Somalia: Head of Area Office, Hargeisa

II. Organizational Context

The UNDP Country Programme for Somalia is composed of the following Programme portfolios; Inclusive Politics, Rule of Law, Effective Institutions, Economic Recovery, Climate Change Resilience, and and Gender. UNDP’s programme specifically in Somaliland responds to the Somaliland Government’s National Development Plan II.

UNDP Somalia’s Country Office is based in Mogadishu, but the programme has a decentralized footprint, with an Area Office in Hargeisa, Somaliland. UNDP has a dedicated Head of Area Office in Hargeisa, which has representative functions, as well as delegated authorities for programme oversight and operations and common-services management of the Area Office and UN Common Compound (UNCC).

UNDP is currently recruiting the Head of the Area Office for Hargeisa/Somaliland. This office has a portfolio of approximately USD 5 million annually in Somaliland, which may increase over the next years. The Head of Area Office will supervise approximately 20 staff and oversee Programme and Operations activities.

III. Functions / Key Results Expected

Under the overall and direct supervision of the Country Director (primary supervision line), in matrix management with the Senior Programme Coordinator for programmatic and strategic portfolio management responsibilities, and the Deputy Country Director for Operations (DCD-O) for Operations and common services issues (secondary supervision lines), the Head of Area Office performs the following functions:

I. Area Office Management

• Ensures the smooth running of the Area Office, including good management and supervision of staff;
• Is responsible and accountable for the appropriate use and management of resources attributed to the Office and to the portfolio of the geographic area;
• Promotes team work, collaboration and synergies within his office, among the project teams and with the Portfolio units at the Country Office level;
• Supervises the Programme Specialist and Operations Manager directly, who serve as local heads of Programme and Operations teams respectively, with matrixed oversight of project staff, for project delivery and operation management.

II. Representation and Coordination

• Represents UNDP in the geographic area, and in various fora as requested by the Country Director.
• In collaboration with the Office of the Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator and the Head of Office of UNSOM - based in Hargeisa, provides coordination support to UN Agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and national authorities through the establishment of wider consultation processes and appropriate fora to enhance coordination between humanitarian and development partners, thus strengthening the links between relief, early recovery and development activities.
• Ensures proper coordination and inputs to inter-agency initiatives, and the other international partners such as the WB and contractors of international agencies.
• Maintains collaboration and coordination with the other Heads of Area Office to ensure programmatic integration, sharing of lessons and best practices, economies of scales, etc.
• Maintains regular contact with counterparts and implementing partners in her/his geographic area.
• Provides support to overall resource mobilization efforts of the Country Office in close collaboration with Portfolio Managers at the CO level.

III. Programme Development, Strategic Analysis, Planning and Advice

• Responsible for the collaborative yearly planning process for the UNDP Programme, together with counterparts.
• In close consultation with the Country Director, Senior Programme Coordinator and the relevant Portfolio Managers at the Country Office level, identifies strategic direction and new programmatic activities for the area, and contributes to programme design.
• Supports the Country Director and Senior Programme Coordinator, national counterparts and other aid partners on policies and strategies to adequately respond to recovery and development challenges and needs.
• Ensures identification and promotion of joint planning programming and opportunities with other parts of the UN system in Somaliland.
• Based on monitoring and evaluation of the recovery and development situation, provides advice on programmatic responses to the gaps and deficits in these areas.
• Promotes identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned for organizational sharing and learning.

IV. Oversight of Programme Implementation

• Under general supervision of, and in close collaboration with the Senior Programme Coordinator, leads the UNDP Programme and ensure attainment of expected results in his/her geographic area of responsibility
• Ensures proper implementation of programmes based on continuous monitoring and analysis of the most critical recovery and development needs, response capacities, access situation, operational environment and applicable security issues and implementation progress of the programmes in Somaliland.
• Oversees day-to-day project management, in reference to annual/quarterly work plans approved by the Project Board and Project Executive function, and ensure coordination among projects in Somaliland.
• In coordination with the Programme Specialist in Hargeisa, ensures effective application of RBM tools, monitors Area Office and project unit work plans, programme effectiveness and achievement of results.
• Supports capacity-building of national counterparts.
• Performs any other related task assigned by the supervisors.

V. Operational Management

• Provides leadership in overseeing of effective provision of services to counterparts including fair and transparent procurement, efficient logistics and sound financial management as well as the consistent application of UNDP rules and regulations.
• Ensures the integrity of financial system and directly oversees the administrative, financial and budgetary aspects of Programme delivery in its geographical area and advises the Deputy Country Director – Operations accordingly.
• Oversees management of common services provision at the multi-agency UN Common Compound (UNCC) in Hargeisa, including advising on cost sharing arrangements.
• Works closely with UNDSS to ensure the security of UNDP Staff and premises, in particular supports the implementation of MOSS compliance of the UNCC.
• Is responsible for approval of payments up to an agreed upon level (Level 2 Approving Manager in Atlas).

Impact of Results

The results of the work of the Head of Area Office greatly impacts on the standing and reputation of the UNDP in Somaliland. When requested by the CD, the Head of Area Office represents UNDP in national and international forums, liaises with external clients and a broad range of constituencies and UNDP counterparts in the Government, local and international media, civil society as well as counterparts from other international organizations. Within delegated authority, the Head of Area Office acts as the day-to-day manager of UNDP’s programme in Somaliland, ensures a coherent dialogue between all parties involved, timely and effective delivery of the UNDP Programme, and a proactive response by UNDP to changes in the programming and operational environment.

Functional Competencies:

Building Partnerships

Level 2: Identifying and building partnerships

• Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build alliances

• Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners

• Displays initiative, sets challenging outputs for him/herself and willingly accepts new work assignments

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

Level 2: Developing tools and mechanisms

• Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches

• Develops and/or participates in the development of mechanisms, including identifying new approaches to promote individual and organizational learning and knowledge sharing using formal and informal methodologies

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

Level 2: In-depth knowledge of own discipline

• Understands advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines (financial resources and human resources management, contract, asset and procurement, information and communication technology, general administration)

• 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

• Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments

Promoting Organizational Change and Development

Level 2: Assisting the individuals to cope with change

• Performs appropriate work analysis and assists in redesign to establish clear standards for implementation

  Design And Implementation of Management Systems

  Level 2: Designing and implementing management system

• Carries out research into existing systems to identify best practice and make recommendations to management on applicability to UNDP

• Identifies and recommends remedial measures to address problems in systems design or implementation

  Client Orientation

  Level 2: Contributing to positive outcomes for the client

• Anticipates client needs

• Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider

• Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective

  Promoting Accountability and Results-Based Management

  Level 2: Input to the development of standards and policies

• Provides inputs to the development of organizational standards for accountability and results-based management

Core Competencies:

• Building support and political acumen

• Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation

• Building and promoting effective teams

• Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication

• Creating an emotionally intelligent organization

• Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards

• Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning**. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member.**

• Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking

V. Recruitment Qualifications

Education:

· Masters Degree preferably in Political or Social Science, International Studies, Public Administration, Economics or related fields.

Experience:

· Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in recovery and development affairs, crisis response and prevention, or other related area.

· Experience in crisis or post conflict countries.

· Experience in management of offices of similar size and complexity, including operational management responsibilities.

· Previous experience with UNDP and good knowledge of UNDP rules and procedures is desirable but not mandatory.

Language requirements:

· Strong written and spoken English skills.

· Knowledge of Somali and/or Arabic is desirable but not mandatory.

Applications to be submitted on line at: https://jobs.partneragencies.net/erecruitjobs.html?JobOpeningId=19328&hrs_jo_pst_seq=1&hrs_site_id=2