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

UNDP provides integrated programmatic, policy and financing solutions to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this context, UNDP has created a Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan. The Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) and the Crisis Bureau (CB) are the two anchor Bureaux of the GPN.

In this context, the newly established Governance, Rule of Law, and Peacebuilding (GRP) Hub, a joint endeavour with the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS), provides leadership and advisory services to enhance UNDP’s impact on governance and peacebuilding, ensuring the integration of democratic governance and human rights into crisis response and recovery. The Hub aims to build an integrated portfolio collaboratively between the CB and BPPS and establish partnerships with various stakeholders including the UN System, IFIs, civil society, and the private sector. 

Through Local Action, the GRP Hub seeks to contribute to peace and development, achieving a visible impact on communities and improving lives by delivering integrated solutions that harness global expertise and partnerships. The Local Action Unit works closely with local and regional governments as key development players, highlighting their role as public service implementers, as drivers of innovation and the closest institution to people. 

Local and regional governments are already responsible of over 65% of the SDG targets, most of them linked to basic service provision from water, sanitation, mobility, climate action, health or education. Cities and territories are playing a big part on the implementation of SDGs, that are becoming a new tool for strategic planning and budgeting in the mid to long-term. Since 2015, local governments and their associations have been increasingly active in promoting the SDGs through advocacy, working with their local population and partners in transposing the spirit of Agenda 2030 in cities and territories. Local governments have also started to use SDGs as a strategic framework to deliver better and more innovative public services linked to SDG targets and indicators. As part of the SDG Local Action project, UNDP is one of the implementing partners of the Mayors Challenge, a global initiative to reimagine the most essential services that cities deliver to residents.

Within this context, the SDG Local Action project is seeking to recruit a Project Coordinator to support the implementation of the Mayors Challenge in the city of As-Salt (Jordan), one of the winners of the 2025 Mayors Challenge. The As Salt project aims to establish a training centre for the restoration of heritage buildings, training local residents on restoration skills to preserve their heritage, revive their buildings and repurpose them. 

As-Salt is home of thousands of heritage buildings, with a magnificent architectural character that tells the city’s rich history and connects its owners with their ancestors. Today, these buildings, once vibrant and full of life, have fallen into disrepair due to neglect, lack of awareness about their importance and a shortage of restoration specialist and high maintenance costs. About 70% of them are dilapidated and abandoned, posing a threat to residents and visitors. The project will transform the urban heritage of As Salt into a sustainable economic, social and cultural engine. By establishing the Heritage Building Restoration Training at the Beit Falah Al Hamad Heritage site, the city will be leading an integrated model that will create skills to create local and regional job opportunities. The project will also work with the owners of heritage buildings, providing legal support, financial incentives and technical support, connecting them with the new graduates. The project will also work to project a new image for the city to attract tourism, culture and investment in partnership with city society and the private sector, including banks and microfinance institutions.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Coordinator will perform the following functions:

A. Coordinate the implementation of the Mayors Challenge in As Salt City

• Coordinate the project’s planning and implementation of the Mayors Challenge project in As Salt City.
• Ensure alignment with project objectives, and with the donor and As-Salt Municipality requirements and priorities.
• Ensure high-quality and timely delivery of all components in line with the approved work plan.
• Elaborate strategies to inform decision-making, policy alignment, and long-term sustainability of project outcomes.
• Serve as the primary liaison focal point with As-Salt Municipality, ensuring continuous coordination with the mayor and the designated city team.
• Provide technical guidance to ensure high-quality planning and implementation of heritage conservation interventions.
• Elaborate Terms of Reference for procurement and contracting processes in coordination with UNDP, acting as a primary liaison between the Municipality and UNDP to ensure efficient implementation of operations in line with project requirements and compliance with established procedures.
• Supervise the work of the service providers, consultancies and/or private entities that will implement the project, and conduct performance reviews in accordance with UNDP rules, regulations and procedures. 
• Prepares and submits proposals for budget revisions to the donor, via UNDP. 
• Checks on project budget management, ensuring efficient use of resources and financial compliance, and performance monitoring. 
• Manage multidisciplinary teams, including assigned staff by the municipality and project-funded contracts (consultancy and service contracts), ensuring effective coordination, performance management, and quality of outputs.

B. Manage relationships with the project partners

• Participate in meetings with local stakeholders and partners.
• Ensure the application of project governance frameworks, including organizing steering and coordination meetings, documenting decisions, and submitting recommendations to relevant stakeholders.
• Facilitate institutional coordination and engagement with key governmental entities and stakeholders, including the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Ministry of Local Administration, Department of Antiquities, Vocational Training Corporation, civil society organizations, local communities, and other institutions in Jordan.
• Establish and maintain effective coordination mechanisms with international organizations, development partners, and donors, including the donor and UNESCO, ensuring alignment with donor requirements and international standards.
• Coordinate efforts with relevant stakeholders and specialized committees for the establishment of the restoration centre, including the development of technical and training programs, preparation of the centre’s functional program, and development of operational, administrative, and financial plans to ensure readiness and sustainability.
• Oversee training programs and services delivered through the restoration centre within the framework of the project, ensuring quality, relevance, and alignment with project objectives and local capacity-building needs.
• Promote knowledge transfer and institutional capacity building within As-Salt Municipality to ensure sustainability and long-term impact of project outcomes.

C. Sharing lessons learnt at global level and knowledge management

• Participate in public webinars to present the project achievements and challenges to other global cities.
• Elaborate knowledge products about how the project is contributing to SDGs by innovating public service delivery.
• Elaborate policy briefs and easy communicable knowledge materials on the lessons learnt by the project.
• Participate in the global exchange of experiences amongst local governments on how the project is contributing to implement the SDGs at local level.
• Prepare periodic progress reports, support project communication and visibility efforts.
• Communicate project outputs, identifies data linked to the SDG targets and indicators and liaises with the communications team to promote the project results.
• Liaise with SDG Local Action global team to approve public information on the project results through the project webpage and other UNDP communication tools. 

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

Institutional Arrangements

Under the overall guidance of the City Mayor and the city project focal point, Project Coordinator will directly report the UNDP Advisor on cities and local governments based in New York (USA).

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.

Functional/Technical competencies

Business Management  

• Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.

Business Direction & Strategy  

• Effective Decision Making: Take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one's authority, area of expertise and resources and take into consideration potential wider implications.

Business Management: 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.

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.

Business Management: Results-based Management 

• Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. 
• Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.

2030 Agenda: Engagement and Effectiveness

• Innovation: Innovation Ecosystem

2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness

• Effectiveness: Performance analysis on programming

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Civil Engineering, Cultural Heritage Management, Architecture, Urban Planning, Public Administration, Historic Preservation is required. 
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Applicants with a 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 professional experience in heritage conservation, including the restoration and rehabilitation of historic buildings and urban heritage sites.

Desired skills:

• Experience in working with local governments.
• Experience in institutional coordination mechanisms, regulatory frameworks, and public sector procedures in Jordan.
• Proven track record of experience in leading and/or managing donor-funded development projects, preferably at the municipal level and in collaboration with international organizations and development partners.
• Experience working within the historic urban fabric of As-Salt, including management of a living World Heritage site.
• Experience in designing and implementing training programs on heritage conservation interventions, including the restoration and rehabilitation of historic buildings and urban heritage sites.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency of English and Arabic are 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.