Vacancy Announcement
Secretariat of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
Director, Planning and Programme Support (PPS) Office, D-1
Publication Date: 17 May 2023
Deadline For Application: 16 June 2023 (at midnight, Abu Dhabi local Time)
Title and Grade: Director, Planning and Programme Support (PPS) Office, D-1
Indicative Annual Salary: (a.) Annual Net Salary: USD 106,023 to USD 118,321 [1]
(b.) Post Adjustment: USD 77,078.72 to USD 86,019.37 [2]
Duration of Appointment: Two Years, with possible extension
Duty Station: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Entry on Duty: As soon as possible
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an inter-governmental organisation, headquartered in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, mandated to promote the adoption and continuous use of all forms of renewable energy sources in the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access, energy security and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity. IRENA’s mission is to play a leading role in the ongoing transformation of the global energy systems as a centre of excellence for knowledge and innovation, a global voice of renewable energy, a network hub for all stakeholders and a source of advice and support for countries. At present, IRENA has 168 Members (167 States and the European Union) that acceded to its Statute, and 16 additional States in the process of accession and actively engaged.
The IRENA Planning and Programme Support Office (PPS) is part of the Executive Office of the Director-General and responsible for a range of strategic and coordination functions. Under the supervision and guidance of the Director-General, the Planning and Programme Support (PPS) office maintains four key areas of responsibility:
Resource diversification: maintaining strategic external relationships and ensuring internal coordination and the strategic integration of extra-budgetary resources in IRENA’s programmatic work;
- Reporting: timely reporting on programmatic and project matters to governing bodies and individual donors;
- Global Affairs & Host Country relations: strengthening IRENA’s global presence, including with UN entities, and Host Country engagement; and
- Cross-cutting initiatives: leading cross-cutting Agency initiatives as required.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the Director-General, Director, PPS will be responsible for the following duties:
Formulating, leading, supervising, and implementing the substantive work programme for PPS, including determining priorities, and allocating resources for the completion of activities and their timely delivery. Overseeing the management of activities undertaken by PPS, ensuring that programmed activities are coordinated in the different areas both within PPS and with other IRENA divisions, as well as other entities, as appropriate.
- Reporting to intergovernmental bodies on programmatic and substantive issues, including biennial work programmes, annual and progress reports, and impact performance. Ensuring that the outputs produced maintain high-quality standards; that reports are clear, objective, and accurate. Ensuring that all outputs produced by PPS reflect the Agency-wide impact and meet required standards before completion.
- Developing, planning, managing the implementation and evaluating the Agency’s resource diversification strategy, aligned with the governing body guidance, and with the Agency’s strategic and programmatic priorities and sector developments. Maintaining and developing external relationships to diversify the donor base. Coordinating the development of donor agreements and monitoring their implementation to ensure adherence and timely reporting. Ensuring coherence between different donor agreements, to enable efficient use of resources and stronger programmatic output.
- Managing, guiding, motivating, and developing staff under his/her supervision including performance management, recruitment, staff development and learning; fostering teamwork and communication among staff in PPS, and across organizational boundaries.
- Working closely with all IRENA divisions to improve accuracy and consistency of reports to governing bodies and donors. Leading the team to identify trends or patterns for planning, decision-making, presentation, and reporting.
- Ensuring that IRENA’s work is both well known in global and UN institutions and host countries, and that the Agency possesses an accurate and current knowledge of relevant developments in the global setting. Maintaining cooperation with strategic stakeholders and facilitating close engagement with entities critical for IRENA’s work.
- Supporting the Director-General as a strategic advisor within the area of responsibility, performing additional duties and special projects and representing the Agency, as requested by the Director-General.
Competencies
Professionalism: Knowledge of inter-governmental processes and functions. The ability to analyse and interpret trends and data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information internally and externally at the senior-most levels. Demonstrated ability to provide strategic advice and guidance on policy issues. Ability to produce reports and papers and to review and edit the work of others. Shows pride in work and in achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results. Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.
Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication. Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view. Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect. Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions. Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems. Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects. Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.
Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow. Empowers others to translate vision into results. Is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives. Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support. Anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions. Drives for change and improvement; does not accept the status quo. Shows the courage to take unpopular stands.
Empowering others: Delegates responsibility, clarifies expectations, and gives staff autonomy in important areas of their work. Encourages others to set challenging goals. Holds others accountable for achieving results related to their area of responsibility. Genuinely values all staff members’ input and expertise. Shows appreciation and rewards achievement and effort. Involves others when making decisions that affect them.
Creativity: Actively seeks to improve programmes or services. Offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs. Promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas. Takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks “outside the box.” Takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things. Is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.
Qualification
Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in social sciences, political science, international relations, public or business administration, economics or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two years of additional relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience/Skills: A minimum of 15 years progressively responsible and relevant professional experience in policy development, drafting and editing of reports, monitoring of programme implementation, partner and/or donor liaison. Experience of working in an international setting and/or intergovernmental organisation is required. Experience in outreach and advocacy is required. Deeper understanding of climate and energy issues is desirable. Experience in programme monitoring and evaluation is desirable.
Languages: Excellent command of written and spoken English is a must. Knowledge of other UN languages would be an asset.
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IRENA reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
Qualified candidates must apply for the above-mentioned vacancy on-line, through IRENA’s recruitment platform by submitting a complete and comprehensive CV and a letter of interest, including details of three professional references who will be contacted if their application is shortlisted.
Applications from qualified women are highly encouraged.
Please note that only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted for an interview and will receive notice of the final outcome of the selection process.
[1] IRENA provides similar ICSC benefits and entitlements, including rental subsidy, education grant (for school aged children), annual leave, health insurance, provident fund, etc. as would be applicable.
[2] The post adjustment is a variable component that is adjusted periodically to reflect changes in the cost of living in a duty station. Post adjustment multiplier for Abu Dhabi duty station is currently 72.7%, determined by the International Civil Service Commission and subject to change without prior notice.