Assistant Administrator and Director, Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery (BCPR), New York
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Closing date: 17 Nov 2008
Location: United States of America (the) - New York
UNDP is the UN?s global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. As the UN?s global development network, UNDP links and coordinates global and national efforts to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). UNDP is working with a wide range of partners to help create coalitions for change to support the goals at global, regional and national levels; to benchmark progress towards them; and to help countries build the institutional capacity, policies and programmes needed to achieve the MDGs. Responding to the world?s main development challenges and to the calls of civil society, the MDGs promote poverty reduction, education, maternal health, gender equality, and aim at combating child mortality, AIDS and other diseases.
Created in 2001 by UNDP's Executive Board, the Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery (BCPR) works around the world to restore the quality of life for men, women and children who have been devastated by natural disaster or violent conflict. Operating through some 100 country offices, the Bureau provides a bridge between the humanitarian agencies that handle immediate needs and the long-term development phase following recovery. Carving stability out of chaos, BCPR continues to seek new ways of preventing conflicts and of doing business - faster, earlier and in riskier situations.
Our goal is to become a global center of excellence on crisis prevention and recovery, by attracting the best professionals, providing knowledge and quality services, responding quickly and appropriately to country demands, and building effective partnerships.
Description of Responsibilities :
Reporting to the Administrator/Associate Administrator, the Director is the overall manager of the Bureau. Following are the Director?s principal functions:
- Oversees the development of policy and provision of ongoing support provided to UNDP country offices in areas related to crisis prevention and recovery;
- Manages the strategic policy functions of the Bureau and oversees the operational and financial support provided to UNDP country offices related to programmes falling within the competence of BCPR;
- Provides high-level policy guidance to the Administrator of UNDP in formulating core issues and continuing strategic vision regarding the UN system?s role in peacebuilding, conflict prevention and recovery, disaster risk reduction and early recovery; explores long-range strategies to ensure continued relevance of the work of UNDP in these areas vis-à-vis the rest of the system;
Leads the reforms aimed at bringing greater coherence to the UN?s humanitarian and recovery work, by collaborating across the UN system and leading multidisciplinary discussions within the UN;
- Provides direction to UNDP and wider UN system efforts on global advocacy and supports regional and national advocacy initiatives related to crisis prevention and recovery;
- Acts as a spokesperson and representative for UNDP on issues of crisis prevention and recovery; maintains effective key contacts with Member States, UN and other inter-governmental organizations, donors, civil society groups and nongovernmental organizations; represents UNDP at sessions of its Executive Board, the General Assembly, ministerial conferences and other important international gatherings; brokers the substantive working relations with the Bretton Woods Institutions;
- Promotes and positions the work of UNDP among target constituencies, and uses the media and staff resources to increase visibility and influence of UNDP worldwide and to create opportunities for global cooperation regarding key peacebuilding, recovery and disaster reduction issues;
- Member of UNDP?s Management Group (consisting of all Bureau Directors), Operations Support Group and Gender Implementation Steering Committee;
- Leads BCPR?s support for UNDP and UN system knowledge-sharing related to crisis prevention and recovery, including through global knowledge networks; helps ensure that UN Country Teams have up-to-date development information and policy advice;
- Directs the conduct and publishing of appropriate research and analysis of crisis prevention and recovery issues; promotes new product development and innovation in UNDP and across the UN development system; formulates as necessary policy advice, guidance notes and policy statements regarding UNDP?s practice areas for use by UNDP country offices;
- Leads the planning process for the Bureau, establishing objectives and targets; vets group plans and budgets; periodically reviews performance, initiating corrective action, as required, to ensure that overall objectives are met;
- Mobilizes the resources for and provides overall oversight for the UNDP Thematic Trust Fund for Crisis Prevention and Recovery;
- Ensures a strong gender component in all the policy guidance and programme support provided by BCPR; and
-Oversees and is responsible for the Bureau?s operations in finance, human resources, information technology and administrative dimensions, including effective change management.
Competencies :
Vision; Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities and risks; clearly communicate links between the organization?s strategy and the bureau goals; establish/identify and communicate broad and compelling organizational direction;
Leadership; Strong managerial/leadership skills; recognized as having successfully managed large teams; demonstrated flexibility in leadership by overseeing the analysis of complex development issues; proven record of building and managing teams and creating an enabling work environment, including the ability to effectively lead, develop and evaluate staff;
Knowledge Management; Demonstrated ability to use knowledge management strategies to promote more effective decision-making, and a more coherent approach to policy making, and intra/inter-organizational collaboration;
Client Orientation; Ability to identify client needs and appropriate solutions; ability to establish and maintain productive partnerships with clients;
Communications; Excellent communication and presentation skills, with strong representational abilities;
Teamwork; Strong interpersonal skills demonstrated by the ability to lead and gain the assistance and cooperation of others in a team endeavor; ability to build trust through operating with transparency and creating an open and positive environment; ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity;
Judgment; Sound judgment and decision-making skills, with the ability to make effective timely decisions under pressure; and
Managing Performance; Ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor the progress of the bureau workplan and achievement of results
Qualifications:
Education
- Advanced degree in development-related disciplines, economics, public policy or other relevant social science.
Experience
- A minimum of 15 years of relevant multilateral and government experience, including the development of strategies affecting the provision of advisory services; interagency and international cooperation; negotiation of partnerships; mobilization of resources; and management of programmes in development-related areas with national, regional, international entities; demonstrated capacity in public speaking, and strong representational ability;
- Experience as senior member of a UN Country Team or in a leadership role within a UN Mission; experience as a Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator highly desirable;
- Experience in managing human and financial resources in a crisis setting;
- Knowledge of disaster risk reduction desirable;
- Knowledge of UNDP country operations desirable ;and
- Experience in resource mobilization desirable.
Language Requirements:
- Fluency in English essential; working language of other UN languages highly desirable
How to apply
Please submit your application online at http://jobs.undp.org/
Reference Code: RW_7KUPV5-66
Source: Reliefweb
Tags: Advisory Services; Bretton Woods Institutions; Change Management; Child Mortality; Civil Society; Disaster Reduction; Disaster Risk Reduction; ERP; Financial Resources; Gender Equality; Human Resources; Information Technology; International Cooperation; Knowledge Management; Maternal Health; Peacebuilding; Poverty Reduction; Product Development; Public Speaking; Quality of Life