With the digital transformation of the national economy and public administration high on the government’s agenda, Serbia has a good chance of future-proofing its administration’s capabilities for rapid deployment of cost-effective, secure and citizen-focused e-services, coordinated implementation of ICT policies, and strategic digital transformation of the economy and society. The trajectory has been set with the establishment of the Central Office for IT and e-Government (ITE), strengthening of the Ministerial Council for IT and Innovative Entrepreneurship, the launch of the National Center for the 4^th Industrial Revolution, establishment of the national AI Institute, as well as significant strides in the digitalization of education, health, and multiple other key areas.

UNDP Serbia is well equipped to help the Government address the existing development challenges by leveraging cutting-edge global and national expertise, applying digital technologies and solutions, and bringing innovation in delivery models, co-creation, collaboration, and advocacy journeys. Globally, UNDP has a significant record of achievements in these areas – digital dialogue platforms, personalized communications and engagement at scale solutions. UNDP set out in 2019 to build the world’s largest and fastest learning network on sustainable development challenges. Serbia was the first country office to host such a lab and today they are present in over 90 countries, creating actionable intelligence and testing solutions with national partners.

UNDP’s portfolio of projects and programs supporting digitalization has likewise grown. The Digital Innovation Portfolio currently includes projects addressing the following areas:

• Support and capacity development of the Office for IT and e-Government, including support for the development of digital services as well as strategic infrastructure such as the National Data Center;
• Digital skills development, including the national IT retraining program, future skills in education, and multiple initiatives aimed at closing the digital divide for vulnerable groups;
• Governance of emerging technology, including support to the Center for the 4^th Industrial Revolution, as well as capacity development of the Institute for Artificial Intelligence;
• The national open data initiative and data for development;
• Components of various other UNDP projects and pipelines where digital technology plays a strategic role, such as e-health, post-Covid recovery, etc.

There is a need to consolidate this work and respond to the expressed need of the Government, as well as to engage with the wider digital and innovation ecosystem and further steer the portfolio towards issues relating to the future of governance and technology. The current portfolio team of 8 is expected to grow in the near future, and new partnerships and synergies will be expected.

Specific responsibilities will include the following:

Management of portfolio projects in accordance with UNDP Program and Operations Policies and Procedures and UNDP Serbia Standard Operating Procedures:

• Be responsible and accountable for the overall management and administration of portfolio projects, and the timely and quality delivery of all project outputs;
• Ensure implementation of project activities, by working closely with project teams and other staff assigned to the projects;
• Supervise and manage the project staff;
• Build, motivate, and lead the project team;
• Prepare project work plans, and annual work plans and ensure timely and good-quality implementation of work plan activities;
• Oversee and participate in the mobilization of personnel, goods, and services and oversee contractors’ work;
• In coordination with partners and the portfolio team, develop and manage an overall portfolio implementation strategy;
• Prepare project work plans and present them to national project directors/project boards for review/approval;
• Support the work and decision-making of project boards by providing timely, detailed, and accurate information to the project board members;
• Prepare project board sessions to ensure minute-taking and information-sharing;
• Coordinate an exit strategy at least 6 months ahead of project closure dates; ensure closure of projects is done per the established procedures.

Monitor portfolio progress, manage risks, report on progress and capture results and learnings: 

• Support in managing project finances;
• Develop a Monitoring and Evaluation Plan for tracking and evaluating progress against the agreed targets;
• Monitor expenditures of financial resources to ensure compliance with rules and procedures and accuracy and reliability of financial reports; ensure preparation of budget revisions as necessary;
• Follow up with national project directors and the project boards on issues;
• Monitor the progress of projects in the portfolio to ensure alignment with project documents and preparation of regular updates and reports to Project Boards on progress, implementing issues, emerging risks/problems, and proposals for necessary remedial actions;
• Monitor financial resources and accounting to ensure accuracy and reliability of financial reports; ensure preparation of budget revisions as necessary; follow up with relevant UNDP colleagues on issues;
• Collect and manage project data as required by the M&E Plan;
• Manage project risks; inform project boards on emerging issues and risks, update the issue and risk status;
• Support the preparation of reviews and evaluations as defined in the project documents;
• Prepare final project reports and papers;
• Approve good quality Terms of Reference for engagement of consultants and companies;
• Coordinate activities with other projects in the governance cluster, ensuring overall coherence with shared objectives.

Networking, partner relations and provision of policy advice on relevant policy themes, as they emerge from portfolio actions and the surrounding ecosystem:

• Maintain regular communication and effective cooperation and coordination with national counterparts, project partners and other relevant stakeholders;
• Ensure the incorporation into the portfolio of best practices and lessons learned on digital governance and innovation worldwide;
• Maintain regular communication with relevant public institutions to advise them on developments concerning the portfolio and provide recommendations for action;
• Actively identify and mobilize new partnerships and funding sources (resource mobilization) for new projects and initiatives, ensure blending of finance;
• Provide support to Programme Analyst – Team Leader for Good Governance in the design of new pipeline initiatives primarily under the portfolio themes, in line with the Country Program Document and in agreement with Senior Management;
• Ensure coordination with projects of other development partners;
• Maintain and further build UNDP’s position in the portfolio sector;
• Identify, collect, and analyze relevant policy-related information and data ;
• Prepare briefs, talking points and relevant materials;
• Actively participate in and coordinate meetings, training sessions, conferences, and public promotion of projects.

Provide quality assurance for portfolio results and deliverables, and ensure these results are duly communicated:

• Review from a quality assurance perspective all portfolio outputs/products/deliverables;
• Ensure the portfolio has the required communication package and proactively prepare information and communication materials sharing insights and results with various partners and audiences;
• Assume responsibilities in line with the Internal Control Framework and act as a `first authority` for project transactions.

Team management:

• Develop the portfolio team, support individual growth and professional development, and facilitate team learning and knowledge sharing.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

The Portfolio Analyst (Manager) will work under the overall guidance and supervision of the Programme Specialist – Governance. The Portfolio Analyst (Manager) supervises the team of project managers and other staff, contributing to a high-performance culture and creating opportunities for learning and development.

• Achieve Results:          
  • LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work.
• Think Innovatively:      
  • LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking.
• Learn Continuously:  
  • LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning.
• Adapt with Agility:       
  • LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process.
• Act with Determination:          
  • LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously.
• Engage and Partner:   
  • LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships.
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion:          
  • LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making.

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies:

• Digital Inclusion:
  • Knowledge of how digital inclusion works, opportunities and challenges for governments and society.
• System Thinking:
  • Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
• Effective Decision Making:
  • Take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources and take into consideration potential wider implications.
• Human-centered Design:
  • Ability to develop solutions to problems by involving the human perspective in all steps of the problem-solving process. Knowledge and understanding of human centred design principles and practices.
• Project Management:
  • Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements