Head of Division of the Strategic Services and Program, UCLG ASPAC Secretariat

Deadline: Tuesday, 5th February 2019 (Jakarta Time: 23:59)

Background

UCLG ASPAC is the largest regional section of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), an amalgamation of International Union of Local Authorities (IULA), United Towns Organization (UTO), and World Association of the Major Metropolises (METROPOLIS).  UCLG was established on 1 January 2004 and is headquartered in Barcelona, Spain. Following this unification, UCLG ASPAC was established in Taipei on 14 April 2004, as the new entity of IULA ASPAC. UCLG ASPAC’s Secretariat is based in Jakarta, Indonesia.

UCLG is a worldwide association of local governments and the officially recognized voice of local governments by the United Nations. UCLG ASPAC has linkages to more than 7,000 cities and local governments. It represents well over 3.76 billion people – more than half of the world population – and incorporates economically fast developing countries such as China, India, and Indonesia.

UCLG ASPAC is the key knowledge management hub on local government issues in the Asia-Pacific region. It promotes democratic local government, supports cooperation between cities, local governments and their associations, and facilitates programs, network and partnerships to develop the capacity of local governments and the associations. Moreover, UCLG ASPAC represents local governments politically within the international community, and with the United Nations and its agencies.  It also promotes inclusive societies which safeguard equality, social and economic justice, and sustainable development.  UCLG ASPAC is engaged in all relevant thematic fields for nurturing sustainable development comprising local economic development, climate change, disaster resiliency, culture, strategic planning, decentralization, municipal finance, gender equality, women leadership and empowerment and good governance.

Following the expansion of its Secretariat and to support the increased cooperation of cities and local governments, UCLG ASPAC is inviting professional and dynamic people to fill in the newly opened positions. UCLG ASPAC is recruiting the Head of Division of Strategic Services and Program for a one-year (1) period with possibility of extension, based on satisfactory performance. The Post is assigned to lead and guide the Secretariat’s team members in conducting research and development policies and program activities of the organization to maintain and enhance its competitive position.

The post will have strategic and decision making responsibility and report directly to the Secretary General.

Objective and goal:                                               

1. To be a leading person in research, programing and innovation for the organization;
2. To be responsible in developing and implementing the short-, mid- and long-term strategic services plans and programs;
3. To be responsible in overseeing the prospect and research functions and program development in line with members’ needs and interests;
4. To be responsible in mapping funding resources including activities and/or programs link to its resources;
5. To be responsible in playing a large and important role in identifying and cooperating closely with existing donors and finding opportunities for new funding resources;
6. To be responsible in formulating and conducting fund raising activities;
7. To lead the team in coordinating the Committee’s plans and activities;
8. To be responsible in advocacy works of the organization;
9. To take part in promoting the organization.

The Head of Strategic Services and Program Division will be supervised by and report to UCLG ASPAC Secretary General, and will be supported by relevant managers, coordinators and officers. S/he will undertake the following tasks:

Managerial duties:

1. Play a leading role in developing and implementing the strategic planning and reporting framework;
2. Develop new initiative to support the strategic direction of the organization;
3. Develop a program evaluation framework to access the strengths of the program and to identify areas for improvement;
4. Be responsible for direct implementation of planning processes for the organization and facilitates the preparation of divisional plans which align with the organization plans;
5. Be responsible in executing the existing programs and projects of the organization and formulating new ones;
6. Provide technical and managerial advices on strategic planning frameworks, tools and processes and contribute to decision making regarding strategic planning approaches for the organization;
7. Be a focal person for the production of progress report related to strategic services and programs towards organization objectives;
8. Be responsible in conducting and providing feedback related to the research activities and feasibility studies and programs;
9. Focal point in monitoring trends, performances and progress towards the strategic plan and evaluate further support;
10. Provide high quality expert advice to the Secretary General to enable strategic thinking and optimize the strategic planning processes for the organization;
11. Identify business opportunity and drive changes to improve implementation and evaluation of strategic and business planning processes in the organization;
12. Direct the alignment of organizational reporting systems, identification of key performance indicators and high level targets;
13. Play a leading role in supporting the coordination activities that involve relevant stakeholders including donors, international organizations, governments and associations, NGOs, private sectors and communities, with members stand as the core of activities;
14. Be responsible in developing mapping of potential funding activities and provide recommendations of the most benefitting activities to the members and the organization;
15. Be a focal person in maintaining communication and networking with strategic and potential partners and relevant stakeholders;
16. Be responsible in the production of long terms capacity development plans in line with vision and mission of the organization;
17. Perform any other duties as required from time-to-time as assigned by the Secretary General.

Functional Duties

1. Building strategic partnerships with existing and potential partners and maintaining an established network of contacts of partners;
2. Establishing positive working relations with programs and projects’ partners;
3. Having extensive research and strong analytical skills to capture and transform members’ needs into programs/projects;
4. Generating new ideas and approaches, researches, best practices, innovation, and proposing new, more effective ways of doing things;
5. Documenting and analyzing innovative strategies and new approaches;
6. Identifying and promoting learning and knowledge sharing;
7. Promoting a culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning and a commitment to high quality;
8. Mentoring and developing staff using a supportive and collaborative approach on a consistent basis.

Qualifications:

Education:

• Master’s degree in development studies, public policy and/or related fields

Experience:

• Minimum 15 (fifteen) years of professional experience in programs and projects development and working in a similar position in an association of local governments, NGO and/or an International Organization;
• Has extensive management experience;
• Has experience in working in an international environment, respecting different cultures and nationalities;
• Demonstrates experience working with local governments, multi-donor agency and/or development partner.

Language:

• Fluency in written and spoken English.

Computer skills:

• Advanced computer skills, particularly MS Office.

Other skills and competency:

• Exceptional leadership and strong organization skills;
• Team oriented, decision making, coaching and motivating;
• Result oriented;
• Demonstrated experience working with local governments, multi-donor agencies and/or development partners;
• Highly developed communication skills, including ability to draft/edit texts and to articulate ideas in clear, concise style to a variety of audiences, as well as facilitation skills;
• Honest, trustworthy and demonstrate sound work ethics;
• Ability to quickly establish professional rapport with colleagues and other persons;
• Ability to work under pressure and to meet deadlines required;
• Positive work ethic with a willingness to learn;
• Must possess excellent managerial and planning skills;
• Superior project management and time management skills;
• Self-motivated with a positive and professional approach to management;
• Strong analytical skills, writing and speaking in English;
• A wide degree of creativity and latitude;
• Strong knowledge and understanding of current trends in digital media/social media;
• Be willing to travel when required.

Deliverables

1. Production of short-, mid- and long-term strategic plans.
2. Monitoring and evaluation manual.
3. Research proposals and guidelines.
4. Program/project proposals and logical frameworks.
5. Mapping of potential funding activities.
6. Mapping of strategic partners and strategies for partnership development.

Indicators

1. Number of programs/projects/researches implemented
2. Number of new programs/projects/researches and grants executed.
3. Content gap analysis, SWOT analysis.
4. Number of strategic partnerships developed.
5. Members’ enhancement strategies developed and implemented.

Supporting Team

The post will be supervised by the Secretary General and have close coordination with other Head of Divisions, and supported by relevant managers and/or coordinators/officers.

How to apply

• Please submit the application letter, state salary expectation and CV to recruitment@uclg-aspac.org with copy to hbsg@uclg-aspac.org
• Only selected candidates will be contacted.