Director of Quality and Impact Hub [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

For six decades, UNDP has shaped the progress of human development, working with its partners to lift millions from poverty and increase opportunities for all. Empowered by Member States with a mandate to work across the spectrum of human development, UNDP provides integrated support at scale to improve people’s lives worldwide. UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2026-2029 is grounded in the determination of UNDP to eradicate poverty, the greatest global challenge, indispensable to the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. Through the Strategic Plan, UNDP will continue to support countries’ progress towards high human development, while protecting the planet. Four strategic objectives – prosperity for all, effective governance, crisis resilience, and healthy planet – define its strategic direction, powered by three accelerators: digital and artificial intelligence (AI) transformation; gender equality; and sustainable finance. All are underpinned by a commitment to human rights and to leaving no one behind, and rest on the recognition of UNDP as a trusted and transparent development partner.

Within UNDP, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) unites world-class policy expertise, flagship global programmes, and collaborative innovation and learning networks so UNDP is not only ready for the future— but helps build it with governments and partners. BPPS is where policy meets practice - for impact. From development to crisis contexts, BPPS helps countries navigate complexity, scale what works, and advance a more just, resilient, and sustainable future. The position of Director, Quality and Impact Hub is a member of the BPPS senior leadership team.

The Quality and Impact Hub aim to expand UNDP’s value position as an accountable, transparent and therefore trusted and neutral development partner. The Impact Hub serves as the corporate custodian and strategist driving continual improvement of UNDP’s institutional architecture that guides UNDP programming. The Impact Hub leads changes in UNDP policy instruments and quality assurance approaches to enable UNDP programming - spanning all funding sources, including core, non-core, and Vertical Funds (VFs) - that is risk-informed, agile, results focused and integrates social and environmental risks and opportunities. The Impact Hub brings together two existing units in BPPS: the Vertical Fund Hub (VF Hub), and the Quality Programming Team (QPT - including the Social and Environmental Team (SES) Team) to be the central pillar of trust and transparency in UNDP.  
By consolidating policy custodianship, quality assurance, risk management, and results oversight, the Impact Hub will be better able to support UNDP in achieving higher accountability, fostering greater trust with partners, reduce fiduciary risks, be more adaptable, and achieve greater developmental quality and impact. A renewed focus on fit-for-purpose and relevant policies will enable and steer UNDP into new partnerships with the private sector, with IFIs, and with the VFs. The Impact Hub will also institutionalize quality assurance and oversight into UNDP, where risk management, results assurance, and policy coherence operate seamlessly through digital systems, enabling evidence-based decision-making and learning across all UNDP programming.  The Impact Hub will drive continuous improvement internally while learning from external engagements with the UNDP Executive Board and Boards of the Vertical Funds amongst others to ensure UNDP remains fit-for purpose, dynamic, agile and relevant in an ever-changing international development landscape. The Quality and Impact  Hub will continue to lead UNDP’s accountability and engagement with the VFs and ensure UNDP VF programming complies with VF policies and requirements, as well as continue to provide financial oversight of VF programming to ensure VF funds are used for their intended purpose as required by the VFs and VF fiduciary management, reporting and auditing as mandated by the VFs.
 

Position Purpose

The Director of the Quality and Impact Hub guides and informs areas within the Hub, drawing on their deep technical expertise, political acumen, and demonstrated leadership and managerial capacities. The Director leads cross-cutting efforts in UNDP programming policy reform, and accountability, thereby contributing to UNDP’s reputation as a trusted and transparent. The Director also provides advice and technical expertise for high level decision makers seeking UNDP’s support. Further, the position engages across multilateral processes and partners to position UNDP as a partner of choice in support of developing countries. The role also interfaces with the broader BPPS (other Hubs, Teams) UNDP’s other Bureaus and Offices, and with UN system and related offices, entities, agencies/programmes/funds.  The Director is responsible for creating a culture and enabling systems and processes that motivate, engage, and build a coherent team across multiple geographies. The Director will be supported by a Deputy Director.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.
 

Duties and Responsibilities

1.    Lead UNDPs engagement with the Vertical Funds including Policy alignment, Project Oversight and Compliance and Financial Oversight 

• Develop political, technical, operational and financial strategy for UNDP’s engagement with the Environmental Vertical Funds (Global Environment Facility, Green Climate Fund and Adaptation Fund) and provide the substantive technical and managerial leadership required to implement it;
• Ensure effective collaboration and relationship management with the Secretariats of the Environment Funds.
• Represent UNDP in the Vertical fund partnerships engaging with the Governing Bodies of each Fund; the technical and advisory bodies of each Fund, and the Accredited Entities under each Fund;
• Prepare, implement, and monitor annual VF Fee budgeting and planning in close collaboration with the Director of the Planet Hub and technical teams, as well as Regional Team Leads to ensure organizational alignment; 
• Develop and continuously enhance the internal UNDP VF oversight and compliance procedures to ensure VF policies are met in UNDP VF programming;
• Deliver on project and portfolio level VF monitoring, reporting and evaluation requirements; 
• Provide dedicated financial oversight for each VF project, including nationally implement projects and specific global projects, as well as annual portfolio level Fund specific audits, as required by VF policy and procedures; 
• Regularly engage with other UNDP Bureaus to ensure consistent application of oversight and compliance procedures across VF programming, and on policy, legal, risk and other strategic VF issues;
• Proactively monitor project and program level VF specific risks connected with UNDP’s relationship with the Vertical Funds and regularly engages with Planet Hub teams including at regional level to ensure efficient and effective oversight and risk management of VF programming.

2.    Lead development of UNDP Programme, Portfolio and Project Management standards, approaches, and prescriptive content (PPM)

• Represent UNDP in relevant UNSDG programming working mechanisms, inter-agency task forces and other UN reform initiatives and provide strategic analysis and advice on emerging issues across the UN related to programme and project management, and programming standards, approaches and modalities (e.g. on QCPR, UNSDCF, UNSDG guidelines and programming principles); help establish programme-related priorities, positions and action;
• Lead and develop new and revised programme, portfolio and project standards, approaches, policies and procedures to improve the quality of UNDP programming, facilitate evidence-based decision making/feedback loops, reduce unnecessary transaction costs, respond to evaluation and audit recommendations, and maintain coherence with operational content;
• Lead on the roll-out, review and revision of programming and portfolio approaches to enhance programme effectiveness for achieving results; 
• Lead the review of specific quality assurance tools and standards including Partner Capacity Assessment Tool (PCAT) and Private Sector Due Diligence (PSDD) to facilitate flexible, innovative and impactful programming in UNDP;
• Monitor implementation of policies, methods and tools and compliance by relevant UNDP units, and analyze performance to identify lessons learned and steps needed to incentivize improved organizational performance, compliance, and effectiveness;
• Manage and contribute to development of PPM-related capacity building guidance, training modules and other resources for staff.

3. Provide management leadership on quality country programming, SES, Transparency, and Risk Management to increase value add of UNDP programming

• Develop and update guidance and Standard Operating Procedures for the corporate HQ Programme Appraisal Committee (HQ PAC) for new country and regional programmes (CPDs and RPDs);
• Manage the nomination, appointment and orientation process of HQ PAC members and chairs; 
• Oversee the quality assurance processes and oversight of the regional bureau cleared CPDs/RPDs, for onward submission to the Executive Board based on its adherence to the Programme Quality Appraisal recommendations;
• Leads the development of standard operating procedures, guidance and systems (VF and non-VF) to ensure UNDP provides high-quality oversight services and remains compliant with policies and procedures;
• Monitor project-level appraisal and VF pipeline development processes and quality assurance, including the implementation of the Quality Standards for Programming and the Social and Environmental Standards;
• In partnership with other Bureaus, update UNDP tools to embed risk management into UNDP programming and the escalation of implementation risks for enhanced oversight as needed;
• Lead UNDP’s transparency initiative by integrating and implementing the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) standard in programme and project management;
• Lead enhancement of and application of UNDP Social and Environmental Standards across all UNDP programming.

4. Promote and lead innovation and substantive knowledge management

• Create an environment of creative and innovative thinking; and culture receptive to change to drive the development of future UNDP programming policy and procedures;
• Lead the evolution and adoption of digital tools to support the efficiency and efficacy of the work of the Quality and Impact Hub;
• Advise on the enhancement of organizational management information systems and digital tools (e.g. Quantum, PIMS +) to advance the integration and effective application of policies and procedures to meet strategic management needs;
• Position accountability and transparency and quality assurance as a key aspect of UNDP’s value proposition to its partners;
• Analyze data on the performance of programmes and projects, including quality assurance data, to advise management of programming reforms that would help to lift performance, using evidence-based approaches.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Hub, Bureau, and the Organisation.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Quality and Impact Hub Team. 

Competencies

People Management 

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master´s degree) in Environmental Sciences, Policy and International Law or related discipline is required OR 
A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above with additional 2 years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of master´s degree.
 

Experience:

• Minimum 15 years (with Master´s degree) or 17 years (with bachelor´s degree) of experience in managerial positions in an international working environment is required. 
• At least 10 years of experience working with environment vertical funds (e.g. Global Environment Facility, Green Climate Fund) or similar environment development financing mechanisms, either in UNDP or other UN entities is required.
• At least 10 years of experience in programme and project results management and risk management is required.
• Demonstrated experience developing, monitoring and assessing the effectiveness of policies and procedures for programming is required.
• Working experience in developing country contexts is desirable.
• A strong track record of experience in overseeing and managing large teams is required.
• Experience in business systems, human resources management and budgeting is desirable; 
• Fluency in English is required. 
• Fluency in other UN languages is desirable.

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. 

Probation

For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

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

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