Deputy Director, Representation Office in Washington D.C.

Background

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

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.

Job Purpose and Organizational Context

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works in nearly 170 countries and territories. Anchored in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and committed to the principles of universality, equality and leaving no one behind, UNDP’s priorities are set in its Strategic Plan, aiming to help countries achieve sustainable development by eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, accelerating structural transformations for sustainable development and building resilience to crises and shocks.

The Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy (BERA) is responsible for positioning UNDP as the world’s leading global development network, promoting its global authority and thought leadership on sustainable development and the interconnected issues of poverty, inequality, and climate change. BERA leads and supports UNDP in building and nurturing strategic relationships and alliances essential to achieving its mission. Creating strong political and financial backing for UNDP by providing partners and supporters with a clear understanding of what UNDP does and how our mission, capabilities and flagship services relate to them. The Bureau leads UNDP’s work on innovative and diversified partnerships and ways of financing the Decade of Action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. It is also responsible for global campaigns on critical development issues, which aim to inform government policies and build partnerships around high-impact solutions. BERA coordinates and sets corporate standards across the functions of partnerships, marketing and communications within UNDP and leads on internal communications.

The Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy is positioned around three service lines; Public Partnership; Advocacy, Marketing and Communications; and Private and Finance Partners, all working in close collaboration and coordination under the guidance of the Directorate and with the support of the Management Support Unit and Strategic Analysis and Engagement team.

BERA has a robust network of Representation Offices (Brussels, Copenhagen, Geneva, Tokyo and Washington D.C.) and Regional Teams in five hubs (Africa, Arab States, Asia Pacific, Europe and CIS, and Latin American and the Caribbean) co-led with Regional Bureaux, all of which play a critical role in audience centric communications and management and strengthening of relationships with Public and Private Partners to help build a strong brand for UNDP within the local ecosystem.

The Representation Office in Washington D.C. (WRO) plays a critical role in UNDP’s relations with the US. The UNDP WRO supports, shapes and advances UNDP’s corporate efforts to position, nurture and advance the overall strategic cooperation with a full range of U.S. partners, including the US administration and related government departments, congress, civil society, the private sector, academic and NGO community, as well as with Washington DC based think tanks. The US remains a significant funder to UNDP. The US-UNDP cooperation covers policy dialogue, co-financing of projects, joint research/study, joint conferences and seminars, and joint advocacy and publicity activities.

Under the direct supervision of the Director, the Deputy Director will be responsible for shaping and providing strategic direction to the WRO’s efforts to increase overall support for UNDP on the part of key constituencies and partners in Washington D.C. These efforts include the development and implementation of strategies and efforts to enhance the overall U.S. UNDP strategic relationship, mobilize core and non-core resources, scale up corporate outreach and communications efforts, expand and deepen partnerships with key constituencies, and respond to and/or clarify public or private queries on UNDP.

Duties and Responsibilities

1)The Deputy Director will assist the Director in outreach and constituency building targeted at Congressional members and staff, U.S. Government Executive Branch agencies, NGOs/Think Tanks, as well as the general Washington public:

Deepen UNDP’s support base with Congressional and the Executive Branch officials (State Department International Organizations Bureau, Office of Foreign Assistance, US Agency for International Development, OMB, US/UN) which influence the U.S. contribution to the core budget, by organizing bilateral meetings, as well as preparing briefing materials, position papers and communications, highlighting UNDP’s value to the U.S., addressing criticisms targeted at UNDP; and updating key constituencies on UNDP related issues of interest to them (e.g, overall reform, greater transparency and accountability).

2) Provide regular analysis and updates on US Government global development and foreign policy priorities:

Assist the Director in analyzing the environment (political, economic and social) in the U.S. and provide input to the development of a strategy on how best to generate support for UNDP from the U.S. Government and US public; and

Provide conceptual and political underpinning to UNDP’s Washington’s work by preparing regular analyses of the US Government (Executive Branch and Congress) development and foreign policy priorities (thematic, regional and programmatic) as distilled from the President’s National Security Strategy, the President’s global development strategy (PSD), the QDDR, the US Post-2015 strategy, major policy statements, Congressional foreign assistance reform proposals; and identify convergence with UNDP’s own strategic priorities.

3) Provide regular strategic advice on how to adapt and sharpen UNDP’s messaging, outreach and advocacy efforts focusing on Government institutions (Executive Branch and Congress), and Washington DC based NGOs/think tanks:

Serve as a close link to UNDP headquarters and the field to effectively draw on the support of the Regional/Central Bureaux and Country Offices to help explain the value of UNDP‘s work to U.S. audiences with respect to themes and countries that are of importance to the U.S., and address any questions or concerns about UNDP that may arise;

Shape and support the building of constructive partnerships between UNDP and key U.S. Government entities (e.g., the Congress, the State Department, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the National Security Council, US/UN, USAID), who are interested in themes, countries or policies supported by UNDP; as well as with members of the Washington-based NGO community, the private sector, professional groups, and associations and think tanks headquartered in Washington;

Assist in shaping and overseeing the development and implementation of the office’s outreach and communications strategies and efforts (e.g. seminars, symposia, briefings, brown-bag lunches, with the purpose of sensitizing members of the U.S. Congress and Executive Branch, media, NGOs, and other constituencies on the activities of UNDP; and

Represent UNDP at and/or contributes to important conferences and meetings held in Washington.

4) Support the Director and the WRO’s efforts to mobilize and protect U.S. core and non-core contributions to UNDP:

Explore non-core funding opportunities, and help facilitate the smooth implementation of existing UNDP programmatic partnerships in high priority countries including Afghanistan, and Iraq; and

Identifies opportunities with the private sector and foundations, including with any non-government actor that may contribute to UNDP’s mission and resources.

5) Support the Director in the day-to-day operations of the Office:

Serve as alternate liaison for UNDP with the United States Government, including the U.S. Congress, White House, Department of State, USAID, the National Security Council and the OMB;

Support the preparation of the office work plan, strategy and budget;

Support the Director’s management and oversight of the office; and

Acts as Officer-in-Charge during Director’s absence.

Perform other duties within your functional profile as assigned and deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the office.

Competencies

Core

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

Delivery

Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

Technical/Functional

Communication and Relationship Management

Ability to listen adopt, persuade and transform

Substantive positioning of UNDP

Ability to represent and effectively share UNDP views, perspectives and activities (at UN and other venues)

Partnership

Ability to engage with agencies, donors, programme countries and development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships

Operational Efficiency

Ability to identify and execute opportunities to improve operational efficiency

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
Master’s Degree or equivalent in Political Science, Social Sciences, International Law, International Development, Management or related fields.

Experience:
At least 10 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in development and related policy;

Familiarity and experience of working with the US Administration, and ideally with Congress and US non-governmental organizations, and knowledge of US government budgetary processes, particularly with respect to foreign assistance;

Excellent public relations, advocacy and communications-written and oral- skills; and

Proven networking skills with political and non-governmental organizations.

Language Requirements:
Fluency in English, both written and oral, is required;

Knowledge of a second UN language is an asset

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.

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