Executive Associate

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 Regional Bureau for Arab States (RBAS) consists of its presence across 16 Country Offices, the Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (PAPP), the Amman Regional Hub, and its Headquarters as RBAS New York. RBAS New York is responsible for the overall strategic vision and direction, strategic, substantive, and operational support to Country Offices, including with regard to partnerships and communications, and oversight of performance. The Bureau delivers on average $0.7 billion in development assistance through Country Offices and regional initiatives; it has a resource base of $600 million on average; and contributes to thought leadership through research, analysis, and publications.

In that context, RBAS New York is responsible for the provision of executive leadership and executive representation, including in corporate leadership mechanisms (including the Executive Group (EG) and the Organizational Performance Group (OPG). It provides strategic direction, vision, and priority setting for UNDP in the Arab States region. It provides guidance, strategic direction, and overall quality assurance related to country and regional level programming and operations, partnerships, advocacy, thought leadership, strategic initiatives, oversight, and accountability. It ensures quality and coherence of synergies across the Regional Bureau’s functions and geographic locations, including through internal communications. It engages in UN reform and UN priorities, including the Regional Director as Vice-Chair of the RCP. It leads on internal communications for the Bureau.

Position Purpose

The Executive Associate is a point of contact for many people outside the organization and interacts with senior UN/UNDP staff, UN agencies, senior government officials and representatives of UNDP’s constituencies.  The Executive Associate is responsible for the smooth flow of a heavy volume of work dealing with management of information flow and follow-up on deadlines and commitments made, and a wide range of highly sensitive and confidential matters, under constant pressure.  The Executive Associate works in close collaboration with the Operations, Planning & Oversight Team, the Partnerships Team, Communications Team, the Country Office Support Team, and the Amman Regional Hub, as well as other units in UNDP and maintains close collaborative arrangements with all UN partners, including the UN Secretariat, Programmes and Agencies and counterparts in the respective Permanent Missions of member states of the region. The Executive Associate is required to keep full confidentiality in all aspects of assignment and maintenance of protocol procedures, maintain the highest standards of calm, efficiency, personal communication, discretion, and independent judgment, and be a motivated and pro-active team player.  The Executive Associate works under the overall supervision of the Special Assistant to the Directorate, in close collaboration with the Programme Analyst to the Directorate and the Executive Associate reports to the Regional Director to ensure uninterrupted support to the Assistant Administrator and Regional Director, RBAS.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities

Ensures Effective and Efficient Functioning of the RBAS Directorate, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• In coordination with the Special Assistant to the Directorate, management of the schedule/calendar for the Regional Director and the Deputy Regional Director of RBAS with external and internal parties, including visitors from external meetings, determining prior