1.Project Manager
Background
The Project Manager (PM), will be a recruited based on an open competitive process. He/she will be responsible for the overall management of the project, including the mobilization of all project inputs, supervision over project staff, consultants and sub-contractors.
The PM is accountable to MEP and the Project Steering Committee (PSC) for the quality, timeliness and effectiveness of the activities carried out, as well as for the use of funds. The PM will report to the UNDP CO in close consultation with the NPD and CTA for all of the project’s substantive and administrative matters. From the strategic point of view of the project, the PM will report on a periodic basis to the PSC. Generally, the PM will be responsible for meeting government obligations under the project national execution modality (NEX). He/she will liaise with the Government, UNDP and other UN Agencies, NGOs and project partners, and closely collaborate with other donor agencies providing co-financing.
Duration: 5 years, in which renewable annually based on performance, full-time, based at the Project Management Unit.
Duties and Responsibilities
The PM will, with the support of the Project Assistant, manage the implementation of all project activities, including:
· Supervise and coordinate the production of project outputs, as per the project document;
· Mobilize all project inputs in accordance with UNDP procedures for nationally executed projects;
· Prepare technical specifications and TORs for contractors or subcontractors and ensure contractors’ deliverables;
· Coordinate the recruitment and selection of project personnel including consultants and subcontractors for PSC approval;
· Supervise and coordinate the work of all project staff, consultants and sub-contractors;
· Prepare and revise project work and financial plans for PSC approval and allocate resources according to these documents;
· Coordinate and oversee implementation of the project’s monitoring and evaluation plan;
· Liaise with UNDP, MEP, relevant government agencies, and all project partners, including donor organizations and NGOs for effective coordination of all project activities;
· Facilitate administrative backstopping to subcontractors and training activities supported by the Project;
· Oversee and ensure timely submission of the Inception Report, Combined Project Implementation Review/Annual Project Report (PIR/APR), Technical reports, quarterly financial reports, and other reports as may be required by UNDP, GEF and other oversight agencies;
· Disseminate project reports and respond to queries from concerned stakeholders;
· Coordinate secretarial services for the smooth operation of the PSC and TWG in close consultation with MEP and UNDP CO, including logistical arrangements for meetings, preparation of meeting agendas and recording and dissemination of meeting reports in a timely manner;
· Report on project implementation progress to the Project Steering Committee and Technical Working Group, and ensure the fulfilment of PSC directives;
· Oversee the exchange and sharing of experiences and lessons learned with relevant integrated conservation and development projects nationally and internationally;
· Ensure the timely and effective implementation of all components of the project;
· Oversee implementation of the stakeholder participation plan and assist community groups, municipalities, NGOs, staff, students and others with development of essential skills through training workshops and on the job training thereby upgrading their institutional capabilities;
· Oversee an up-to-date accounting system to ensure accuracy and reliability of financial reporting, and monitor project funds and resources;
· Oversee an effective record-keeping system for all project-related documents and information;
· Coordinate duty travel, seminars, public outreach activities and other project events;
· Coordinate, assist and monitor partner scientific institutions with the initiation and implementation of all pilot projects and monitoring components of the project;
· Ensure that UNDP Environmental and Social Screening Procedure safeguards are applied to project implementation.
· Others delegated by NPD and UNDP
Qualifications, Skills and Experience
· Master’s degree or equivalent in Biodiversity/Environmental Science/Environmental Law/Natural Resources Management or a related discipline. Work experience in lieu of formal qualifications will also be considered;
· At least 5 years of relevant working experience and a solid understanding of biodiversity conservation, ideally including access and benefit-sharing (ABS) and traditional knowledge (TK) issues;
· Knowledgeable in CBD subject matters, ideally relating to ABS and ATK;
· Understanding of political, institutional and environmental governance issues associated with biodiversity in China;
· At least 5 years of project/programme management experience and demonstrated ability to effectively coordinate a large, multi-stakeholder project; experience of managing international projects and familiarity with UNDP/GEF projects an advantage;
· Working experience with ministries, national or provincial institutions concerned with natural resource management and environmental protection is an advantage;
· Demonstrated ability to administer budgets, train and work effectively with counterpart staff at all levels and with all groups involved in the project;
· Strong drafting, presentation and reporting skills;
· Strong computer skills, in particular mastery of all applications of the MS Office package and internet search;
· Excellent oral and written communication skills in Chinese and English are a requirement.
2.Project Assistant
Background
The Project Assistant will be recruited based on an open competitive process. He/she will be responsible for the overall administration of the project. The Project Assistant will report to the Project Manager. Generally, the Project Assistant will be responsible for supporting the Project Manager in meeting government obligations under the project, under the national execution modality (NEX).
Duration: 5 years, in which renewable annually based on performance, full time, based at the Project Management Unit.
Duties and Responsibilities
· Collect, register and maintain all information on project activities;
· Contribute to the preparation and implementation of progress reports;
· Provide relative documents accordingly to monitor project activities, budgets and financial expenditures;
· Advise all project counterparts on applicable administrative procedures and ensure their proper implementation;
· Maintain correspondence and communication at the level of project management;
· Provide support to the project financial specialist on the preparations of project work-plans and operational and financial planning processes;
· Assist in procurement and recruitment processes;
· Assist in the preparation of payments requests for operational expenses, salaries, insurance, etc. against project budgets and work plans;
· Follow-up on timely disbursements by UNDP CO;
· Receive, screen and distribute correspondence and attach necessary background information;
· Prepare routine correspondence and memoranda for Project Manager’s signature;
· Assist in logistical arrangements of meetings, training and workshops;
· Prepare agendas and arrange field visits, appointments and meetings both internal and external related to the project activities and write meeting minutes;
· Maintain project filing system;
· Maintain records over project equipment inventory; and
· Perform other duties as required.
Qualifications
· A post-school qualification (college diploma, or equivalent);
· At least 3 years of administrative and/or financial management experience;
· Demonstrated ability to administer project budgets, and track financial expenditure;
· Demonstrated ability to maintain effective communications with different stakeholders, and arrange stakeholder meetings and/or workshops;
· Excellent computer skills, in particular mastery of all MS Office programmes;
· Excellent written communication skills; and
· A good working knowledge of English and Chinese.
3.Consultant-Chief Technical Advisor (CTA)
Background
The Chief Technical Adviser (CTA), will be internationally or locally recruited and selected based on an open competitive process. He/She will be responsible for the overall technical affairs of the project, including designing the project activities, drafting TORs for selecting the contractors and undertaking the sub-contracts, supervising technically implementation progress of whole project and all sub-contracts, and preparing all technical documents for project assessment together with PM and others.
The CTA will report to UNDP CO and NPD in close consultation with PM for all of the project’s technical and administrative issues. CTA will work together with PM closely by providing PM with technical supporting on the reports to the Project Steering Committee (PSC). Generally, the PM will be responsible for establishing the expertise network for project implementation. He/She will perform a liaison role with the experts, academic institutions, FECO, relevant governmental sectors, UNDP and other international institutions, NGOs and project partners, and maintain close collaboration with local government, local communities, companies and other stakeholders in the places for pilot demonstrations and case studies.
Duration: 5 years, full-time or part time, based at the Project Management Unit.
Duties and Responsibilities
(1) Technical work for project management
The CTA will, with the support of the Project Assistant, provide technical support for the implementation of all project activities, including:
· Technically supervise and coordinate the production of project outputs to ensure the project outputs can satisfy the project’s requirements;
· Together with PM to prepare technical specifications and TORs for contractors or subcontractors and ensure contractors’ deliverables;
· Provide advices on the recruitment and selection of project personnel including consultants and subcontractors for PSC approval;
· Provide technical supporting in overseeing the implementation of the project’s monitoring and evaluation plan;
· Provide technical supporting in preparation and submission of the Inception Report, Combined Project Implementation Review/Annual Project Report (PIR/APR), Technical reports, quarterly financial reports, and other reports as may be required by UNDP, GEF and other oversight agencies;
· Provide technical supporting in development of essential skills through training workshops and on the job training thereby upgrading their institutional capabilities;
· Monitor partner scientific institutions with the initiation and implementation of all pilot projects and monitoring components of the project;
(2) Concrete expertise work
· Provide technical support in developing regulatory and institutional elements of the national ABS framework, including relevant guidance to provincial and regional governments in development and adoption of ABS implementation (all outputs);
· Support the preparation of a detailed technical outline for policies and regulatory provisions addressing access to, and sharing benefits arising from utilization of, genetic resources and related traditional knowledge, as they shall be applied in China, including a combination of various types of hard and soft instruments (Output 1.2);
· Support the preparation of a detailed technical outline for new or revised regulations—on: (i) genetic resources in patent applications, (ii) establishing procedures of mutually agreed terms and prior informed consent for access to and benefit sharing of genetic resources and related traditional knowledge, and (iii) ensuring that inspection of the import and export of biological resources will be operated effectively—so that they coordinate effectively with the national policies and regulatory provisions developed under this output. (Output 1.2);
· Technical support and co-ordination in the development of ABS framework implementation plans formulated in the contexts of (i) utilization of GR and derivatives for commercial purposes; (ii) utilization of ATK and derivatives used for commercial purposes; and (iii) academic/non-commercial research involving GR and ATK (Output 1.3);
· Provide support to the establishment and operation of inter-governmental and inter-sectoral coordinating mechanisms (Output 1.4) (Note: discussions in this area should commence as early as possible);
· Provide support to the process of establishing and initiating operation of an ABS Clearing-House (Output 1.4);
· Provide capacity building and awareness raising support to pilot provinces and jurisdictions (Output 2.1);
· Provide support to the development of platform to enable the sharing of technology and knowledge resources with Chinese stakeholders (Output 2.3);
· Provide support to the development of systems and guidelines for sharing ABS-related information and knowledge among governmental units and sectors (Output 2.4);
· Work with sub-national authorities to develop detailed targets related to each pilot (Output 3.3);
· Ensure dissemination of lessons and experience in implementing local ABS regimes throughout China and, in particular, to target replication areas (Output 3.4).
Qualifications, Skills and Experience
· Doctor’s degree or equivalent in Biodiversity Conservation/ Ecology/ biology/ Natural Resources Management or a related discipline with background in legislation, policy and economics. Rich work experience for above fields in lieu of formal qualifications will also be considered;
· At least 20 years of relevant working experience and a solid knowledge of biodiversity conservation and excellent working experience in access and benefit-sharing (ABS) and traditional knowledge (TK) issues;
· Knowledgeable in CBD subject matters, ideally joined the international negotiation of CBD and Nagoya Protocol, well-known the background of the standpoints of the different country groups on biodiversity conservation and ABS issue;
· Experience in coordinating national or international projects on CBD implementation or National Strategy on biodiversity conservation and ABS, well-known of political, institutional and governance issues associated with biodiversity, genetic resources and traditional knowledge in China;
· At least 20 years of academic background and demonstrated ability to have effectively coordinated at least a large, multi-stakeholder joint research project; experience of consultancy work of international projects and familiarity with UNDP/GEF projects an advantage;
· Working experience with ministries, national or provincial institutions concerned with biodiversity conservation, natural resource management and environmental protection is an advantage;
· Demonstrated ability for academic background such as publications on biodiversity conservation, genetic resources, traditional knowledge and ABS issues, especially the working experience in Chinese minority areas and areas for pilot demonstrations;
· Demonstrated ability in administering budgets, train and work effectively with counterpart staff at all levels and with all groups involved in the project;
· Strong drafting, presentation and reporting skills;
· Strong computer skills, in particular mastery of all applications of the MS Office package and internet search;
· Excellent oral and written communication skills in Chinese and English are a requirement.
4.Consultant- Communications Consultant
Background
Communications Consultant will be a locally recruited national selected based on an open competitive process. The Communications Consultant will report to the Project Manager. He/she will be responsible for developing communication capacity for the project, and for the effective communications between different parties and stakeholders.
Duration: 5 years, in which renewable annually based on performance, full time, based at the Project Management Unit.
Duties and Responsibilities
· Work with a wide range of project staff, stakeholders and contractors across all outputs to ensure that the project has a major impact on awareness raising including a wide range of sectors and target audiences (throughout output 1 to 3);
· Ensure effective information delivery between central government and the pilot region;
· Prepare and annually update the project’s communication and awareness raising strategy;
· Conduct baseline surveys and monitoring to determine the effectiveness of targeted awareness raising measures for specific audiences on specific issues, including women and minorities;
· Engage key target groups, including decision-makers and the public, research institutions, pilot enterprises, NGOs, etc.;
· Lead relations with the media including press releases and on-site visits;
· Work with pilot project managers/coordinators to design, plan and deliver targeted awareness raising programmes;
· Publicize the project development;
· Log information and reporting on awareness activities.
Qualifications
· A post-school qualification (college diploma, or equivalent); in communications related area is an advantage; relevant work experiences in the area would be considered highly distinctive;
· At least 3 years of experiences of communications with different sectors of the Chinese government and the local government;
· Substantial experience in working and implementing communications strategies;
· Demonstrated ability to develop effective communication strategy and plans between different parties, including central and local government, the public, technical experts, local people, communities, NGOs, international partners, private sectors and industries; demonstrate successful experience coordinating international cooperation projects providing technical support to the government in policy research;
· Strong computer skills, in particular mastery of all applications of the MS Office package and internet search;
· Excellent oral and written communication skills in Chinese and English.
5.Consultant- Project Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist/ Advisor
Background
The Project Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist/Advisor will be a locally recruited national selected based on an open competitive process. He/she will report to the Project Manager. He/she will be responsible for project monitoring and evaluation, providing support to project planning and reporting; and ensuring projct reports meet the highest quality.
Duration: 5 years, based at the Project Management Unit.
Duties and Responsibilities
· Develop and oversee the implementation of the Project’s monitoring and evaluation strategy (through output 1 to 3). Organise a working group to finalize the M&E system for the project, including indicators and targets;
· Establish monitoring and evaluation plan and technically support the implementation of monitoring and evaluation system. Organize a working group to finalize the M&E system;
· Provide technical support to all project planning and reporting;
· Review project outputs and provide inputs to ensure they meet the highest quality;
· Assist in the drafting of TOR and activity descriptions where appropriate;
· Provide comments on all project outputs.
Qualifications
· Bachelor’s Degree in biodiversity and/or project management related subjects;
· At least five years of experience in project management;
· Good understanding of M&E;
· Demonstrated successful experience of project M&E; experiences of UNDP project M&E is an advantage;
· Demonstrated ability to establish and coordinate multidisciplinary teams of experts and consultants; demonstrate successful M&E experience in international cooperation projects providing technical support to the government in policy research;
· Fluency in Chinese and English.
6.Consultant- Project Financial Specialist/ Advisor
Background
Project Financial Specialist/Advisor will be a locally recruited national selected based on an open competitive process. The Project Financial Specialist/Advisor will report to the Project Manager. He/she will be responsible for providing financial and administrative support to the successful execution of the project, including project budget and financial reports required by UNDP.
Duration: 5 years, in which renewable annually based on performance, full time, based at the Project Management Unit.
Duties and Responsibilities
· Provide financial support to the successful execution of the project (through output 1 to 3). Manage all finance activities of the project, and execute financial management procedures in line with the UNDP NEX;
· Develop financial planning and budget which contribute to the overall work plan;
· Manage finance and prepare the annual budget, including project auditing;
· Review project expenditures and ensure they meet the highest quality;
· Review the design of project activities, TORs and workshops;
· Finalize the quarterly financial reports.
Qualifications
· A post-secondary degree in Business or Public Administration, Accounting, Finance or related field, or relevant working experiences as a Project Financial Specialist/Advisor;
· At least 3 years of experience of project management or project finance management;
· Excellent skills in finance software and related tools; familiar with UNDP project financial management system is an advantage;
· Previous experience in the UNDP project financial management is an asset;
· Demonstrate successful experience of project financial management in international cooperation projects providing technical support to the government in policy research;
· Fluency in Chinese and English.
The application deadline is April 15, 2016. All interested candidate should send their English CV to both Emails:
undppmo@163.com; wang.ye@mepfeco.org.cn
