National Project Manager FAST

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Job Description

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP.
The Forest Agriculture and Sustainable Trade (FAST) project is a strategic initiative aimed at transforming Indonesia’s agricultural commodity systems, specifically focusing on palm oil and cocoa sectors. As a leading producer of these commodities, Indonesia plays a vital role in global supply chains. However, the expansion of agricultural land for these commodities has raised concerns about deforestation, environmental degradation, and the socio-economic well-being of smallholder farmers. The FAST project, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), is a collaborative effort to address these challenges through sustainable practices, policy reform, and stakeholder engagement.
Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the FAST project aims to support Indonesia in balancing economic growth with environmental preservation. It focuses on improving the sustainability of commodity production, enhancing the livelihoods of smallholders, and strengthening Indonesia’s position in international markets. By implementing responsible land use practices, facilitating sustainable certification, and promoting policies that encourage resilience, the project envisions a future where Indonesia’s agricultural sector thrives in harmony with its rich natural resources and biodiversity.
To achieve these ambitious goals, the FAST project will work closely with the Coordinating Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Coordinating Ministry of Food, the Ministry of Agriculture, and UK FCDO, the project’s senior supplier. The Environment Unit within UNDP, responsible for the project’s execution under the Direct Implementation Modality (DIM), will oversee the operational and strategic aspects of the project.
To ensure the FAST project is executed effectively, UNDP seeks to hire a National Project Manager (NPM) who will serve as the primary leader of the project’s implementation in Indonesia. This position is critical for coordinating across multiple stakeholders, managing daily project operations, and driving activities to achieve the project’s objectives. The National Project Manager will work under the guidance of the Programme Analyst Nature, Climate, Energy (NCE), the Environment Unit and will liaise closely with the project beneficiaries and other key stakeholders, including government entities, local communities, and private sector partners.

Duties and Responsibilities

The National Personnel Service Agreement (NPSA) holder will work under the overall supervision of UNDP’s Environment Unit Programme Analyst. The contractor will work 20 days/month to carry out his/her responsibilities.
Manage and supervise the project team to ensure effective implementation and achievement of results:
Oversees the day-to-day project implementation and ensure achievement of targets as outlined in the project work plan;
Leads and supervises project team, builds team coherence and establishes clear roles and responsibilities among team members;
Mobilizes goods and services and other project inputs, including preparing ToRs for expert consultants, meetings and workshops;
Ensures that the quality of project inputs meet the expected standards and are sufficient to produce project outputs and targets;
Takes overall responsibility for the project and performs oversight roles for project compliance against the relevant government and UNDP regulations for project management;
Develops the project standard operating procedures in line with the government and UNDP’s regulations; seeks the board’s approval; and takes responsibility for updating and revising it as necessary;
Manages critical issues, troubleshoots problems and develops solutions to the overall processes of project implementation;
Consults with the project board for any issues that require their attention, including issues related to deviation from the approved work plans and its tolerance (e.g. deviation from the approved target, and/or budget); and
Ensures effective monitoring of project performance, and the preparation of high quality and results oriented progress reports.
Ensures gender-related economic, environmental, public research and analysis, to contribute to the formulation of policies, programme interventions, procedures, guidelines and tools.

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 Management Performance and Oversight (MPO) Unit to facilitate project review, reporting and evaluation processes, and supports the conduct of such exercises under the overall management of the task manager as designated by MPO;
To make sure implementation of gender equality accountability framework and Gender equality Results Based management at project level i.e. performance management, gender marker assignment in web based system QUANTUM, reporting, etc

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 unit 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.

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;
Conducts internal capacity building training for project staff to facilitate appropriate management and timely delivery of project outputs including in gender analysis and gender mainstreaming ;
Effective contribution to learning and knowledge sharing in gender analysis and gender mainstreaming.

The incumbent of the position should avoid any kind of discriminatory behaviour including gender discrimination and ensure that:

Human rights and gender equality is prioritized as an ethical principle within all actions;
Activities are designed and implemented in accordance with “Social and Environmental Standards of UNDP”;
Any kind of diversities based on ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, disability, religion, class, gender are respected within all implementations including data production;
Differentiated needs of women and men are considered;
Inclusive approach is reflected within all actions and implementations, in that sense an enabling and accessible setup in various senses such as disability gender language barrier is created;
Necessary arrangements to provide gender parity within all committees, meetings, trainings etc. introduced.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Agriculture, Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Studies, Climate Change, Public Policy, Environmental Policy, Management/Business, International Development or any other relevant fields. A first-level university degree (Bachelor´s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of Master´s degree.

Experience:

Minimum 2 years (with Master´s degree) or 4 years (with Bachelor´s degree in the field of sustainable agriculture, environment and/or natural resource management, and climate change.
Experience working and coordinating with government officials, community organizations, Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), private sector and/or smallholders.
Solid networking capacity
Excellent analytical skill
Excellent inter-personal and team building skills.
Solid skill in providing project advisory services, monitoring and evaluation
Ability to work with a multidisciplinary and multicultural team
Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a wide range of stakeholders;
Demonstrated ability to work effectively under minimal supervision;
Good skills in organization and management;
Excellent skill in using computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc), advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, Desired additional skills and competencies
Experience in project management, understands and familiar with the ‘progress based (workplan)
Experience working with government in national, provincial and district level, especially working with Coordinating Ministry of Economic Affairs (CMEA), National Development Planning Agency (BAPPENAS) and The Ministry of Agriculture (KEMENTAN) would be an asset.
Experience with the sustainable agriculture commodities related issues, where the candidates have experience in coordinating, implementing and monitoring of programme action plans related activities.
Experience with sustainable agriculture and/or biodiversity conservation issues.
Understanding the governance, dynamics, and roles of the various stakeholders (eg. country, donors, development partners, CSO/NGO, indigenous community, academia) in agriculture commodity sector would be highly desirable.
Experience working on project risk management and safeguard analysis is an advantage.