Social Protection Manager

Leveraging a comprehensive and forward-thinking strategy, the Project aims to elevate the digital transformation of social protection, moving away from individual and piecemeal interventions to an integrated and system-wide reform. It focuses on fortifying the efficiency, inclusivity, and resilience of social welfare mechanisms, aligning with Moldova’s commitment to the SDGs and European Union standards. 

Duties and Responsibilities:

Summary of key functions:

• The Project is looking to onboard a Social Protection Manager who will support the improvement of policy and institutional frameworks, and re-engineering of social services to enhance the quality, accessibility, and effectiveness in the area of social protection.
• Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Employment and Social Protection Programme Specialist, the incumbent provides effective and efficient coordination of the Digital Transformation of Social Protection Project interventions focused on social protection policies and programs, through a range of actions contributing to the design, planning, management and monitoring of the social protection thematic project activities.
• The Social Protection Manager applies and promotes the principles of results-based management (RBM), as well as a client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations, as follows:
• Ensuring effective content and operational management of the project in the area of social protection;
• Develop Work plans and oversee day-to-day management and implementation of project activities on social protection;
• Ensure the timely and efficient delivery of Project outputs and products, as per the Project Document, leading to the achievement of expected results;
• Exercise close monitoring of project activities and produce monitoring, progress and final activity results reports;
• Support UNDP CO in effectively managing human resources pertaining to the Project, including staff, consultants and short-term experts; conduct periodic performance appraisals; build, lead and motivate a solid team of professionals;
• Design, coordinate and oversee interventions dedicated social protection policies and programs, including but not limited to overseeing the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection’s business process mappings and enhancements, applying user-centric approaches to service and programs reengineering and digital Automated Information System, data analytics tools, etc;
• Lead the design, piloting and evaluate scalable user-cases related to the digitalization of social protection;
• Assist in shaping and implementing UNDP initiatives aimed at reducing social vulnerabilities;
• Conduct institutional analyses, capacity assessment and internal framework reviews pertaining to the social protection portfolio, as well as play an active role in strategic thinking and portfolio development;
• Coordinate the engagement of national and international consultants, aligning their contributions with the project goals and UNDP’s objectives in the area of social protection;
• Coordinate the provision of top-quality advisory services (by the support team of technical consultants and specialized experts) to ensure the successful implementation of project activities;
• Elaborate and maintain tracking tools and oversee the accurate corporate and donor reporting and documentation of the portfolio activities in the area of social protection through different methods (which may include, but are not limited to data collection and analysis, strategic meetings, field visits, specific reports, regular information updates in corporate electronic systems/Quantum, etc.);
• Support the Project Manager and the UNDP CO in general strategic processes in the area of social protection;
• Resource mobilization and partnership building for portfolio development in the area of social protection;
• Maintain and facilitate effective communication among representatives at central and local level of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, and ensure wide dissemination and visibility of project achievements;
• Collect and analyze relevant feedback from social workers and beneficiaries of social services on the effectiveness of the digitalization of social service processes;
• Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for initiation of new initiatives and projects;
• Actively support the Inclusive Growth Cluster in resource mobilization in the assigned area of social protection to ensure implementation of the proposed strategies through project development, positions papers, among other activities;
• Maintain a continuous and effective cooperation with national and international counterparts, donors and other stakeholders to ensure synergies and complementarities, and avoiding overlapping of assistance in social protection;
• Keep abreast of UNDP project practices and maintain an optimum level of knowledge by continuous learning on areas of social protection, vulnerability reduction and digitalization;
• Prepare thematic briefs on possible areas of improvement with the beneficiary;
• Ensure timely and proper documentation of the programme implementation process and products produced in accordance with the UNDP guides;
• Capture and disseminate good practices locally, nationally and as required internationally;
• Ensure high quality information and visibility of the programme activities to the mass media and stakeholders and support mechanisms for exchange of information, experience and lessons learned at the local, national, and as required at international levels.

Required Skills and Experience:

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Social Sciences, Public Policy, Public Administration, Economics, Law, or related field is required OR
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional two (2) years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 2 years (with Master’s degree) or 4 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of progressive working experience in the areas related to public policy, governance, social protection, poverty and vulnerability reduction and/or policy and social or economic research, or related area.

Required skills:

• Experience in development assistance or related work for a donor organization, governmental institution, or consulting company;
• Experience in the use of computers, office software packages and web-based management systems;
• Excellent communication skills with a wide range of partners.

Desired skills:

• Experience in working, liaising, and collaborating with UN agencies, governments, NGOs, civil society organizations, and public international organizations will be an asset;
• Ability to provide advice and guidance in a tailored and effective manner will be an asset;
• Proven experience in similar positions in UN Agencies will be considered will be an asset.

Languages:

• Fluency in English and Romanian is required.
• Knowledge of one or more minority languages relevant for Moldova, including Russian, Romani, Gagauzian, Bulgarian, Ukrainian and sign language, is an asset.

Source: https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/job/24672