Senior Development Coordination Officer, Strategic Planning and RCO Team Leader at the United Nations

The United Nations is the one international organization with the reach and vision capable of solving global problems. The United Nations Foundation links the UN's work with others around the world, mobilizing the energy and expertise of business and non-governmental organizations to help the UN tackle issues including climate change, global health, peace and security, women's empowerment, poverty eradication, energy access, and U.S.-UN relations.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Development Coordination Officer, Strategic Planning and RCO Team Leader, P5

Job Opening Number: 19-Sustainable Development-RCS-126339-R-Abuja (X)
Location: Abuja
Department/Office: Resident Coordinator System

Org. Setting and Reporting

• The position is located in the United Nations Resident Coordination Office (RCO) in Abuja, Nigeria and reports to the UN Resident Coordinator (RC).

Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Senior Development Coordination Officer, Strategic Planning and RCO Team Leader will be responsible of the following duties:

Summary of Functions:

• Leads the provision of strategic guidance to the RC and UN Country Team (UNCT) on effective, quality and timely UN support for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda through the Common Country Analysis (CCA) and UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF)
• Initiates, establishes and coordinates external partnerships and joint resource mobilization efforts for the new generation UNSDCF
• Coordinates the Business Operations Strategy and develops business innovations
• Manages and directs knowledge management and capacity development activities in and outside the UN System
• Leads and coordinates overall management of the RCO to ensure efficient and effective substantive coordination support to the RC/UNCT and adherence to organizational policies and procedures

Description of Functions:

• Leads the provision of strategic guidance to the RC and UNCT of effective, quality and timely UN support for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda through a new generation CCA/UNSDCF
• Leads and coordinates substantive support to the RC/UNCT in articulating and actively communicating a credible and convincing strategic vision for the UN, articulated through the UNSDCF, which is consistent with national development goals and priorities, UN values, aligned with the 2030 Agenda and committed to the principles of universality, equality and leaving no one behind;
• Provides strategic direction and develops recommendations to facilitate decision-making by the RC/UNCT in relation to repositioning of the UN System in country, especially related to the Standard Operating Procedures for Delivering as One;
• Develops policy recommendations to the RC/UNCT on the development, implementation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation of the new generation CCA/UNSDCF as the primary instrument for the planning and implementation of UN development activities in country;
• Ensures effective guidance to the RC/UNCT in asserting vision and accountability for the UN to operate as a nimble, innovative and enterprising development partner, demonstrating characteristics of a knowledge-based organization and thought leader;
• Leads the strategic design of UN’s policy and programmatic services, operational capabilities, and partnership mechanisms;
• Establishes and promotes close engagement across the humanitarian, development and peace domains, as required by the country context;
• Leads the identification, analysis and prioritization of joint programmatic work of UN entities in response to national priorities and in line with the UNSDCF and the 2030 Agenda, based on analysis carried out the Sustainable Development Policy Advisor;
• Coordinates the UNSDCF and Joint Workplans; directs UNSDCF monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and reporting through UNINFO; guides preparation and provision of the annual One UN Country Results Report to the Government and other stakeholders;
• Promotes the engagement of all agencies – resident and non-resident - and other relevant UN entities, including at Headquarters and at the (sub-)regional level in inter-agency fora and in discussions with external partners;
• Ensures coherence in the different intra-agency coordination bodies, including with Humanitarian Country Teams and the Security Management Team.

Initiates, establishes and coordinates external partnerships and joint resource mobilization efforts for the new generation UNDAF:

• Initiates, establishes and coordinates effective working relationships with national and international public and private partners to ensure knowledge sharing in support of Common Country Analysis (CCA)/UNSDCF development, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation;
• Directs substantive support for positioning the UN as a key provider of integrated services and as a platform in support of the SDGs, in consultation with a broad range of stakeholders;
• In close collaboration with the Development Partnerships Officer, leads the formulation and implementation of the UN Partnership Strategy as well as the Resource Mobilization Strategy, and other initiatives in support of SDG achievement through the UNSDCF ;
• Leads the design, formulation, implementation, monitoring and reporting of joint programming processes amongst UN entities;
• Based on UNSDCF and joint programmes, coordinates joint resource mobilization and partnering efforts at country level;
• Manages the implementation of the SDG Country Fund (where relevant) in support of the UNSDCF and SDG acceleration;
• Oversees strategic messaging and communication initiatives by RC/UNCT.

Coordinates the Business Operations Strategy and develops business innovations:

• In collaboration with the Operations Management Team (OMT), directs substantive support to the RC/UNCT on business innovations for the UN in country;
• Provides substantive direction in formulating, implementing and monitoring the UN Country Business Operations Strategy;
• Guides the OMT in implementing common premises, and in establishing a common back office for location-dependent services;
• Promotes a culture of continuous improvement and client-orientation in operational service delivery;
• Ensures effective guidance on the establishment of common services arrangements to participating organizations/agencies at the country level.

Manages and directs knowledge management and capacity development activities in- and outside the UN System:

• Coordinates the transfer of knowledge and effective communications across different UN and non-UN entities;
• Leads the sharing of best practices, trends, knowledge and lessons learned across the UN system and with external partners;
• Directs thematic activities and knowledge-sharing forums and encourages others to participate;
• Coordinates knowledge sharing (including through training and facilitating peer exchange) amongst UN staff on issues related to UN strategic planning frameworks, methodologies and tools;
• Oversees the analysis of UN experiences, lessons learned and knowledge networking to contribute to strategic planning processes.

Leads and coordinates overall management of the RCO to ensure efficient and effective substantive coordination support to the RC/UNCT and adherence to organizational policies and procedures:

• Coordinates the formulation and implementation of the substantive work programme of the UNCT; allocates and monitors RCO resources for delivery of outputs and reporting on results;
• Supervises the activities undertaken by the RCO, ensuring that programmed activities are carried out in a timely fashion;
• In close collaboration with UNDP, manages processes related to human and financial resource management, procurement, general administration, security, and information technology for the RCO;
• Manages, guides and trains staff under his/her supervision; promotes teamwork and communications among staff in the RCO and across organizational boundaries;
• Establishes and maintains a work environment in the RC Office and across UN entities that is conducive to innovation and engagement with a diverse set of stakeholders and delivers results in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Competencies
Professionalism:

• Proven knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to sustainable development.
• Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities and risks. 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.
• Proven ability to analyze complex data and produce reports leading to sound policy recommendations for achieving sustainable development; Solid understanding of the political environment and the programmes and activities of the UN system in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals; Ability to think strategically, to identify key emerging sustainable development issues and related policy implications.
• 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.

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.

Teamwork:

• Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Leadership:

• Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands.
• 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.

Judgment/Decision-making:

• Identifies key issues in complex situations, 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 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 Business or Public Administration, Sustainable Development, Social Sciences, Education or related area.
• 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 years of progressively responsible experience in strategic planning, sustainable development policy, project/programme management, or resource mobilization in the context of development cooperation or related area is required.
• A minimum of three years of experience in partnership development in a development area is required.
• A minimum of three years of experience in development planning and policy formulation is required.
• A minimum of three years of experience with inter-agency or interorganizational collaboration in the development sector is required.
• Field experience in development cooperation is desirable.
• Experience in the United Nations system or a comparable international organization is desirable.
• Experience in managing large multicultural teams at the country level is desirable.
• Experience working with triple nexus on integrated strategic planning and transitional programming is desirable
• Experience working on or in Africa, particularly the West African region, is desirable.
• Knowledge of and experience in UN joint programming is desirable

Languages:

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.

Assessment:

• Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

United Nations Considerations

• According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.
• Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts.
• The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions.
• The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.
• Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.
• Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.
• The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted.
• Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Application Closing Date
11:59 p.m. (New York time); 18th November, 2019.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Special Notice

• This position is available for an initial period of one year. Extension of appointment is subject to the availability of funds.
• Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.
• The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.
• Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfill the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover letter.