Area Office Coordinator (Open to all applicants)
Qualifications of Area Office Coordinator:
- Location: Myitkyina
- Vacancy No: 29283
- Salary: N/A
- Organization: UNDP United Nations Development Programme
- Deadline: 11/4/2025
Brief details about Area Office Coordinator:
About
Information about the organization that has offered the job:
The Area-Based Community First Programme, or CFP II, is UNDP’s second iteration (2024-2025) of its medium-term strategy to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable communities, building on the gains from CFP I. UNDP aims to do so by adopting an area-based approach where community structures are strengthened, and based on the community’s own prioritization, support is provided to meet critical immediate needs, basic services, livelihoods, and village-level infrastructure. Protection of human rights, strengthening of social cohesion, and preserving democratic space, to the extent possible, continue to be core approaches that underpin the area-based interventions.
The principles, priorities, results, and financing of CFP II are in full alignment with the United Nations Transitional Cooperation Framework (TCF) (2024-2025) for Myanmar. CFP II also accords with the UN Secretary General’s reform agenda aimed at greater internal UN coherence, integration, and synergy. It represents a powerful model of working in a protracted crisis to build resilience amongst the most vulnerable communities. The CFP II intervention also aligns with the UNDP Strategic Plan and UNDP Signature Solutions
CFP II will aim to mitigate at the local level, the worst effects of Myanmar’s multi-dimensional crisis through the provision of an integrated multi-dimensional programme in all four priority areas of the TCF:
- Support to crisis affected people (HRP) (priority 1)
- Local institutional strengthening and access to basic services (priority 2)
- Empowering people and strengthening community resilience (priority 3)
- Strengthening local capacities for social cohesion and conflict prevention (priority 4)
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative, Area Office Coordinator is responsible for the day-to-day management of Field Office and all UNDP programme and project activities within its designated geographic area of responsibility.
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 in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration. Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Supervises Administrative Assistant and Driver.
Ensures strategic programme planning, coordination and implementation in the geographic area of responsibility of the Field Office (FO), focusing on achievement of the following results:
- Analyses the socio-economic, political and development situation and trends in the FO (Field Office) geographic area of responsibility and identifies opportunities and entry points for UNDP programming and partnerships, providing monthly reports to senior management and the Integrated Management Team.
- Provides guidance and manages the overall FO programme development and implementation including planning, budgeting, implementation and monitoring.
- Ensures overall efficient coordination of programmes/projects including planning processes and timely delivery of results taking into consideration agreed upon work plans with the UNDP country office and consistency with United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF)/ Country Programme Document (CPD) priorities.
- Ensures identification, development and promotion of joint programming working with other UN entities and/or other partnerships and planning opportunities. May support management of small, activities within the geographic area of responsibility.
- Identifies and develops new programme and project opportunities.
- Supports capacity building of national counterparts.
- Monitors project implementation, contributing to monitoring of results. Ensures effective application of Results Based Management (RBM) tools, management of scorecard targets and other benchmarks.
- Coordinates and follows through on decentralized local evaluations.
- Ensures full compliance with audit requirements and timely follow-up to audit recommendations.
- Promotes and documents through regular reporting identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned for organizational sharing and learning.
Responsible for effective Office management focusing on achievement of the following results:
- Ensures smooth day-to-day management of the Field Office, builds an effective FO team, promotes teamwork and an environment that is conducive to delivering results.
- Ensures full responsibility for the appropriate use and management of resources attributed to the Field Office by tracking use of financial resources, ensuring the integrity of financial systems and consistent application of the Internal Control Framework and/or rules and regulations. Continually find ways to systematically identify and integrate efficiency gains and cost reductions in all operations of the Field Office.
- Approves contracts and Quantum transactions under written delegated authority from the Country Director. Has Quantum manager rights as delegated. Responsible for the management of the Field Office staff, monitors their performance, completing performance assessments where necessary.
- Ensures timely and regular reporting.
- In collaboration with the Programme Support Team Leader, ensures that the security needs of office and projects are met. Under the supervision of the DRR (Deputy Resident Representative) and in collaboration with the Security Advisor ensures enforcement of security procedures and MOSS/RSM requirements in the Field Office.
- Mitigates possible risks and impacts associated with the Field Office operations (e.g. logistical, security etc.) by proactively designing reduction measures in collaboration with the Security Advisor.
- Builds capacity of the FO staff by identifying capacity needs and establishing relevant training/learning programmes.
Promotes communication flow in the field office focusing on achievement of the following results:
- Maximizes communication between the various units and projects in the FO and ensures that stakeholders (development partners, bilateral and multilateral donors, private sector, civil society and UN agencies) have one consistent UNDP counterpart.
- Ensures internal communication and coordination at FO level and effective and proactive communication between relevant CO units (both programme and operations units) and the FO.
- Monitors the perception of UNDP at the local level and suggests media activities that position UNDP more strategically and effectively as a partner for sustainable development at state/region/local levels.
- Enhances local visibility for UNDP in development effectiveness, particularly with donors and/or development partners
- Ensures that FO local development results are effectively communicated in collaboration with the Communication Team in the country office
Fosters partnership building focusing on achievement of the following results:
- Contributes to the development of the CO Partnership and Resource Mobilization (PRM) strategy, including planning tools to implement the strategy.
- Identifies new partnerships and strengthens existing ones at the PO level through innovative approaches to partnership development.
- Encourages ways of increasing the Field Office funding base such as engaging in resource mobilization efforts in consultation with local counterparts and following-up with donors on local funding opportunities.
- Provides logistical and other support for CO donor visits in the PO area of geographic responsibility
- Build strategic partnerships with counterparts at the state/region/local levels.
- Collaborate with UNCT, donors, and other organizations at the state, regional, and local levels.
- Provides strong coordination support to UN Agencies, national authorities and other organizations through the establishment and management of local consultation/coordination mechanisms. Keeps project and CO teams updated through regular reporting.
- Ensures proper coordination and inputs to Interagency initiatives within the geographic area of responsibility by actively engaging and leading coordination
- Maintains collaboration and coordination with the other Heads of UNDP Field Offices to ensure programmatic integration and sharing of best practices.
- Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing and advocacy relevant to the assigned thematic area(s).
- Organize training, workshops, and capacity building activities in a consultative manner, involving technical experts and stakeholders that may include private sector, NGOs, donors, and/or academia.
- Identify, synthesize and document best practices and lessons learned that are generated from the project and implementing partners.
- The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Competencies
Core competencies:
- Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
- Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
- Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
- Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
- Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
- Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making
People Management
- UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:
Business Direction & Strategy
- Systems Thinking. Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system
- Effective Decision Making. Take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources and take into consideration potential wider implications
- Negotiation and Influence. Reach a common understanding/agreement, persuade others, resolve points of difference through a dialogue, negotiate mutually acceptable solutions and create ‘win-win’ situations
Engagement and Effectiveness
- Effectiveness. Programming (Programme and Project Management) policies and procedures
- Effectiveness. Project Quality Assurance
Business Development
- Knowledge Facilitation. Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange.
Business Management
- Result-based Management. Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Development Studies, Business Administration, Social Sciences, Public Administration, Economics, Law or a related field is required, or
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
- Minimum of 2 years (with Master’s degree) or 4 years (with Bachelor´s degree) of progressively responsible experience in development sector, or an international/bilateral development organization is required
- Proven ability to work effectively in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams.
- Experience in strengthening capacity building and training in local community
- At least 2 years of proven management experience in an organization of similar size and complexity is desired.
- Experience of working with UNDP or another UN agency would be an asset.
- Experience of using Quantum is preferable
- Previous experience working in a conflict/post-conflict or crisis environment is an asset
- Sound understanding and capability to empower and develop the capacity of national personnel is desired.
Required languages:
- Fluency in English and Myanmar is required.
- Knowledge of Kachin language would be an asset.
Equal opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.
Right to select multiple candidates
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.