Project Operations Analyst- IPSA 8 (Part time 70%)- Home Based

Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
Office/Unit/Project Description

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at headquarters, regional, and country offices, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.

In order to streamline its financial and investment engagement, UNDP launched the Sustainable Finance Hub (SFH), a finance and innovation platform, that draws on a critical mass of UNDP expertise, initiatives, and partnerships to support the mobilization and leveraging of resources for the SDGs and lead the implementation of the new UNDP private sector strategy and other initiatives. The Hub is an integral part of both Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) and the Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy (BERA), as well as part of the GPN. The Hub serves as a connector, broker and global coordinator among internal and external actors; curates and manages UNDP’s catalogue of service offers on SDG financing to governments, investors and companies, via the COs, to significantly enhance the scale and impact of UNDP’s work. Please visit the Sustainable Finance Hub website for more information.

The Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development (ICPSD) is the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Global Policy Center mandated to leverage the role of private sector in development. The ICPSD was established in Istanbul, Türkiye on the basis of the Partnership Framework Agreement signed between the Government of the Republic of Türkiye and the UNDP in March 2011. ICPSD, one of the five global thematic centers of UNDP, convenes stakeholders from public and private sectors as well as foundations to facilitate knowledge sharing and partnerships, and catalyzes private sector actors for developing products and initiatives for SDG implementation. The Center advocates and facilitates the contribution of private sector to human development and inclusive growth through the following thematic priority areas:

• Private sector engagement through South-South cooperation for the SDGs
• Digital transformation and private sector engagement in skills development
• SDG Financing and Private Sector Development
• Resilience and crisis response

ICPSD’s SDG Financing and Private Sector Development work stream is based on two portfolios: impact investing and Islamic finance. In this context, the Center offers research, advocacy, capacity building and technical assistance services through multi-stakeholder partnerships on both conventional and Islamic finance impact investing to diversify sources of financing for the SDGs with a focus on attracting private impact capital.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Deputy Director, Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development, the Project Operations Analyst will be responsible for the coordination and implementation of financial and budgetary management, project procurement, compilation and maintenance of project records, partnership development and project reporting exercises, supporting HR management strategies and other related duties as may be required by the Supervisor, of the Center’s SDG Financing and Private Sector Development thematic area, covering the impact investing and Islamic finance portfolios.

Duties and Responsibilities
Under the guidance of and reporting directly to ICPSD Deputy Director, the Project Operations Analystwill be responsible for performing and contributing to the following:

1.Procurement:

• Support and advise project procurement planning and ensure timely and quality submission of inputs to BPPS Procurement portal.
• Support projects in procurement processes including drafting and preparation of technical specification / ToRs, receipt of quotations, their evaluation, negotiation of certain conditions of contracts in full compliance with UNDP rules and regulations.
• Support PMST (Project Management Support Team) to ensure the implementation of the internal control system, including duly preparation, dispatching and closure of Purchase Orders and undertaking timely corrective actions on POs with budget check errors and other problems.
• Collect and verify necessary information for the creation of vendor profiles.
• Maintain data on all procurement contracts and take timely actions for the renewals.
• Ensure full compliance of procurement activities with UN/UNDP rules, regulations, policies and strategies; implementation of the effective internal control; proper functioning of a client- oriented procurement management system.

2. Finance and Budget Management:

• Maintain project shadow budget and commitments and produce quality financial reports for the ICPSD and donors.
• Review project revenue and expenditures, monitor budget implementation, prepare, and enter project budget revisions as may be needed.
• Ensure timely preparation and submission of requests for payment.
• Prepare financial authorizations to enable financial transfers/allocations, provision of COAs, or other actions as needed to ensure smooth allocation/funds deployment processes.
• Facilitate clearance process for funding agreements, ensure full compliance with the corporately approved templates, and submit requests for new funds to GSSC.
• Periodically review project accounts and initiate corrective actions and resolve issues on exceptional transactions, including budget errors.
• Provide support in the preparation of project budgets and related financial reports for the internal and external use.
• Compiling donor and other financial reports, monitoring the use of cost sharing funds and other resources linked to projects.
• Keep up to date with new releases vis-à-vis UNDP regulations, and exchange information.
• Ensuring timely response to HQ requests to provide necessary financial inputs and resolve financial data issues.

3. Project Management and Coordination:

• Contribute to the corporate planning, monitoring, and reporting exercises as may be required.
• Contribute to the project’s knowledge management, strategic communications and partnership development efforts as may be required.
• Prepare partnership agreements (MoUs, Development Services Agreements, Responsible Party Agreements, Low-Value Grants, etc.) and liaise with counterparts and relevant UNDP teams (e.g. the Legal Support Office, GPN Joint Directorate, BERA, OFRM, and BPPS Operations) to obtain necessary clearances and signatures.
• Prepare information for the ICPSD audit and provide follow-up/support to the implementation of audit recommendations as may be needed.
• Follow the established filing and archiving standards and procedures for ICPSD; organize, update and maintain all project/programme-related documents.
• Ensure proper digital filing of all ICPSD documents that must be retained in support of corporate policies.

4. Human Resources:

• Monitor the budget availability for the existing and new ICPSD positions and ensure timely submission of requests for COA modifications as may be required. The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

The Project Operations Analyst will work under the direct supervision of the ICPSD Deputy Director and in close collaboration with the operation team of the Center and with the SFH Project Management Support Team.

Competencies

Core

Achieve Results:

LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to

details, delivers quality work by deadline

Think Innovatively:

LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements

Learn Continuously:

LEVEL 1: Open mindedand curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback

Adapt with Agility:

LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible

Act with Determination:

LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in

face of adversity, confident

Engage and Partner:

LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards

others, formspositive relationships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion:

LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional &Technical competencies

Thematic Area

Name

Definition

Business Management

Operations Management

Ability to effectively plan, organize, andoversee the organizations’ business processes in order to convert its assets into the best results in the most efficient manner. Knowledge of relevant concepts and mechanisms.

Business Management

Project Management

Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.

Procurement

Procurement Management

The ability to acquire goods, services or works from an outside external source

Finance

Budget Management

Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets.

HR

Recruitment Design and Management

Knowledge of, ability to design and manage end to end recruitment processes.

Business Development

Knowledge GenerationAbility to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need
Required Skills and Experience

Min. requirements

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Economics, Management, Finance, Business/Public Administration, or other related area is required.

OR

A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the above-mentioned field of study, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Min. years of relevant

work experience

Up to 2 years (with Master’s degree) or minimum 2 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of recent professional work experience in operations, programme support, project management and/or financial resources management is required.

Required skills

Experience in the use of computers, IT software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.)and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages is required.
Experience in handling web-based management systemsis required.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

Experience with the implementation of private sector engagement and SDG financing-related initiatives, particularly in impact investing and/or Islamic finance, is a strong asset.
Experience in supporting procurement processes is highlydesirable.
Experience in supporting project planning, monitoring and reporting exercises is highlydesirable.
Previous work experience with the UN system / UNDP in partnership development, project management, programme support, operations, is required.
Experience of working in global virtual teams and multi-cultural environments is a strong asset.
Experience in handling Quantum ERP system is an asset.

Required Language(s)

Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
Fluency in Turkish is an advantage.

Professional Certificates

N/A

Disclaimer
Important information for US Permanent Residents (‘Green Card’ holders)
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: 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.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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Originally posted on Himalayas