Program Associate
Qualifications of Program Associate:
- Location: Santiago, Chile
- Vacancy No: 27929
- Salary: N/A
- Organization: UNDP United Nations Development Programme
- Deadline: 7/26/2025
Brief details about Program Associate:
About
Information about the organization that has offered the job:
UNDP is the United Nations global development network that promotes change and connects countries with the knowledge, experience, and resources needed to help people build better lives. Present in 166 countries, home to 90 percent of the world’s poorest people, UNDP works with them to help them find their own solutions to global and national development challenges. UNDP also helps developing countries attract and use financial assistance efficiently. UNDP has been operating in Chile as a development agent since 1965.
Strengthening democratic and effective governance is a core objective of UNDP’s institutional mission. In this mission, the UNDP Governance and Territory Area in Chile promotes democratic dialogue and inclusive governance (at various levels, from local to national), actively working to strengthen democracy and the effective exercise of citizenship. It also contributes to the strengthening and modernization of public institutions, highlighting the value of openness, transparency, integrity, and accountability. It plays an active role in promoting a culture of integrity in public service and promotes actions to prevent and combat corruption. Cross-cuttingly, its work focuses on reducing gender gaps and eliminating factors that prevent women from accessing equal opportunities to representation and decision-making.
From a territorial perspective, and within the framework of the country’s decentralization process, the Area develops initiatives to strengthen subnational planning capacities (regional strategies, development policies) by incorporating key approaches such as sustainable development, gender, and public-private partnerships, and by identifying and systematizing good practices. It promotes collaboration between public, private, and civil society actors at the territorial and national levels, strengthening their cooperation and coordination capacities to achieve the SDGs. It thus focuses on improving local governance and reducing territorial gaps, with a special emphasis on vulnerable groups, seeking efficiency and oversight in the planning and implementation of public policies (including at the community level), and incorporating disaster risk reduction and sustainable development approaches.
In view of the above context, it is required to fill the position of Program Associate for the Governance and Territory Area of the UNDP, who, under the supervision of the Program Manager (Program Officer), will support the actions aimed at ensuring the development and implementation of the Area’s project portfolio.
Scope of work
The main objective of the Program Associate in the Governance and Territory Area is to manage the proper execution of the Area’s portfolio of projects and initiatives. They will also support other related actions as required, interacting with the various teams and stakeholders, particularly the Associates in the Poverty Reduction and Inclusive Development, and Environment and Sustainable Development areas. In parallel, they will work closely with the Operations, Monitoring and Evaluation Units, project teams, and UNDP central offices.
UNDP has adopted a portfolio approach that allows it to adapt to the changing needs of the operating environment and leverage connections between different interventions to achieve its strategic objectives. Therefore, UNDP staff are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects, integrating into multidisciplinary teams to foster and facilitate horizontal collaboration.
Among the functions and expected results for this position are:
A. Ensure effective management and implementation of the Program’s strategies and policies. Adapt processes and procedures.
- Provide thoroughly researched information for the preparation of Country Program Documents, establishing baselines, milestones, and targets. Provide input and prepare reports for the monitoring and evaluation of programs and projects according to corporate formats and requirements (QA, ROAR, annual reports, among others).
- Gather information and evidence to guide the planning of future Program initiatives.
- Prepare and present thoroughly reviewed information for the formulation and preparation of draft project documents, results frameworks, work plans, budgets, and proposals for implementation arrangements.
B. Provide effective support for the management of the Country Office Program.
- Collaborate in the formulation of programs and projects, prepare work plans, initiate projects, enter them into the ERP system, and manage budget revisions when necessary.
- Manage projects on UNDP, QUANTUM, UNALL, and other relevant ERP platforms, in accordance with UNDP policies and procedures. This includes creating projects and uploading key project information in accordance with IATI standards, preparing budget revisions, reviewing project awards and project progress, determining unspent funds, and supporting the operational and financial closure of projects.
- Support implementing partners on a daily basis, monitoring the use of financial resources. Additionally, contribute with digital solutions that make the Program more scalable and sustainable, aligned with UNDP standards.
- Participate in the management of the Program’s data throughout its entire lifecycle, monitor indicators and goals, and collaborate on reporting. Implement corporate results-based management tools.
- Identify potential bottlenecks or obstacles in implementation and propose practical solutions.
- Prepare the ground for internal and external audits and support the implementation of their recommendations.
- Maintain an up-to-date internal expense system and review the quality of financial reports and payments, including following up with other units to correct any inconsistencies in a timely manner.
- Ensure the proper implementation of the Governance and Territory Area’s portfolio of projects and initiatives through efficient and effective operational management, monitoring, and follow-up, in accordance with the processes and procedures established for these purposes, focusing on achieving the expected results for the Area in execution and mobilization of resources.
- Continuously monitor the execution of the Area’s projects and initiatives, both at the financial and programmatic levels, including the implementation of activities, the achievement of outputs, the execution of work plans, progress on outcome indicators at the various levels of the results chain, project management objectives and milestones, and the identification of required adjustments at the operational and programmatic levels, including the theory of change, activities, budget, risks, indicators, and others.
c) Support the implementation of alliance strategies and resource mobilization of the Country Office.
- Gather donor information, create profiles, and maintain the corresponding database up to date.
- Monitor the funds mobilized and prepare reports on their use.
D. Facilitate learning and the circulation of knowledge within the Country Office.
- Organize and facilitate Program-related training for relevant Operations and Program staff. Maintain regular communication with various internal UNDP areas, project units, and counterparts, and organize training for support staff from the Program Unit, Operations, and project teams, including a summary of lessons learned and best practices.
- Systematize and compile lessons learned and highlight good practices. Analyze the Area’s planning to fulfill the Office’s programmatic strategy, identify operational and financial challenges, develop solutions, and identify lessons learned and good practices.
- Actively contribute to UNDP knowledge networks, communities of practice, and digital platforms.
Other functions
- The incumbent may perform other functions within his or her professional profile that are considered necessary for the proper functioning of the Program, the Office, and the Organization.
Skills
| Essentials | |
| Achieving Results | LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors work, paying attention to details, performs quality work on time. |
| Think Innovatively | LEVEL 1: Open to new ideas, knows the risks, solves problems pragmatically, makes improvements. |
| Continuous learning | LEVEL 1: Curious and open-minded, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes and asks for feedback. |
| Adapt with Agility | LEVEL 1: Adapts to changes, handles uncertainty/ambiguity constructively, is flexible. |
| Act with Determination | LEVEL 1: Demonstrates control and motivation, able to face adversity calmly, confidently. |
| Participate and Associate | LEVEL 1: Shows compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships. |
| Facilitating Diversity and Inclusion | LEVEL 1: Appreciates/respects differences, is aware of prejudices, confronts discrimination. |
Functional and Technical Competencies
| Thematic Area | Name | Definition |
| Institutional management | Portfolio management | Ability to select, prioritize, and control the organization’s programs and projects in line with its capacity and strategic objectives. Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with routine activities to achieve optimal return on investment.
Knowledge and understanding of the key principles of project, program, and portfolio management. |
| Institutional management | Monitoring and Evaluation | Ability to systematically monitor the results of strategies, programs, and activities to verify their effective implementation. Ability to provide management and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reports on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities, program management, and actual results.
Ability to independently evaluate the management and results of strategies, programs, and activities, following established criteria and benchmarks, while considering the needs and concerns of current and future clients. Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools. Ability to make an independent judgment based on established criteria and benchmarks. Ability to anticipate client needs and concerns. |
| Institutional management | Risk management | Identify and organize actions aimed at proactively reducing, mitigating, and managing risks. |
| Institutional management | Results-based management | Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programs, and projects focused on performance improvement and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools. |
| Institutional management | Association management | Develop and maintain partnerships with broad networks of stakeholders, governments, civil society and the private sector, experts, and other actors aligned with UNDP strategy and policies. |
| Institutional development | Knowledge generation | Ability to search for information and convert it into useful knowledge that is relevant to the context or responds to a specific need.
Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations and develop new ones to generate viable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that may be useful in addressing situations. new |
| External Relations and Promotion – Association Management | Resource mobilization | Ability to identify funding sources, match needs (such as programs, projects, or initiatives) with funding opportunities, and establish a plan to meet funding requirements. |
Minimum qualifications for an NPSA
| Minimum academic education required |
Having a professional degree in the aforementioned areas will be considered an advantage . |
| Minimum years of relevant work experience |
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| Required skills and competencies |
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| Desirable skills and competencies |
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| Required languages (at work level) |
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| Professional certificates |
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Trips:
Occasional official travel is anticipated for this position. The associate is expected to undertake field visits based on the needs and requirements of the UNDP Governance and Territory Programme.
Disclaimer
Equal Opportunities
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures in which we operate and, as such, we invite all qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply for various roles within our organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the position, without discrimination of any kind.
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive work environment where all staff are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, thrive, and benefit from open career opportunities.
Sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination, or abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates undergo extensive vetting 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 who apply for this position for other similar positions within UNDP at the same level and with similar job descriptions, experience requirements, and academic qualifications.