Job Identification : 10151

Locations : Bangkok, Thailand

Posting Date : 04/25/2023, 12:42 AM

Apply Before : 05/09/2023, 04:59 PM

Job Schedule : Full time

Agency : UNDP

Grade : IPSA-10

Vacancy Type : International Personnel Service Agreement

Practice Area : Innovation

Bureau : Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific

Contract Duration : 1 Year

Education & Work Experience : Master’s Degree – 5 year(s) experience OR Bachelor’s Degree – 7 year(s) experience

Required Languages : English

Desired Languages : UN official language

Vacancy Timeline

2 Weeks

Job Description

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.

The UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub and its Regional Innovation Team serves the Government partners and Country Offices within the Asia Pacific region to support them to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The Team is part of the Global Policy Network which is an integrated network of global policy teams and professionals who work to support the UNDP strategic plan. The team leads on Innovation and Digital across the region as part of the GPN, working closely with many partners including the UNDP the Strategic Innovation Unit, Chief Digital Office, and the Accelerator Lab network in Countries among others. With strategic Innovation and Digital Transformation are key enablers as part of the new UNDP strategic plan 2022 – 2025, the UNDP’s ambition in the region is not only to support Country Offices to become “digital by default” (DbD) but also to make sure digital solutions and initiatives aim and deliver impact:

•  the system level and not incremental by design;
•  inclusive, overcome gaps in both digital and analog;
•  directions, support green and sustainable development pathways.

To further advance and support relevant CO initiatives, RBAP has outposted 4 sub-regional digital consultants and the Regional Innovation team is looking for the services of Digital Transformation Specialist to support coherence and systemic impact of these investments.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the Regional Innovation Specialist and in close collaboration with digital focal points, the Digital Transformation Specialist will lead on supporting design and adoption of the “digital by default” approach to programming in support of the CO and BRH teams. The Digital Transformation Specialist will coordinate the context-tailored support via sub-regional digital consultants. (S)he will facilitate cross-country learning to support coherence of the regional digital portfolio and articulation of new digital programmatic offers to support scaling of initial investment in the region. With support of Strategic Learning and Visual Designer, (s)he will lead on codifying and positioning emerging digital transformation approaches for broader adoption and scaling across the region and beyond. Specialist works in close collaboration with the whole Regional innovation team, CDO, Strategic Innovation Unit, GPN, Bangkok Regional Hub, and Country Offices for resolving complex programme-related issues and delivery.

Advisory Support to COs and BRH (coordination, advice, DbD)

•  Support provision of programmatic advice and R&D to Country Offices via the sub-regional digital consultants;
•  Provide advice across BRH GPN teams on identification of entry points, adoption and application “digital by default” approaches to foster development program coherence;
•  Dynamically review, identify and manage emerging learnings, cross-country patterns and novel digital programmatic opportunities on the account of this work;
•  Jointly, with sub-regional digital consultants, support cross-country learning on the digital transformation;
•  Help maintain digital transformation progress map of the COs across the region;
•  Support coordination and synergies building for country support in collaboration with CDO

Digital Transformation Capability Development across the region

•  Lead on development and codification of the “digital by default” programming support in the region;
•  Jointly, with sub-regional digital consultants, design and run capability building sessions for program colleagues across the region;
•  Jointly, with Strategic Learning and Visual Designer, codifying emerging learnings through toolkits and journey maps;
•  Lead on development of the Leadership module on Digital Transformation;
•  Provide other support as needed.

Engagement and Offer Development

•  Continuously horizon scan to identify new/emerging opportunities for the Regional innovation team to accelerate progress in areas related to digital transformation with the Country Offices and provide support to capitalize on these opportunities;
•  Identify and support Regional Innovation Team on external engagement and positioning on topics relevant for digital transformation;
•  Help build pipeline of initiatives and support development of distinct digital transformation offers for the region, starting with public sector digital transformation offer;
•  Author and contribute to Regional Innovation blog posts, briefs and other materials helping to capture progress, ensure fast learning and partner engagement;
•  Provide inputs into strategy and operations of the Regional innovation team;
•  Contribute to M&E and progress stock taking under Regional Innovation team digital workstream

Competencies

Core competencies:

•  Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
•  Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
•  Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
•  Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
•  Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
•  Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
•  Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies: Business Management

•  Customer Satisfaction/Client Management: Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfill and understand the real customers’ needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients’ immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns.

Business Development

•  Collective Intelligence Design: Ability to bringing together diverse groups of people, data, information or ideas, and technology to design services or solutions.

Partnership management

•  Emerging partnerships: Ability to engage with emerging partners, develop and manage a strategy and develop approaches to developing and managing these new strategic partnerships.

Digital & Innovation

•  Digital transformation design: Practical and strategic skills in digital transformation for governments and organisations.
•  Digital thought leadership: Ongoing research into emerging technologies and digital trends and the applications, risks, and opportunities associated with digital adoption, combined with the ability to communicate this synthesis with a broad audience.

Business Direction and Strategy

•  Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized 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.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

•  Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in digital transformation, innovation, technology management, social science, economic, or relevant fields.

Experience:

•  5 years of professional working experience in relevant fields related to international development for candidates with a Master’s degree, or 7 years of professional working experience in relevant fields related to international development for candidates with a Bachelor’s degree.
•  A minimum of 3 years of professional experience with digital transformation, E-governance, innovation, work with governments, donors, and/or development partners is highly desirable.
•  A proven track record of working directly with Governments/multilaterals on Digital Transformation/Digital Government/Public Service Delivery systems/projects, preferably in a developing country context;
•  Demonstrated experience in providing digital transformation advice;
•  Proven expertise of building cross-sector partnerships and cross-culture understandings;
•  Proven experience with advancing new ways of working in organizations and/or companies;
•  Proven expertise in the field of results-based management and performance indicator management and reporting;
•  Proven ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals;
•  Ability to engage collaboratively with partners (including other UN agencies), donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships is highly desirable;
•  Knowledge of project and fund management (budgeting, expenditure, reporting) related procedures to ensure that quality requirements and goals are fulfilled;
•  Strong communication and writing skills.
•  Experience with, and knowledge of, international development, emerging technologies, system transformation, and social innovation an asset;
•  Experience in digital innovation in developing countries or social impact and/or living or working in developing countries is a plus.

Language requirements:

•  Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of a second UN official language will be 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.

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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