Programme Manager, Sarawak Programme (Kuching, Malaysia)
JOB DETAIL
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the State Government of Sarawak have expressed interest to pursue a multi-year partnership to assist in Sarawak’s development planning under the new Country Programme between Government of Malaysia and UNDP. In line with Sarawak’s Post Covid-19 Development Strategy, UNDP intends to develop an integrated development programme which will support Sarawak in achieving its SDGs by 2030. This integrated development programme will include on-going projects under implementation and pipeline initiatives to be developed in close collaboration with the State Government of Sarawak.
This partnership with Sarawak will require full time service of a Programme Manager, Sarawak Programme to act as a focal point for engagement with government partners, state and non-state stakeholders in Sarawak, oversee the development process of pipelines under the integrated programme, oversee the implementation of the integrated programme and the specific projects under the integrated programme, manage and/or implement relevant projects, and advice for communications between UNDP and stakeholders in Sarawak.
Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative and the daily management of UNDP Programme Specialist(s) in the Country Office in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam, the Programme Manager is responsible for effective delivery of programme/and specific projects implementation support services ensuring effective operational management of programme/projects, transparent utilization of financial resources. The Programme Manager promotes a collaborative and client-oriented approach consistent with the UNDP rules and regulations.
The Programme Manager works in close collaboration with the respective Country Office (CO) Programme and Operations teams, Government counterparts, national and international experts, and project partners ensuring successful CO performance and compliance in programme management and finance.
The Programme Manager will manage and supervise the project team to ensure that the team of Project Assistant, experts and service providers operate effectively and efficiently for successful implementation and delivery of projects activities/outputs.
Actively explores, identifies opportunities, establishes and maintain strategic engagement and partnerships, especially with relevant state and non-state stakeholders / partners in Sarawak:
- Act as the primary point of contact for key stakeholders involved in the formulation of the UNDP and Government of Sarawak’s integrated development programme.
- Develop, review and update the Country Office’s engagement and partnership engagement strategy in Sarawak for building and/or maintaining UNDP’s partnership with Sarawak.
- Explore and establish programming, partnership and resource mobilization opportunities through active engagement with relevant stakeholders in Sarawak under the UNDP and Government of Sarawak’s integrated development programme.
- Develop and maintain working relationships, coordinate and facilitate communication and collaboration between the Country Office and main government partners in Sarawak.
- Oversee, coordinate and report regularly on the process and progress of UNDP Country Office’s engagement and partnership with Sarawak.
Provides leadership and coordination in the integrated programme development and growth in Sarawak and associated project design with development partners, UN Agencies and implementing partners, ensuring robust articulation of Theory of Change and results from framework linking inputs and activities to programme outputs and outcomes, supported with evidence to report on the UNDP Strategic Plan and Country Programme Development (CPD) indicators:
- Ensure the development and implementation of a detailed work plan including technical inputs, human resources and financial resource requirements to support the development of integrated programme and relevant design of new projects.
- Coordinate consultation(s) / meeting(s) / workshop(s) between UNDP Country Office programme & operations team, UNDP Global Policy Network, relevant technical expertise and line Ministries in Sarawak on the programme/project formulation to gather input and feedback on programme proposals ensuring timely follow up.
- Work closely with UNDP Country Office on the application of sensemaking, horizon scanning, design thinking, and relevant innovative approaches and tools in the development and design of the integrated programme and associated projects.
- Ensure sound application of UNDP programming standards in the development and formulation of the integrated programme between Sarawak and UNDP, and new pipeline of projects under the programme.
Ensure effective management of the integrated development programme and related projects in Sarawak focusing on effective and result-based programme and project implementation, quality control including gender mainstreaming with the purpose of achieving the following results:
- Lead in ensuring the programmatic outcomes, outputs and activities are implemented and achieved as planned.
- Ensure that bottlenecks related to programmatic implementation are resolved with appropriate adaptive and/or corrective measures, including seeking support from UNDP Country Office as well as engaging relevant stakeholders and partners in Sarawak to resolve the local challenges.
- Coordinate and work closely with UNDP Country Office’s Management and Oversight Unit to ensure programme and project monitoring, evaluation and reporting requirements are met.
- Participate in the meetings, events, and other engagements with stakeholders on behalf of UNDP Country Office, at the request of supervisor(s).
Provides technical advisory services to UNDP Country Office, stakeholders and other relevant parties in policy formulation, knowledge management, and advocacy efforts that are necessary to create a healthy pipeline of initiatives/projects under the Sarawak-UNDP integrated development programme and successful implementation of the programme in Sarawak:
- Conduct research and analysis to identify needs, gaps, and opportunities for the new programme. Providing regular reporting, analysis, and advice to UNDP Management on strategic opportunities. Keep management informed of key issues, concerns, and trends to ensure close alignment between programme formulation and government expectations.
- Coordinate and support development institutions working towards addressing development priorities in collaboration with the Government of Sarawak and other strategic partners
- Maintain effective network with development partners and Government of Sarawak, and where necessary links up with the corporate Global Policy Network of UNDP and other communities of practice.
- Co-supervise with the respective Programme Team Leads, energize and motivate the project teams under the integrated programme in Sarawak and ensure project staff capacity building in programme and project implementation.
Provides leadership and coordination in knowledge building and management in accordance with the programme and project objectives and results as well as UNDP policies and procedures:
- Contribute to the development of project management knowledge products based on lessons learned, experiences and data generated through programme and project implementation, and provide sound contributions to UNDP knowledge networks and communities of practice.
- Identify, write and communicate success stories, best practices and lessons learnt from the programme and projects, and ensure proper documentation and dissemination.
Core competencies:
- Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
- Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
- Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
- Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
- Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
- Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making
People Management competencies:
- UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:
Business Direction and Strategy
- Strategic thinking: Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritised plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions; Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP
Business Development
- UNDP representation: Ability to represent UNDP and productively share UNDP knowledge and activities; ability to advocate for UNDP, its values, mission and work with various constituencies
- Knowledge generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need
Business Management
- Results-based Management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus on improved performance and demonstrable results
- Communication: Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience
Partnership
- Strategic engagement: Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objectives
Cross-functional
- Programme and project management: Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
- Master’s or Bachelor’s Degree in one of the following: Development Studies, Economics, Environmental Science or related studies, Public Administration, Public Policy, Political Science, Sustainability Studies or a related field.
- Minimum 2 years of relevant experience (Master’s degree) or minimum 4 years of relevant experience (Bachelor’s degree) at the national or international level in providing advisory/technical support services, and managing and implementing programmes / projects in the area of sustainable development.
- Minimum 2 years of working experience with the international organizations / government / private sector / research institution / think tank / civil society organization.
- Ability to lead and manage development programme and projects in all phases of programme / project management involving multiple partners and stakeholders in the national and/or sub-national setting.
- Excellent skills in problem-solving, adaptative management, conflict resolution, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement and coordination.
- Knowledge in public policy development processes in Sarawak is an advantage.
- Experience in collaborating and partnering with private sector, communities and/or international organizations.
- Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).
- Demonstrated ability in writing good quality reports, policy briefs/paper, and/or communication & advocacy article/blog/story.
- Proven field experience in the field of sustainable development in Malaysia.
Required Languages:
- Fluency in English and Malay, both written and verbal
