Head of Erbil Office

UNDP’s support to Iraq’s development and humanitarian priorities is evolving to proactively anticipate and respond to the changing political complexity of the country and its attendant emerging development challenges. UNDP Iraq’s presence in field is critical to the success of its operations, particularly in support of regional development which is critical to the development agenda of post-conflict Iraq. To effectively respond to this emerging context, UNDP will reinforce and expand development programming activities in some of the critical areas of the country including the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), the Southern Governorates, the middle governorates and the Governorates previously occupied by ISIL. In line with the 2016 MCT mission recommendations, this expansion will take the form of sub-regional offices in some areas and in reinforced presence in others. The present TORs are pertinent to the head of the sub-regional office in Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), based in Erbil and with responsibilities for all the governorates of KRI. The sub-regional office will have the responsibilities for: 1) Maintaining and reinforcing good relationship with KDRI;  (2) Reinforcing and expanding UNDP’s programs and projects in the KRI, by developing a regional UNDP development support strategy in line with the CPD and in response to emerging priorities; (3) Increasing Government Cost Sharing for such programs; (4) Increase donor contributions to these projects; (5) oversee a small team of programme staff in support of the program developed for the region.

• Analyse socio-economic and political situation and trends, donor and government activity in the Kurdistan region of Iraq; and help identify opportunities and entry points for UNDP. Keep Senior Management informed of socio-economic developments that may have an impact on the sub-office; 
• Provide advice on the identification of new programmatic activities and the strategic direction of the sub-office’s programmatic activities from programme design through implementation; 
• Analyse implications of UNDP’s on-going and planned activity in the Kurdistan region of Iraq and help translate them into tangible policy positions;
• Develop a strategic portfolio of programs and projects, to be approved by the CD, in response to the challenges identified and in line with the CPD;
• Assist in developing and implementing strategies, policies, and plans affecting business development, resource mobilization and delivery of country-office programming in the Kurdistan region of Iraq; 
• Finds solutions to remote management problems including, managing, in appropriate collaboration with team leaders, specific programme activities which require hands on and active follow-up in KRI;
• Supervise (matrixed reporting line) senior programme staff based in Erbil, including Kurdistan region programme coordinators for each programme pillar;
• Monitor the overall performance of projects in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, by ensuring proper planning, benchmarking and target setting (substantively and financially); 
• Advise on policies and strategies to adequately respond to transitional recovery and development challenges and needs in KRI;
• Ensure identification and promotion of joint programming and planning opportunities in KRI; 
• Promote identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned for organizational sharing and learning; 
• Supervise the day-to-day project management, in reference to annual/quarterly work plans and ensure coordination among projects in KRI.

• Ensure proper implementation of programmes based on continuous monitoring and analysis of (a) the most critical recovery and development needs, response capacities, access situation, operational environment and applicable security issues; (b) implementation progress of the programmes in the Kurdistan region of Iraq; 
• In close collaboration with the Deputy Country Director (Programme), leads the UNDP Programme and ensure attainment of expected results in the Kurdistan region of Iraq; 
• Ensure effective application of RBM tools, monitors sub-office and project unit work plans, Programme effectiveness and achievement of results; 
• Support capacity building of national counterparts; 
• Perform any other related tasks assigned by the supervisors.

• Represent UNDP in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, and in various fora, as requested by the Country Director. Fully participate in UN coordination mechanisms at the level of KRI and convey UNDP’s priorities and positions; 
• In collaboration with the Office of the UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator, provide strong coordination support to UN Agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and KRI authorities through the establishment of a wider consultation process and appropriate fora to enhance coordination between humanitarian and transition-to-development partners, thus strengthening the links between relief, early recovery and development activities in KRI; 
• Ensure proper coordination and inputs to the Interagency initiatives in KRI; 
• Maintain collaboration and coordination with the other Heads of office to ensure programmatic integration, sharing of lessons and best practices, economies of scales, etc.; 
• Maintains regular contact with projects and Programme counterparts in KRI; 
• Advocate for adherence to UNDP recovery and development principles with a view to enhance community recovery, good governance, poverty alleviation and human security; 
• Provide support to overall resource mobilization efforts of the Country Office, and to the KRI in particular, in close collaboration with Programme at the Country Office level.

• Ensure the smooth running of the Erbil Sub-Office. Oversee the day-to-day operational and administrative management of the Erbil Sub-Office; 
• Be responsible and accountable for the appropriate use and management of resources attributed to the Office and to the portfolio of the Kurdistan region of Iraq;
• Promote team work, collaboration and synergies within the Sub-Office, among the project teams and with the Programme Units at the Country Office level; 
• Assist in the management of personnel matters relating to all staff of the Sub-Office; 
• Supervise programme staff at Erbil Sub-office; 
• Ensure timely and regular reporting.

• Assess the scope of services required for effective implementation of programmes in the KRI; 
• Using Atlas as necessary, manage the transactions of the Sub-Office and ensure they adhere to UNDP Financial Rules and Regulations and UNDP Human Resources management policies and procedures; 
• Approve contracts and Atlas Purchase Orders under specific written delegated authority limits from the Country Director in close coordination/consultation with the Deputy Country Director-Operations;
• Ensure the integrity of financial systems and directly oversee the administrative, financial and budgetary aspects of programme delivery in the Kurdistan region of Iraq and advises the DCD – Operations accordingly; 
• Oversee management of physical assets and direct the establishment and maintenance of office support systems as necessary for the implementation of the program developed in support of KRI (premises, equipment, transport/travel, procurement, shipment, etc.,); 
• Identify and participate in capacity building activities, including identifying training needs, establishing training programmes as well as carrying out training evaluations for staff under her/his responsibility; 
• Manage staff performance, providing an enabling environment for learning, knowledge sharing, skills re-tooling and on-the-job training; 
• Seek early and coordinated responses to problems, bottlenecks and foreseeable crises; 
• Inform the quarterly reports/briefings prepared for UNDP Headquarters by the UNDP Iraq office;
• Closely monitor developments with regard to the security situation in the Kurdistan region of Iraq and report this to the security team and senior management, advising on its programmatic implications for UNDP.

• Influences the public policy agenda;
• Builds consensus concerning UNDP’s strategic agenda with partners on joint initiatives;
• Dialogues with national counterparts and other stakeholders to strengthen advocacy efforts, incorporating country, regional and global perspectives. 

• Achieves results through programme design and innovative resourcing strategies;
• Identifies needs and strategies using a fact-based approach; 
• Makes use of a variety of resources within UNDP to achieve results, such as cross-functional teams, secondments and developmental assignments, and collaborative funding approaches; 
• Ensures the full implementation of country programme and Financial Resources to obtain results. 

• Makes effective use of UNDP’s resources and comparative advantage to strengthen partnerships; 
• Creates networks and promotes initiatives with partner organizations. 

• Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking; 
• Conceptualizes more effective approaches to programme development and implementation and to mobilizing and using resources.

Resource Mobilization (Field Duty Stations) 

• Developing resource mobilization strategies for the strategic portfolio of projects for KRI;
• Contributes to the development of resource mobilization strategies at CO level;
• Actively develops partnerships with potential donors and government counterparts in all sectors at country level; 
• Strengthens the capacity of the country office to mobilize resources;
• Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing. 

• Promotes UNDP as a learning/knowledge sharing organization.

• Possesses expert knowledge of advanced concepts in primary discipline (Political Science, Economics, Sociology, Development, or similar, a broad knowledge of related disciplines, as well as an in-depth knowledge of relevant organizational policies and procedures; 
• Applies a broad knowledge of best management practices; defines objectives and work flows, positions reporting relationships in such a way as to obtain optimum effectiveness for the unit/branch; 
• Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself personally; 
• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments; 
• Demonstrates expert knowledge of the current programme guidelines and project management tools and manages the use of these regularly in work assignments. 

• Advocates for increased priority given to human development issues internationally and in national/regional planning frameworks; 
• Advocates for increased resources at international and national level.

• Anticipates constraints in the delivery of services and identifies solutions or alternatives; 
• Proactively identifies, develops and discusses solutions for internal and external clients, and persuades management to undertake new projects or services. 

• Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents; 
• Building support and political acumen;
• Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation; 
• Building and promoting effective teams;
• Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication; 
• Creating an emotionally intelligent organization; 
• Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards; 
• Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning; 
• Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking. 

• Master Degree preferably in Political or Social Science, International Studies, Public Administration, Economics; or the equivalent combination of education and experience in a related area.

• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in recovery and development affairs, crisis response and prevention, recovery and development, or other related area; 
• Experience in crisis or post conflict countries;
• Senior-level management responsibilities of similar size and complexity, including operational management responsibilities; 
• Previous experience with UNDP preferred and good knowledge of UNDP rules and procedures is desirable; 
• Strong diplomatic skills in handling counterpart relations. 

• Strong written and spoken English skills.

This is a fast track recruitment and selected candidate must be able to start the assignment within one month from receiving confirmation of offer. 

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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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