UNDP

Background

UNDP Mongolia is dedicated to advancing sustainable development and strengthening resilience across the country. The National Project Manager (Roster Recruitment) role is designed to drive effective project implementation across one of three key portfolios: Natural Resource Management (NRM), Climate Change, Governance or Diversified, Inclusive and Green Economic Transition (DIGET) portfolio. This position requires a strategic leader with extensive experience in managing a team and/or complex projects, building partnerships, and facilitating multi-stakeholder collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities

The National Project Manager (NPM) works under the general supervision of Programme Analyst of the assigned portfolio (NRM, Climate Change, Governance or DIGET) and collaborates closely with the Country Office personnel, Implementing Partner, Donor and other relevant parties and supervisees specific to each project.

Lead, manage, coordinate, and develop effective project planning and implementation.

• Lead strategic planning for the project as well as formulation and periodic revisions of the project’s annual work plan (AWP), including plans for budget, HR and procurement that are developed in close coordination with UNDP’s Country Office Programme, HR, and Procurement teams. Lead development of detailed implementation plans. 
• Manage, coordinate, and supervise project implementation to ensure the overall project relevance and performance, the effective realization and quality of outputs within the specified constraints of time and cost as outlined in the project document, and adherence to applicable UNDP policy and programme management procedures and Government standards, rules, and regulations. Act as a senior advisor on issues related to project activities.
• Provide direction, guidance, and direct supervision to UNDP project personnel. Undertake technical review of project documents produced by the project team and partners, and ensure high technical standards are met. 
• Ensure all project interventions integrate a gender equality perspective/gender equality mainstreaming to the extent local context allows.
• Ensure proper execution of all administrative activities associated with project implementation, including mobilizing goods and services, preparing Terms of Reference, completing contracting processes, recruiting/selecting consultants and experts, and managing financial arrangements/transactions and their correct authorization.
• Identify opportunities for synergies with other projects within UNDP and beyond, to advance the key objectives and grow its focus. 

Develop strategic partnerships.

• Substantively contribute to the harnessing of effective partnerships and lead the identification and onboarding process for implementing partners.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships and strategic linkages with implementing and development partners, government officials, businesses, NGOs, other national and regional stakeholders, and beneficiaries to support and ensure accurate interpretation of project objectives and promote inclusive project implementation.
• Substantively contribute to project communications and visibility efforts. Make recommendations to the management team on activities with potential for scale-up, replicability and synergies.
• Provide technical support to the implementing partners and act as a liaison between UNDP and the partners. 
• Support resource mobilization efforts and project development.

Monitor and report on progress in implementing project activities and achieving the targets set.

• Provide leadership and technical advice to the project in developing baselines and indicators for project monitoring and evaluation and coordinate the finalization of detailed results framework. Develop clear strategies and an effective system for data collection, means of verification, and information sharing and reporting. 
• Lead the implementation of project monitoring, evaluation, and results framework to identify plan deviations and other problems; and make needed course corrections within agreed upon tolerances to achieve results. Conduct field visits as required to verify project activities relative to stated targets and provide regular field updates to UNDP management. 
• Lead the development and conduct of mid-term and annual reviews, and end line assessment; and coordinate the conduct of independent evaluations. Organize project review and evaluation meetings. Follow up on the implementation of decisions, recommendations, and course corrections.
• Manage and monitor project risks, including social and environmental risks, initially identified and submit new risks to appropriate project governing bodies for consideration and decision on possible actions. 
• Coordinate the preparation of corporate, donor and government reports in line with the reporting schedule and UNDP and donor requirements. Ensure provision of ad hoc reports and information requested by relevant entities. 
• Ensure proper operational and financial closure of the project.

Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing, and advocacy relevant to the assigned thematic areas.

• Identify capacity building needs and opportunities. Ensure appropriate training, project workshops and other relevant activities are organized and implemented in a consultative manner, involving technical experts and stakeholders that may include the government, private sector, NGOs, donors, and/or academia.
• Ensure project reports capture results, lessons learned and good practices for possible wider application.
• Participate in and ensure sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice on development and project related issues. Support establishment of knowledge platforms for the project, facilitate innovative mechanisms for dissemination of knowledge from the project, and develop knowledge resources and products to share with project partners and to support UNDP’s engagement in this area. 
• Promote advocacy for UNDP’s work and opportunities for collaboration in addressing development trends in coordination with the project partners, stakeholders, and UNDP communications staff. 

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Note: While the core responsibilities are common across the portfolios, the specific thematic focus will be defined by the project assignment.

Competencies

Core competencies:

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact 
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems 
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
• 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

People Management competencies:

• UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Direction & 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.
• Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP.
• System Thinking - Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Business Development 

• Knowledge Facilitation - Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally
• Project Management - Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals
• Communication - 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

Partnership 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

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

For the Natural Resource Management Portfolio:

• Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Natural Resource Management, Environment, Forestry, Geography, Conservation Biology, Biology, Agriculture or other related fields such as Green Economics or Culture/Social Sciences is required 

For the Climate Change Portfolio:

• Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Environmental Sciences/Policy, Earth science, Geography, Climate modelling, Natural resource management, Agriculture, Textile, Development studies, or other related field such as Business administration and Social sciences

For the Governance Portfolio:

• Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in relevant Social Sciences, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Business Administration, Project Management, or other related field is required

For the Diversified, Inclusive and Green Economic Transition (DIGET) portfolio:

• Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in relevant Social Sciences, Public Administration, Economics, Finance, Business Administration, Electrical Engineering, Climate Change or other related field is required

A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

For the Natural Resource Management Portfolio:

• Minimum 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible relevant experience in the nature and environment sector is required.

For the Climate Change Portfolio:

• Minimum 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible experience related to climate change and environment and/or agriculture sector is required.

For the Governance Portfolio:

• Minimum 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible relevant experience in the governance sector is required.

For the Diversified, Inclusive and Green Economic Transition (DIGET) portfolio:

• Minimum 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible relevant experience in the finance, economics and/or business sector is required.

For the Natural Resource Management Portfolio:

• Biodiversity conservation 
• Protected area management
• Sustainable land management
• Water resources and wetland management
• Forestry
• Environmental policy and governance
• Agriculture 
• Green economy
• Nature based solutions
• Sustainable finance

For the Climate Change Portfolio:

• Climate change and adaptation
• Sustainable land management
• Water resources management
• Climate modelling and service
• Environmental policy and governance
• Chemicals and waste management, preferably in agriculture
• Pollution control and prevention technology in leather and textile industry
• Mineral resources management
• Energy efficiency and climate mitigation
• Nature based solutions

For the Governance Portfolio:

• Rule of law
• Human rights
• Anti-corruption
• Electoral process
• Digitalization
• Employment
• Gender 
• Public sector management and reform
• Local governance
• Results-based budgeting

For the Diversified, Inclusive and Green Economic Transition (DIGET) portfolio:

• Green financing 
• Green economic transition
• Sustainable business 
• Business innovation 
• Public finance and management 
• Digitalization
• Energy

Applicable for all portfolios: 

• Solid experience in leading a team is required.
• Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and web-based management systems, and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages.
• Strong knowledge and/or experience in any of the following thematic areas is highly desired:
• Previous experience of collaborating with the government is desired
• Experience working with NGO or United Nations is desired 
• Fluency in English and Mongolian (as national language) is required.

Required Languages:

• Fluency in English and Mongolian (as national language) is required.

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. 

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. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. 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.

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