Project Manager (NPSA11) – UNDP India

Apply Before 18th May 2022, 11:59 PM

UNDP has worked in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development, from democratic governance to poverty eradication, to sustainable energy and environmental management. UNDP’s programmes are aligned with national priorities and are reviewed and adjusted annually.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

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 people build a better life. UNDP is on the ground in about 170 countries and territories, working with national counterparts on solutions to global and national development challenges.

In the programme countries, UNDP supports stabilization, state-building, governance and development priorities in in partnership with the host governments, the United Nations system, the development partners and other partners to help the country to achieve sustainable development by eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, accelerating structural transformations for sustainable development and building resilience to crises and shock.

UNDP has worked in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development, from systems and institutional strengthening to inclusive growth and sustainable livelihoods, as well as sustainable energy, environment and resilience. UNDP’s programmes continue to fully integrate a global vision for catalytic change with India’s national priorities. With over 30 projects on the ground in almost every state, today UNDP India works to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by transforming traditional models to do  development differently. In a rapidly changing global environment, the work of UNDP and the broader UN family aligns with the Government of India’s new national development vision, India 2030, and builds upon the Sustainable Development Goals. UNDP India’s country programme for 2018-2022 has three major focus areas:

• Inclusive growth
• Environment and energy
• Strengthening systems and institutions

These are supported by a framework of renewed partnerships and blended finance solutions, a pool of financial and technical resources for greater impact and scale, and South-South expertise.

You are invited to join a team of dedicated development professionals whose primary role is to support the India to achieve the 2030 Agenda.  As part of the UNDP team your focus will be to work with multiple stakeholders to find the country specific solutions that lead to sustainable development and to ensure no one is left behind – and we reach those furthest behind first.

UNDP is looking for individuals who have the communication, analytical, planning and implementation capacities that can address links, choices and connections across many issues and sectors.  We seek individuals who can apply global best practice to national contexts. We are looking for people who are enthusiastic, motivated, and committed to making a positive contribution to Development in India.

The Energy Environment and Resilience (EER) Unit at UNDP is organized around the thematic areas of climate change adaptation and mitigation; disaster management and resilience; and access to clean and efficient energy. While India is on track to achieve some of its NDC targets on emission intensity and non-fossil fuel-based energy installations, there remain significant bottlenecks such as lack of cutting-edge climate technology for the transition to low carbon pathways; and for innovative and inclusive solutions for building adaptive capacity of vulnerable communities to cope with climate change. To this end, India developed a proposal to the Japan Supplementary Budget (JSB) programme Net Zero emissions, which aims to support transition to a low carbon economy, to support sustainable and inclusive development, to identify and create livelihood provisions (and green jobs) and to build climate resilience of the vulnerable communities. This project will undertake strategic, sector-specific interventions in 9 states, including Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim. The overarching ambition under this project is to build on UNDP’s existing experience and expand to new geographies and sectors; with new/innovative low-emission technologies and climatepositive solutions. To this end, the budget earmarked will be utilized to demonstrate/build visibility, strengthen systems/networks and identify partnerships in preparation for future programming of the EER Unit, for the next 5- 7 years. Therefore, the incumbent will be expected to both provide programmatic and project management support to the EER Unit.

The Project Manager (PM) will be responsible for the Project Management Unit (PMU). The PM will be responsible for effective planning and implementation of all planned project activities, carrying out monitoring & facilitating evaluation, ensuring engagement of all direct stakeholders and delivery of project objectives. S/he will manage and coordinate day-to-day project activities and will also oversee regular monitoring of project results and risks. S/he will be based at New Delhi, India. S/he shall work under the direct supervision guidance of the Programme Manager  -Energy, Environment and Resilience Unit, UNDP India. The incumbent will also serve as an ‘anchor’ of this thematic area and will provide support to the development of the Energy portfolio at UNDP. S/he will establish synergies with other programmes within the portfolio under the thematic areas of Natural Resource Management & Biodiversity, Resilience and Chemicals Management, and will also collaborate with the policy and programme portfolios within UNDP including State Outreach & SDG Integration, Health and Governance, Inclusive Growth, Accelerator Labs, Communications, UNDP HQ & Regional Hub to deliver a collaborative and harmonized joint UNDP programme for the Energy Portfolio

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Manager shall work under the guidance and supervision of the Programme Manager–Energy, Environment and Resilience Unit at UNDP India. As this is a full-time position, s/he cannot hold any other job/assignments during this assignment.

Programmatic Support

• Identify emerging issues and enable strategic integration of energy efficiency, energy access and renewable energy in all programming/ portfolios across UNDP India. Provides technical and strategic advice and contributes to identification of new programme opportunities and project concept development within the Energy Portfolio.
• Develop partnerships with other UN agencies, International Financial Institutions, government bodies, multi- and bi-lateral donors, corporates, private foundations, philanthropic organizations, Corporate Social Responsibility based on UNDP’s strategic goals and aligned with government and donor priorities, especially the Global Environment Facility and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
• Contribute to existing and emerging policy discourses by bringing in new ideas and innovative approaches.

Project Support

• Based on the overall project outcomes as stated in the project proposal, develop state specific annual work plans and facilitate implementation of project activities.
• Supervise activities of the Project Management Unit (PMU), team members and consultants, as may be recruited under the Project at the state level to ensure timely delivery in project states. Coordinate with national team and other state teams under the project to track project delivery, share lessons and experiences.
• Foster partnerships with key stakeholders in project locations, to support activities. Identify capacity development needs of implementing partners and arrange for necessary trainings
• Undertake quarterly review meetings with partners and field visits to track progress made in implementation of the project and take corrective action as required. Prepare quarterly project progress reports and conduct project review meetings; provide necessary information and inputs for preparing presentations and other documents for accurate and timely reporting to UNDP, donor, and other key stakeholders.
• Ensure Regular financial management and reporting as per the UNDP financial guidelines; ensure effective financial management and reporting as per the UNDP financial guidelines.
• Any other responsibility related to the project

Competencies

Core

• 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:  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’ 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 in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP.
• Effective Decision Making: Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources

Business Development:

• Humancentered Design: Ability to develop solutions to problems by involving the human perspective in all steps of the problem-solving process

Business Management

• Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
• Partnerships Management: Ability to 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
• Risk Management: Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks
• Resource Management: Ability to allocate and use resources in a strategic or tactical way in line with principles of accountability and integrity

Required Skills and Experience

Education: Master’s degree from a recognized institution in environmental science/engineering/ sustainable development.

Experience:

• At least 7 years of work experience
• Of this, about 5 years of work experience in project implementation in Climate Change mitigation/ renewable energy, of this at least 2 years in multilateral organizations on direct project implementation modality
• Experience of managing programmes on inclusive development, sustainable natural resource management, etc.
• Experience in working with multilateral/ bilateral agencies
• Experience of working with Central and/or State Governments/NGOs/ Civil Society/ manufacturers/ suppliers/ service providers on similar assignments will be preferred.
• Familiarity with the working environment and professional standards of international organizations, National and State Governments.

Job Knowledge and Technical Expertise: Good understanding of climate change mitigation and rural development issues at national/sub national level. S/he needs to be conversant with the available knowledge on issues related to climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Project implementation:

• 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
• Ability to manage and implement multi-state projects on climate mitigation/ adaptation projects.
• Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results
• Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results
• Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks -Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns.

Building Partnerships:

• Ability to build strategic partnerships with a wide array of stakeholders working in the field of rural development
• Good client orientation skills to meet client needs
• Ability to promote accountability and Resource Based Management

Documentation and communication skills:

• Excellent documentation skills
• Outstanding communication, project management and organisation skills

Team Work:

• Ability to build and maintain constructive relationships with colleagues (and reports where appropriate)
• Treat people with respect and is co-operative, supportive and helpful with a positive contribution to the working environment.

Language:

• Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English Working knowledge of Hindi

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.

Scam warning

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.