Senior Programme Management Officer

Senior Programme Management Officer, Nairobi, Kenya

Closing date: Saturday, 17 April 2021

Job Code Title: SENIOR PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT OFFICER

Department/Office: Office Of The Special Envoy Of The Secretary-General On The Great Lakes Region

Duty Station: NAIROBI

Posting Period: 19 March 2021 - 17 April 2021

Org. Setting and Reporting

In February 2013, 11 nations signed the Peace, Security and Cooperation (PSC) Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the region, in a renewed drive to end the recurring cycles of devastating conflict in eastern DRC which impacts stability and development in the Great Lakes area of Africa. On 31 January 2014, two more countries, Kenya and Sudan, became signatories of the PSC Framework. The framework aims to help "address the root causes of conflict and put an end to recurring cycles of violence" in eastern DRC and the Great Lakes Region. In its resolution 2098 (2013), the Security Council welcomed the signing of the PSC Framework. It called on the Special Envoy, in coordination with the Special Representative for the DRC to "lead, coordinate and assess the implementation of national and regional commitments under the PSC Framework, including through the establishment of benchmarks and appropriate follow-up measures". The Security Council further encouraged the Special Envoy to "lead a comprehensive political process that includes all relevant stakeholders to address the underlying root causes of the conflict".

Responsibilities

Programme Management

•Provide strategic and operational advice to the Special Envoy on programme design and implementation;

•Plan and oversee the management of activities of the Office of the Special Envoy overall programme agenda which includes coordinating the formulation of substantive priorities, in conjunction with the Political Affairs Unit and thematic advisors;

•Manage, supervise and carry out the work programme of the Unit, ensuring that the outputs and services are of high-quality standards;

•Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of programmes/projects of the Office; direct subordinates in programme/project development planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation; direct submission of relevant documents and reports; identify priorities; problems and issues to be addressed; liaise with relevant parties; identify and initiate follow up actions;

•Ensure, in close collaboration with the Senior Gender Advisor, the implementation of gender mainstreaming guidelines by assessing the implications for men and women of any planned action, including legislation, policies or programmes, in all areas and at all levels;

•Direct and oversee research and programme evaluation and present information gathered from diverse sources; coordinate policy development and implementation; review trends, prepare evaluations, research activities and studies; undertake survey initiatives; guide design of data collection instruments; review, analyse and interpret responses, identify problems/issues and prepare recommendations and conclusions.

Partnerships and Resource Mobilization

•Manage external relations and cooperation, especially on programmatic and cross-cutting issues, and implementation and follow-up mechanisms, with relevant Government representatives, regional organizations, such as the African Union, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, the Southern African Development Community;

•Liaise with United Nations entities as well as bilateral and multilateral partners, such as the African Development Bank, the European Union, the World Bank, for their support and contributions to the implementation of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework (PSC Framework) and the Regional Strategy;

•Explore cooperation with non-traditional partners and manage multi-stakeholder initiatives in support of the PSC Framework;

•Provide substantive input in the preparation of position papers and reports on thematic issues prepared by the Office;

•Manage outreach activities; design and conduct training workshops, seminars, makes presentations on assigned topics/activities and drafting mission summaries;

•Coordinate activities related to budget and funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and ensures preparation of related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.).

Administrative Management

•Ensure the administrative management of programmes, including by preparing budgets for programmes, assigning and monitoring of performance parameters and critical indicators, reporting on budget and programme performance, preparing inputs for results-based budgeting;

•Interface on behalf of the Office with UN Headquarters on finance and administrative matters, including with the Controller’s Office, the Office of Legal Affairs, Donor Relations, Peacebuilding Fund, Multi-Partner Trust Fund, and other programmatic cooperation, with special focus on the full compliance and record keeping of finance and administrative procedures;

•Provide advice to the Chief of Staff on management matters pertaining to human resources, budgeting, financial and general administration;

•Support the Chief of Staff in the supervision of the development, preparation, coordination and monitoring of work plans, strategies and programmes for administrative activities as well as the planning and forecast of personnel, financial and logistical requirements of the Office;

•Support the Chief of staff in exercising budgetary and administrative control;

•Maintain direct liaison with the Resident and External Auditors;

•Represent the O/SESG at international, regional, or national meetings, inter-agency meetings and seminars etc. on programme related issues.

•Participate in recruitment of staff members, consultants and interns; ensure effective utilization, supervision, and development of staff; guides, evaluates and mentors staff, consultants and interns.

•May perform other duties as required.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to generate and communicate broad and compelling organizational direction. Ability to communicate clearly links between the Organization's strategy and the work unit's goals. Demonstrated ability to provide innovative technical leadership by performing and/or overseeing the planning, development, and management of operation. Demonstrated ability to negotiate and apply good judgment. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; Uses time efficiently.

BUILDING TRUST: Provides an environment in which others can talk and act without fear of repercussion; manages in a deliberate and predictable way; operates with transparency; has no hidden agenda; places confidences in colleagues, staff members and clients; gives proper credit to theirs; follows through on agreed upon actions; treats sensitive or confidential information appropriately.

JUDGEMENT/DECISION MAKING: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in public or business administration, management, or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in strategic planning and project or programme management, administration or related area, human resource management, finance, logistics, building strategic alliances and partnerships, or policy development, is required.

Experience implementing complex support programmes and administrative rules and procedures is required.

Experience providing advice to senior leadership and interacting with institutional donors is desirable.

Experience working in a United Nations common system field operation (inclusive of peacekeeping, political missions and UN agencies, funds, and programmes) or similar international organization and a track record of resource mobilization and managing trust funds is desirable.

Experience in supervisory functions is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English and French is required (oral and written).

How to apply: https://careers.un.org/lbw/jobdetail.aspx?id=152279