Country Coordinator

Background

The UNV Field Units (FU) are mainly accountable for the mobilization and placement of UN Volunteers in UN Agencies, Funds, and Programmes focused on peace, development and humanitarian needs. The UNV Field Units represent and position UNV in the respective countries and bring UNV’s services and solutions closer to its partners from governments, UN entities, civil society and private sector.

Under the matrix management of the Portfolio Manager/Specialist, Regional Office, and the UNDP Country Director/Deputy Country Director, the Country Coordinator leads and manages the UNV Field Unit. She/he is responsible for effective strategic planning, leading to mobilization and placement of UN Volunteers, select administrative/operational support to volunteers, and advocacy and positioning of UNV interests in the country, in line with UNV’s Strategic Framework. The Country Coordinator builds and maintains relationships with main partners and effectively coordinates with the Regional Office and HQ organizational units, on volunteer mobilization, programme implementation, and provision of substantive inputs and facilitation of corporate initiatives. The main responsibility of the Country Coordinator is to increase volunteer volume in-country through these programmatic and partnership functions.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Liaise with UN agencies in the country to ensure an understanding of UNV’s mandate, key offers and the added value that UN Volunteer assignments bring in support to the achievement of their respective mandates;
• Maintain business intelligence on UN agencies, identifying specific entry points to diversify partnerships with the key result of increased volunteer assignments, including the assessment and reporting on the forecast demand for UN Volunteers in the country;
• Identify volunteer placement opportunities and present UNV value proposition and volunteer modalities with the objective of maximizing international and national volunteer presence, including collaboration in the preparation of descriptions of assignment, with partner agencies and other partners;
• Ensure that incoming and outgoing UN Volunteers are adequately briefed and debriefed and extend personal support and guidance to UN Volunteers serving in the country;
• Work closely with the Field Security Officer and provide support to the UN Designated Official to ensure a detailed understanding among UN Volunteers on all security-related issues;
• Monitor the well-being and performance of serving UN Volunteers through routine field visits to their duty stations and discussions with their supervisors and counterparts;
• Oversee and approve UN Volunteers’ entitlements as delegated, authorized, or needed;
• Provide overall management and administrative support to UN Volunteers and;
• In the event where no UNV Programme Assistant/Associate is present, support the recruitment of national and international UN Volunteers as well as other administrative duties for placement and management of UN Volunteers assigned to the country in line with the conditions of service and in close coordination with the relevant organizational units.

2. Advocacy, partnership building, and UNV programme integration

• Lead UNVs’ field efforts as the representative of the organization in the country, ensuring key results and delivery of the Strategic Framework and the Sustainable Development Goals;
• Establish, foster and maintain effective outreach and relationships, including the formalization of partnerships and other exchanges of confidence such as inclusion in the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), as well as with government, UN agencies, NGOs, the private sector and other relevant development partners;
• Participate in UN thematic forces, UN-led assessments, Programme Management Team (PMT) meetings, post-conflict needs assessments, UNSDCF planning processes, technical missions and funding appeals to identify opportunities for volunteerism and volunteer placement;
• Establish, foster and maintain effective outreach and relationships with local civil society organizations, prioritizing those focused on volunteerism, to contribute to community-led sustainable development in the country;
• Encourage national and local actors to establish a framework on volunteer infrastructure that supports volunteerism for peace and development, including the adoption of relevant policies and legislation;
• Strengthen and determine business intelligence related to partnerships, promotion of volunteerism and shaping and delivering volunteer infrastructure advisory services and conduct country scans as input for corporate planning processes;
• In close coordination with the Regional Office and the Communications Section at headquarters, prepare, disseminate and present country-specific promotional information on the mandate and work of UNV with relevant development partners and the media;
• Coordinate activities and plan events, in collaboration with other agencies, for annual, national and UN-recognized international celebrations, including the International Volunteer Day (IVD);
• Encourage and monitor serving UN Volunteers to embrace the ideals of volunteerism, act as advocates for volunteer action, and document their experiences in promoting volunteerism; and
• Support, in the case of UNV-funded projects UNV programmatic engagement.

3 . Management

• Develop and manage the implementation of the Field Unit’s annual work plan, including management and reporting on UNV support funds and budget;
• Lead the UNV country-presence to ensure coordinated and effective delivery of services as well as enable a supportive and collaborative work environment;
• Manage any UNV assigned personnel within the FU including supervision, performance assessment and capacity development; and
• Establish and monitor implementation of the FU’s annual work plan and set performance indicators.

Competencies

Education

• Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in social sciences, international development, project management, public/business administration or related fields is required or
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience

• Minimum of 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant work experience preferably in a humanitarian, development and/or peace related field;
• Experience in partnerships and/or inter-agency cooperation is essential;
• Work experience with the United Nations is an asset;
• Previous experience in a civil society setting and/or as a volunteer with volunteer management and/or promotion of volunteerism is a distinct advantage;
• Experience in Microsoft office and internet;
• Openness to embrace Digital Transformation and use of new technologies;
• Fluency in English and Spanish.

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.

Probation

For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

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.

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