Asst Resident Representative

The UNDP office in Jamaica is a multi-country office which covers a total of five (5) small island developing states (SIDs):  Jamaica, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands.  Under the supervision and guidance of the UNDP Resident Representative, the Assistant Resident Representative covers a broad range of issues from programme formulation to delivery, monitoring of UNDP’s programme and operations, representation of UNDP in Country Programme Development (CPD) in the context of the United Nations Multi-Country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for the Caribbean (UNMSDCF), formulation and delivery of joint programmes and resource mobilization. The Assistant Resident Representative supports the Resident Representative in positioning UNDP as a strategic partner for sustainable development within the Agenda 2030 framework, steers strategic planning, programme formulation and creative responses to emerging complex challenges, oversees the design of UNDP’s policy and programmatic offer, signature services and partnership engagement mechanism. The Assistant Resident Representative ensures that the UNDP’s programme and services are consistent with the national development priorities of the host country government, and supportive of the UN’s development efforts in the country in line with the UNMSDCF and CPD.

The Assistant Resident Representative represents UNDP when requested by the Resident Representative. When authorized by the Resident Representative, the Assistant Resident Representative serves in the capacity as Officer-in-Charge. 

The Assistant Resident Representative is responsible for supervision of UNDP staff, promotes work environment in the UNDP Country Office that is conducive to innovation and engagement with a diverse set of stakeholders and ensures cross-unit cooperation, coordination, teamwork, inclusion, and the empowerment of staff and of counterparts. The Assistant Resident Representative ensures a client-oriented approach and consistency with UNDP’s rules and regulations and good management practice.  All managerial/leadership functions are performed in line with the established UN and UNDP management norms, rules and regulations, and in conformity with UNDP’s internal accountability framework for senior managers which emphasizes, inter alia, the highest standards of ethics, integrity and accountability in the personal and professional domains. 

Within delegated authority, the Assistant Resident Representative will be responsible for the following duties:

Summary of Key Functions:

• Coordinate and advise on formulation and delivery of UNDP Programme
• Supervision of Operations multi-disciplinary teams
• Support to UN Common Services and UNDP safety and security
• Coordinate partnership building and resource mobilization
• Quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management.

1. Under the supervision and guidance of the Resident Representative, the Assistant Resident Representative is responsible for coordinating and advising on formulation and delivery of UNDP programme:

1. Advise and participate in the CCA/UNMSDCF process including promoting thematic and sectoral synergies and coordination of programme activities and execution; identify relevant areas where UNDP can assist Government(s) in achieving the national Vision development goals and priorities.
2. Advise the Resident Representative on the strategic focus of the country programme, the allocation of resources, implement country programme development and delivery, identify innovative approaches and modalities to achieve multiple development targets.
3. Support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda including through articulation of the integrated nature of poverty eradication, the acceleration of structural transformations for sustainable development through innovation and resilience to crises and shocks in critical dialogues with partners and stakeholders that builds evidence for informed policy design and implementation. In addition, provide support to ensure UNDP’s role as integrator of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across different sectors and through close collaboration with other UN Agencies.
4. Advise the Resident Representative on the contribution of UNDP to UN coherence and ensure close working across the humanitarian and development domains as may be required in the country context. S/he ensures this is reflected in the UNDP country programme as appropriate.
5. Serve as designated focal point for crisis response and recovery
6. Support inter-agency collaboration and joint programming with other UN agencies in line with UN system priorities established in the UNCT.
7. Advise the Resident Representative on innovative approaches and modalities of the UNDP programme to achieve development targets including through modalities such as country-level integrated support platforms (as appropriate), which facilitate partnership building, engagement of diverse stakeholders, financing solutions, and external communication.
8. Supervise programme assurance activities related to the implementation of the Country Programme and assessment of national capacity in financial management and procurement of goods and services;
9. Continuously assess and advise the RR on the political and socio-economic situation and trends in the country to ensure that UNDP policy support, programmes and services are relevant and responsive to emerging priorities and needs. 
10. Ensure follow-up on thematic and programme evaluations to ensure continuous improvement on development impact. Apply lessons learned from office audit and evaluation exercises to new management efforts.

2. In consultation with the UNDP Resident Representative, the Assistant Resident Representative is responsible for:

1. Office management: The Assistant Resident Representative monitors UNDP’s commitments within the UNMSDCF Results Matrix, ensures effective application of corporate performance and planning tools, and monitors achievement of results, management targets and other benchmarks.
2. Financial resources management: The Assistant Resident Representative has Senior Manager rights in Atlas and ensures the integrity of financial systems, review of budget requirements and the consistent application of rules and regulations. The Assistant Resident Representative establishes and supervises implementation of adequate internal controls to ensure the integrity of financial transactions and systems. The Assistant Resident Representative monitors and supervises the implementation of the integrated planning, budgeting and utilization of resources in line with established policies and procedures; applies UNDP cost recovery policy. 
3. Human Resources management: The Assistant Resident Representative is responsible for implementation of the people management systems and supervision of UNDP personnel to motivate and promote organizational excellence. S/he will ensure talent alignment with business strategies, leveraging the entire workforce of the CO and foster people engagement.
4. Procurement and General Administration: The Assistant Resident Representative oversees and is responsible for implementation of procurement processes and methods; CO travel, logistics, premises management.
5. ICT: The Assistant Resident Representative maintains a secure, reliable infrastructure environment for ICT.
6. Audit: The Assistant Resident Representative is responsible for effective follow-up and implementation of all audit issues; ensures full compliance to audit requirements and recommendations. 
7. Risk management: The Assistant Resident Representative is responsible for identification of significant risks and implementation of a risk management strategy. 

3. The Assistant Resident Representative ensures UNDP support to common services, other Agencies and Resident Coordinator Office (RCO) as well as UNDP safety and security compliance:

1. Coordinate and supervise the effective provision of services including financial, human resources, procurement and logistics, reviews with UN counterparts service requirements; ensure full cost-recovery for provision of services. 
2. Ensure common services and joint arrangements benefit UNDP in its objective to provide efficient and economical support services to the implementation of the country programme.
3. The Assistant Resident Representative supports the Resident Representative in ensuring UNDP Security Risk Management (SRM) compliance and efficient implementation of the day-to-day UNDP safety and security matters.
4. The Assistant Resident Representative represents UNDP in Security Management Team (SMT) if requested by the Resident Representative and is responsible for efficient implementation in UNDP of security measures agreed in the SMT and for compliance with security policy.
5. The Assistant Resident Representative ensures that Business Continuity Planning is in place and tested (at minimum once per annum) to ensure operability of UNDP in all circumstances.

4. Under the overall guidance of the Resident Representative, the Assistant Resident Representative coordinates partnership building and resource mobilization for UNDP:

1. Support the Resident Representative  in the implementation and coordination of overall resource mobilization and ensures that UNDP mobilizes the support needed.
2. Advise the Resident Representative in designing and driving the partnerships, resource mobilization, marketing and external communications strategy at country level, and for directly engaging local development partners, resulting in concrete contributions to results and enhanced financing for the SDGs in the host country.
3. Support the Resident Representative in building and deepening partnerships, engaging diverse stakeholders, fostering strategic partnerships with the Government, private sector, NGOs, donor community, international financial institutions and other UN entities. 
4. Advocate for UNDP and catalyze advocacy activities and information sharing. 
5. Strengthen UNDP’s visibility with potential stakeholders through conventional media as well as digital and social media channels and provide efficient communication to all partners in relation to local programme and project implementation.

5. Quality advisory services to the Government and facilitation of knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:

1. Identify sources of information related to policy-driven issues. Identifies and synthesizes best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country policy goals.
2. Contribute to the development of CO knowledge products (Annual Report, Op-eds, blogs, etc)
3. Promote knowledge management to ensure access to best available expertise and facilitate organizational learning.
4. Contribute to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
5. Organize training for the operations/ projects staff on programme issues.
6. Ensure professional growth through active learning.

Education:

Master's degree in social policy, public policy, political science, environment, economics, development studies, business administration or other related areas or its equivalent.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of substantive experience and results at the national/ international level, in the development of strategies affecting the provision of advisory services; coordination amongst a diverse group of stakeholders including government agencies, donors, private sector, non-governmental organizations and civil society organizations; and management and leadership of programmes in development-related areas, working with national, regional and international entities.
• Experience in leading/managing a team.
• Excellent knowledge of Operations functional areas is required.
• Experience in crisis management and recovery strongly desirable.
• Strong understanding of results-based monitoring is an asset.
• Experience working in the UN System or international organization is an asset;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems and ERP systems, preferably Oracle/PeopleSoft.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English (both written and oral). Knowledge of other official UN languages desirable.

Important applicant information

All posts in the GS/NO categories are subject to local recruitment.

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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.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

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