Job Description

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) in Sri Lanka is a key partner in driving sustainable development, tackling economic, social, and environmental challenges in Sri Lanka. Through its Country Programme (2023–2027), UNDP focuses on strategic, integrated solutions that align with national priorities and strengthen resilience in a changing socio-economic landscape. The Country Office enhances its advisory and programmatic functions by providing technical expertise, policy support, efficient delivery of results and strong implementation oversight. By promoting inclusive economic growth, climate resilience, and governance reforms, UNDP collaborates with government, civil society, and the private sector to develop scalable, localized solutions. With a focus on innovation, strategic partnerships, and efficient programme management, UNDP Sri Lanka ensures impactful, sustainable development, helping the country progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Front Offices supports the day-to-day functioning and overall coordination led by the Resident Representative and the Deputy Resident Representative and also serves as a close link with the middle management team through the Integrated Management Team (IMT) to ensure effective functioning of the Country Office. It is the front-facing office of the UNDP Country Office.

The Executive Analyst provides comprehensive support to the Resident Representative and the Front Office, undertaking responsibilities to strengthen strategic management, coordination, stakeholder engagement and organizational effectiveness. This role requires exceptional organizational skills, the ability to handle a wide range of administrative tasks, and the capacity to work independently with minimal supervision. The Executive Analyst will play a crucial role in facilitating smooth operations and ensuring efficient communication and cross-functional coordination within the Country Office.

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

Under the direct supervision of the Resident Representative and in close collaboration with the Deputy Resident Representative, the incumbent will perform the duties and responsibilities below.

1- Strategic planning, country office coordination and management follow-up.

• Support country office planning processes, including annual business planning, and management reporting, in close cooperation with Results and Resources Management Team (RRMT) and Integrated Management Team (IMT) as required.
• Coordinate all staff and Integrated Management Meetings (IMM), other meetings, leadership retreats, forums and strategic discussions, including agenda development, background documentation, minutes and follow-up actions.
• Monitor implementation of senior management and IMM decisions and country office commitments in close collaboration with the RRMT, ensuring timely escalation, follow-up and reporting.
• Coordinate cross-office initiatives and facilitate collaboration across programme, operations, communications, partnership and project teams on priority corporate and strategic matters.

2- Strategic executive coordination and Front Office support.

• Coordinate the day-to-day functioning of the Front Office, ensuring efficient information flow, prioritization of requests, timely follow-up and effective support to the Resident Representative and Deputy Resident Representative.
• Manage schedules, correspondence, protocol arrangements, official visits, travel planning and high-level meetings, ensuring that materials and logistical arrangements for the RR and DRR are prepared in a timely manner.
• Backstop other members of the Front Office, when required in preparing materials and following up on required actions.
• Maintain organized records, files and working documents for the Front Office, ensuring confidentiality, accessibility and institutional memory.

3- Analytical, briefing and knowledge management support.

• Prepare briefing notes, talking points, speeches, presentations, meeting dossiers, background papers and strategic analyses for the Resident Representative and Deputy Resident Representative in close coordination with programme and partnership teams.
• Review, synthesize and quality assure key documents, briefs, presentations and reports to ensure accuracy, coherence and readiness for senior management use.
• Collect, organize and analyse programme, financial, partnership, risk and operational information to support evidence-based management decisions.
• Undertake substantive ad hoc assignments, research and data analysis under the guidance of the Resident Representative and Deputy Resident Representative.

4- Partnerships, stakeholder engagement and high-level missions.

• In close coordination with the Partnership team, coordinate and support high-level missions, including mission programmes, stakeholder mapping, logistical coordination, briefing packages, mission notes and follow-up on outcomes and action points.
• Maintain stakeholder management systems and track commitments, correspondence, mission outcomes and strategic engagements with government counterparts, development partners, UN Country Team and other stakeholders.

5- Communications, correspondence and knowledge products.

• Coordinate with the Communications Team drafting, review and coordination of sensitive correspondence, official communications, management messages and responses for internal and external audiences initiated by the Resident Representative.
• Compile and provide inputs to Country Office publications, newsletters, profiles and other knowledge products, including liaison with contributors, authors, designers and relevant teams, where relevant.
• Provide quality assurance for management responses to Regional Bureau inquiries and decisions, in close coordination with relevant units and the appropriate country office counterparts, to enable Resident Representative clearance and final sign-off.

6- Office effectiveness, information management and operational support.

• Provide information to internal and external parties as appropriate, maintaining effective communication channels and working relationships across the Country Office, UNCT and key partner networks.
• Organize documentation, printing, distribution and other operational requirements for Front Office meetings, events, publications and activities.
• Support development of templates, standard operating procedures and guidance notes for the office effectiveness and communications, in line with UNDP corporate standards and Country Office best practices.

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 Executive Analyst will work under the direct supervision of the Resident Representative and collaborates closely with the Deputy Resident Representative and country office teams.

Competencies

Core Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Thematic Area Name Definition Business Development Knowledge Generation Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations. Communications Writing and editing Ability to create and/or edit written content in different UN languages. Partnerships Management Relationship Management Ability to engage with a wide range of public, and private and internal partners, build, sustain, and/or strengthen working relations, trust, and mutual understanding. 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 and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management. Business Management Communications

Communicate in a clear, concise, and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.

Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media, and other appropriate channels.

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

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Advanced University Degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in International Relations, Business Administration, or relevant related field is required, or
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration instead of the advanced university degree.

Experience

• Applicants with master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience.
• Applicants with a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant progressively responsible administrative and/or programme experience at the national and international level.

Desired Skills:

• Experience conducting research, gathering and analyzing information, and producing written reports, briefs, or other communication materials through academic coursework, projects or internships.
• Experience using Microsoft Word, Power Point skills, familiarity with e-presentation techniques, and experience using on-line web-based applications.
• Proven experience drafting speaking points and preparing presentations.
• Experience in administrative, or programme/project support or executive support functions with UN or multilateral and/or bilateral organizations.
• Experience with UN, UNDP and/or UNDP Rules and Regulations and organizational structures.
• Experience with ERP tools such as Quantum, Quantum+, Unity or similar platforms.

Required Languages:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Fluency in Sinhala or Tamil 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.

Data Privacy

Please click here to view UNDP Data Privacy Statement

#LI-DNI