State Project Manager

With projects and programmes in every state and union territory in India, UNDP works with national and subnational government, and diverse development actors to deliver people-centric results, particularly for the most vulnerable and marginalized communities. As the integrator for collective action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the UN system, we are committed to supporting the Government of India’s national development vision and priorities and accelerating the achievement of the SDGs for the people and the planet. 

UNDP India’s new Country Programme (2023-2027) builds on our prior work and aims to provide an integrated approach to development solutions in three strategic portfolios: 
· Strong, accountable and evidence-led institutions for accelerated achievement of the SDGs 
· Enhanced economic opportunities and social protection to reduce inequality, with a focus on the marginalized 
· Climate-smart solutions, sustainable ecosystems and resilient development for reduced vulnerability 

South-South cooperation, gender equality and social inclusion are promoted across the pillars. The programme is supported by a framework of renewed partnerships and blended finance solutions, strategic innovation and accelerator labs, and data and digital architecture.

You are invited to join a team of future-smart development professionals to support India in achieving the national and globally agreed goals. As part of the UNDP team, your focus will be to work with diverse stakeholders to find country-specific solutions that lead to sustainable development and reach those furthest behind first. 

Project Description

The Action for Climate and Environment Team (ACE) portfolio at UNDP is currently working in various thematic areas of climate change adaptation and mitigation; disaster management and resilience; and access to clean and efficient energy. The following projects have a strong component on climate change adaptation

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) project - on “Enhancing Climate Resilience of India’s Coastal Communities” supports the Government of India and the state governments in the project states of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Maharashtra, to enhance the resilience of vulnerable coastal communities to climate change through ecosystembased adaptation (EbA). The project combines GCF grant finance with significant leveraged co-finance from central and state governments to shift the paradigm towards a new approach, integrating ecosystem-centred and community-based approaches to adaptation into coastal management and planning by the public sector, the private sector and civil society. 

The project supports the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India and the nodal departments of the target State governments, to enhance the resilience of the lives and livelihoods of the most vulnerable populations, particularly women, in the coastal areas of India to climate change and extreme events, using an ecosystem-centered and community-based approach in three target states. This project as well contributes towards the achievement of climate priorities outlined in India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change (2008), the State Action Plans, as well as commitments outlined in India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (2015). 

The project works at national, state and community levels to enhance capacities for ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation and enable climate policy and finance shifts to catalyze climate action in all of India’s coastal states and union territories.

The project will enhance the resilience of coastal communities throughout India, through the implementation of interventions under the following inter-linked outputs: 
· Output 1: Enhanced resilience of coastal and marine ecosystems and their services. 
· Output 2: Climate adaptive livelihoods for enhanced resilience of vulnerable coastal communities; and 
· Output 3: Strengthened coastal and marine governance and institutional frameworks for climate resilient management of coastal areas. 

The above will be achieved through interventions outlined below in target landscapes in the three states - Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Odisha: 
· Protect and restore ecosystems such as mangroves and seagrass 
· Help communities adopt climate-adaptive livelihoods and value chains 
· Mainstream EbA principles into coastal planning and governance, enabling intersectoral coordination for addressing climate risk across all of India’s coastal states. The target districts and landscapes in Maharashtra are as follows:

District                Targeted landscape

Nellore                Pulicat Lake, Nelapatu Bird Sanctuary and surround communities 
Krishna                Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary, Bantumilli Wetlands 
East Godavari      Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary and surrounding communities 
Srikakulam          Telineelapuram, Sompeta 
 

A. Main Purpose:

The State Project Manager will manage day-to-day project management and oversee regular monitoring of project results and risks, including social and environmental risks in the respective state. To ensure engagement of all direct stakeholders and delivery of project objective, s/he will facilitate coordination with the State relevant actors.

B. Duties and Responsibilities: 
· Establish linkages and work in close coordination with the National Project Coordinator. Assist the National Project Coordinator in planning, implementation, supervision, monitoring and evaluation of all the project activities in the state of Andhra Pradesh. 
· Foster partnerships with key state government and relevant technical institutions working on climate change issues in Andhra Pradesh. 
· Prepare detailed workplans for the State, outlining key activities, deliverables and their timelines for the State PMU. 
· Based on the overall project annual workplan, develop state specific annual work plans and ensure accurate and timely reporting to UNDP and MoEFCC for activities of the project in Andhra Pradesh. 
· Provide information and inputs for developing Terms of reference for consultants/ consultancy firms to be hired to undertake project activities; 
· Commission activities like research studies, state level assessments training workshops etc. and manage the operational aspects of procurement, event management, logistics etc. in coordination with UNDP; 
· Identify capacity development needs of implementing partners and arrange for necessary trainings. · Coordinate with national team and other state teams under the project to share lessons and experiences 
· Manage and track contracts with project partners and flag any potential risks and suggest its mitigation measures. Ensure timely contract management and payments; 
· Undertake review meetings with partners and field visits to track progress made in implementation of the project and take corrective action as required; 
· Review quality and consistency of reports and deliverables by partner institutions/ responsible parties including financial reports from all project partners, 
· Regular financial management and reporting as per the UNDP financial guidelines; Ensure effective financial management and reporting as per the UNDP financial guidelines;
 

Institutional Arrangement 

Direct Reporting To1 : State Project Director, Government of Andhra Pradesh and National Project Coordinator, UNDP 
Overall Reporting To2 : National Project Coordinator, UNDP and Senior Advisor and Team Leader, Environment and Climate Change, NOD 
Reportees to this position (if applicable): State Project Unit, Andhra Pradesh

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 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands 

Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration 

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Business Direction and strategy -Strategic thinking 
Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP's objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities, linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions

Business Development- Knowledge Generation 
Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need 

Business Development- Knowledge Generation 
Ability to 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 

Business Management- Communication 
Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results

Min. years of relevant work experience 
· At least 2 years (Post Masters) / 4 years (Post Bachelors) of programme / project management experience. 
· Experience at the national level on climate change and relevant programmes.
Outstanding communication, project management and organisation skills 
· Experience of working with Central and / or State Governments on similar assignments will be preferred. 
· Familiarity with the working environment and professional standards of international organisations and national and state government 
· Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems is essential.

Required skills
Job Knowledge/ Technical skills
 Good knowledge on climate change and ecosystem management
 Excellent technical and analytical writing skills
 Decisiveness, independence, good judgment, ability to work under pressure 

Communication Skills
 Strong facilitation and moderation, communication skills
 Ability to carry out research and communicate strategic pieces that guide decisions on strategic programme directions
 Good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations with people in a multi-cultural, multiethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity;
 Excellent networking and partnering competencies and negotiating skills 

Management skills
 Ability to guide Project Management Team
 Good manager of people and resources to obtain best results
 Demonstrated skills in building, mobilizing, and leading multi-disciplinary teams
 Ability to guide the Project Management Unit in implementing and achieving project outcomes
 Ability to represent and promote the project at national and international meetings.
 Reliable in delivering own parts of the work as part of a team effort
 Demonstrates excellent work/project planning skills
 Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards;
 Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the organisation

Desired skills
 Demonstrated experience of working with Central and/or State Governments/ NGOs/ UN/ Civil Society on similar assignments will be
preferred.
 Familiarity with the working environment and professional standards of international organizations and national and State Governments.
 Is open to change and ability to manage complex, ever-changing environments 

Required Language(s)
Fluency in Telugu and English is mandatory. Fluency in Hindi is desirable

Professional Certificates
Project Management, Results Based Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, Risk Management