AddressBackground
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
UNDP is the UN's global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. UNDP works in nearly 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience in order to sustain development results. UNDP is working to strengthen new frameworks for development, disaster risk reduction and climate change. We support countries' efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and achieve the new Sustainable Development Goals, which will guide global development priorities for the next 7 years.
UNDP’s Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) works to enhance UNDP's development effectiveness through independent thematic and programmatic evaluations and contributes to organizational learning, accountability and transparency. IEO assures the quality and use of UNDP evaluations by establishing norms, standards and guidelines and by knowledge sharing and networking with both internal and external partners.
The Deputy Director reports to the Director of the IEO and holds key oversight, managerial, and supervisory responsibilities over the entire team of evaluation and operational staff. Operating with an explicit delegation of authority from the Director for operations, the main responsibilities of the incumbent will be in the following key areas:
UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. This is a recognition of the interconnected nature of development risks & crises that the world is facing and that call for assembling of multidisciplinary teams for an integrated & systemic response. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across issues, units, functions, teams and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.
The Deputy Director's key results also have a considerable impact on overall economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of office operations as it relates to the use of corporate resources in the following areas:
Financial services Human Resources Procurement and logistical services Information and Communications Technology for Development EvaluationLeadership and Strategic Planning
The Deputy Director supports the Director in providing organizational leadership and strategic guidance to UNDP's evaluation function and implementing the UNDP evaluation policy. He/she develops the IEO's annual workplan, which encompasses all workstreams, including approximately 15-35 Independent Country Program evaluations, 2-3 thematic evaluations, synthesis, corporate learning, engagement and knowledge management. He/she is responsible for fostering an environment of methodological rigor and professional empowerment of IEO's team to live up to the high standards expected by the stakeholders. He/she supports the Director in managing interactions with the UNDP's Senior Management, the Executive Board, and other external/ internal stakeholders.
2) Management Oversight and Supervision
The incumbent exercises management oversight in the implementation of the substantive overall programme of work of the office. The Deputy Directors supervises and provides guidance to the senior staff including team leaders regarding the operational aspects of their work. He/she is responsible for early and consistent engagement in evaluation processes to assure quality and substance, provision of substantive guidance as the work progresses and project management of issues relating to political sensitivity, credibility, timeliness and use of evaluations.
3) Administrative, Financial and Human Resource management and accountability
The incumbent is responsible for oversight and accountability of core resources and extra-budgetary funds mobilized from donors. In securing the accountability and smooth functioning of the office, the incumbent exercises oversight and executive responsibility over the office budget, recruitment of staff and consultants, all financial expenditure and procurement, and operations support, in line with the direction of IEO’s Director. He/she directly supervises the Operations Manager, and the Chief of Sections.
4) Other Specific duties and responsibilities
Specific duties include, but are not limited to, the following:
Maintain and ensure adherence to UNDP's Evaluation Policy Supervise evaluations or assessments of UNDP programmes, themes or policies of key importance at the corporate level. Support the implementation of ccutting-edge evaluation methodologies to enhance the rigor of evaluations carried out by the IEO. Ensure the IEO's high quality methodological and process standards through strict guidance to the IEO's professionals and evaluation consultants. Foster and sustain productive partnerships for evaluation with UN system evaluation offices/units and multilateral institutions on the one hand, and with leading evaluation institutions, networks and regional/national professional associations on the other. Provide strategic advisory support and guidance on evaluation matters to country offices and HQ units, as required. Coordinate responses to any corporate requirements or demands from external parties. Coach and mentor staff as required, more particularly the mid managers, to maintain a sustainable delivery capacity in the IEO.The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation
Core Competencies - UNDP Core Competencies can be found here.
Achieve Results: LEVEL 4: Prioritize team workflow, mobilize resources, drive scalable results/strategic impact Think Innovatively: LEVEL 4: Easily navigate complexity, encourage/enable radical innovation, has foresight Learn Continuously: LEVEL 4: Create systems and processes that enable learning and development for all Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 4: Proactively initiate/lead organizational change, champion new systems/processes Act with Determination: LEVEL 4: Able to make difficult decisions in challenging situations, inspire confidence Engage and Partner: LEVEL 4: Construct strategic multi-partner alliances in high stake situations, foster co-creation Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 4: Create ethical culture, identify/address barriers to inclusionPeople Management
UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies: Knowledge of the UN
Thorough and nuanced understanding of the UN and multilateral context, as well as extensive familiarity of relevant UN values and topics, such as human rights, human development, gender, environment, and results based management, in order to provide effective leadership for all levels and all types of evaluation. Ability to provide overall strategic direction to evaluation staff for all levels and all types of evaluation, taking into account the broader goals, objectives and needs of UN and UNDP programmes and activities, as well as new directions and cutting-edge methods in evaluation.Evaluations
In-depth professional knowledge of the different components of the evaluation practice, including evaluation design, data collection and analysis, and reporting, and the skills needed to provide substantive guidance to staff on evaluation design methodology and reporting. Ability to plan and implement an effective office strategy for systematic follow-up to evaluation recommendations and in developing an effective dissemination and outreach strategy for evaluation reports. Ability to guide the distilment, communication and reporting of best practices and lessons learned. Excellent presentation skills and the ability to represent the evaluation office at the Executive Board, senior level meetings and other high-level fora. Excellent proven knowledge of emerging global development issues and evaluation trends that impact on the work of the Independent Evaluation Office and the skills necessary to advance the evaluation profession as part of the United Nations team as well as within the larger evaluation community.Inter-personal skills:
Excellent proven oral and written communication skills, and the ability to effectively communicate complex information in a clear and concise manner to all audiences, as well as to provide guidance to staff on all written products and oral presentations. Demonstrated leadership competencies in understanding and respecting for differences in culture, local customs, religious beliefs and practices, gender roles, disability, age and ethnicity, and be skillful in incorporating these when undertaking and managing evaluations as well as when leading staff. Excellent negotiation skills that can be applied to complex situations, within and outside the office, on all issues related to evaluation. Excellent facilitation skills that can be employed in high level meetings and other interactions with colleagues, peers, and other internal and external partners.Personal attributes
Thorough understanding of the Standards of ethical conduct for evaluators, be able to promote a strong ethic work environment in the office, have integrity and honesty in all working relationships and act as a role model for staff with regard to ethical behaviour.Management Skills
Strong management skills to effectively monitor the flow of the office's evaluation work and products and to oversee the following office management tasks: organizing effective evaluation work, assigning evaluation tasks, setting up evaluation priorities, monitoring major project milestones, reviewing evaluation products for quality, establishing output goals and schedules, developing quality products, ensuring timeliness of products, and ensuring effective dissemination and utilization of evaluations. Excellent coaching and mentoring competencies. Strong networking skills, representing the office at senior level meetings, and cultivating good relationships with Member States, donors, and programme managers, while maintaining accountability and independence. Demonstrated leadership skills in promoting a positive work environment in the Evaluation Office by empowering staff, fostering creative problem-solving, ensuring transparent communication and participatory decision-making, and promoting open and effective interpersonal relationships among staff.Strong administrative skills needed to effectively manage and mobilize office resources so as to maximize efficiencies and effectiveness, including procurement, budget formulation, staff allocations and other administrative procedures.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
A first level university degree (Bachelors) with an additional 2 years of relevant experience.
Experience: A minimum of 15 years' experience in progressively responsible and relevant professional experience in conducting and managing evaluations for large, complex organizations (including international, national and NGOs). Documented evidence of evaluation technical and professional skills, and first-hand experience conducting evaluations for United Nations organizations, and/or other multilateral and bilateral development organizations. Proven experience in managing operations in the UN system at the corporate level or any other multilateral development organization. Acquaintance with UNDP’s operations is also desirable.
Language
Fluency in English. Proficiency in Spanish, French or any other UN official language is highly desirable.Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
Disclaimer
Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: 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.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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