, Acceleration and SDG Finance Portfolio is looking for a qualified Public Sector Innovation Analyst to support to the mainstreaming of innovation in the public sector through ecosystem approach as well as the “Building a resilient social protection system in Armenia” project. The role combines thematic expertise and strategic engagement, paired with project coordination, innovation, and knowledge management.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Public Sector Innovation Projects Analyst will contribute to SDG Lab’s activities by performing the following functions:

Provide strategic, thematic and technical support to public sector innovation initiatives aimed at supporting social protection system reforms in Armenia aligned with the Lab’s mission and the Government’s policy objectives.
Support in shaping public sector innovation ecosystem research agenda and contribute to strategic development efforts in line with SDG Lab’s projects.
Support in coordinating activities and initiatives aimed at developing innovative institutional models based on functional review of the social protection system and prototyping them in selected regions
Provide thematic and analytical support related to public sector innovation capacities and innovation practitioners’ community development Support in strengthening public sector capacities to implement social protection reforms relevant to USS territorial centers and social housing system in Armenia
Provide support in monitoring emerging trends in public sector innovation ecosystem sustainability and innovation community building worldwide .
Support project team in ensuring that all parties are on track with project requirements, deadlines, and schedules.
Create and maintain comprehensive project documentation (e.g. official project proposals, reports, agendas of events and meetings, list of participants, videos, photos, presentations and other materials).
Submit project deliverables and ensure that they adhere to quality standards.
Contribute to the development of the capacities of the Lab and UNDP in general on public sector innovation and institutional capacity building as well as support the development of strategic frameworks, methodologies and tools aimed at strengthening innovativ potential of the public sector in Armenia.
Provide support in preparing status, progress and evaluation reports on the project implementation in accordance with UN and donors' existing guidelines.
Contribute to fundraising efforts of the Lab.
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 Public Sector Innovation Projects Analyst will work under the direct supervision of the Innovative and Participatory Policymaking Project Analyst and under the overall guidance of SDG Innovation Lab Manager and collaborate closely with the SDG Lab team.

Competencies

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:

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
Knowlegde generation:
- Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need
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
Design Thinking:
- Solving problems by putting people at the centre, visualising ideas and making them tangible in order to improve them through and iterative process of developing and testing
- Strong empathy skills, being able to put yourself ""in someone else's shoes"", understand needs, abilities, preferences, motivations, (everyday) experiences from different perspectives as well as their cultural, social, economical and political contexts.
- Ability to identify and challenge assumptions, (cognitive and social) biases and dominant mental models by generating new perspectives and frames that help redefine the problem, solution and opportunity space.
- Being able to work with incomplete information, ambiguity and opposing views, needs and constraints and synthesise them into solutions that are viable, technically feasible and useful.
Innovation Capacity Building:
- Ability to define and create the conditions for trying out new ways of working or introducing new problem solving approaches to an organisation.
- Ability to develop, manage and evaluate a learning curriculum that raises awareness, builds confidence, strengthens innovation capabilities around a certain method, tool or technique; or helps develop an innovation mindset.
- Ability to create the authorising environment (mandate, incentives) to embed and spread new ways of working.
- In-depth knowledge of one or more innovation methods, broad knowledge of innovation processes and innovation management.
- Ability to align a learning and development strategy with broader innovation strategy.
Prototyping:
- Ability to make ideas tangible, at low costs early in the innovation process, to test and improve them through iteration.
- Using a ""build first"" approach, using visualising ideas and making things as a way of thinking.
- Ability to define what fidelity level is required for a test, define prototyping goals, or a hypotheses; evaluate results against these goals and reflect on unanticipated learning outcomes.
- Using prototypes to communicate a vision, develop shared understanding and create momentum around an idea.
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

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree in Political Science, Social Sciences, Public Policy, Public Administration or other related fields is required.
Bachelor's degree in related field in combination with 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master's degree.

Experience:

Up to 2 years (with Master´s degree) or minimum 2 years (with Bachelor´s degree) of practical experience in the fields of public policy, public administration, institutional reforms and capacity building, or related fields with the focus on social protection.

Languages:

Fluency in English and Armenian is required.

Required Skills:

Experience in coordinating the design and implementation of public sector and development projects is required.
Skills in user-centered design and knowledge of design thinking methodology.

Desired Skills:

Experience in using innovative approaches, including design thinking methodology and tools for public policy and social service design is an asset.
Experience working in public sector innovation community development projects is an asset.
Experience in working with data and evidence in public policymaking and reform agendas is an asset.
Strong research and analytical skills and knowledge of quantitative and qualitative methodologies.
Sound understanding of public sector and policy-making systems in Armenia, including legal and institutional framework.
Excellent collaboration skills, with ability to work in uncertainty and handle multiple activities and projects concurrently.
Creativity in problem-solving and transferring knowledge from one discipline into another.
Agility in leading processes based on validated learning and testing assumptions.
Ability to work independently and to participate effectively in team-based information sharing.

Disclaimer

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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