Technical Analyst for Strategic Management (NPSA-9) [Open to all applicants]

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) supports countries worldwide in building effective institutions, strengthening governance systems, and advancing progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals. The United Nations Development Programme in Serbia has been supporting the Ministry of Finance (MoF) of the Republic of Serbia since 2013 in building institutional capacity for effective coordination and management of economic reforms, accession negotiations, and fulfillment of the economic and political criteria for European Union (EU) membership. In 2018, UNDP launched the project “Support to Strengthen Technical Capacity and Institutional Development of the Ministry of Finance and Coordination in the Field of Economic Governance”, which has provided targeted assistance in strengthening administrative capacities and ensuring institutional stability. The project has focused on capacity building, analysis of the economic environment, and supporting the implementation of Serbia’s fiscal risk management strategy and methodology, including monitoring fiscal risks with a particular focus on those arising from the activities of state-owned enterprises.

In this framework, the overall objective of the current project phase is to continue strengthening the capacities of the MoF for efficient coordination and management of economic reforms and accession negotiations, thereby contributing to Serbia’s progress toward EU membership.

A central focus of these efforts is the further development and implementation of the Public Investment Management (PIM) system. Based on a unique methodology developed by the MoF, the Government of Serbia adopted a new Regulation on Public Investment Management in 2019, which entered into force in January 2020 and applies to all capital projects regardless of funding source. The system strengthens quality controls at both the planning and execution stages, institutionalizes control points, and introduces gatekeeping mechanisms such as investment pre-selection, resolution of dormant projects, and ex-post evaluation. The new framework is designed to provide a unified mechanism for managing all public investments, ensuring a more active role for the MoF in preparing, monitoring, and strategically managing capital projects.

As one of the most significant capital investment projects, the construction and development of the land area envisaged for the new Fair and EXPO BELGRADE 2027 in Belgrade represents one of the main priorities of the Government of Serbia. Taking into consideration the importance of EXPO BELGRADE 2027, the Government of Serbia has allocated major financial support within the budget for the implementation of this capital project. Being an event of great strategic significance for the Republic of Serbia, EXPO BELGRADE 2027 has been declared a project of national interest for the country. Bearing in mind the strategic location of Serbia and its long history of being a bridge between the West and the East, as well as a major transport hub within Europe, connecting different major international highways, the said project will additionally boost the economic outlook of Serbia, but also its image of one of the fastest growing economies in Europe. Considering the previously mentioned, the hosting of EXPO by Serbia will further boost a positive image of the country and the region, further attracting investment, capital and tourism in a market exceeding 400 million consumers.

Therefore, UNDP is seeking a qualified and experienced Technical Analyst for Strategic Management to support the Ministry of Finance, with a particular focus on the review and monitoring of EXPO project.

During the assignment, Technical Analyst for Strategic Management will closely cooperate with the Project, Technical Analyst for Delivery Unit (Financial Sector Reforms) and its staff, as well as other relevant stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Strategic Assessment and Advisory Services

• Assist the MoF PIM Unit in Evaluating Capital Investments: Conduct comprehensive evaluations of the strategic aspects of proposed EXPO capital investment projects. This involves analyzing feasibility studies, assessing socio-economic impacts, and ensuring all planned construction and development phases closely align with national strategic priorities and PIM regulatory frameworks.
• Provide High-Level Strategic Recommendations: Deliver actionable advisory support to the MoF management regarding the strategic management of EXPO infrastructure projects. This includes drafting strategic briefs, designing risk mitigation plans, and proposing governance models tailored to the scale of the EXPO, ensuring optimal resource allocation and long-term project sustainability.

2. Implementation Monitoring and Oversight

• Support Strategic Monitoring of Project Lifecycles: Establish and maintain robust tracking mechanisms to assist the MoF PIM Unit in overseeing the execution of EXPO capital investments. This requires evaluating project milestones, budget execution, and timeline adherence from a macro-strategic perspective, proactively identifying operational bottlenecks, and advising on corrective actions to keep development strictly on track.

3. Cross-Functional Coordination and Capacity Building

• Ensure Unified Organizational Coordination: Act as a central strategic liaison to harmonize efforts across the various organizational units, ministries, and stakeholders involved in the EXPO project. This ensures seamless communication, integrated and unified operations across all units, preventing fragmented communication, and aligns all participating teams toward the unified strategic development goals of the EXPO.
• Facilitate Engagement, Training, and Public Promotion: Lead comprehensive stakeholder engagement initiatives. This involves actively coordinating and participating in inter-departmental meetings, organizing knowledge-sharing training sessions, and representing the project at key conferences. Furthermore, this will support public relations and promotional efforts to ensure the strategic milestones of the EXPO projects are transparently communicated to the public and relevant partners.

4. General Support and Adaptability

• Perform Ad-Hoc Duties as Required: Provide flexible and responsive support to the MoF PIM Unit to address emerging needs, unforeseen challenges, or shifting priorities during the EXPO project lifecycle. This may include drafting urgent policy memos, conducting rapid ad-hoc data analyses, or supporting broader public financial management directives as requested by senior management.

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

Institutional Arrangement

Technical Analyst for Strategic Management will work under the overall guidance and supervision of the Technical Analyst for Delivery Unit (Financial Sector Reforms).

Competencies

Core competencies:

• 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 and Technical competencies:

• Business Direction & Strategy - Strategic Thinking
  • Develop effective strategies and prioritised 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 Direction & Strategy - System Thinking
    • Ability to apply objective problem analysis and sound judgment to understand the interconnections within complex systems, recognizing how individual elements interact and how changes to one component may affect the entire system.
    • Business Management - 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
      • Legal - Legal analysis skills
        • The ability to digest a large amount of information and facts in order to frame and understand an issue, apply the legal framework to the particular set of facts and present a coherent and comprehensive analysis of the situation presented in order to deliver practical and meaningful advice. This skill includes the ability to provide an objective assessment of the case, the organization's best arguments for proceeding and a recommended course of action. It also includes the capacity to think creatively and flexibly, within the applicable legal framework.
        • Legal - Legal Research
          • The ability to identify and retrieve information to support legal positions and corporate decision making from all relevant sources. In the UNDP context, this skill includes, amongst other things, proactive seeking of information in anticipation of the different angles that any given issue may present.
          • 2030 Agenda: Partnerships - SDG Integration
            • Economic forecasting
            • 2030 Agenda: People - Gender Required Skills and Experience Education: Experience: Required skills: Desired skills: Languages: Important Information The online application form must be fully completed. Applicants are required to carefully complete their online application form and reflect all of their work experience history in the application. Only attaching a CV is not sufficient for applicants to be considered for positions. All applicants have to complete the Experience, Education, Language, and Nationality & Permanent Residence fields fully. Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials. 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.
              • Gender Equality and Institutional Transformation
              • Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Law, Economics, or a related field is required. OR
              • A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above-mentioned fields, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
              • Minimum of 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant professional experience in legal regulatory affairs and strategic management is required.
              • Demonstrated expertise in legal affairs, public sector governance, and property management is required.
              • Proven experience in understanding of the regulatory landscape governing national budgets and public investments
              • Track record of previous work experience in high-Level Stakeholder Management and Inter-Institutional coordination
              • Experience in managing legal, operational, and strategic risks inherent in high-visibility national projects
              • Previous work experience in Change Management and Organizational Design
              • Experience in managing complex, multi-partner projects across sectors, ensuring alignment with institutional and policy goals.
              • Proven track record of excellent writing, reporting, and presentation skills in multilingual environments.
              • Proven experience in cross-cultural communication and multilingual stakeholder engagement.
              • Proficiency in project monitoring tools and the Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint), with the ability to adapt to new digital platforms.
              • Proven track record of sound understanding of Serbia’s political, institutional, and socio-economic context.
              • Excellent knowledge of written and spoken Serbian and English is required.