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

Funded by a P3.67 billion (€60 million) grant from the European Union, the EU-PH Green Economy Partnership will run from 2023-2028 in collaboration with the Government of the Philippines, led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. This priority programme of the European Union in the Philippines links European and Filipino partners from the private sector and local governments to foster a circular economy and the reduction of plastic waste. It also aims to improve energy efficiency and promote renewable energy use and climate change mitigation and adaptation. Through technology transfers and investments, the programme aims to accelerate the transition to a greener economy while sustaining economic growth that benefits all Filipinos.

The EU-PH Green Economy Partnership is co-funded by Germany's Ministry for the Environment, and implemented by Germany's development agency GIZ, UNDP Philippines, Expertise France with Global Green Growth Institute, and the International Finance Corporation - a member of the World Bank Group. The Green Economy Partnership is part of EU’s Global Gateway initiative - the European strategy engaging with partners globally and promoting investments around shared priorities such as the transition to a green economy and the advancement of digital infrastructure, among others.

The EU-PH Green Economy Partnership’s second of four specific objectives (SO2), implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), aims to enhance circular economy practices by the local government units (LGUs) in collaboration with the private sector and civil society organizations (CSOs), with focus on youth and gender equality. Co-led by UNDP and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), SO2 delivers a portfolio of interventions, among others focusing on enabling policies; facilitating financing; advocacy and behavioral change; and enhancing knowledge and capacity among LGUs and local stakeholders. Central to the approach is innovation, promoting gender equality, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI), and just transition towards the shift to a circular economy.

The EU-PH Green Economy Partnership (SO2) works with LGUs and local stakeholders, including the private sector, CSOs, communities, youth, GEDSI groups, and informal sector actors, to advance circular economy (CE) solutions. The programme directly supports 20 Tier 1 LGUs and provides targeted assistance to 40 Tier 2 LGUs through an Inter-Local Cooperation (ILC) approach.

The first batch of ten Tier 1 LGUs under the EU-PH Green Economy Partnership consists of Baguio City, Pasig City, Caloocan City, Quezon City, Puerto Princesa City, Iloilo City, Ormoc City, Davao City, Island Garden City of Samal (Davao Del Norte), and Del Carmen (Siargao Islands, Surigao del Norte). Meanwhile,the second batch of ten Tier 1 LGUs include the City of San Carlos (Pangasinan), City of Ilagan (Isabela), City of San Jose Del Monte (Bulacan), City of Bacoor (Cavite), City of Sorsogon, Maasin City (Southern Leyte), Isabela City (Basilan), Cagayan De Oro City, Koronadal City (South Cotabato), and Cotabato City (an independent component city in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao). Tier 1 LGUs are supported through multi-stakeholder workshops to identify CE opportunities, develop priority portfolios for plastics, organics, and tourism, and design integrated solutions combining policy, infrastructure, financing, business models, and GEDSI-responsive initiatives. Support includes CE baseline studies, material flow and value chain assessments, policy development, sustainable public procurement, and the co-design and procurement of CE facilities and systems. The programme also funds community-based behavioural change initiatives and innovation challenges to promote the scaling of successful CE practices.

Tier 2 LGUs are engaged through the Inter-local cooperation (ILC) approach, which encourages neighboring LGUs to collaborate on shared CE challenges such as increasing waste generation, fragmented recovery systems, infrastructure gaps, and uneven local capacities. As Tier 1 LGUs move from planning to implementation, the programme is generating valuable lessons on organizing local CE action, establishing Local Circular Economy Action Teams (LCEATs), developing CE portfolios, mobilizing stakeholders, and implementing CE solutions. Capturing and sharing these experiences will help strengthen CE implementation and replication across participating LGUs.

UNDP Philippines takes overall responsibility and accountability for the delivery of the project outputs. It will be accountable for managing the project, including the monitoring and evaluation of project interventions, achieving project results, and for the effective use of resources, in compliance with UNDP rules and regulations, policies and procedures. These include relevant requirements on fiduciary, procurement, environmental and social safeguards, and other performance standards.

The day-to-day implementation of the project will be led by a Project Manager within a Project Management Unit (PMU) responsible for ensuring that the project achieves the expected targets to the required quality standards and within the specified time and budget allocations. The Project Manager will be supported by a Project Management Specialist/Deputy Project Manager, Project Assistants, technical staff and a pool of contractors and consultants to carry out the deliverables of the project.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision and guidance of the Project Manager, working closely with the UNDP Climate Action Programme Team, and in close collaboration with the Project Management Unit (PMU), UNDP teams in the Philippines Country Office and Bangkok Regional Hub, and EU, the Project Management Specialist will assist in providing high-quality professional project implementation support and technical advice and assistance in the overall delivery of the project.

More specifically, the Project Management Specialist/Deputy Project Manager will perform the following functions:

1. Provide technical advice and assistance in the overall implementation of the project (GEP-SO2)

Contribute to providing technical advice, strategic support and guidance in the overall engagement of partners in system change approaches in advancing circular economy with focus at the local level yet strategically aligned with national directions and emerging international developments;
Contribute to day-to-day management of the project, including effective project implementation, delivery and quality checks, and document progress towards the achievement of agreed upon outputs and outcomes;
Identify new/innovative and context-specific areas of engagement and act as the sub-lead in close collaboration with the Project Manager in identifying entry points and opportunities for interventions and learning opportunities within the scope of the project and in close consultation with the donor, government co-leads, and UNDP experts;
Contribute to the project’s regular analysis of work plan, project management and human resource structures, results framework learning plans and initiatives to improve the Project’s agility in responding to actual and perceived risks/challenges as well as managing and mitigating them;
Ensure timely preparation and revision of documents, briefing notes, reports,’and related documentation for project review/board meetings and related events as advised by the Project Manager;
Undertake field visits to oversee project implementation, including onsite CE systems validation, diagnosis of opportunities and risks, and timely guidance as advised by Project Manager.

2. Project Implementation support in the overall delivery of GEP-SO2

Ensure timely implementation of project activities including submission of progress reports to donor, development of annual work plans and budget monitoring, project monitoring and evaluation, trouble shooting in close coordination with the rest of PMU;
Provide support in managing and supervising the PMU, as well as LGU advisors, the technical specialists, consultants, and partners;
Provide technical guidance in advancing a circular economy, including upstream measures towards waste avoidance, resource recovery and processing in waste management to advance waste diversion, emerging circular technologies and business models, and circular economy investments;
Supervise LGU Advisors and project analysts in supporting the programming and implementation of circular economy portfolio work plans and inter-local cooperation mechanisms across participating LGUs, including providing sound guidance on the identification of suitable CE technologies, facilities or systems recommendations to LGUs and local stakeholder partners;
Monitor and track LGU level project delivery by overseeing implementation progress, performance indicators, risks, bottlenecks, and corrective actions, ensuring achievement of project targets, timelines, and budgets;
Drive implementation acceleration by developing and monitoring acceleration plans, addressing technical, institutional, and policy barriers, and ensuring timely delivery of project outcomes;
Oversee technical and procurement activities, including the development and review of equipment and facility specifications, terms of reference, procurement tracking and documentation, deployment plans, and supplier performance;
Undertake regular project activity monitoring and budget monitoring in close coordination with PMU;
Contribute to project communications and visibility efforts including the development a range of core communication content including advocacy in system change approaches, intelligence briefing, project reports, briefings, infographics, case studies and presentations.

3. Partnership building and coordination with the project’s partners to ensure timely and efficient project activity delivery

Strengthen strategic partnerships with national government agencies, private sector and civil society groups, and ensure effective and sustained engagement with LGUs and their local stakeholders including private sector, the academia, youth and GEDSI groups;
Ensure coherence and identify and foster synergies with other SO implementing partners and leads under the EU-PH Green Economy Partnership, UNDP projects and programmes, and like-minded project partners and other stakeholders;
Contribute to improve coordination and collaboration with other institutions, groups or entities that could add value and complement GEP SO2’s priority work strands
Contribute to donor coordination and timely information sharing where needed as guided by the Project Manager.

4. Represent the Project, where needed, at strategic and technical levels at project planning and coordination meetings/events

Act as focal point in project progress, coordination/planning meetings with project partners;
Attend workshops/conferences and events on Circular Economy and contribute constructively to advance UNDP’s Portfolio of Innovation on Circular Economy;
Contribute in reviewing and finalizing meeting minutes, briefing notes, and presentations related to the project scope in a timely manner and close coordination with the PMU and technical specialists/consultants.

5. Documentation review, writing and quality assurance support

Ensuring timely documentation of project activity updates, data gathering, lessons learned, best practices, and case studies for monthly, quarterly, and yearly reporting purposes in close collaboration with the Project Manager, MERL Specialist, rest of the project team, and project partners;
Assist in the oversight of knowledge generation and learning outputs to be shared internally and externally, as well as circulate emergent intelligence and learnings across portfolio team members and project specialists;
Undertake review and also assist in writing project progress reports, policy briefs, progress updates, and related documents in close collaboration with Project Manager and project technical specialists/consultants;
Undertake review and also assist in writing and reviewing assessment reports, monitoring and evaluation between portfolio intent and implemented activities, research reports, and strategies/policies corresponding to key project deliverables as advised by the Project Manager;
Ensure inclusive approach is reflected within all actions and implementation in close collaboration with the Project Manager and GEDSI Specialist.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

The Project Management Specialist/Deputy Project Manager will work under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, in close coordination with the project management unit, technical partners, technical specialists, consultants, and contractors.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Achieve Results:LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands

Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

People Management (Insert below standard sentence if the position has direct reports.)

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Management: Partnerships Management: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others

Digital & Innovation: Systems Thinking & Transformation:

Understand that complex problems need a non-reductionistic, holistic approach.
Ability to explore challenges from multiple perspectives by zooming in and out, with a focus on relationships and flows rather than individual elements; understand how certain dynamics and conditions are driving and influencing an issue.
Ability to develop a collective understanding by a mapping systems and their dynamics (e.g. flows or resources, information; power relations); is able to handle ambiguity and can help others navigate it.
Being able to identify intervention points to leverage change and system transformation by setting out a coherent collection of multiple interventions to probe the system for linear and unpredictable; being comfortable and able to work with emergence.

Business Direction & Strategy: System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Business Development: Knowledge Facilitation: Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally

2030 Agenda: Planet: Nature, Climate and Energy: Green Economy: Circular economy concepts, policies and tools

2030 Agenda: Prosperity: Inclusive Growth: Social inclusion

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Environmental Management, Engineering, Economics, Industrial Ecology, Sustainable Development, or other relevant fields is required, or;
A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

A minimum of 7 years (with master´s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor´s degree) of professional experience including demonstrated experience in 1) managing teams of diverse technical experts and field officers and personnel, supporting local governments, 2) overseeing project implementation, delivery tracking, and performance monitoring for large scale, multi-million dollar development project and 3) providing technical leadership in the field of circular economy, which includes but not limited to sustainable consumption and production, upstream measures for waste avoidance, resource recovery towards waste diversion, emerging clean/green technologies and business models, or circular economy investments.

Required Experience:

Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and web-based management systems, and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages.

Desired Skills:

At least 5 years of senior-level management experience on projects working directly with both local governments and national governments of the Philippines, multilateral, or civil society organizations in a multi-cultural setting;
At least 5 years of demonstrated senior-level management experience and technical knowledge in the fields of circular economy, green economy, sustainable consumption/production, upstream measures for waste avoidance, resource recovery towards waste diversion, emerging clean technologies and business models, and/or circular economy investment;
Strong analytical and writing skills, and oral communication skills;
Professional experience in project management with international organizations, including the UN system or EU system.

Required Language(s):

Fluency in English and Filipino is required.

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.

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

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.

Project Management Specialist [Open to internal and external applicants]