Senior Specialist – Program

Position:

The position is open to candidates of all nationalities.

All nationals demonstrating 10 years of international work experience in at least 5 countries across 2 UN geographic regions (from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, and Oceania) would be considered for international positions (international hire).

Objective of the Position:

The Senior Specialist Programmes shall support the creation, design, implementation, and monitoring of studies and provide technical support relating to projects. This shall include disaster response and recovery support; innovation, institutional, and community capacity-building assistance; and standards and certification.

Responsibilities:

Key responsibilities include:

(1) Support in the development of strategies for technical assistance and cooperation for the respective domain/sectoral initiative in consultation with relevant government agencies, developmental partners, and other stakeholders.

(2) Actively participate in the programming and network activities, capacity development, knowledge sharing, staff mentoring, and updating the latest developments and issues related to the respective domain and CDRI member countries.

(3) Support to identify, prepare, appraise, and document projects/technical assistance to CDRI member countries.

(4) Lead the monitoring, periodic review, and progress reporting of project/program implementation, compliance with workplans and budgets, and the achievement of the desired project/sector outcomes.

(5) Ensure quality and consistency of reports, project documents, minutes, project briefs, back-to-office reports, and communications related to projects/programmes and respective domains.

(6) Ensure compliance of projects with CDRIs policies, programme and operations manuals, project administration instructions, and assistance-related documentation.

(7) Support in the development and delivery of the assistance project/program pipeline by utilizing the domain/sectors knowledge and experience.

(8) Create and maintain detailed activity workplans, budgets for the programme, and contribute to monthly/quarterly/annual planning, budgeting, and reporting. In addition, support activities related to MEL, progress reports, etc.

(9) Support and contribute to planning and documenting team progress meetings according to the programmes activity plan.

(10) Support in preparing and monitoring the resourcing, quality, and risk management plan, in addition to managing contracts to ensure timeliness and quality of outputs (consultants, service providers).

(11) Support the Lead - Programmes in stakeholder management and overall programme coordination, and perform other duties as assigned and reflected in the workplan.

(12) Support task force, fact-finding, and appraisal missions, including, but not limited to, review of project/program designs, liaison with government officials, data and project/program costing, and implementation arrangements.

(13) Provide administrative and substantive support to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., including proposing agenda topics and content, identifying and proposing participants, preparing background documents and presentations, handling logistics, etc.

(14) Help organize, contribute to, support, and participate in meetings, conferences, seminars, and workshops, including country missions.

(15) Coordinate and support other CDRI teams/programmes for management of consultants, contracts, editing and design of technical documents, inputs for website/social media and institutional development etc.

(16) Performs other duties related to the CDRI, as assigned.

4. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS:

Qualifications:
(1) Masters degree in Architecture, Engineering, Infrastructure Planning, Transport Planning/ Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Applied Sciences, Actuarial Sciences, or Economics.
(2) International education shall be an added advantage.

Experience:
years of experience in a relevant position at the national or international level.
(2) Specific experience in critical infrastructure sectors, resilience, and disaster risk reduction within essential sectors of infrastructure shall be given additional weightage.

(3) Experience of working in an international organization and with a diverse number of partners comprising Governments, the UN, multi-lateral systems, industry, financial institutions, and knowledge and research institutions in multi-country locations, is required.

Skills:
(1) Expertise in one or more of the following domains: Critical Infrastructure (Power, Telecommunications, Transport).

(2) Experience of working with organizations in the critical infrastructure sector and power, telecom, and transport.

(3) Experience in structuring, developing technical documents and proposals on disaster and climate-resilient infrastructure, especially with respect to respective domain areas.

(4) Proven experience in strategizing, developing, and implementing projects for international organizations in developing countries' public or private sectors.

(5) Experience in contributing to proposals, cost estimations, scope of work, and tender documents while involving stakeholder groups.

(6) Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and a proven ability to be flexible in demanding situations and to handle multiple priorities.

(7) Excellent research and technical writing skills in English.

(8) Past track-record/ ability to work independently, deliver timely and quality products; and Computer proficiency, especially related to project management software, office software packages (Microsoft Office), and others as relevant, in addition to experience working in data analysis, working with big data, and GIS data.

(9) Experience working in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams.

(10) Skills in project development, implementation, and management.

(11) Organizational skills, attention to detail, ability to multitask, and ability to perform under pressure.

(12) Knowledge of disaster risk reduction and climate change concepts and frameworks, and familiarity with international frameworks like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR), and the Paris Agreement.

(13) Experience of working with governments, international organizations, and alliances on multi-city initiatives.