ThaiNGO

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

JOB DESCRIPTION

I. Position Information

Location:                                  Bangkok, Thailand

Practice Area:                           Inclusive Green Growth and Sustainable Development

Duration of Assignment:                        1 year with possibility of extension

Job Code Title:                         Project Manager

                                                (Maximizing carbon sink capacity and conservation, restoration and                                                 management of peat swamp ecosystems)

Post Level:                               Service Contract (SC-8)

Department:                              Inclusive Green Growth and Sustainable Development (IGSD)

Reports to:                               Programme Specialist

Organizational Unit:                   UNDP Thailand

Remuneration:                           Starting Baht 952,140 per annum

II. Organizational Context

The Kuan Kreng landscape (KKL) in south eastern Thailand contains the country’s second largest peat swamp forest area. The peat swamps provide many ecosystem services ranging from livelihoods for local communities, acting as a rainwater and runoff reservoir, buffering from the impact of rains and floods, acting as a natural sediment filter before waters drain into Songkhla Lake, being a major store of carbon, and harboring important biodiversity including a number of globally threatened species. By some estimates, however, about 65 percent of the KKL remains under constant threat of degradation from various threats with the primary one being conversion to oil palm cultivation and associated drainage and forest fires. The area of natural peat lands that harbor biodiversity and sequester carbon is being reduced. The long-term solution is to change the trajectory of baseline approaches and facilitate a transformative shift from unsustainable to sustainable and integrated use of peat swamps in Thailand.

The “Maximizing carbon sink capacity and conservation, restoration and management of peat swamp ecosystems” Project is in line with Thailand’s 5th National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP 2014-2017) which highlights actions to improve participatory management of peat lands as one of the priorities towards achieving the Aichi Targets. In conserving and restoring peat lands to increase their capacities to act as carbon sinks, as habitats for globally important species, and as sources of ecosystem services for improved livelihoods, the project intends to improve the status of indicator species in KKL, to demonstrate good peat swamp forest management practices, to maintain the carbon pool, to reduce emissions from peat lands, to enhance institutional capacity to account for GHG emission reduction and increase in carbon stocks, and to develop a national strategy to guide the management of peat swamps.

The project has been divided into three components, and will be implemented over a period of five years (2015-2019).

The first component of the project focuses on improving effective protection of remaining natural peat swamp forests in the second-largest peat swamp landscape of Thailand through (i) bringing the entire KKL under protected areas, and (ii) improving the management effectiveness of these existing and new protected zones.

The second component of the project helps to implement innovative approaches to avoid drainage and restore peat swamps. It aims to address existing gaps in knowledge of the carbon flux for KKL, and on implementing specific measures to rewet and maintain water levels in an area of 4,600 ha within the KKL and avoid conversion to oil palm cultivation. This, in turn, will help reduce GHG emissions from mineralizing peat and fires.

The third component of the project helps to improve national strategies for land use in peat swamps by creating an enabling environment for a landscape approach to management of peat swamp areas, wherein threats and associated management responses are considered at the landscape level and land use is not driven solely by short-term economic needs but also by needs of biodiversity conservation, soil conservation, and minimization of carbon emissions.

The project is financially supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), with the Office of National Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) as the Implementing Partner. The total GEF-supported funding is US$ 3,224,400, with US$ 13,382,711 co-financing from the Thai counterparts.

III. Functions/Key Results Expected

Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Project Director, appointed by the Implementing Partner, and the Programme Specialist of UNDP Thailand, the Project Manager (PM) will be in-charge of coordinating the day-to-day management and operations of the project, ensuring high quality, efficient and effective project delivery. The PM will lead the project management unit and report directly to the project director and UNDP Programme Specialist. He/she shall liaise with the Project Board and designated officials of the government of Thailand as deemed appropriate and necessary by the project management unit. The budget and associated work plan will provide guidance on the day-to-day implementation of the approved Project Document. He/she shall be responsible for delivery of all substantive, managerial and financial reports from and on behalf of the Project.

Summary of Key Functions:

Ensuring the implementation of project strategies focusing on achieving results;

Ensuring effective implementation and monitoring of the project, tracking use of financial resources;

Effective management of the project focusing on project implementation;

Ensuring creation of strategic partnerships and support;

Ensuring facilitation of knowledge building and management.

1. Ensuring the implementation of  project strategies focusing on achieving results:

Design and formulate annual work and budget plans, strategic plans and risk management plans and ensure adherence to the Project Document;

Oversee the day-to-day project implementation and ensure achievement of targets as outlined in the project work plan;

Effectively apply Result Based Management (RBM) tools and establish management targets (BSC) for the achievement of project results;

Ensure effective implementation of advocacy plans through forums, workshops, seminars or policy dialogues relating to conservation and protection of endangered species and critical habitats.

2.Ensuring effective implementation and monitoring of the project and tracking use of financial resources:

Organize joint planning meetings involving UNDP, implementing agencies and other relevant parties to develop annual and quarterly work plans and corresponding budget plans with clearly stated milestones contributing to the achievement of target outputs defined in the Project Document and obtaining approval from the Project board;

Ensure efficient use of resources and report it in a timely, transparent and accountable manner;

Monitoring the project progress against annual and quarterly work plans and budget plans;

In coordination with UNDP, conduct financial and substantive monitoring of the activities under the project;

Provide inputs by analyzing project resource requirements if there is a need for budget adjustments and possible revisions in coordination with UNDP;

Liaise with UNDP on the conduct of the project audit and ensure access by auditors to project documentation, personnel and agencies involved in the project;

Ensure that the implementing partners and the Project Management Unit are complied with project regulations and audit recommendations.

3.  Effective management of the project:

Prepare Terms of Reference (ToRs) for required inputs (individual and institutional consultancy services, the procurement of goods, organization of training, seminars, etc), with technical support as required;

Lead regular coordination meetings and dialogues with relevant stakeholders;

Ensure the coordination of activities carried out by project counterparts to achieve the project objectives;

Manage critical issues and provide solutions to the overall processes of project implementation;

Prepare project progress reports (quarterly and annual/financial and substantive) against set targets and indicators, with an analysis of evidence of progress towards planned outputs according to schedules, budgets and inputs provided by the project;

Submit project progress reports to UNDP in a timely manner;

Create a standard operating procedure, including monitoring and evaluation mechanism and quality standards of performance, as appropriate, to evaluate the achievement of project activities;

Together with implementing partners and other stakeholders, constantly identify challenges and provide recommendations to mitigate project risks and ensure smooth project implementation.

4.Ensuring creation of strategic partnerships and support:

Create and coordinate partnerships with government institutions, private sector, communities, local and national NGOs, international organization, development partners, etc. in consultation with Implementing partners and UNDP.

Maintain good working relationship and close collaboration with the relevant public and development partners, communities, and other principal counterparts for the project.

5.Ensuring facilitation of knowledge building and management in the project:

Ensure regular documentation of innovations, good practices, lessons learned and an effective knowledge building;

Facilitate regular knowledge sharing/transferring and dissemination of knowledge products;

Compile success stories that have resulted in lasting, large-scale transformational change, if applicable.

IV. Impact of Results

The key results have an impact on the overall performance of the Project, and the quality of project implementation. 

V. Competencies

Core Competencies:

Promoting Ethics and Integrity / Creating Organizational Precedents

Building support and political acumen

Building staff competence, Creating an environment of creativity and innovation

Building and promoting effective teams

Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication

Creating an emotionally intelligent organization

Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP and setting standards

Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning

Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking

Professionalism; demonstrates an ability to work a calm, competent and committed manner

Displaying cultural, gender and racial sensitivity and adaptability

Functional Competencies:

Results-based Programme Development and Management: Contributes into results through primary research and analysis

Assess project performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into project work

Research linkages across programme activities to identify critical points of integration

Monitor specific stages of projects/programme implementation

Analyze country situation to identify opportunities for project development

Participate in the formulation of project proposals and ensures substantive rigor in the design and application of proven successful approaches and drafts proposals accordingly

Building Strategic Partnerships: Maintaining a network of contacts

Maintain an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up-to-date on partnership related issues

Analyze and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders

Establish and nurtures positive communication with partners

Innovation and Marketing new Approaches: Enhancing processes or products

Generate new ideas and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things

Document and analyses innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches

Document bottlenecks, problems and issues, and proposes effective solutions

Embrace new approaches

Resource Mobilization:  Providing inputs to resource mobilization strategies

Analyze information/databases on potential and actual donors

Develop a database of project profiles.  Identifies opportunities for project proposals for presentation to donors

Promoting Organizational learning and Knowledge Sharing: Basic research and analysis

Generate new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things

Document and analyze innovative strategies and new approaches

Identify and communicate opportunities to promote learning and knowledge sharing

Develop awareness of the various internal/external learning and knowledge-sharing resources

Job Knowledge and Technical Expertise: Fundamental knowledge of own discipline

Understand and apply fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position

Possess basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks

Identify new and better approach to work processes and incorporates the same in his/her work

Analyze the requirements and synthesize proposals

Strive to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning

Demonstrate good knowledge of information technology and apply it in work assignments

Demonstrate in-depth understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilize these regularly in work assignments

Organizational Leadership and Direction

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals: Preparing information for global advocacy

Identify and communicate relevant information for advocacy for UNDP’s goals for a variety of audiences

Maintain a functioning network of contacts in the media and civil society, to promote a better understanding of UNDP’s mandate and to support advocacy efforts

Identify and take advantage of opportunities for advocating for UNDP’s mandate

Client Orientation: Establishing effective client relationships

Research potential solutions to internal and external client needs and report back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion

Organize and prioritize work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines

Establish, build and sustain effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients

Actively support the interest of the client by making choices and setting priorities to meet their needs

Anticipate client needs and address them promptly

V. Recruitment Qualifications

Education:

At least a Bachelor Degree in Environmental Science, Environment-related areas and Natural Resource Management or related field is required.  A Master degree in the same disciplines is preferred.

Experience:

- Minimum 5 years of work experiences in wetland and biodiversity   conservation, forestry, ecology, protected area management,   biological sciences, environmental studies, and/or other related   fields is required for Bachelor degree holders. At least 3 years of   work experience in the same fields for Master degree holders.

- Proven experience working with government agencies, civil society   , NGOs and communities;  at the national or international level in   project development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation   and provision of policy advisory services, especially those related to          biodiversity and wetland conservation, protected area management;

- Hands-on knowledge and understanding in the synergy of climate   change mitigation, adaptation, biodiversity conservation and   ecosystem services of wetlands

- Excellent communications/facilitation skills to engage and motivate   a wide range of stakeholders included facilitating training, meeting   and presentation

- Proven working experience in the area of environment and   conservation in  the southern Thailand would be an asset;

Language Requirements:

Fluency in written and spoken English and Thai

VI. Signatures-  Job  Description Certification

Incumbent  (if applicable)

Name                                         Signature                                         Date

Supervisor

Name Ms. Sutharin Koonphol, Ph. D, Programme Specialist     Signature                         Date                                            

Chief Division/Section

Name  Mr. Martin Hart-Hansen, Deputy Resident Representative   Signature                         Date