Background
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Acceleration Framework Project, as a Development Services Agreement, is entered with the Governmentโs central authority โ the General Secretariat of the Government, in order to provide services to a wider range of authorities at the national level, as the General Secretariat supports the work of the Government for general and operational affairs.
The Development Services Agreement is envisaged to provide a framework for services requested by the Government, for ongoing initiatives of the Government, for which it bears full accountability. The majority of development services envisaged under the Agreement relate to support to policy making through research, advocacy or policy alternatives, aimed at fulfilling priorities as articulated in the Government plans, presented before Parliament, and in line with progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The Project includes, among the rest, support for fully capacitating the Sector for International and Development Cooperation of the General Secretariat of the Government.
Among other activities within the framework of this project, UNDP shall also support the Sectorโs work by providing advisory services and consultancy for the planning, design, and monitoring of high-level event organization processes, both domestically and internationally.It shall also support the coordination and smooth implementation of designated project activities relevant to the work of the Sector for International and Development Cooperation within the General Secretariat of the Government. The presented Terms of Reference (ToR) shall contribute to the implementation of this activity.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the guidance of the Portfolio Manager โ SDG Integration, the incumbent is responsible for the following specific results:
Support coordination and implementation of designated project activities:
โข Assist in coordination, and implementation of selected activities/components in the areas relevant to the project.
โข Track progress, identify key bottlenecks and take action to fast-track implementation of the initiatives related to the work of the Sector for International and Development cooperation relevant for the project.
โข ย ย Provide support in effective management of the projectโs activities, including technical inspections of documentation relevant for the conceptualising, designing and monitoring phase of the high-level events organization.
โข ย ย Provide support in implementation phase of the events organization by overseeing its alignment with the design phase, through accurate and timely data collection, analysis, reporting, and progress tracking.
โข ย Prepare regular updates and reports to Project Boards on projectsโ progress, implementing issues, emerging risks/problems and proposals for necessary remedial actions.
โข ย ย Identify and collect relevant information, documents and data, compile and analyze data for further use in project management.ย
Support to project administration:
โข ย ย Support organization and coordination of meetings, training sessions, workshops, conferences, and project events
โข ย ย Prepare various documents, briefs, updates, talking points, presentations, reports and relevant communication materials, agendas for the meetings, background information relevant for discussions with stakeholders, keeping minutes of each meeting detailing participation, main points discussed, and conclusions reached
โข ย ย Draft terms of reference for consultants and contractors, as required and support recruitment of short-term consultants in line with rules and regulations.
โข ย ย Draft correspondence on project issues, as required.
โข ย ย Follow up with (sub)contractors to ensure time delivery of outputs.
โข ย ย Ensure full compliance of activities with UNDP rules, regulations, and policies.
Network with partners and beneficiaries:
โข ย ย Maintain close cooperation with national and international partners and institutions relevant to the General Secretariat's work aimed to expand existing and build new partnerships.
โข ย ย Maintain communication with projectโs partners and beneficiaries on the implementation of the agreed activities, especially for the events, trainings, workshops.
โข ย ย Establish record with contacts, pursue networking and information sharing and to follow up on partnership related issues.
โข ย ย Advise national partners on opportunities for enhancement of cooperation with relevant national and international partners.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Institutional Arrangement
The Project Associate will work under the overall guidance and supervision of the Portfolio Manager โ Integrated Solutions, SDG Integration Center.
Competencies Core: Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvementsย Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexibleย Act with Determination:ย LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discriminationย
Cross-Functional & Technical competenciesย
Thematic Area
Name
Definition
Business Management
Partnerships Management
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.
Business Management
Working with Evidence and Data
Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting decision-making.
Business Management
Customer Satisfaction/Client Management
Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers' needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients' immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.
Business Management
Monitoring and Evaluation
Ability to systematically monitor results ofย
strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively; Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results.ย
Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming. Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools. Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.
Partnershipย ย management
Relationship management
Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding.
General (across theย
functions)
Event planning and execution
Ability to plan, manage and execute of public and private events to ensure that they support and amplify individual communications and advocacy initiatives, as well as UNDP's overall brand and mandate.
Communications
Graphic design
Ability to communicate
Data
Data Analysis
Ability to extract, analyse and visualize data to form meaningful insights and aid effective business decision making
Required Skills and Experience Education:
- Secondary education is required.ย
- ย University Degree (Bachelorโs degree) in Natural, Social ย Sciences or equivalent field will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement
ย Experience:- ย ย Minimum 7 years (withย Secondary Education) or 4 years (with Bachelorโs degree) of relevant work experience in the field of project management, technical coordination, project monitoring or relevant related field is required.
Required skills
- Good organizational and time management skills;ย
- Good application of Results-Based Managementย
- Good communication, coordination and facilitation skills
- Sound understanding of Serbia's political, institutional, and socio-economic situation.ย
- Ability to establish lasting relationships and substantive dialogue with clients.ย
- Treats all people fairly without favoritismย
- Strong oral and written communication skills.
- Proficiency in the use of MS Office package, especially Excel and Power Point.ย
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
- Demonstrates integrity by modelling.
Desired skills:
- Experience in managing complex projects with various stakeholders.
- Experienceย in coordinating and monitoring implementation of ย projects.
- Experience in understandingย public policies and work of the public administration.
Languages:
- Fluency in Serbian and English is required
The online application form must be fully completed. Applicants are required to carefully complete their online application form and reflect all of their work experience history in the application.ย
Only attaching a CV is not sufficient for applicants to be considered for positions. All applicants have to complete the Experience, Education, Language, and Nationality & Permanent Residence fields fully.
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.
Equal opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.ย
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.ย
Right to select multiple candidates
UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.ย 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.
Scam alert
UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.
ย
- Fluency in Serbian and English is required
- ย ย Minimum 7 years (withย Secondary Education) or 4 years (with Bachelorโs degree) of relevant work experience in the field of project management, technical coordination, project monitoring or relevant related field is required.