SDGs Hub Coordinator Vacancy-Job Ref:ACBHUNDP/1510/202147

SDGs Hub Coordinator Vacancy-Job Ref:ACBHUNDP/1510/202147
Manama (Bahrain)
JOB DESCRIPTION
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.

The University of Bahrain (UOB) is aspiring to step up its contribution towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. With that objective, promoting innovation, sharing and dissemination of knowledge, strengthening internal capacities and expanding opportunities, are all part of the vision of the University’s leadership. The outcome is two-fold: making current and prospective students better citizens and promotors of tenets of sustainable development, and mainstreaming those principles with staff and faculty, ultimately making UOB become a beacon of sustainable development for Bahrain and beyond.

UOB and UNDP have signed a project to work together on the above through a partnership that provides technical support and capacity development to the University through mobilizing internal and external knowledge and skills, harvesting local ideas while drawing on international expertise when needed. In doing so, UNDP is reaching out to national actors as well as international organizations, among them UN entities. To achieve the above objectives, among other areas, the project is working on the establishment of an SDG Hub that will plan and monitor work, initiatives and processes linked to the SDGs within the University, to, among other things, strengthen UOB’s international standing in its contributions to the SDGs.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the President of the University of Bahrain, the SDGs Hub Coordinator is will play a catalytic role in the establishment and operation of the SDGs Hub. She or he will be involved in the development of UOB SDGs Strategy and, through the activities of the HUB, support the strategy’s implementation. He or she is responsible to plan Hub activities, to monitor the timely implementation of the HUB activities according to the standards of quality and within the specified costs, while building partnerships and managing the knowledge generated.

Support to SDGs Strategy Development and Implementation

Support and facilitate stakeholder consultations towards the development of UOB SDGs Strategy
Manage the sourcing of advisory services and consultancies required for the development and updating of the strategy
Monitor the implementation of the strategy and report on the progress of implementation
Make periodic updates to the strategy and facilitate
Planning, Implementation and Monitoring

Overall management (programme and operational) of the SDG Hub in line with UoB’s policies and guidelines
Overseeing all recruited staff and volunteers to the SDG Hub as well as the financial and administrative aspects and reporting.
Leads the establishment of the SDG Hub’s, including providing technical and coordination support to enhance quality and synergy.
Manages the governance of SDG Hub including facilitating the meetings of the Programme Management Committee and leading the work of the Thematic Advisory Group.
Coordinates the collaboration with the SDGs Hub’s implementing partners, in terms of the Hubs programme and deliverables

Takes the lead to develop, implement and evaluate assigned Hub programmes, etc.; directs subordinates in programme/project development, implementation, monitoring and assessment; directs review of relevant documents and reports; identifies priorities, problems and issues to be addressed and proposes corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; identifies and initiates follow-up actions.
Responsible for completing and submitting of THE Impact application (THE Impact Rankings)
Reporting of activities to top management (monthly, quarterly, and yearly report) for each of the 17 SDGs. The yearly report should highlight the main activities of the university during the year.

Develop a one-year and three years initiative plan including budgeting requirements to implement this plan.
Ensuring activities are planned and plans are implemented
Ensures implementation of gender mainstreaming guidelines by assessing the implications for men and women of any planned action, including legislation, policies or programmes, in all areas and at all levels.

Coordinates policy development; reviews the assessments of issues and trends, preparation of evaluations or research activities and studies.
Supervises preparation of various written outputs, e.g. background papers, analysis, substantial sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications.
Directs substantive support to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations.

Outreach and Partnerships Building

Management of SDGs Hub partnerships with national and local entities and partners.
Support both institutions knowledge, experience and dissemination of best practices and lessons learned.
Carries out strategic partnerships and resource mobilization, inclusive of the development of Public-Private sector Partnership initiatives focusing on all 17 SDGs
Responsible to update the SDG website (announcements, events, press release, and other activities)

Manages outreach activities; press release (pre and post events), designs and conducts training workshops, seminars, etc., makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
Serves as an effective spokesperson for SDG Hub and establishes collaboration and partnerships with key stakeholders at all levels inside and outside the organization.
Knowledge Sharing

Helps in the identification of lessons learned to help achieve the outcomes of the Hub.
Facilitates the use of global knowledge networks to share knowledge including publications, conference proceedings, etc.
Participates and/or contribute to the policy discussions on substantive and operational aspects concerning the Hub in the relevant meetings or forums.
Institutional Arrangement

The SDGs Hub Coordinator will report to the Programme Officer for sustainable Growth, Energy and Envirnment and Gender.

Competencies
CORE BEHAVIORAL COMPETENCIES:

Achieve Results

Demonstrates focus on achieving quality results and impact
Consistently strives to meet or exceed excellent standards
Efficiently establishes appropriate plans and resources for self and others to accomplish goals
Holds self and others accountable for results
Think Innovatively

Seeks patterns and clarity outside, across and beyond boxes and categories, resists false certainty and simplistic binary choices
Looks beyond conventional approaches and established methods
Proposes new ideas, approaches, and solutions to problems
Learn Continuously

Actively pursues opportunities for learning and self-development, professionally and personally
Keeps up to date with new developments in own professional area
Proactively seeks feedback, demonstrates a desire to learn from others as well as from experience, both positive and negative
Contributes to the learning of others
Adapt with Agility

Actively pursues opportunities for learning and self-development, professionally and personally
Keeps up to date with new developments in own professional area
Act with Determination

Is flexible in handling change, and adopts new ideas, approaches and ways of working
Seamlessly adapts to working with new situations or contexts, with new people, and in different ways
Participates in, supports, or drives meaningful change in UNDP
Is comfortable with ambiguity and effectively manages juggling multiple demands

Engage and Partner

Demonstrates and encourages teamwork and co-creation, internally and externally, to achieve joint objectives and results
Acts in a way that demonstrates empathy and emotional intelligence, showing consideration for the needs and feelings of others
Enable Diversity and Inclusion

Understands and appreciates issues from the perspective of others
Treats all individuals with respect, considers ethical implications and responds sensitively to all differences among people
Fully accepts and values all people, creating an inclusive environment
Understands that inclusion is multi-faceted (e.g., race, gender, age, disability, culture, etc.) and treats everyone fairly and equally
Demonstrates honesty and transparency
CROSS-FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES:

Business direction and strategy

System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system
Effective Decision Making: Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources
Business Development

Knowledge Generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need
Knowledge Facilitation: Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally
Integration within the UN: Ability to identity, and integrate capacity and assets of the UN system, and engage in joint work; knowledge of the UN System and ability to apply this knowledge to strategic and/or practical situations
Business Management

Results-Based Management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results
Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
Partnership Management: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
PEOPLE MANAGEMENT COMPETENCIES:

Show Managerial Courage

Face up to organizational and people problems
Not to be afraid to take decision and action when and as needed
Not hold back anything that needs to be said, respectfully and diplomatically
Address conflict in a timely manner, not allow conflicts in teams linger
Help others through emotional or tense situations, tactfully bringing disagreements into the open and finding solutions all can endorse
Demonstrate Empathy and Emotional Intelligence

Genuinely care about people; demonstrate empathy with the joys and pains of others
Enable the wellbeing of the team(s)
Read a group’s emotional currents and power relationships, identifying influencers, networks, and organizational dynamics; adapt leadership styles at the appropriate times
See the positive in people, situations, and events
Motivate and Direct

Create and communicate a compelling vision and purpose
Align people and resources with organizational vision, strategy, objectives
Understand and proactively build the team/organization culture
Build an Enabling Workplace

Create a working environment where people are engaged and want to do their best; empower and enable team members to perform and have a positive workplace experience
Promote honesty, openness, trust and psychological safety and create opportunities to innovate and learn
Recruit and promote individuals based upon objective measures and meritocracy; acknowledge and utilise the talent of others
Encourage collective action and integration
Build Capability

Identify and develop talent in individuals, providing positive support to enable them to achieve their potential
Foster learning or development of others by giving feedback, guidance, and support; support career development of others
Have willingness and ability to delegate to help people learn, including from failure
Manage Performance and Ensure Accountability

Ensure regular conversations with people about work
Provide positive and constructive feedback
Discuss poor performance in a timely manner
Provide praise and recognition, as well as ensure accountability
TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES:

2030 Agenda : Engagement and Effectiveness

Effectiveness

IRRF design, implementation and monitoring
Thematic evaluation management responses
Innovation

Technology and Innovation
SDGs integration

Fostering bilateral and regional South-South partnerships for SDG implementation
SDG Monitoring and Reporting
2030 Agenda: Partnerships

Governance

Institutional Capacity to Implement and Coordinate SDGs
Youth
2030 Agenda: People

Gender

Gender Mainstreaming
Communications

Advocacy strategy and Implementation: Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactfulchange
Media Relations: Ability to develop media relations across all aspects of media work including relationships with media and preparing media materials such as messages
External Relations & Advocacy

Partnership

Private Sector resource mobilization: Ability to identify, develop and manage partnerships that leverage private sector technical expertise and resources.
Resource Mobilization : Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities, and establish a plan to meet funding requirements
Required Skills and Experience

Education:
Degree in Social Science, Social Development, Programme Management, Education or a related field.
Experience:
At least 2 years of experience in development, project management, policy-making, or other related area is required.
Previous experience in project management, technical assistance/ development assistance or related work, and experience in a higher education institution
Good understanding and working experience with thematic areas related to sustainable development and the SDGs
Prior experience with the United Nations, in particular UNDP, is desirable.
Required Language(s) (at working level): Fluency in English and Arabic required

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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