Chief of Section for Strategic Planning, Monitoring and Reporting (Paris, France) contract

Post Number : BSP 008

Grade : P-5

Parent Sector : Bureau of Strategic Planning (BSP)

Duty Station: Paris

Job Family: Programme Coordination

Type of contract : Fixed Term

Duration of contract : 2 years, renewable

Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 18-NOV-2024

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

This position is located in the Bureau of Strategic Planning, Division for Planning and Programming (BSP/DPP) in UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

Under the overall authority of the Director of the Bureau of Strategic Planning and the direct supervision of the Director of the Division for Planning and Programming, the Chief of Section for Strategic Planning, Monitoring and Reporting (PMR) will manage a team of specialized professionals and provide technical leadership and guidance in the implementation of the Section’s mandate to ensure the delivery of BSP core results related to:

• The elaboration of the Organization’s Medium-Term Strategy (C/4) and the Programme and Budget (C/5);
• The preparation of statutory reports on the implementation of the Approved C/5 and the related work plans (EX/4 and EX/5); and
• The development of policies and methodological guidelines regarding programme planning, monitoring and reporting.

Key statutory reports and strategic documents:

• Drive and lead the preparation of the Organization’s Medium-Term Strategy (C/4) and the Programme and Budget (C/5) in close cooperation with all Secretariat sectors and units. The task includes: (i) the organization of consultations with Member States and other partners; (ii) drafting background notes based on strategic analysis of past and future trends and mapping of Member States’ needs and priorities; (iii) the elaboration of templates, guidelines, and support material, as well as quality assurance reviews to ensure that the planning process and related outcome documents are in compliance with the Organization’s Governing Bodies’ strategic orientations and the programming framework and priorities, the Director-General’s instructions and the principles of Results-Based Management and Results-Based Budgeting (RBM/RBB).
• Lead and oversee the overall programme planning process and provide guidance and support on the application of internal standards and methodologies for workplans elaboration, compliance with the approved C/5 document and respect of global priorities and commitments in close cooperation with other concerned BSP units, the Executive Officers of the Major Programmes and units, and, as necessary, in consultation with the Bureau of Financial Management (BFM).
• Provide advice, guidance, support and quality assurance as required for the elaboration of the Organization’s other key programmatic and thematic strategic documents, initiatives and action plans, ensuring alignment with the C/5 and Governing Bodies decisions.
• Establish and maintain for the above purposes effective collaboration with all the Organization’s sectors and units in Headquarters, and, as needed, in the field offices and category I institutes.

Programme monitoring and reporting:

• In close cooperation with all Secretariat units and the Results Based Management Unit (RBM), lead the coordination of effective monitoring of programme implementation, and conduct the preparation of key reports, especially the Strategic Results Report, APIR, PIR, on the implementation of the Approved C/5 and the related sectoral/thematic action plans and coordinate the production of house-wide EX/5 documents.
• In close collaboration with the RBM Unit, make proposals for the Programme Coordination Group to continuously improve UNESCO’s corporate monitoring and reporting function based on lessons learned and the application of new technologies.
• Lead the elaboration of programme-related communication and information materials and contribute to the development of web tools to ensure the effective management of the programme and its dissemination for internal and external audience, in liaison with the concerned services.
• Maintain, as necessary, effective exchanges of information with external stakeholders on programme issues, particularly among the Permanent Delegations and National Commissions to UNESCO, and peers in relevant UN organizations.
• Facilitate UNESCO’s reporting against the UN System’s frameworks (e.g., SDGs), as required.

Policies and methodological guidelines:

• Ensure the Secretariat of internal house-wide programme committees, as well as other programme-related intersectoral task forces as required and oversee the implementation and follow-up to the related policy decisions.
• Propose to the Director of the Division for Planning and Programming the conceptualization, development, review and adaptation of a range of policies and processes related to the tasks of the Section, including by promoting innovative approaches and tools to improve UNESCO’s programming, in response to UNESCO’s mandate as well as in alignment with UN System programming practices (as per the UN system definition, “programming”, which refers to the process of planning, designing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating a set of coordinated activities or interventions aimed at achieving specific development outcomes).
• Advise and contribute, as needed, to the revision and elaboration of the Organization’s comprehensive partnerships strategy, and ensure alignment with the programme priorities, in collaboration with BSP’s Division for Partnerships.

  Team Management and Staff Development :

• Establish the priorities and objectives of the Section, develop work plans and organize the work and resources to achieve the objectives and targets.  Under the guidance of the Director of the Division for Planning and Programming, oversee the preparation and management of the Section budget and work plans in accordance with internal standards and processes, ensuring efficient use of resources and timely reporting.
• Manage and lead a diverse and specialized team, allocating assignments and enabling teamwork, setting and monitoring performance objectives and standards, and providing technical directives, coaching and guidance to enable high performance, motivation, and foster staff development.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in International Relations, Marketing, Business Development, Economics, Management or in other fields of competence of UNESCO.

Work Experience

• A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible relevant professional experience in the area of corporate planning, monitoring and reporting, of which preferably 5 years acquired at international level.

• Demonstrated leadership in strategic planning.

• Demonstrated familiarity with programming quality standards.

• Demonstrated experience in coordinating complex multi-stakeholder processes.

• Demonstrated experience in leading and motivating teams, formulating and implementing a long-term vision and strategic perspective.

• Demonstrated experience of effective communication at senior level.

Skills and Competencies

• Proven track record in strategic planning.

• Excellent drafting skills.

• Strong analytical, negotiating, networking and advocacy skills.

• Strong coordination skills.

• Creativity and capacity to innovate.

• Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment.

• Excellent leadership skills, and skills in the management of performance and resources.

• Solid knowledge of relevant technological solutions and systems.

Languages

• Excellent knowledge of English or French and good knowledge of the other language.

Work Experience

• Experience in programme and project management at both Headquarters and Field level.

• Demonstrated experience with planning and programming innovation and system change.

Skills and Competencies

• Knowledge of UNESCO’s activity areas and relevant partners and donors.

Languages

• Knowledge of another official language of UNESCO (Arabic, Chinese, Russian and/or Spanish).