Programme Associate, Online Volunteering

  • Contract
  • Nairobi
  • Posted 5 hours ago

UNDP - United Nations Development Programme

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.

UNV’s New York Office (NYO) promotes volunteers and volunteerism through partnership development with Permanent Missions to the UN, UN partners headquartered in New York, civil society organizations and other NY-based partners. It monitors policy and strategy developments at the UN in New York and contributes to UN Volunteer mobilization by developing and promoting volunteer solutions within the UN system, coordinating closely with UNV headquarters, regional offices, and field units.

The UNV Regional Offices (RO) provide oversight and strategic guidance to the UNV Field Units in their respective geographical assignments and are mainly accountable for the placement of UN Volunteers mobilized for the UN system focused on peace, development, and humanitarian needs. Furthermore, the Regional Offices represent and strategically position UNV and bring UNV’s services and solutions closer to its partners from governments, UN entities, civil society, and the private sector. The Regional Offices also lead the scoping and delivery of UNV’s advisory service offer on volunteer infrastructure. 

Reporting to the Manager, Regional Office/Chief, New York Office, and with the technical guidance of the Programme Specialist at the Volunteer Solutions Section (VSS) at headquarters, the Programme Associate, Online Volunteering is responsible for OV service provision and delivery. He/she contributes to and supports the Online Volunteer demand generation, forecasting and advocacy efforts of the UNV New York and Regional Offices and Field Units (FUs) to increase engagement and demand of Online Volunteers with a focus on the UN system, with the goal to achieve the UNV Strategic Framework targets and expand volunteering opportunities. 

Moreover, s/he supports Online Volunteering knowledge management and, under the technical guidance of the Programme Specialist, provides input for the refinement of the corporate OV offer, strategy, applications, and policy. The Programme Associate, Online Volunteering works in close collaboration with the Volunteer Solutions Sections, the Volunteer Services Center, the External Communications and Relations Section, the Executive Office, the Information and Communications Technology Section (ICTS), and the Volunteer Advisory Services Section, to refine and improve the UNV Online Volunteering offer.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Online Volunteering service provision and advisory support to partners
  • Ensure Online Volunteer assignments quality review and advise partners on suggested changes.
  • Ensure that Online Volunteer assignments are posted and advertised in a timely manner;
  • Screen organizations’ registrations, ensuring information is complete, assessing compliance with established criteria, verifying applicant organizations’ goals and activities;
  • Monitor collaboration with partners and escalate to the Regional Manager and OV Programme Analyst when and if relevant;
  • Contribute to regular dialogues with partners to answer questions and share innovative solutions;
  • Provide technical assistance and guidance on corporate applications and help users of the OV service to overcome technical and other issues;
  • In coordination with the Results-based Management Analyst, share monthly updates on current trends and perspectives on OV by analyzing OV users and partner organizations;
  • Prepare and share analysis on the OV users’ feedback upon request;
  • Respond to Service Desk level 2 queries.
2. Business development for Online Volunteer assignments
  • Support demand generation of Online Volunteer assignments by UN partners, public institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society organizations;
  • Support and contribute to regional promotion efforts of OV solutions through partner interaction, regular partnership meetings and consultations;
  • Contribute to targeted advocacy on engaging UN Volunteers and Online Volunteers to support the UN systems’ efforts on development and peace;
  • Assist OV outreach to partners and relevant organizations through networking, building relationships, and delivering information meetings and workshops;
  • Support regional and country forecasting of Online Volunteer assignments;
  • Assist with planning and organizing events to promote the UNV offer among UN entities, Government entities/public institutions, NGOs, UN Volunteers, and other target groups;
  • Contribute to the development and design of tailored OV offers and other creative business solutions, including onsite-online combination;
  • Support the Regional or New York Office with the development of innovative OV solutions and service lines
3. Knowledge generation and management
  • Support the codification, exchange and sharing of UNV offer and OV -related knowledge;
  • In coordination with the regional communications team, support the Regional or New York Office in delivering OV-related webinars, producing visibility tools, and drafting knowledge products;
  • Closely follow OV collaborations by partners and support the Communication team to collect information, draft stories, articles, social media posts and other relevant materials for the website, social media channels and knowledge sharing;
  • Build capacities of the regional team on OV;
  • Conduct research on digital or online volunteering trends and services or similar product line approaches and marketing;
  • In coordination with the regional communications team, provide input for internal and external presentations, communications, leaflets and guidance notes;
  • Contribute to development and implementation of marketing plans for OV
  • Collect and enhance knowledge base with good practices and innovative solutions for OV.
4. Improvement of the corporate Online Volunteering offer
  • Provide inputs on the UNV corporate OV offer and talent acquisition refinement and strategy, including UN Volunteer and Online Volunteer combination;
  • Support and provide inputs on OV business requirements and systems improvements for continuous systems and data optimization;
  • Regular follow up on trends and brief the Regional Office/New York Office and OV Programme Specialist on mitigation measures or new business solutions regarding OV;
  • Provide inputs on OV to the corporate global and regional reporting, addressing the progress of performance in line with the new Strategic Framework for 2022 – 2025;
  • Contribute to the integration of onsite and online offers to partners.
 
Core Competencies

    Achieve Results
  • Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline

     Think Innovatively

  • Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements 
     Learn Continuously
  • Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
     Adapt with Agility
  • Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible 
     Act with Determination
  • Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
     Engage and Partner
  • Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
     Enable Diversity and Inclusion
  • Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

 

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies 

Entrepreneurial Thinking
  • Identify and seize opportunities to service and add value to clients, create clarity around UNDP value proposition to beneficiaries and partners, develop clear service offers responding to client needs in line with UNDP’s organizational priorities and mandate.

Marketing

  • Ability to communicate the value of a product or service.

Communication

  • 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. 
  • Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.

Relationship management

  • Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding.

Digital awareness and Literacy

  • Ability to monitor new and emerging technologies, as well as understand their usage, potential, limitations, impact, and added value. 
  • Ability to rapidly and readily adopt and use new technologies in professional activities, and to empower others to use them as needed. 
  • Knowledge of the usage of digital technologies and emerging trends. 

Knowledge generation

  • Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.

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 fulfil 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 clients’ upcoming needs and concerns.
 
Required Skills and Experience
 
Education:
  • Secondary education with technical training in business administration or related areas is required.
  • A university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in business administration or related area will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.
Experience:
  • A minimum of 6 years (with secondary education) or 3 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible work experience at the national and/or international level in project management, international development, partnerships relations or relevant programmes is required
  • Experience with a volunteer involving organization, UN or other international development organization is an asset 
  • Experience in developing countries is desirable
  • Experience in drafting and formulation and editing of reports is an asset
  • Sound command of personal computers and corporate office software packages (MS Word, Excel, ERP, Sales Force, etc.); and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment
  • Fluency in English
     
Disclaimer

Note:
  • Only short-listed applicants will be contacted;
  • The successful candidate will hold a UNDP letter of appointment;
  • This post is for local recruitment only. It is open to citizens of Kenya.
 
 
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.


 
Scam warning     
 
The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

Apply
To help us track our recruitment effort, please indicate in your cover/motivation letter where (globalvacancies.org) you saw this job posting.

Job Location