LEAD Project: Project Team Leader (Islamabad)

Deadline: 31 January 2019

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 is the key knowledge management hub on local government issues in the Asia Pacific region. The Secretariat of UCLG ASPAC is located in Jakarta and hosted by the Provincial Government of Jakarta.

UCLG ASPAC’s missions are: (a) to promote strong and effective democratic local self-government throughout the region/world by fostering unity and cooperation among members; (b) to ensure the effective political representation of local government to the UN and other international communities; (c) to be the worldwide source of key information on local government, learning, exchange, and capacity building to support democratic local governments and their associations; (d) to promote economic, social, cultural, vocational and environmental development by enhancing the services to the citizens based on good governance; (e) to promote race and gender equality, combating discrimination, promoting decentralized cooperation and international cooperation between local governments and their associations; and (f) to promote twinning and partnership between local governments and peoples.

UCLG ASPAC is currently calling for applications from qualified candidate to fill in the post of Project Team Leader under the European Union (EU) Project (CSO-LA/2018/396-784) on LEAD for SDGs: Local Empowerment, Advocacy and Development for SDGs Localization in Pakistan. The project aims to contribute to the achievement of SDGs in Pakistan by fostering an enabling environment for mainstreaming SDGs in local development processes through effective leadership and policy advocacy, supported by evidence-based research, capacity building and improved coordination, and piloting innovative approaches for SDGs localization.

Post Summary

Under the supervision and guidance of the UCLG ASPAC Secretary General and the LEAD Strategic Advisor in Jakarta, the Project Team Leader in Islamabad will be responsible to lead, direct, manage and oversee the overall implementation of the LEAD project. The post will function as the project’s leadership and the national representation in Pakistan. The goal of the post is to ensure an effective, efficient, sustainable and impactful program implementation that meets all of project’s targeted outcomes and results.

Main Tasks and Responsibilities

1. Lead and oversee the LEAD Team in Pakistan;
2. Provide day-to-day management and leadership of the project, technical guidance, and recommendations about project’s implementation to ensure a successful project’s operation;
3. Develop linkages/ networking with national and provincial governments, and key partners of the project including Parliamentary Taskforce on SDGs, Ministry of Planning Development and Reforms, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development at national and provincial level, UN, SDGs Unit, line departments, LCAs, CSOs, Research Academies and Media working on Localization and implementation of SDGs in Pakistan;
4. Ensure quality program implementation, including ensuring all program components are functioning, and oversee the management, logistical, budget, administrative, human resources, and contractual issues for the project;
5. Develop the project’s work and budget plan on monthly, quarterly and/or annual basis in adherence to the project’s contractual obligation and requirement;
6. Carry out the LEAD program activities according to the rules and standards of the UCLG ASPAC and the EU for project implementation;
7. Provide technical assistance, support and backstopping to the project team and project partners in the overall aspects of project’s implementation;
8. Lead and facilitate project’s initiatives in improving knowledge and information on SDGs to national and local audiences;
9. Provide expertise and technical capacities that support the local governments in Balochistan and Sindh Provinces to localize SDGs and to strengthen their capacities on the SDGs agendas;
10. Manage and oversee project’s grants in the pilot phase from the proposal selection stage through to the implementation;
11. Manage, oversee and undertake program monitoring, evaluation and reporting in adherence to the reporting requirement of the donor and the UCLG ASPAC Secretariat;
12. Develop project’s exit strategies that pave the way for a sustainable implementation of SDGs agendas in Balochistan and Sindh Provinces in specific and in Pakistan in general;
13. Establishing good working relationships with donors and other stakeholders in-country /regional for emergency, rehabilitation and development programmes in coordination with the UCLG ASPAC Secretariat;
14. Liaise and cultivate relationships with key stakeholders across the multiple SDGs sectors and ministries in Pakistan;
15. Perform risk assessment and management on regular basis and provide recommendations to the UCLG ASPAC Secretariat on the risk mitigation efforts;
16. Ensure security management of project staff in coordination with the UCLG ASPAC Secretariat and implementing partners;
17. Any other tasks reasonably assigned by the LEAD Strategic Advisor in Jakarta and/or Secretary General of UCLG ASPAC.

Qualifications

1. Master degree in Development Studies, Public Policy, Social and Political Studies or other related fields;
2. Has at least 15 (fifteen)  years of experience in project management;
3. Has experience in working with the government officials at various levels, particularly related to local development and local governance;
4. Has working experience in international cooperation development projects especially EU projects;
5. Sound knowledge on SDGs and strong understanding about political processes in Pakistan;
6. Strong coordination skills with all stakeholders like implementing partners, government structures, ministries and local governments in Pakistan;
7. A high level of mental and physical resilience and readiness to work in areas with volatile local conditions;
8. Strong leadership, people management and motivational skills;
9. Strong ability to work with teams and coordinate and organize teamwork, as well as to prioritize and plan activities;
10. Strong ability to analyze and assist in making informed decisions on consultation and team collaboration;
11. Has the ability to work under pressure and to meet deadlines required;
12. Excellent command of English, both written and spoken, with related skills required in writing and presenting of reports, briefs and papers;
13. High ethical standards and appropriate professional image
14. Has good judgment with ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints
15. Has strong analytical, communication and interpersonal skills;
16. Be willing to travel during the project’s implementation when required;
17. Has ability to work in a team and individual supported by good and positive work ethics/attitude and integrity.

How to apply

* Please submit the application Letter and CV in English with the following subject: TL-LEAD Islamabad
* Submit to recruitment@uclg-aspac.org with copy to hbsg@uclg-aspac.org
* Period of application submission is: 15 – 31 January 2019
* Only the qualified candidates will be contacted.
* Please indicate the salary expectation.