Director of Quality and Impact Hub

The Director of the Quality and Impact Hub leads UNDP's engagement with Vertical Funds, develops programming standards, and provides management leadership on quality country programming, transparency, and risk management. The role involves strategic leadership, policy reform, and fostering accountability to enhance UNDP's reputation as a trusted development partner.

Responsibilities

• Lead UNDPs engagement with the Vertical Funds including Policy alignment, Project Oversight and Compliance and Financial Oversight.
• Develop political, technical, operational and financial strategy for UNDP’s engagement with the Environmental Vertical Funds and provide substantive technical and managerial leadership.
• Ensure effective collaboration and relationship management with the Secretariats of the Environment Funds.
• Represent UNDP in the Vertical fund partnerships engaging with the Governing Bodies, technical and advisory bodies, and Accredited Entities under each Fund.
• Prepare, implement, and monitor annual VF Fee budgeting and planning in close collaboration with relevant teams.
• Develop and continuously enhance internal UNDP VF oversight and compliance procedures to ensure VF policies are met in programming.
• Deliver on project and portfolio level VF monitoring, reporting and evaluation requirements.
• Provide dedicated financial oversight for each VF project and annual portfolio level Fund specific audits.
• Engage with other UNDP Bureaus to ensure consistent application of oversight and compliance procedures across VF programming.
• Monitor project and program level VF specific risks and engage with Planet Hub teams to ensure effective oversight and risk management.
• Lead development of UNDP Programme, Portfolio and Project Management standards, approaches, and prescriptive content.
• Represent UNDP in relevant UNSDG programming working mechanisms and provide strategic analysis and advice.
• Lead and develop new and revised programme, portfolio and project standards, approaches, policies and procedures to improve quality and effectiveness.
• Lead the roll-out, review and revision of programming and portfolio approaches to enhance programme effectiveness.
• Lead the review of quality assurance tools and standards including Partner Capacity Assessment Tool and Private Sector Due Diligence.
• Monitor implementation of policies, methods and tools and analyze performance to identify lessons learned.
• Manage and contribute to development of capacity building guidance, training modules and other resources for staff.
• Provide management leadership on quality country programming, SES, Transparency, and Risk Management.
• Develop and update guidance and Standard Operating Procedures for the corporate HQ Programme Appraisal Committee.
• Manage nomination, appointment and orientation process of HQ PAC members and chairs.
• Oversee quality assurance processes and oversight of regional bureau cleared CPDs/RPDs for submission to the Executive Board.
• Lead development of standard operating procedures, guidance and systems to ensure high-quality oversight and compliance.
• Monitor project-level appraisal and VF pipeline development processes and quality assurance.
• Update UNDP tools to embed risk management into programming and escalate implementation risks as needed.
• Lead UNDP’s transparency initiative by integrating and implementing the International Aid Transparency Initiative standard.
• Lead enhancement and application of UNDP Social and Environmental Standards across programming.
• Promote and lead innovation and substantive knowledge management.
• Create an environment of creative and innovative thinking and culture receptive to change.
• Lead evolution and adoption of digital tools to support efficiency and efficacy of the Hub.
• Advise on enhancement of organizational management information systems and digital tools.
• Position accountability, transparency and quality assurance as key aspects of UNDP’s value proposition.
• Analyze data on programme and project performance to advise management on programming reforms.
• Perform other duties within functional profile as necessary.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master´s degree) in Environmental Sciences, Policy and International Law or related discipline is required OR a first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above with additional 2 years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of master´s degree.
• Minimum 15 years (with Master´s degree) or 17 years (with bachelor´s degree) of experience in managerial positions in an international working environment is required.
• At least 10 years of experience working with environment vertical funds (e.g. Global Environment Facility, Green Climate Fund) or similar environment development financing mechanisms, either in UNDP or other UN entities is required.
• At least 10 years of experience in programme and project results management and risk management is required.
• Demonstrated experience developing, monitoring and assessing the effectiveness of policies and procedures for programming is required.
• Working experience in developing country contexts is desirable.
• A strong track record of experience in overseeing and managing large teams is required.
• Experience in business systems, human resources management and budgeting is desirable;
• Fluency in English is required.
• Fluency in other UN languages is desirable.

Skills

• Environmental Sciences
• International Law
• Environment Development Financing
• Vertical Fund Management
• Programme Results Management
• Project Results Management
• Risk Management
• Policy Development
• Policy Monitoring
• Policy Assessment
• Programming Standards
• Strategic Leadership
• Team Management
• Business Management Systems
• Human Resources Management
• Budgeting

Languages

English