State Project Manager (Open to internal and external applicants)

Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

UNDP has been working in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development. Together with the Government of India and development partners, we have worked towards eradicating poverty, reducing inequalities, strengthening local governance, enhancing community resilience, protecting the environment, supporting policy initiatives and institutional reforms, and accelerating sustainable development for all.

With projects and programmes in every state and union territory in India, UNDP works with national and subnational government, and diverse development actors to deliver people-centric results, particularly for the most vulnerable and marginalized communities. As the integrator for collective action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the UN system, we are committed to supporting the Government of India’s national development vision and priorities and accelerating the achievement of the SDGs for the people and the planet.

UNDP India’s new Country Programme (2023-2027) builds on our prior work and aims to provide an integrated approach to development solutions in three strategic portfolios:  

• Strong, accountable and evidence-led institutions for accelerated achievement of the SDGs.
• Enhanced economic opportunities and social protection to reduce inequality, with a focus on the marginalized.
• Climate-smart solutions, sustainable ecosystems and resilient development for reduced vulnerability.

South-South cooperation, gender equality and social inclusion are promoted across the pillars. The programme is supported by a framework of renewed partnerships and blended finance solutions, strategic innovation and accelerator labs, and data and digital architecture.

You are invited to join a team of future-smart development professionals to support India in achieving the national and globally agreed goals. As part of the UNDP team, your focus will be to work with diverse stakeholders to find country-specific solutions that lead to sustainable development and reach those furthest behind first.
 

Office/Unit/Project Description

The Action for Climate and Environment Team (ACE) portfolio at UNDP is currently working in various thematic areas of climate change adaptation and mitigation; disaster management and resilience; and access to clean and efficient energy. The Green Climate Fund (GCF) project - on “Enhancing Climate Resilience of India’s Coastal Communities” (now referred as GCF Coastal in text) supports the Government of India (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change) and the state governments in the project states of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Maharashtra, to enhance the resilience of vulnerable coastal communities to climate change through ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA). The project combines GCF grant finance with significant leveraged co-finance from central and state governments to shift the paradigm towards a new approach, integrating ecosystem-centered and community-based approaches to adaptation into coastal management and planning by the public sector, the private sector and civil society.

The project also contributes towards the achievement of climate priorities outlined in India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change (2008), the State Action Plans, as well as commitments outlined in India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (2015). The project will enhance the resilience of coastal communities throughout India, through the implementation of interventions under the following inter-linked outputs: 
Output 1: Enhanced resilience of coastal and marine ecosystems and their services. 
Output 2: Climate adaptive livelihoods for enhanced resilience of vulnerable coastal communities; and 
Output 3: Strengthened coastal and marine governance and institutional frameworks for climate resilient management of coastal areas. 
The above will be achieved through protecting and restore ecosystems such as mangroves, support communities adopt climate-adaptive livelihoods and value chains as well as mainstream EbA principles into coastal planning and governance, enabling intersectoral coordination for addressing climate risk across all of India’s coastal states.

The target districts and landscapes in Andhra Pradesh are
1.    Nellore: Pullicat lake
2.    Krishna: Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary, Nizamapatnam Suryalanka, Northern Part of Krishna Sanctuary
3.    Dr B R Ambedkar Konaseema: Coringa Wildlife Sanctury and surrounding areas
4.    Srikakulam: Telineelapuram

Job Purpose and Scope of Work:

The State Project Manager (SPM) will be overlooking the implementation of the project in Andhra Pradesh. S/he will be based at the respective State duty stations (Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh). S/he shall work under the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist and the overall guidance of the State focal point of the respective Government counterpart. S/he would be responsible for overall implementation of the approved project in Andhra Pradesh. As this is a full-time position, s/he cannot hold any other job/assignments during this assignment.

Main Purpose:
S/he will manage day-to-day project management and oversee regular monitoring of project results and risks, including social and environmental risks in the respective state. To ensure engagement of all direct stakeholders and delivery of state objective. As this is a full-time position, s/he cannot hold any other job/assignments during this assignment.
 

Duties and Responsibilities

Reporting To: Programme Specialist, NPSA-10, ACE, UNDP

Reportees to this position (if applicable): State Project Management Unit, Andhra Pradesh
 

Project management and implementation to ensure achievement of the project: 

• Assist in planning, implementation, supervision, monitoring and evaluation of all the project activities in the state of Andhra Pradesh. 
• Foster partnerships with key state government and relevant technical institutions working on climate change issues in Andhra Pradesh. 
• Prepare detailed workplans for the State, outlining key activities, deliverables and their timelines for the State PMU. 
• Based on the overall project annual workplan, develop state specific annual work plans and ensure accurate and timely reporting to UNDP and MoEF&CC for activities of the project in Andhra Pradesh. 
• Provide information and inputs for developing Terms of reference for consultants/ consultancy firms to be hired to undertake project activities. 
• Commission activities like research studies, state level assessments training workshops etc. and manage the operational aspects of procurement, event management, logistics etc. in coordination with State Government, MoEFCC and UNDP. 
• Identify capacity development needs of implementing partners and arrange for necessary trainings.
• Coordinate with national team and other state teams under the project to share lessons and experiences.

Ensuring the project monitoring and review, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Ensure coordination with state program unit and other district Govt. officials for smooth functioning.
• Manage and track contracts with project partners and flag any potential risks and suggest its mitigation measures.
• Undertake review meetings with partners and field visits to track progress made in implementation of the project and take corrective action as required;
• Review quality and consistency of reports and deliverables by partner institutions/ responsible parties including financial reports from all project partners,
• Prepare quarterly project progress reports, provide necessary information and inputs for preparing presentations and other documents for project steering committee and review meetings as required by Programme Specialist;
• Facilitate and participate in the periodic review meetings and discussions related to project implementation, monitoring and follow-up;
• Supervise the work of team members or consultants, as may be recruited under the Project at the state level;
• Any other responsibility related to the project assigned by the Supervisor(s).
   

Competencies

Core competencies:

• 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
  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 

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site. 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies: 

Business Direction and strategy    

• Strategic thinking. Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP, National and state objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities, linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions. Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look.
• 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

Business Development    

• Knowledge Generation. Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.

Business Management    

• Communication. Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.
• Monitoring. Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results.

Nature, Climate and Energy    

• 2030 Agenda: Planet. Climate Change Adaptation: coastal resilience
  Ecosystems and Biodiversity: Conservation and Sustainable use of biodiversity, land, forests and oceans, vulnerability assessment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) from a recognized institution in Environmental Studies / Environment Management/ Sustainable development/Climate Science/Natural Resources Management or closely related field is required.OR A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s Degree) from a recognized institution in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree in the field of Environmental Studies / Environment Management/Sustainable development/Climate Science/Natural Resource Management or related field.

Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years (with Master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in Coastal resilience, project management and working with national and state governments on similar assignments. 

Required skills  

Job Knowledge/ Technical skills  

• Good knowledge of climate change, coastal ecosystem management, vulnerability assessment.  
• Excellent technical and analytical writing skills.
• Decisiveness, independence, good judgment, ability to work under pressure.

Communication Skills  

• Strong facilitation and moderation, communication skills.  
• Ability to carry out research and communicate strategic pieces that guide decisions on strategic programme directions.  
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations with people in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.  
• Excellent networking and partnering competencies and negotiating skills.

Management skills  

• Ability to guide Project Management Team  
• Good manager of people and resources to obtain best results  
• Demonstrated skills in building, mobilizing, and leading multidisciplinary teams  
• Ability to guide the Project Management Unit in implementing and achieving project outcomes  
• Ability to represent and promote the project at national and international meetings  
• Reliable in delivering own parts of the work as part of a team effort  
• Demonstrates excellent work/project planning skills  
• Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards.
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the organization

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

• Demonstrated experience of working with National and/or State Governments/ NGOs/ UN/ Civil Society on similar assignments will be preferred.
• Familiarity with the working environment and professional standards of international organizations and national and State Governments.
• Open to change and ability to manage complex, ever-changing environments
• Experience at the national level on climate change, vulnerability assessment and relevant programmes.
• Outstanding communication, project management, result-based management, monitoring & evaluation and organisation skills
• Experience of working in coastal ecosystems with good understanding of mangroves, saltmarsh, watersheds and coastal livelihoods
• Familiarity with the working environment and professional standards of international organisations and national and state government
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems is essential.

Required Language(s)  

• Fluency in English is required.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

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