Portfolio Manager, Energy, Environment and Climate Change

Podgorica

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
Location: Podgorica
Grade: Consultancy - SB-4 (SC8/SC9), Service Contract, Local Contractors Agreement
Occupational Groups:
- Environment
- Meteorology, Geology and Geography
- Renewable Energy sector
- Climate Change
- Managerial positions
Closing Date: Closed

Background

NDP mission in Montenegro is to promote sustainable development. Development which is economically viable, socially inclusive and environmentally friendly. Montenegro has made a firm commitment to promote green growth and the ‘eco-state’ concept. Past development patterns brought prosperity to Montenegro and its citizens, but have tended to be based on intensive and often inefficient resource use. The importance of biodiversity and the value of the ecosystem and the services it provides has been largely underestimated. The costs of managing waste and pollution are largely not reflected in the prices paid for resources such as water, and it is becoming increasingly evident that public policies and the operation of markets needs to be improved to manage growing demand and competition for strategic resources such as minerals, soil, water and biomass.

Ensuring a sustainable development path in Montenegro means making informed choices and compromises (trade-offs) between competing priorities (for example, between energy security and the preservation of biodiversity, water resources and air quality) and supporting transformation of the economy in a way which makes possible a gradual transition to achieve European targets, build competitiveness and build stronger links between the pursuit of economic growth, the use of resources and environmental impacts. In so doing, aiming to keep the promise to be an ecological state. The public perceives that environmental conditions are rapidly declining, with concerns about pollution and the exploitation of natural resources. To respond to these challenges, Montenegro is in the early group of UN member countries which officially adopted key development document – National Sustainable Development Strategy until 2030, which follows the UN Agenda 2030.

The status of the country’s environment directly impacts the country’s economic performance. While this is true globally, Montenegro’s small and open economy dependent on resource-intensive growth is particularly vulnerable to the global trends. In addition to setting Montenegro on a path to low carbon, sustainable development and complying with a number of national strategic documents and international obligations, addressing these two trends will also help the country on its road to the EU membership status (with the specific focus on the Agenda 2030 Strategy) and sustainable or green economic growth.

UNDP Montenegro provides support to the country in addressing these challenges. Specifically, UNDP seeks to provide assistance to Montenegro for a swifter market transformation towards a low emission, resource efficient economy in order to create new green jobs, generate/conserve income, reduce Green House Gas emissions (GHGs) and dependence on energy imports. Within this context, UNDP Montenegro is seeking to fill a vacancy for a Portfolio Manager for its environment and climate change work.

Organizational setting:

The Portfolio Manager will be based in UNDP Country Office in Montenegro. Under the direct supervision of the Team Leader for Democratic Governance / Economy and Environment and oversight of Resident Representative on strategic matters the incumbent will be responsible for overall Portfolio implementation through managing day-to-day programmes activities, to ensure efficient delivery of envisaged programmes outputs. The Portfolio Manager will participate in management meetings and contribute in defining UNDP’s strategic direction.

The initial Service Contract will be issued for 12 months, with possibility for longer engagement, subject to satisfactory performance.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Portfolio Manager will be responsible for ensuring that the Portfolio is efficiently managed to fulfill its mission and objectives as set out in the respective Programme Documents, and in accordance with the UNDP standards and best practices. The Portfolio Manager will oversee and where appropriate manage programmes on Environment and Climate Change and identify opportunities to develop and promote approaches that in support Montenegro to realizing a swifter market transformation towards a low emission, resource efficient economy:

I The Portfoilo manager will support informed, evidence based decision-making and capacity development in the area of green economy, sustainable development policy and, indirectly, sectoral policies. In performing this general responsibility, the incumbent will be required to carry out the following main tasks on a regular basis:

Applied research, policy analysis and evidence based policy-making: Provide policy advice on key issues in the areas of (but not limited to) Climate Change, Adaptation and Mitigation, Climate Resilient Development, Sustainable Transport and Emission-reduction, Environmental security, Sustainable Energy, including identifying new areas related to meeting the requirements of GEF and GCF related priorities; Support to research function in areas of interest to sustainable development where scientific evidence would be crucial to inform policy and help come up with options for addressing the selected problems. The focus would be on inter-disciplinary sustainable development challenges; Identify, collect and analyze policy-related, relevant information and data; Codify and provide best practices and lessons learnt, particularly linked to the capacity development in respective areas;
Sustain and further develop programmes in the areas of (but not limited to): sustainable tourism, transport and energy, resource and ecosystem management and climate change and environmental security;
Innovation for sustainable development: Support prototyping latest science, research and technology approaches and tools to advance sustainable development goals;
Knowledge management, advocacy and partnership promotion: Helping establish partnerships for advocacy, knowledge sharing and constituency building;
Assist in engaging the government in constructive dialogue on the achievement of outcomes beyond the specific outputs of the UNDP Projects.

In addition to the above, the incumbent will:

Liaise with relevant ministries, national institutes, local authorities, universities, research institutions, NGOs and other relevant institutions in order to involve their staff in relevant project activities, to gather and disseminate information relevant to the program and strengthen UNDP’s role;
Conduct regular consultations with other donors that provide assistance in the area of environment and climate change as well as the joint UN work in these areas and support UNDP’s partnerships with key development actors and stakeholders;
Advice UNDP on strategic matters related to environment and climate change, as well as new project development possibilities;
Contribute to knowledge management and the promotion of UNDP’s KM strategy and re-enforced focus on “UNDP as a knowledge-driven organization”, by contributing to UNDP practice networks (posting queries and contributing with comparative experiences and lessons learnt) and other means, as adequate;
Recommend approaches to donors in terms of resource mobilization;
Development of new project ideas;
Assist in identifying relevant sources of expertise for project/activity implementation;
Regular monitoring of relevant events related to environment and climate change in Montenegro and worldwide;
Closely follow issues related to environment and climate change, changes in relevant legislature;
Coordinate the work of UN result group for Environmental sustainability, including but not limited to organizing at least 3 annual meetings, preparing the presentation of the pillar’s work for the annual Joint Country Steering Committee meeting.

II Oversee day-to-day programme activities:

Preparation of implementation action plans, organization of project team and assign tasks, monitor progress on a regular basis;
Assistance in identifying relevant sources of expertise for project/activity implementation;
Review official documents and communications;
Advice respective Team Leader on potential adjustments of actions and procedures in light of changing requirements, issues, risks and needs;
Regular monitoring of the relevant events and/or subjects in the local media;
Regular monitoring of projects within Portfolio;
The incumbent will allocate responsibilities to the Programe and Projects managers within the Portfolio, supervise their work, and evaluate their annual performance.

III Oversee delivery of inputs provided by the projects and ensure quality and timelines of reporting and data production:

Ensure that work plans are prepared and updated on time and reflect project objectives and outputs;
Ensure timely coordination and implementation of recruitment;
Ensure that procurement of goods and services under the project is undertaken in an optimal quality manner;
Monitor implementation progress and ensure quality and timely reporting to project partners;
Ensure the establishment and maintenance of complete accounting records of all project activities (budget, commitments, expenditures, income); ensure proper follow up in relation to project expenditures, approval, and financial reporting;
Monitoring of the resources being spent i.e. approve requisitions in Atlas and certify/confirm receipt of goods and services.

IV With the help of the Country Office Communications, the incumbent will make sure that the Portfolio takes account of principal components of communications/advocacy campaigns in order to:

Keep target publics informed about Portfolio visibility;
Make sure that outputs produced find adequate recognition;
Encourage positive participation and building and sustaining of political commitment;
The incumbent will also work to ensure that the programmes in the Portfolio includes evaluations of the projects impact in terms of learning and behavior change.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional Competencies:

Development and Operational Effectiveness

Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects, mobilize resources;
Ability to formulate and manage budgets, manages contributions and investments, manage transactions, conduct financial analysis and reporting;
Strong knowledge of and application skills in result-based management;
Strong resource mobilization, communication and negotiations skills.

Management and Leadership

Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
Demonstrates ability to manage complexities and work under pressure, as well as conflict resolution skills;
Self-starting, independent and responsible personality.

Knowledge Management and Learning

Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example;
Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas related to governance, acts on learning plan and applied newly acquired skills;
Seeks and applies knowledge, information and best practices from within and outside of UNDP;
Demonstrated ability to manage and motivate people in a complex environment and achieve set goals under time pressure.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in Economics, Energy and/or Environment.

Experience:

Minimum 6 years of relevant management experience in an international organization, government institution, or an NGO;
Previous experience and good track record in cooperation with ministries, national and local institutions;
Knowledge of change management and institutions at national and local levels would be an advantage.

Langauges:

Fluency in Montenegrin language;
Fluency in English language, both written and spoken.

Other:

Computer proficiency (MS Office package, Internet).

Disclaimer

Important applicant information

All posts in the SC categories are subject to local recruitment.

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.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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