Office/Unit/Project Description

The project will provide a strategic framework for UNDP and UN-HABITAT to provide substantive technical assistance, advisory, and quality assurance services to the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing (MoMaH) to deliver on the following six initiatives of the Spatial Planning and Visual Appeal Programme that are the focus of this project:

  • The National Spatial Strategy (NSS) is revised, defining the territorial framework for achieving the Saudi Vision 2030 and beyond by aligning the spatial, economic, environmental, and social objectives for balanced and sustainable development in the Kingdom
  • The National Urban Policy for KSA is developed and its implementation enabled, setting the overarching framework for cross-stakeholders’ contribution and alignment in support of sustainable, resilient and inclusive urbanization.
  • The municipal system is improved and restructured, updating settlements boundaries, revising classification and categorization of Saudi human settlements, and optimizing service delivery towards efficiency and sustainability.
  • The Saudi Planning framework is restructured, planning tools are redefined, updated and improved in line with the new classification and categorization.
  • An Urban Lab is capacitated to spearhead and devise innovative tools in support of MoMaH’s mission.

Scope of Work 

The National Project Officer will assume the duties of the Project Coordinator as defined in the Project Document and be responsible for the administrative oversight of the project. She/He will act as the principal focal point for facilitating, in consultation with the UNDP Chief Technical Advisor (CTA), the MoMaH National Project Manager, and the UNDP and UN-Habitat teams at large, the efficient and effective implementation of project activities. The National Project Officer will manage the recruitment process of project staff, in line with UNDP’s guidelines, ensure compliance with the monitoring, reporting, and budgeting standards, and help drive strategic communications and stakeholder engagement. The role will require strong organizational and communication skills as well as knowledge of development issues and project management and results-based management principles. 

The National Project Officer will:

1. Ensure effective and efficient implementation of the project by supporting overall project management:

  • Ensure the achievement of the project’s outputs/results in line with the approved workplans and budgets through project planning, management, coordination, monitoring, and oversight.
    • Ensure effective communication and collaboration with the project team in the achievement of the project results as detailed in the project workplans.
    • Provide the required support in helping identify new project activities, in close coordination with counterparts.
    • Lead the recruitment and management of experts and staff, as needed, in accordance with UNDP’s guidelines.
    • Coordinate the work of all consultants and subcontractors, ensuring timely delivery of expected results and effective synergy between the various sub-contracted activities
    • Document lessons learned from project implementation and make recommendations to the Project Board for more effective implementation and coordination of project activities.
    • Manage the project's budget and ensure timely revisions and reporting.
    • Ensure accountability for and efficient use of project funds.
    • Foster effective communication and engagement with stakeholders at the national and international levels.
    • Provide technical assistance and coordination to the project’s stakeholder engagement activities.
    • Facilitate the knowledge sharing and capacity building activities.
    • Maintain project records and filing systems (contracts, deliverables, reports, financial documents, etc.).
    • Prepare documentation for audits and evaluations.
    • Coordinate logistics for workshops, events, meetings, and travels in line with UNDP’s guidelines.
    • Propose solutions to administrative issues, where relevant.

2. Support strategic communications and building partnerships for successful project implementation:

  • Maintain close coordination with the assigned project partners, helping at ensuring synergies.
  • Contribute to the dissemination and visibility of project achievements. Support mechanisms for exchange of information, experience and lessons learned at the local and national levels. 
  • Provide constructive and timely advice on inclusion of communications components in programme and projects formulations to integrate advocacy and communication strategies into all aspects of the project.
  • Coordinate the project implementation with relevant Government, UN, and other development partners, as required. 
  • Contribute to the analysis of key development and sectoral policies currently being discussed and implemented in the country and to the identification of collaboration opportunities.
  • Participate in various fora.

3. Ensure Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) and Reporting:

  • Monitor and follow up on project progress, ensuring adherence to project documents and UNDP’s procedures.
    • Ensure timely submission of financial and activity reports by implementing partners.
    • Update project risk logs and lessons learned logs regularly.
    • Prepare high-quality and timely donor reporting, including quarterly and annual narrative and financial reports.
    • Apply UNDP programming tools and policies following Results-Based Management principles.
    • Keep abreast of UNDP programming practices through continuous learning.
    • Brief and consult with senior management on project progress, providing information and advice as required.

4.  Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing and advocacy relevant to the project.

  • Organize training, workshops, and capacity building activities in a consultative manner, involving technical experts and stakeholders that may include the government, private sector, NGOs, donors, and/or academia.
    • Identify, synthesize and document best practices and lessons learned that are generated from the project and implementing partners.
    • Participate in and ensure sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice on project related issues. Support establishment of knowledge platforms for the project, facilitate innovative mechanisms for dissemination of knowledge from the project, and develop knowledge resources and products to share with project partners and to support UNDP’s engagement in this area.
    • Promote advocacy on development trends and opportunities to collaborate in coordination with the project partners, stakeholders, and UNDP communications staff.

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 National Project Officer will report to the UNDP Programme Analyst (Pillar Head) on contractual, performance management, and administrative matters, while consulting on a regular basis with the UNDP Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) on project implementation. 

Competencies

Core
Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems 
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
Act with Determination:  LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity


 Technical/Functional: 

Thematic Area Name Definition

Business Direction & Strategy

 Strategic Thinking
  • Develop effective strategies and prioritised plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight.
Business Acumen
  • Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome.
  • Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization and ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks.
  • Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization
Effective Decision Making Take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources
Negotiation and Influence Reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiates mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and creates ‘win-win’ situations
Business Management Project Management Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals. 
Communication
  • 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
Partnership Management 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.

Minimum Qualifications of the Successful NPSA

Min. Education requirements
  • Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Law, English language and translation, Political Science, Economics, Management Information System, or any other related field is required, or 
  • A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in Business Administration, Law, English language and translation, Political Science, Economics, Management Information System, or any other related field in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying work experience will be given due consideration in lieu of a master's degree.
Min. years of relevant work experience  Applicants with a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience. Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience in Governmental projects or UN and International Organization experience .
Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section
  • Previous work experience in project management.
  • Previous experience working effectively in a multi-cultural environment.
  • Experience in the use of office software packages (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and web-based management systems.
  • Experience in UN Results-Based Management (RBM) and monitoring and evaluation approach.
  • Demonstrated experience liaising with relevant government counterparts, particularly with local government.
  • Experience with UNDP’s policies and procedures and experience in the use of ERP systems (e.g., Quantum), demonstrated by previous work experience with UNDP.
Required Language(s) 
  • Fluency in English and Arabic is required.
Professional Certificates
  • Project management certification, such as PMP® or PRINCE2, is an asset.

The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

  1. Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.
  2. A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.
  3. Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

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.

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