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

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) established its presence in Armenia in 1994 and since then it has positioned itself as a strategic and substantive partner to the Government of Armenia and other stakeholders by assisting their efforts to advance human development and improve the well-being of citizens.

UNDP provides tangible, people-centered and innovative development solutions in Armenia, helping the country to build forward better.

UNDP works with a wide range of donors, public, private and civil society stakeholders at all levels. In 2026, UNDP Armenia entered into the new cycle of the Country Programme (2026 – 2030) with five key priority areas of development:

• Democratic Governance
• Socio-Economic Development
• Climate, Environment and Energy
• SDG and Innovative Finance
• Gender Equality

The UNDP Resident Representative (RR) leads and oversees the work of the Country Office, seconded by the Deputy Resident Representative (DRR). The Country Office includes approximately 130 staff and project personnel and a delivery of USD 20-22 million in programmatic support to Armenia annually.

The Programme Unit works to support achievement of UNDP strategic objectives to create a world where people and planet thrive together, and to help the Country Office act with both ambition and scale to address urgent problems facing the country as well as global climate deteriorating conditions. Programme staff assist the Country Office in formulating and implementing programme strategies that go beyond solving immediate development challenges to create future smart and integrated systemic changes in resilience and capacity building within the country.

Position Purpose:

Under the overall guidance of RR and the direct supervision of the DRR, the Assistant Representative Programme (ARR(P)) serves as advisor to Senior Management and a manager of a major programme portfolio in the country office. Programme management responsibilities include leading the programme team in strategic planning, identifying new programme areas and creative responses to emerging challenges and opportunities, mobilizing resources for the implementation of the country programme and monitoring of programme implementation to ensure consistency with CPD priorities.

The ARR (P) heads and supervises a Programme team and works in close collaboration with the Operations team in the CO, Programme staff in other UN Agencies, UNDP staff in HQs and Regional Hubs, technical advisors and experts, external specialists, government officials and partners, donors and civil society to successfully implement the UNDP programme.

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

As a member of the Country Office management team, ensure the formulation and implementation of UNDP programme strategies and policies within one or more thematic areas:

• Contribute to the thorough analysis of the political, social and economic situation in the country; and contribute collaborative inputs to the UN Common Country Assessment and Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNCCA and UNSDCF) as well as to the preparation/revision of the Country Programme Document (CPD), Integrated Work Plan (IWP) and other strategic documents.
• Ensure that programme strategy formulation considers societal digital technology risks and opportunities and other future signals.
• Operationalize UNSDCF/ CPD in collaboration with the main partners and other UN Agencies.
• Establish relevant programme Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure the effectiveness of CO business processes. Oversee workflows and ensure cross collaboration in the Programme Unit.
• Review and sign-off on proposals at programme level.
• Analyze, present, and implement UNDP policies in the CO.

Effectively manage the CO programme and supervise the Programme team focusing on quality assurance and risk management of the full cycle of programming from formulation to implementation:

• Design and formulate CO programme, and translate UNDP priorities into local interventions. Oversee programme implementation with the implementing partners.
• Provide strategic oversight of planning, budgeting, implementation and monitoring of the programme as well as tracking use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations. Ensure digital technology solutions in programme implementation are managed towards scalability and sustainability in line with UNDP’s digital standards.
• Lead the strategic selection and establishment of appropriate partnership modalities (including LOAs and RPAs) with implementing partners and responsible parties; oversee rigorous monitoring, reporting, and compliance frameworks throughout the partnership lifecycle.
• Ensure the effective use of data in programme implementation, across the data lifecycle, and ensure effective monitoring, evaluation and learning on programme impact.
• Constantly monitor trends analysis for future informed and anticipatory programming; track achievement of strategic results, and effectively apply results-based management tools.
• Ensure relevant colleagues and stakeholders from both programme and operations are consulted in the identification, costing, and management of risks for the programme, all projects, and portfolios in the office/unit when applicable.
• Follow up on audit recommendations and ensure the implementation of management responses.
• Ensure aggregate reports are regularly prepared on activities, outputs and outcomes, including preparation of donor and corporate reports.
• Organize cost-recovery system for the services provided by the CO to projects in close collaboration with Operations Manager.

Establish and maintainstrategic Country Office partnerships and support resource mobilization efforts to achieve programme outcomes:

• Implement CO partnerships and resource mobilization strategies.
• Develop partnerships with the UN Agencies, international financial institutions (IFIs), government institutions, donors, private sector, and civil society in assigned programme/thematic areas.
• Determine strategic programmatic areas of cooperation, including for joint programming, in line with agreed global, regional and national priorities.
• Analyze and research information on donors, prepare substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, and ensure due cost recovery.
• Lead development of Country office pipeline and portfolio that includes designing Programme/Project documents, concept notes, proposals and cross-sectoral coordination to bring resources for projects.
• Advise on and lead the programme team in the formulation of strategic partnerships with bilateral and multilateral donors, including the host government; identify opportunities, negotiate, review, and finalize complex financing agreements and contractual frameworks to secure and safeguard resource mobilization.

Ensure provision of top-quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management:

• Identify policy-driven issues; and identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country policy goals.
• Establish/strengthen national and international advocacy networks. Implement relevant, high -impact advocacy with key partners.
• Coordinate and ensure integrated support in development of policies and institutions to address country problems and needs in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners.
• Support policy advisory services that contribute to inclusive societal digital transformation and take digital technology risks and opportunities or futures signals into account.
• Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks, communities of practice, and digital knowledge platforms.
• Organize and deliver training for the operations/ projects staff on programme related matters.

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

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Supervision and performance management of Country Office Programme Team

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 Competencies:

• UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site

Cross Functional and technical competencies:

Business Direction & Strategy

• Systems 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.
• Strategic Thinking
  • Develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight.

Business Management

• Portfolio Management
  • Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization's programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management.
• Partnership Management
  • Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.

Partnership management

• Emerging partnerships
  • Ability to engage with emerging partners, develop and manage a strategy and develop approaches to developing and managing these new strategic partnerships.
• Resource mobilization
  • Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities, and establish a plan to meet funding requirements.
• Results-Based Management
  • Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Public Administration, Policy or Business Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, or related field is required, or
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience at the national and/or international level in providing management advisory services, hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development portfolios and projects in relevant thematic areas; and establishing inter-relationships among international organizations and national governments.

Required skills:

• Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc), database packages, and web-based management systems such as ERP.

Desired skills:

• Proven experience in leading strategic planning, results-based management and reporting, as well as design and coordination of implementation of development projects is desirable.
• Proven experience in building and maintaining strategic partnerships with Government counterparts, international and civil society organizations, donors and in mobilizing resources is desirable.
• Proven leadership, coordination skills in managing and supervising teams are desirable.
• Prior experience with UNDP, another UN system agency, or other international development organizations is desirable.

Languages:

• Fluency in English and Armenian is required.
• Knowledge of another UN language 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

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.