Regional Head Of Un Global Pulse (Asia Pacific)

Application period 20-Apr-2023 to 14-May-2023

Functional Responsibilities:

The incumbent will work under the supervision of the UNGP Director and in close coordination particularly with the UN Resident Coordinator in Indonesia, to execute the following duties:

• Team Welfare & Wellbeing
• Partnership Management
• Innovation Leadership / Strategic Direction
• Team Management & Coordination

Innovation Leadership / Strategic Direction

• Oversee and foster systematic scanning and ideation to surface new innovations that go beyond the obvious to address development, humanitarian, and peace opportunities.
• Provide advice and support to regional UN leadership and partners in the areas of innovation, digital transformation, data, foresight, and behavioural science.
• Participate and contribute to UNGP’s Leadership Team seeking to continuously improve UNGP Leadership as a service to the UNGP Network.
• Provide strategic direction, expertise and experience to programmatic, capability and operational teams/staff to further the implementation of the UNGP ToR and Strategy, while striving for continuous improvement in support of organizational excellence and world-class performance.
• Share learnings, strategic advice and promising approaches and solutions with other UN entities and beyond.
• Keep UNGP leadership informed/advised on opportunities, challenges and risks. Regularly identify, update and report on operational risks associated with delivery to senior UNGP management.
• Provide leadership and strategic direction to staff, office and partners.

Partnership Management

• Act as lead secretariat role for office/region to facilitate regional UNGP governance boards/committees.
• Regularly assess and report to UNGP leadership on the needs of collaborating member states and other partners, particularly on developments which may impact on the mission and reputation of UNGP / the wider UN.
• Represent UNGP in external meetings and forums, promoting UNGP and the UN where possible. Represent UNGP in inter-agency meetings as required.
• Support relevant UN Resident Coordinators, in particular the Resident Coordinator of Indonesia, in driving innovative twenty-first century programming and keep the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office up to date on UNGP activities, results and outcomes. Contribute to and report progress on the implementation of UNSDCF(s) where applicable.
• Where applicable, represent UNGP in the UN Country Team (UNCT) / UN Coordination Group. Contribute, collaborate and influence UN programming and advocacy, promoting joint UN initiatives as far as possible.
• Working to build and strengthen strategic partnerships in the geographical area through active networking, advocacy and effective communication of UNGP’s work and results.
• Act as the UNGP focal point for donors in the region. Maintain, promote and evolve UNGP’s donor partnerships. Ensure donors and partners in the region are regularly updated on UNGP activities, results and impact.
• Carry out other representational duties as required.
• Utilise UNGP results and impact to influence the decisions, behaviours and outcomes of UNGP partners including policies and frameworks for innovation and digital development.
• Act as the focal point with UNOPS EAPMCO on all UNGP implementation matters.

Team Management & Coordination

• Support the Regional Hub to establish annual objectives and targets, performance measurements and standards which help ensure timely and partner-oriented services.
• Ensure internal performance and quality management for the office, including tracking, monitoring and reporting on project delivery and finance/budgets.
• Regularly plan and propose to the UNGP Director the required allocation of resources (human, financial and administrative) to achieve UNGP’s workplan, goals and mission.
• Support the Regional Hub to establish direction, workplans and manage priorities. Oversee and support the implementation of activities, projects, capabilities and annual work plans.
• Ensure the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learnt for UNGP, the UN and national and regional partners.
• Support decision-making on finance, procurement and HR in line with UN rules and policies.
• Manage overall HSSE performance and reporting in the office fulfilling UN corporate requirements and obligations.
• Promote teamwork and collaboration by providing timely guidance and supervision to the Regional Hub team to enable them to perform their duties responsibly, effectively and efficiently.
• Guide, oversee and endorse project proposal development and activity/experiment/project agreements.
• Carry out other management and coordination activities as required.
• Share knowledge with peers across the UNGP network to ensure coordinated delivery of projects, activities and services.

Team Welfare & Wellbeing

• Ensure all Regional Hub people managers have required support systems to lead their teams sustainably and professionally.
• Act as the office focal point for Diversity & Inclusion. Plan, recruit, manage and develop a flexible and diverse workforce with the skills and competencies needed to ensure optimum performance.
• Provide mentorship to office staff for skills and career development.
• Create, foster and promote a culture of respect and zero tolerance for discrimination, abuse of authority, bullying, harassment, poor professional conduct, sexual harassment and sexual exploitation. Ensure accountability mechanisms are in place and perform duties in accordance with UN/UNOPS policies, standards and commitments.
• Act as, and/or support the UN country Designated Official, where applicable.
• Create, foster and promote a role model culture of trust, transparency, empowerment and accountability within the office.
• Ensure duty of care. Lead ESG monitoring & reporting.
• Oversee, monitor and direct appropriate measures to maintain the safety and security of personnel, assets, property and information.

Impact of Results

UNGP Leadership will improve the way UNGP works; enhance the reputation of UNGP and of the UN; and increase the impact of innovation on UN work on the ground. Good UNGP leadership will improve the results and impacts of UN innovation, and progress digital transformation and the journey of the UN family to ‘UN 2.0’ that delivers stronger results for people and planet. The impact will also be felt in an improvement of wider innovation initiatives of the UN and of its development partners.

UNGP Leadership will promote additionality or co-benefits. These could include, but are not limited to: i) How the UN has changed the way it works to become more agile, lean and responsive through its innovation for impact; ii) How UNGP has changed the behaviour, capabilities, or decisions of development partners; and iii) UNGP is successful in integrating gender, climate and diversity across its work.

This role will predominantly contribute to the implementation of the ‘Quintet of Change’, including Data & AI; Innovation; Digital Transformation; Strategic Foresight; and Behavioural Science.

Education/Experience/Language requirements:

Education:

• Required:
• An advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent).
• Desirable:
• A first level university degree (Bachelors degree or equivalent) in combination with additional two (2) years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
• PhD or MBA is an asset

Experience:

• Experience in applying innovation management frameworks or tools, and/or techniques, with the ability to develop and implement effective innovation strategies.
• Required:
• Proven track record in resource and parthership mobilization.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in leading iniatives in an international context in one or a combination of the following areas: sustainable development, humanitarian, or peacebuilding, of which at least 3 years in the management of innovation, or data, or digital transformation efforts.

• Experience in using data and technology for innovation, such as design thinking, prototyping, and user testing.
• Familiarity with emerging technologies and trends in innovation, such as artificial intelligence, data ecosystems, and digital transformation.
• Experience in managing cross-cultural teams with colleagues from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines.
• Experience in leading organisational change.
• Experience in managing budgets and forecasting for innovation activities.
• The following experience is desirable. Candidates who do not have experience in these areas are welcome to apply:

Language Requirements:

• Knowledge of another United Nations official language is an asset.
• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of a regional language is desirable.

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UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunities. Our workforce is made up of people from varied nationalities, cultures and races. They speak a range of languages and have different gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities.
We encourage women and candidates from underrepresented groups in UNOPS to apply. These include candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities. Click apply and join us!
Remarks: Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.