Strategic Planning Advisor

The Strategic Plan 2018-2021 – and more broadly supporting the achievement of the 2030 Agenda – requires making UNDP a more nimble, innovative and enterprising organization, grounded in a business model that ensures efficient, scalable and cost-effective delivery of services. The Strategic Planning Advisor is located in the Executive Office and is part of the Strategy and Planning Surge Team that supports the UNDP Administrator in the development and implementation of corporate strategies and systems to deliver the Strategic Plan 2018-2021. The advice, guidance, direction, analysis and coordination provided by the Strategic Planning Advisor is expected to lead to improved and integrated results according to agreed milestones, ultimately culminating in the improvement of UNDP’s existing corporate planning systems or in the development of new corporate planning systems. The strategic review and implementation outputs set the stage for the strategic repositioning of the Organization and enhance organizational capacity in key corporate strategy areas. The Strategic Planning Advisor reports to the Senior Adviser, Strategy and Planning and supports the analysis, development and subsequent implementation of recommendations for UNDP’s future corporate strategies and systems.

• Implementation and Development of Corporate Planning Systems
• Coordination & Communication Support
• Knowledge Management & Partnerships
• Representational Activities

• In coordination with the Senior Advisor for Strategy and Planning, the Strategic Planning Advisor partners with and leads cross-functional internal UNDP teams, empowers individuals and creates excitement for teams to act in developing and implementing corporate planning and priority-setting systems to enable effective implementation of the Strategic Plan.
• Coordinates cross-functional teams to distill information and insights from the corporate planning system to inform on priority settings to senior management through the provision of high-quality analytical outputs and policy advice.
• Develops advice and recommendations that effectively informs decision-making at the senior management level in line with the Strategic Plan and UNDP’s overall mandate and priorities. 
• Actively facilitates the alignment of results and resources across all UNDP business units within UNDP’s corporate results framework.
• Facilitates continuous improvement in the corporate planning system design and implementation to reduce the burden of corporate reporting while also delivering real-time analytical products and reporting system capabilities.
• Leads the analysis of substantive and operational results reporting to identify lessons learned and corrective measures to be advanced at a corporate level.

• Establishes effective working relationships with counterparts at all levels in UNDP and manages them effectively to facilitate knowledge sharing in support of the design and implementation of corporate planning and priority-setting systems for UNDP.
• Supports Country and Regional Offices in the quality assurance for corporate results definition and reporting.
• Establishes effective working relationships with counterparts in other UN System agencies, funds and programmes, and with bilateral and multilateral partners to facilitate knowledge sharing and effective coordination of planning and priority-setting processes, in support of more coherent system-wide mechanisms and processes for planning with the UN System.
• Advocates for broad communication and outreach planning policies that promote compliance with UNDP’s mandate, accountability and reporting requirements.

• Keeps abreast of the impact and effectiveness of UNDP’s corporate planning system and connects that knowledge and lessons learned to future development and improvement.
• Participates in knowledge management and practice networks as appropriate.

• Represents the Executive Office when required with the presentation of the corporate planning system to UNDP audiences and/or external audiences to support wider implementation and interpretation.
• Advocates for the corporate planning system and how it connects to the mandate and vision of the Executive office.
• Interprets the impact of the corporate planning system on the policy and management function of the Organization to ensure that back office and front office functions are fully integrated.
• Represent the Executive Office at senior levels, as required, in inter-agency fora as well as internal UNDP meetings to establish agreements within pre-determined guidelines.

• Ability to make new and useful ideas work

• Ability to persuade others to follow

• Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

• Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

• Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

• Ability to effectively communicate intensions and requirements to internal and external stakeholders

• Ability to analyze the organization’s value proposition and shape visionary/long term plans.  Use insight to identify target audiences and partners and to inform communication objectives, messages and solutions

• Ability to engage with other agencies, donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships

• Ability to engage with other agencies, donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships

• Knowledge of global institutions (such as the UN, IFIs), processes (such as G20 and various UN initiatives), good grasp of UNDP’s niche, and ability to engage and foster strong networks with those institutions

• Ability to maintain a community on assigned thematic areas

• Advanced university degree (Masters’) in Social Policy, Public Policy, Politics, Development Economics, Development Studies or a related area.

• At least 10 years of professional work experience with the United Nations system, with sound knowledge of UN/UNDP systems, procedures and policies. 
• Strong and effective communication experience.
• Experience working in developing country settings is an asset.

• Excellent knowledge of English, as well as writing, presentation and communication skills. Fluency in other UN languages is an asset. 

• Describe any additional qualifications:

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.

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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