II. Job Purpose and Organizational Context

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Thailand, in collaboration with the Royal Thai Government and partners, has implemented projects to accelerate the development of the country for more than 50 years.

Since 2018, UNDP Thailand, within the framework of a Regional Programme titled ‘Preventing Violent Extremism through Promoting Tolerance and Respect for Diversity’ (Phase I), has been partnering with the Royal Thai Government as well as non-governmental actors on multiple initiatives linked to the following:

1. Support establishment and empower networks of local authorities, NGO, CSOs, CBOs for public awareness and policy recommendations linked to promoting tolerance and embracing diversity
2. Support policy-making on national policies and programmes to ensure they are inclusive and framed with a human rights and gender equality framework
3. Strengthen capacities of local communities and young people to promote peace, human rights, tolerance and respect for diversity though innovative communications and small grants programme

The Regional Programme is now being extended in 2020 and beyond and will be focusing on the following 3 key pillars:

1. Build the capacities of key actors in view of promoting social cohesion and community resilience, tolerance and respect for diversity
2. Strengthen knowledge management through generating reliable data, trend analysis and targeted research to inform national policy making and programming
3. Support the development of policy frameworks which promote tolerance and diversity through a “whole of society” approach

In the context of COVID 19, quarantine measures have led to large increases in time spent on-line and exposure to hate speech, disinformation and fake news, which potentially undermines social cohesion, trust in government institutions, and the social contract on which sustainable peace and development depends. This renewed phase of the programme in Thailand will focus on interventions mitigating these risks.

To continue the implementation of the above mentioned Programme, UNDP Thailand is looking for a Project Manager – Promoting Tolerance and Respect for Diversity in Thailand. He/she will work closely with government, civil society, academia, NGOs and donors. Under the overall guidance of the Deputy Resident Representative, the Project Manager will directly report to Programme Specialist/Team Leader of Democratic Governance and Social Advocacy Team. He/she will work closely with the project and operation team at UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub as well as collaborate with other UNDP project and programme teams within UNDP Thailand Office.

III. Duties and Responsibilities

2. Ensure effective planning, budgeting, and implementation of the project

• Prepares project’s annual and quarterly work plans and organizes project board meetings to obtain their approval;
• Implements project work plan and ensures that the project remains within the tolerance level of the approved work plan;
• Conducts regular monitoring to ensure achievement of targets in line with the annual work plan and that project implementation at all levels complies with the approved project SoP;
• Prepares quarterly project reports, in line with the standard template and presents it to the project assurance team on a timely manner;
• Provides additional inputs and data for external project reports as necessary and required by the project assurance team;
• Organizes quarterly project board meetings and reports to the project board the project’s quarterly progress together with any issues that may require project board decisions; and
• As required and directed by the project board, liaises with UNDP’s quality assurance unit to initiate project review and evaluation processes, and supports the conduct of such exercises under the overall management of the task manager as designated by the unit.

3. Create and nurture strategic partnerships and support to the implementation of resource mobilization
 

• Establishes and maintains good working relationships with the relevant public and development partners who are the principal counterparts for the project;
• Initiates and maintains partnerships with development partners, government institutions, private sector, civil society and other stakeholders to contribute to the achievement of project results;
• Builds project reputation for quality design, reliable delivery as well as integrity and accountability; 
• Identifies and works with key partners/stakeholders to ensure synergies with other projects/initiatives and to avoid duplication of activities among actors;
• Identifies opportunities for mobilizing resources for the project, and prepares substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation; and
• In coordination with UNDP’s Communication Team and other relevant counterpart communications department, strengthens the communication of the project in order to communicate results, deepen stakeholder knowledge and buy-in to the project, and to facilitate resource mobilization for the project.

4. Facilitate knowledge building and management for and from the project implementation.
 

• Identifies best practices and lessons learnt from the project and from other initiatives that can be helpful to the project in achieving its goals and objectives;
• Organizes and delivers trainings for the operations/project staff on project/programme management issues;
• Conducts internal capacity building training for project staff to facilitate appropriate management and timely delivery of project outputs;
• Identifies policy issues for codification and sharing;
• Leads in generating knowledge products such as best practices and lessons learnt for knowledge sharing; and
• Contributes to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

IV. Competencies and Selection Criteria

Description of Competency at Level Required

(For more comprehensive descriptions please see the competency inventory)

Core

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work

Level 4: Adept with complex concepts and challenges convention purposefully

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow

Level 4: Generates commitment, excitement and excellence in others

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

Level 4: Models independent thinking and action

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

Level 4: Synthesizes information to communicate independent analysis

Delivery

Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

Level 4: Meets goals and quality criteria for delivery of products or services

Technical/Functional

Project Management

Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.

Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Partnerships

Ability to engage with other agencies, donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships.

Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Knowledge Management

Ability to capture, develop, share and effectively use information and knowledge

Level 4: Apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

Results-based Management

Ability to manage programmes and projects with a strategy aimed at improved performance and demonstrable results

Level 4: apply & Adapt: Contributes skills and knowledge with demonstrated ability to advance innovation and continuous improvement, in professional area of expertise

V. Recruitment Qualifications

Education:

Thai national with bachelor’s or master’s degree in Law, Political Science, Public Policy, International Development, other Social Sciences, or closely related fields.

Experience and Skills:

• At least 4 years for Bachelor’s or at least 2 years for Master’s holders of relevant experience on programme and policy work preferably in conflict study, peace, human rights, inequality or related fields.
• Familiarity with the sustaining peace framework, social cohesion, inequality and any experience working on peace-related issues is an asset.
• Experience working with governments, and civil society, preferably in Asia on peace, conflict, human rights and inequality issues is also an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in written and spoken English and Thai.