Project Manager, Tirana, Albania (SB-4) UNDP Europe & the CIS Closing date: Friday, 3 March 2017



Project Manager, 
Tirana, Albania 
(SB-4) 
UNDP Europe & the CIS 
Closing date: Friday, 3 March 2017


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Summary of key functions:
  • Effective coordination of project activities and successful implementation of project strategies; 
  • Project management and supervision of the Albania Project Team;
  • Transparent and efficient implementation of a CSO grant scheme;  
  • Effective knowledge building and management;
  • Gender mainstreaming within the Albania project component

         1. Effective coordination of project activities and successful implementation of                    project strategies
-Provide overall coordination and take management responsibility for successful implementation of the project’s activities in line with AWP;
-Coordinate project activities to deliver intended outputs and achieve desirable impact of the project applying programming tools and policies in line with the UN Results Based Management Approach;
-Closely coordinate with the Regional Programme Manager ensuring project activities are aligned with a regional workplan and activities in other participating WB countries;
-Implement the Visibility strategy and communication plan in line with the visibility guidelines and donor requirements;
-Provide assistance to CSOs and local governments in promotion and visibility activities respecting Project’s and donor requirements.
-Ensure close collaboration, interaction, experience sharing and synergies with other UNDP Country Offices from the WB that participate in the ReLOaD as well as other similar interventions of other UN agencies and donors, with purpose to maximize the impact and the efficient use of resources;
-Provide regular feedback (weekly, monthly, and on ad hoc basis) to the Regional Programme Manager about progress, risk, challenges and or any other relevant matter;
-Contribute to identification of relevant in-country stakeholders and convene regular meetings of the Board of Partners, Local Advisory Groups and other key consultations;
-Contribute to identification and documentation of partnership opportunities with various stakeholders during national implementation of the project activities;
-Liaise with the local governments, relevant ministries, CSOs, and other relevant institutions to collect, analyze and disseminate information relevant to the Project;
-Ensure that all project-related issues and risks are identified and reported in a timely manner and suggest corrective measures;
-Ensure local governments provide co-financing to fulfil project results and objectives;
-Provide direction and guidance to the consultants engaged and responsible parties where applicable;
-Contribute towards creating opportunities for expansion of the regional project.
2. Project management and supervision of the Albania project team
-Manage project implementation based on UNDP best practices;
-Provide guidance and technical advice to in-country project team and project counterparts;
-Conduct staff performance reviews in accordance with UNDP rules, regulations and procedures ensuring full understanding of all aspects of the project;
-Oversee the work of the Project Associate, external consultants, and contracted companies;
-Manage financial allocations and approve expenditures according to authority delegated and ensure timely payments in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations;
-Monitor and analyses project progress using applicable monitoring & evaluation and risk management tools in PeopleSoft system (ATLAS);
-Ensures the existence and implementation of successful quality assurance for the project’s financial, procurement and administrative processes to attain the project goals and desired impact in line with prevailing UNDP rules and regulations as well as in line with the project timelines;
-Provide the Regional Programme Manager and the Board of Partners with regular reports on all aspects on project progress;
-Maintain regular coordination, information sharing, and generally foster excellent relationship with the European Union Delegation to Albania;  
-Participate in UNDP programme-level committees and working groups;
-Participate in joint coordination meetings of the ReLOaD;
-Complies with security and safety requirements and regulations and ensure the same are respected by all project personnel.
3. Transparent and efficient implementation of a CSO grant scheme
-Lead the selection process of the partner local governments (organize the evaluation commissions and field visits etc.);
-Develop systems and procedures for partner local governments ensure continuous and accurate monitoring of the status of Project activities;
-Travel regularly to partner local governments for individual meetings, events, focus group meetings and program related activities/trainings to ensure effective relations with partner local governments throughout the project intervention;
-Support implementation of the project activities, including the evaluation of CSO project proposals in public calls for CSOs in partner local governments;
-Oversee day to day work of the Project Associate, including guidance, problem solving and advisory role when and if necessary;
-Provide quality advisory services for local governments and/or CSO for successful cooperation and knowledge building in local communities;
-Monitor and analyses overall grant scheme progress and distribution in local governments;
-Present findings on grant scheme implementation in suitable format for internal/external use.
4. Effective knowledge building and management
-Support continuous learning by the national project team and contribute to the Western Balkan UNDP Country Offices thematic knowledge and practice networks;
-Support the Regional Programme Manager, and the ReLOaD’s  project staff in sharing knowledge and experiences related to the replication of the model for transparent funds disbursement for CSO;
-Participate in regional conferences and ensure the experience from Albania CO  has been adequately shared within the Western Balkans counterparts;
-Analyse overall grant scheme progress and distribution in local governments;
-Present findings on grant scheme implementation in suitable format for internal/external use.
5. Gender mainstreaming within the Albania CO project component
-Ensure gender is effectively mainstreamed throughout the projects’ activities, work plans, budgets, reports, research, analyses and, where specifically relevant, analyzed in detail;
-Ensure gender equality is mainstreamed throughout Albania CO project team, consultants and staff management activities;
-Support local governments and CSOs to mainstream gender equality;
-Ensure knowledge on gender equality is incorporated in programme knowledge management activities and products.
The key results have a critical impact on the overall ReLOaD programme, in particular to the local development agenda undertaken by UNDP in Albania; Key results will have an impact on the design, operation and programming of activities, creation of strategic partnerships as well as reaching resource mobilization targets.  
Competencies
Functional Competencies:
Advocacy/Advancing a Policy-Oriented Agenda
Level 1.2: Preparing information for advocacy
  • Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating UNDP’s mandate.
Results-Based Programme Development and Management
Level 1.2: Contributes into results through primary research and analysis
  • Assesses project performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into project work
  • Researches linkages across project activities to identify critical points of integration
  • Monitors specific stages of projects implementation
  • Analyzes country situation to identify opportunities for project development
  • Participates in the formulation of project proposals and ensures substantive rigor in the design and application of proven successful approaches and drafts proposals accordingly
  •  Makes recommendations regarding operation of systems within organizational units
  •  Identifies and recommends remedial measures to address problems in systems design or implementation
  • Provides inputs to the development of organizational standards for accountability
Building Strategic Partnerships
Level 1.2: Maintaining a network of contacts
  • Maintains an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up-to-date on partnership related issues
  • Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners
  • Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders
Innovation and Marketing New Approaches
Level 1.2: Enhancing processes or products
  • Generates new ideas and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things
  • Documents and analyses innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches
  • Performs appropriate work analysis and assists in redesign to establish clear standards for implementation
Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise
Level 1.2: Fundamental knowledge of own discipline
  • Understands advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines
  • Continues to seek new and improved methods and systems for accomplishing the work of the unit
  • Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally
  • Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments
  • Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks
  • Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning
  • Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments
  • Excellent training and presentation skills
Client Orientation
Level 1.2: Establishing effective client relationships
  • Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion.
  • Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines
Resource Mobilization
Level 1.2:  Providing inputs to resource mobilization strategies
  • Analyzes information/databases on potential and actual donors
Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing
Level 1.2: Basic research and analysis
  • Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things
  • Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches
  • Participates in the development of mechanisms, including identifying new approaches to promote individual and organizational learning and knowledge sharing using formal and informal methodologies
Core Competencies:
  • Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity 
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, disabilities, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
  • Treats all people fairly without favouritism
  • Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment
  • Self-development, initiative-taking
  • Acting as a team player and facilitating team work
  • Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively
  • Demonstrate strong negotiation skills
  • Creating synergies through self-control
  • Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities
  • Managing conflict
  • Informed and transparent decision making
  • Possesses strong ICT skills
  • Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each employee.
  • Prince2 training and certification would be an asset.
Required Skills and Experience
Education
  • Master in public administration, engineering, development studies, economics, political sciences, social sciences, or other related areas;
  • BA degree with additional two years of working experience may be accepted in lieu of the master degree.
Experience
  • Minimum of five years of project/programme management experience;
  • Proven experience in managing grant schemes for civil society;
  • Rich previous experience in partnering and interaction with governmental institutions at state/entity/local levels, as well as with civil society organizations;
  • Previous experience with an international public and/or private sector organization is a basic requisite, while experience with complex UN and/or UNDP programmes would be considered as an asset.
Language Requirements:
  • Fluency in English and Albanian