Programme Associate, Online Volunteering

The UNV Regional Offices (RO) provide oversight and strategic guidance to the UNV Field Units in their respective geographical assignments and are mainly accountable for the placement of UN Volunteers mobilized for the UN system focused on peace, development, and humanitarian needs. Furthermore, the Regional Offices represent and strategically position UNV and bring UNV’s services and solutions closer to its partners from governments, UN entities, civil society, and the private sector. The Regional Offices also lead the scoping and delivery of UNV’s advisory service offer on volunteer infrastructure. 

Reporting to the Manager, Regional Office/Chief, New York Office, and with the technical guidance of the Programme Specialist at the Volunteer Solutions Section (VSS) at headquarters, the Programme Associate, Online Volunteering is responsible for OV service provision and delivery. He/she contributes to and supports the Online Volunteer demand generation, forecasting and advocacy efforts of the UNV New York and Regional Offices and Field Units (FUs) to increase engagement and demand of Online Volunteers with a focus on the UN system, with the goal to achieve the UNV Strategic Framework targets and expand volunteering opportunities. 

Moreover, s/he supports Online Volunteering knowledge management and, under the technical guidance of the Programme Specialist, provides input for the refinement of the corporate OV offer, strategy, applications, and policy. The Programme Associate, Online Volunteering works in close collaboration with the Volunteer Solutions Sections, the Volunteer Services Center, the External Communications and Relations Section, the Executive Office, the Information and Communications Technology Section (ICTS), and the Volunteer Advisory Services Section, to refine and improve the UNV Online Volunteering offer.

• Ensure Online Volunteer assignments quality review and advise partners on suggested changes.
• Ensure that Online Volunteer assignments are posted and advertised in a timely manner;
• Screen organizations’ registrations, ensuring information is complete, assessing compliance with established criteria, verifying applicant organizations’ goals and activities;
• Monitor collaboration with partners and escalate to the Regional Manager and OV Programme Analyst when and if relevant;
• Contribute to regular dialogues with partners to answer questions and share innovative solutions;
• Provide technical assistance and guidance on corporate applications and help users of the OV service to overcome technical and other issues;
• In coordination with the Results-based Management Analyst, share monthly updates on current trends and perspectives on OV by analyzing OV users and partner organizations;
• Prepare and share analysis on the OV users’ feedback upon request;
• Respond to Service Desk level 2 queries.

• Support demand generation of Online Volunteer assignments by UN partners, public institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society organizations;
• Support and contribute to regional promotion efforts of OV solutions through partner interaction, regular partnership meetings and consultations;
• Contribute to targeted advocacy on engaging UN Volunteers and Online Volunteers to support the UN systems’ efforts on development and peace;
• Assist OV outreach to partners and relevant organizations through networking, building relationships, and delivering information meetings and workshops;
• Support regional and country forecasting of Online Volunteer assignments;
• Assist with planning and organizing events to promote the UNV offer among UN entities, Government entities/public institutions, NGOs, UN Volunteers, and other target groups;
• Contribute to the development and design of tailored OV offers and other creative business solutions, including onsite-online combination;
• Support the Regional or New York Office with the development of innovative OV solutions and service lines

• Support the codification, exchange and sharing of UNV offer and OV -related knowledge;
• In coordination with the regional communications team, support the Regional or New York Office in delivering OV-related webinars, producing visibility tools, and drafting knowledge products;
• Closely follow OV collaborations by partners and support the Communication team to collect information, draft stories, articles, social media posts and other relevant materials for the website, social media channels and knowledge sharing;
• Build capacities of the regional team on OV;
• Conduct research on digital or online volunteering trends and services or similar product line approaches and marketing;
• In coordination with the regional communications team, provide input for internal and external presentations, communications, leaflets and guidance notes;
• Contribute to development and implementation of marketing plans for OV
• Collect and enhance knowledge base with good practices and innovative solutions for OV.

• Provide inputs on the UNV corporate OV offer and talent acquisition refinement and strategy, including UN Volunteer and Online Volunteer combination;
• Support and provide inputs on OV business requirements and systems improvements for continuous systems and data optimization;
• Regular follow up on trends and brief the Regional Office/New York Office and OV Programme Specialist on mitigation measures or new business solutions regarding OV;
• Provide inputs on OV to the corporate global and regional reporting, addressing the progress of performance in line with the new Strategic Framework for 2022 – 2025;
• Contribute to the integration of onsite and online offers to partners.

• Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline

     Think Innovatively

• Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements 

• Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback

• Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible 

• Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident

• Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships

• Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies 

• Identify and seize opportunities to service and add value to clients, create clarity around UNDP value proposition to beneficiaries and partners, develop clear service offers responding to client needs in line with UNDP’s organizational priorities and mandate.

Marketing

• Ability to communicate the value of a product or service.

Communication

• 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.

Relationship management

• Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding.

Digital awareness and Literacy

• Ability to monitor new and emerging technologies, as well as understand their usage, potential, limitations, impact, and added value. 
• Ability to rapidly and readily adopt and use new technologies in professional activities, and to empower others to use them as needed. 
• Knowledge of the usage of digital technologies and emerging trends. 

Knowledge generation

• Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.

Customer Satisfaction/Client Management

• Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers’ needs.
• Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy.
• Look for ways to add value beyond clients’ immediate requests.
• Ability to anticipate clients’ upcoming needs and concerns.

• Only short-listed applicants will be contacted;
• The successful candidate will hold a UNDP letter of appointment;
• This post is for local recruitment only. It is open to citizens of Türkiye.