Programme Manager, EU Accession and Public Administration Reform

Podgorica

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
Location: Podgorica
Grade: Consultancy - SB-4 (SC8/SC9), Service Contract, Local Contractors Agreement
Occupational Groups:
- Operations and Administrations
- Democratic Governance
- Public Policy and Administration
- Project and Programme Management
- Managerial positions
Closing Date: Closed

Background

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Montenegro is fully dedicated to support country’s accession processes, with a particular focus on sustainable and inclusive development through strengthening democratic governance processes and institutions so that policies and resources adequately address priority needs of the country and its citizens. Therefore, UNDP is assisting country on a comprehensive programmatic framework that will support socio-economic development and improvement of living standards of Montenegrin population. For efficient implementation of this objective the enhanced/good governance, increasing transparency, accountability and quality of institutions in the public sector area precondition.

The need to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public administration in Montenegro is imperative and a prerequisite for all other reforms undertaken within EU accession. This also relates to strengthening governments strategic planning and coordination capacities so that they can actively steer reforms in public administration and other sectors, but also to deliver better and more accountable services to their citizens and to fully respect human rights. Overall, such an approach will lead to improved economic stability and higher living standard of all citizens in the country as well as effective and efficient function of Montenegro within the EU administrative framework.

UNDP is supporting the overarching goal of Montenegro’s public administration reform to become a modern administrative system, ready to rise to the requirements of EU accession. UNDP is assisting Government to provide more transparent, accountable, effective and efficient delivery of public services by strengthening policy and PAR reform coordination, human resources, accountability, and service delivery.

In line with the above, UNDP will implement Projects which focuses on:

Strengthening capacities of the Ministry of European Affairs. The long-term goal of the Projects is to strengthen capacities of this Ministry of European Affairs (MEA) to coordinate and lead the overall process of the country’s accession to the EU as well as to ensure better coherence between parallel reform processes relevant for the EU integration. The primary objective of the project is to establish capacity in the newly established MEA to efficiently coordinate the overall process of the Accession negotiations to EU and internally with Government departments and institutions responsible for implementation of provisions of the Acquis.

Communicating EU accession and EU assistance in Montenegro II. In addition, UNDP will support the implementation of the Strategy for Informing the Public about the European Union and Membership Preparations 2014-2018 of the Government of Montenegro (referred later to: Communication Strategy), development of the Communication Strategy for the upcoming period and promotion of EU assistance. It will complement the activities undertaken by the Government, EU Delegation, NGOs and the Parliament in promoting EU values and communicating accession and EU assistance in Montenegro, thus explaining benefits, but also expectations coming out from each of the negotiation chapters in the process of EU integration.

Organizational setting:

The Programme Manager will be based in UNDP Country Office in Montenegro. Under the direct supervision of the Team Leader for Democratic Governance, the incumbent will be responsible for overall projects implementation through managing day-to-day project activities, and coordinating with the Senior Management to ensure efficient delivery of envisaged project outputs, as well as advocacy based on the achieved results, identification of needs and design of new interventions. Programme Manager will supervise the project team of 10 local consultants who will be engaged on several projects.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Programme Manager will be responsible for ensuring that the programme is efficiently managed to fulfil its mission and objectives as set out in the overall Project documents and in accordance with the UNDP standards and best practices. Under direct supervision of the Democratic Governance Team Leader, the main task of the Programme Manager will be to ensure overall implementation/delivery of different aspects of the DG Programme which focuses on:

- Project: Strengthening capacities of the Ministry of European Affairs

- Project: Communicating EU accession and EU assistance in Montenegro II

In addition to the Project implementation and delivery of the results as stated in above listed Projects, incumbent will be expected to anchor UNDP work related to supporting the Government on Public Administration Reform.

In performing these responsibilities, the incumbent will be required to carry out the following main tasks on a regular basis:

Ensure implementation/delivery of different aspects of the Projects. In performing this general responsibility, the incumbent will be required to carry out the following main tasks on a regular basis:

1. Manage activities of the programme:

• Prepare programme implementation plans; organize projects teams and assign tasks, monitor progress and motivate staff;

• In cooperation with Democratic Governance Team Leader, initiate new projects within a programme, present new projects to LPAC, finalize contribution agreements; determine required revisions; closure of projects and reporting;

• Financial and substantive monitoring and evaluation of the programme, identification of management, operational and financial challenges, development of solutions;

• Report to Steering Committees on programme progress; advice on potential adjustment of actions and procedures in implementation considering changing requirements/needs;

• Manage all administrative, budgetary, technical and programmatic aspects of the Programme;

• Manage implementation of procurement related activities with UN/UNDP rules, regulations and policies; Ensure that procurement of goods and services under the projects’ is undertaken in an optimal quality manner;

• Ensure timely coordination and implementation of recruitment and deployment of experts to support Programme implementation.

2. Contribute to partnership building:

• Conduct regular consultations with government partners, EU Delegation and other international organizations that provide assistance in the area of EU accession, capacity development and public administration reform and support UNDP’s partnerships with key development actors and stakeholders;

• Facilitate contacts and promote information exchange on the issues involved with government representatives, universities, research institutions, NGOs and Donors;

• Supervise planning and preparation of meetings;

• Ensure definition and implementation of follow-up action.

• Advise UNDP on strategic matters related to public administration reform and EU assistance.

• Identify and develop interventions in line with national priorities and building up on the existing portfolio of UNDP Montenegro.

• Recommend approaches to donors in terms of resource mobilization and actively participate in the design and development of related programmes/projects.

3. Supervise delivery of inputs provided by the Project teams:

• Ensure that work plans are prepared and updated on time and reflect agreed objectives and outputs; monitor data and implementation progress;

• Manage procurement of goods and services under the programme, and ensure on-time delivery to recipient institutions;

• Organization of training for projects teams; ensure professional growth of projects staff through active learning.

4. Ensure quality and timeliness of reporting and data production:

• Ensure that work plans are prepared and updated on time and reflect projects’ objectives and outputs;

• Monitor implementation progress and ensure quality and timely reporting to projects’ partners;

• Ensure the establishment and maintenance of complete accounting records of all projects’ activities (budget, commitments, expenditures, income); ensure proper follow up in relation to projects’ expenditures, approval, and financial reporting;

• Provide necessary back-up support to consultants in connection with the projects’ outputs;

• Be responsible for all assets purchased and used under the projects;

• Hold primary responsibility for managing the resources being spent i.e. approve requisitions in Atlas and certify/confirm receipt of goods and services.

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

• Keep target publics informed about programme’s progress;

• 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 programme includes evaluations of the projects impact in terms of learning and behaviour change.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling 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:

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.

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.

• Ability to think strategically, to express ideas clearly and concisely, to work both independently and in teams, to demonstrate self-confidence combined with sensitivity to gender and culture;

• Strong resource mobilization, communication and advocacy skills;

• Strong knowledge of and application skills in result-based management.

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.

Required Skills and Experience

Language:

University degree in Social Sciences, or other relevant field;
Master’s Degree or equivalent in the relevant field is an advantage;

Experience:

Minimum 5 years of relevant project management experience in an international organization, government institution, or an NGO;
A proven capacity in designing and guiding complex and multi layered public administration reform programme activities;
A proven experience in managing EU funded project;
Extensive experience in capacity building, management and institutionalizing systems and processes;
Strong conceptual and practical skills in community empowerment, participatory planning, institutional and policy reform, and other related fields;

Language:

Fluency in English and local language;

Other:

Computer proficiency (MS Office package, Internet).

Disclaimer

mportant 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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