Policy and Social Innovation Associate

Senior

Overview

Support the implementation of policy innovation agendas for TPLab.

You have:

• Minimum 6 years of relevant experience in public sector, private sector, or international organizations.
• Bachelor's Degree in social sciences, social innovation, international relations, journalism, communications or other relevant disciplines preferable but not required.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Thai.

Contract

This is a NPSA-6 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Personnel Services Agreement. It is normally only for nationals. It usually requires 6 years of experience, depending on education. More about NPSA-6 contracts.

Background

To accelerate innovation in public policy and services, UNDP and the Royal Thai Government through the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council see an opportunity to accelerate innovation for policies and public services in Thailand and have entered in an agreement to establish a policy innovation platform “Thailand Policy Lab” or “TPLab” to connect and build capacities of various stakeholders in Thailand including government; academic; private sector; and citizen, to accelerate the impact of innovation in public policy and services in Thailand, and exchange knowledge and experience with other countries in the Asia Pacific region and beyond.

The Thailand Policy Lab (TPLab) will provide 3 core capacities to partners in Thailand as follow:

a. Exploration

• Exploring the strategic risks under uncertainties, horizon scanning in Thailand and to identify under-the-radar trends and outliers and spot future trends that are relevant for policy formulation and public service development.

b. Portfolio Options & Experiment

• Articulating the possible strategic options against the strategic risks
• Designing and running multiple policy experiments to build Portfolio Options & Experimentation for accelerating impact in selected priority areas
• Experimenting evaluation (e.g. RCT, real-time monitoring, big data, lean impact measurement)

c. Learning

• Accelerated learning, capacity building, and regional/global positioning for Thailand (e.g. On-the-job learning opportunities for government officials at different levels (line ministry level, local government, and public administration)

To support implementation of various initiatives of the TPLab, UNDP Thailand is looking for a Policy and Social Innovation Associate to support and coordinate the implementation of the innovation agenda of the TPLab that aligns with the plans of the Royal Thai Government and UNDP in Thailand. He/She will report directly to Head of TPLab and will work closely with the team of UNDP programme and operation teams in Thailand and NESDC, including other government agencies, civil society organizations, and the private sector to ensure successful acceleration of innovation to improve public policy and services towards the achievement of the SDGs.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Policy and Social Innovation Associate will support and facilitate the coordination and implementation of the following components:

Policy Innovation Process

• Together with TPLab and NESDC teams, map and assess insights through problem scoping, solution finding and define pathways for their scale - up in policy making process.
• Provide support in conceptualizing, organizing and facilitating youth policy innovation processes and activities related to youth-specific solutions finding.
• Contribute with work planning and implementation of the TP Lab’s activities aimed at accelerating innovation in public policy and services, including in tracking agreed-upon activities.

Virtual Policy Platform and Community of Innovators

• Provide support in developing frameworks and in the execution of the TP Lab virtual policy platform that is innovative, engaging and educational.
• Coordinate networks and community of policy innovators in Thailand and the region while assisting in exploring and identifying new potential partners for the TP Lab community of innovators.
• Assist in identifying capacity building needs for policy planners and in identifying different innovative ways for community of innovators to share and exchange experiences.

Partnerships and Networking

• Support the TPLab team in cultivating partnerships and strategic partnership-building approaches with government, civil society, non-governmental organizations, businesses and other different stakeholders.
• Contribute to and actively support cross-team collaboration and convening to achieve TP Lab’s objectives.
• Research and draft briefings, talking points, presentations, and other necessary materials.

Institutional Arrangement

Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of Head of Thailand Policy Lab (TPLab), the Policy and Social Innovation Associate will provide support in coordinating the policy innovation process, the community of innovators and the capacity building components of the TP Lab activities, ensuring high quality, efficient and effective project delivery.

Duty Station and expected place of Travel: Bangkok-based, Thailand. Travel to provinces where project activities take place may be required. Destination shall be assigned and approved prior to travel. Travels will be authorized by Team Leader/Programme Specialist when required. Travel expenses (ticket, living allowance and local transport) shall be agreed prior to travel and reimbursed after trips completed.

Competencies

Required skills and competencies:

• Innovation - Ability to make new and useful ideas work
• Communication - Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform
• Delivery - Ability to get things done while exercising good judgment

Desired additional skills and competencies:

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
• Strong analytical, reporting and writing skills;
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
• Ability to plan, organize, implement and report on work;
• Proficiency in the use of office IT applications and internet in conducting research;
• Demonstrates integrity and fairness, by modelling the UN/UNDP’s values and ethical standards;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Thai national with secondary education. Bachelor’s Degree in social sciences, social innovation, international relation, journalism, communications or other relevant disciplines with a demonstrated interest in policy innovation for social change would be desirable but it is not a requirement.

Experience:

• Minimum 6 years (or 3 years with Bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in public sector, private sector, or international organizations.
• Experience in public policy process, innovative management approaches, public and private sector innovation strategies, corporate strategies or development financing would be desirable.

Language Requirement:

• Fluency in written and spoken English and Thai.

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 4 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: jobs.undp.org