Energy Projects Portfolio Coordinator (NPSA-9)

UNDP (Green) Energy Portfolio aims to facilitate transformation of the energy market in Kazakhstan by significantly increasing the share of renewable energy sources (RES) in power generation and to advance energy efficiency of buildings, infrastructure, and other facilities in Kazakhstan by attracting investments from private investors, banks and international financial institutions via the design, piloting, and scale-up of financial instruments, including partial guarantee scheme supporting bank loans to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that have limited access to loans due to lack of suitable collateral.

By facilitating investments into RES and energy efficiency, the portfolio projects will stimulate economic growth and sustainability among SMEs, thus creating and sustaining jobs and accelerating economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.  This approach will also contribute to Kazakhstan’s national strategic goals on decreasing the GDP’s energy intensity and commitments on economic diversification, green development, and climate change mitigation.

• Coordinate the Energy Projects Portfolio to ensure complementarity, provide advisory support to the Energy and Environment Unit on sustainable energy; 
• Supervise and coordinate the Project(s) and ensure results are in accordance with the Project Document(s) and the rules and procedures established in the UNDP POPP. Bear responsibility for the day-to-day management of the - both organizational and substantive issues - budgeting, planning and overall monitoring of the Project(s);
• Develop Annual Work Plans in accordance with the Project Document(s) and ensure adherence to the Annual Work Plans, and conduct budget revisions as required;
• Prepare and reconcile UNDP Terms of References for national and international consultants and subcontractors. Supervise the work of consultants and subcontractors and oversee adherence to the agreed work plans;
• Monitor expenditures, commitments and balance of funds within the Project(s) budget(s) and make changes to the budget as necessary. Hold overall responsibility for achieving budget utilization targets set in the agreed Annual Work Plan, Project reporting and monitoring. Liaise with Project(s) partners to ensure declared co-financing commitments are within the agreed conditions and terms;
• Report on the progress of the Project(s) based on the indicators specified in the relevant logical framework of Project(s);
• Provide technical assistance and coordination of Project(s’) activities, results and technical coordination among the consultants hired by Project(s).
• Maintain regular contacts with the UNDP Country Office in Kazakhstan and the Government partners on the implementation of the Energy Projects Portfolio within the relevant competencies. Ensure adequate flow of information, discussion and feedback among the various stakeholders of the portfolio;
• Carry out any other activities related to the Energy Projects Portfolio, as requested by UNDP or the Government.

The Energy Projects Portfolio Coordinator is responsible for the overall coordination of the Energy Projects Portfolio, management of Project(s), including technical coordination and mobilization of Project resources, supervising Project(s) personnel, consultants and subcontractors. The Energy Projects Portfolio Coordinator will be tasked with the day-to-day management of Project(s) activities, as well as dealing with material, financial and administrative reporting. The main responsibility of the Energy Projects Portfolio Coordinator is to ensure that the Energy Projects Portfolio are closely coordinated providing for the synergy of the projects’ results towards achieving outcome results as well as performance indicators specified in the Project Document(s), in accordance with the required quality standards and within the specified time and cost constraints. This will require linking indicators to the workplan to ensure results-based management.

The Energy Projects Portfolio Coordinator will report to the Head of EE Unit on all programmatic and administrative issues of the Project(s). The Energy Projects Portfolio Coordinator will be responsible for liasoning with the Government, UNDP and other UN agencies, NGOs and other Project(s) partners as appropriate.

The Energy Projects Portfolio Coordinator will supervise the personnel of the project «Creating Conditions For Attracting Investors To Energy Efficiency in Kazakhstan» according to the EEU organigramme and coordinate the work of the managers of the Energy Projects Portfolio.  

Core Competencies

Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking

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 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making

People Management:

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-functional and Technical Competencies

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 frame

Works in the organization and ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks

Negotiation and Influence

Ability to 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

Human-centered Design

Ability to develop solutions to problems by involving the human perspective in all steps of the problem-solving process

Results-based Management

Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results

Project Management

Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

Partnerships Management

Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies

Required Skills and Experience

• Master’s degree in engineering, environmental sciences, international relations, business administration or related sciences. Or
• Bachelor’s degree in combination with 2 years of experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master’s degree.

• At least 2 years (with Master’s) or 4 years (with Bachelor’s) of solid experience in managing project/program including coordination a large multi-stakeholder project in the field of energy saving and energy efficiency, renewables and ability to respond flexibly to the political, technical and managerial challenges
• Experience in the implementation of organizational and financial schemes to support energy efficiency (for example, ESCO, PPP, etc.), RES and other «green» projects  including the ability to administer the budgets is desired.
• Experience in working with ministries and/or other national institutions, and ability to work effectively with fellow partners at all levels and with all groups is desired.
• Experience in the field of energy efficiency, supporting energy efficiency in Kazakhstan, financing energy efficiency, RES, reducing the impact on the global climate, including the political, institutional and socio-economic contexts is desired.
• Experience in the UN system in implementing Government cost-sharing projects would be an asset.

Languages:

• Fluency in English and Kazakh and/or Russian

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.