National Technical Advisor, Enhancing Effectiveness and Financial Sustainability of Protected Areas in Malaysia

The Project would like to contract a suitably qualified Malaysian to fill the post of National Technical Adviser.

Please follow the application instructions below (bearing in mind to upload the P-11 form instead of your CV/resume.  The system accepts one document only, hence please ensure you upload the P-11, not your CV/resume).   APPLICATIONS WITHOUT THE FULLY COMPLETED P-11 FORM WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

1. Please click on the "Apply now" button.
2. Input your information in the appropriate Sections : personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation. You can type in, or paste your Resume into the last box.
3. Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page.
4. On the next page, you will be asked to upload your Resume. Instead of uploading your Resume, please submit a fully completed and signed (if possible) UNDP Personal History Form (P-11) which can be downloaded at http://www.undp.org.my/page.php?pid=9&menu=sub&title=Join_Us  When completing the Form and, even though not currently requested, please include email addresses for your Supervisors.  Without the completed and signed P11, your application will not be considered.
5. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted and please ensure that copies of your educational qualifications are available when contacted.
6. Only applications received on the website with the completed P-11 will be considered for this position. 

Whilst we appreciate the individual effort put into your application, only short listed candidates will be notified within 2 weeks after the closing date.

Project Background:

Malaysia is one of 12 mega-diverse countries in the world, with a wealth of biological diversity in its terrestrial and marine zones.  In order to safeguard the globally significant biodiversity, Malaysia has established networks of protected areas.  In Peninsular Malaysia alone, there are at least four protected area networks covering a total area of 2.98 million ha, managed by different federal and state agencies including the Federal Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Johor National Parks Corporation, Perak State Parks Corporation and state forestry departments.  Most of these protected area networks are sub-optimally managed and severely underfinanced.

To remove the obstacles for optimal protected area system establishment and management, the Government of Malaysia with the support of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Global Environment Facility (GEF) is implementing a project aiming to establish a uniform national wildlife protected area system in Peninsular Malaysia and to establish a performance-based financing structure to support effective protected area system management.

Through a combination of interventions at Federal, State and site levels, the project will engender the introduction of system-level thinking, planning and management, supported by innovative, cost-effective and sustainable financing mechanisms.  At the federal level, the project focuses on creation of a uniform wildlife protected area system with standard criteria for establishment and effective management, development of the national protected area system information and knowledge management system, and establishment of performance-based financing mechanisms.  At the state protected area network level, the project supports to increase management effectiveness of the protected area systems and decreasing of financing gaps, ensuring that protected area system management and business planning processes are linked to performance-based financing.  At the site level, the project supports functional, technical and management capacity development in order for the individual protected area to meet the nationally set standards and access the financial incentive mechanisms. Three critical protected areas in Peninsular Malaysia will be targeted, namely Taman Negara, Endau-Rompin National Park and Royal Belum State Park.

The interventions are expected to translate into improved management effectiveness in addressing growing threats to biodiversity from, inter alia, poaching and land-use change, firstly within 886,000ha of the terrestrial wildlife protected areas. It is in turn expected to have an indirect impact on a larger 2.98 million ha of protected area system including the protection forests within the Permanent Reserved Forests (PRFs), as well as the protected area networks in the State of Sabah and Sarawak, through future application of the standards and financing mechanisms for those protected areas.

Summary of key functions:

• Technical Advisory (50%): Provide technical oversight and advisory services in the design of activities and initiatives, and to ensure efficient outcome and service delivery;
• Project Management (25%): Manage the administrative and financial requirements, and ensure achievement of the project results and outputs;
• Strategic Partnership (15%): Lead and networking at the national and international level and form partnerships with relevant stakeholders to advance the project objective; and
• Resource Mobilisation (10%): Mobilise financial and/or technical resources relevant to the project needs.

1. Technical Advisory (50%): Provide technical oversight and advisory services in the design of activities and initiatives, and to ensure efficient service delivery.

• Ensure technical soundness of project activities, achievement of outputs and outcomes and quality and cost effectiveness; 
• Lead and manage the inputs of the consultants/experts and international advisers and undertake knowledge capture at national, regional and global levels and the production of knowledge-based products; 
• Ensure that project results are captured and recorded in knowledge products to communicate its impacts; 
• Promote a learning environment and systematic information sharing within the project team and the concerned officers of the DWNP;
• Promote the substantive quality of all knowledge products, reports and services, and ensures effective integration and compatibility with other practice areas; 
• Develop and oversee capacity building efforts aimed at government counterparts, civil society groups, media and relevant stakeholders; 
• Serve as peer reviewer and contribute to the reports and publications related to the project.

2. Project Management (25%): Manage the administrative and financial requirements, and ensure achievement of the project results and outputs.

• Facilitate the day-to-day functioning of the project; 
• Manage human and financial resources, with accountability to the National/Project Steering Committee, National Project Director and UNDP, for achieving results in line with the objective, outcomes, outputs and activities outlined in the project document;
• Prepare and implement detailed annual work plans, budgets and result frameworks as endorsed by the National Project Director and UNDP;
• Oversee the preparation and timely submission of  quality reports to UNDP and NRE – annual, mid-year and quarterly progress reports, inception report and final report; 
• Develop terms of reference for technical services, consultants/experts and specification of materials as required by the project, in consultation with the National Project Director and UNDP;
• Lead and oversee team(s) of consultants/experts through planning, implementing, managing, and monitoring the delivery of policies, reports and knowledge products as endorsed by the Project Management Unit and Technical Working Committee; 
• Lead the coordination of project activities with related and parallel activities both within DWNP, NRE, UNDP and with external agencies; 
• Promote the integration of project activities within the DWNP, including relevant divisions, state and site PA offices;
• Plan and lead the organisation of inception workshop, trainings, stakeholder consultations, meetings of the National Steering Committee, Technical Working Committee and Working Groups, and relevant missions; 
• Coordinate the distribution of responsibilities amongst team members and organise monitoring and tracking system of all components of the project; 
• Advise the National Project Director on all aspects of project implementation, monitoring and evaluation as well as financial accountability; 
• Ensure information sharing and bridging between UNDP programme management, project management and national counterpart in the process of implementation of the project;
• Ensure that no statements are made or announced, and no data or information released regarding the project without prior consent from UNDP, DWNP and NRE.

3. Strategic Partnership (15%): Lead and networking at the national and international level and form partnerships with relevant stakeholders to advance the project objective.

• Identify stakeholders and implementation partners for the undertaking of various outputs and activities;
• Build and strengthen partnerships with other projects supported by UNDP, other UN agencies, Government and development partners that support protected area management and financing for better coordination and collaboration;
• Foster partnerships with federal and state government agencies, private sector, and civil society organisations;
• Represent the project and participate in relevant internal and/or external (coordination) meetings representing the project.

4. Resource Mobilisation (10%): Mobilise financial and/or technical resources relevant to the project needs.

• Mobilise technical or financial resources from international organisations, non-government organisations and the private sector to widen the support base to sustainable financing in protected areas;
• Develop partnerships with other individuals and organisations to ensure wide participation and sharing on best practices.

Impact of Results
The key results are aimed at achieving the project development objective, which is the establishment of a uniform national wildlife protected area system in Peninsular Malaysia and a performance-based financing structure to support effective protected area system management at the end of the project.

The key results also contribute to the outcome achievement of the UNDP Country Programme Action Plan 2013 – 2015, in particular, the outcome of strengthening climate resilient development.

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards (human rights, peace, understanding between peoples and nations, tolerance, integrity, respect, results orientation (UNDP core ethics) impartiality;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism.

Functional Competencies:

• Ability to oversee timely project implementation and to provide the necessary trouble shooting to keep project implementation on schedule;
• Ability to formulate and manage budgets, excellent project oversight functions, including audit, accurate and thorough risk assessment and management;
• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting: knowledge of project cycle, excellent work/project planning skills,
• Ability to engage with high ranking Government Officials and relevant stakeholders and provide technical advisory support services;
• Capability to engage in team-based policy and programme dialogue, experience of leading workshops and being a resource person;
• Promotes knowledge management and a learning environment in the office.

Managerial Competencies:

• Proven leadership skills as a team leader;
• Ability to undertake multiple tasks;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates openness to change/comments/suggestions and ability to manage complexities.

Behavioural Competencies:

• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders, focuses on impact and result and responds positively to feedback, timely responses to queries;
• Sensitivity to and responsiveness to all partners.

Education:

• Post-graduate degree or equivalent in Conservation Biology, Ecology, Economics, Environmental Science/Management, Natural Resource Management, Zoology or related discipline;
• A first-level university degree in combination with at least 15 years’ experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in environmental conservation projects and/or programmes, specifically in environmental economics/financing, and/or protected area management of which at least three years are at senior management level; 
• Demonstrated ability to successfully manage projects, and achieve outcomes and financial targets, including experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of projects activities;
• Knowledge and understanding of government financial planning and budgetary allocation, protected area management in Malaysia are essential;
• Proven track record of drafting relevant materials (publications, reports and related documentation) in the field of environmental economics/financing and/or protected area management;
• Proven ability to collect, verify and analyse information, and to finish and present work with a high degree of accuracy and technical quality;
• Demonstrated ability to engage with government officials, NGOs, private sector and UN agencies; 
• Demonstrated ability to manage and coordinate large and multidisciplinary teams of experts and consultants, to provide leadership and inspiration and to work in a challenging and complex working environment;
• Excellent writing skills, as well as strong analytical aptitude, communication and presentation skills are required; 
• Previous experience both in the government/NGO sector and UNDP would be an advantage.

Language Requirements
English and Bahasa Malaysia