Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfill the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in the Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover note.
For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 June 2017, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belarus, Belize, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Comoros, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and Viet Nam.
The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.
Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfill the lateral move(s) requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral move(s) in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover note.
This position is located in the Policy and Analysis Branch (PAB) of the Division for Sustainable Development (DSD) in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). The Division for Sustainable Development, under the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, provides leadership in promoting and coordinating the implementation of the sustainable development agenda of the United Nations and serves as the secretariat to the high-level political forum on sustainable development (HLPF), which was established following the Rio+20 Conference and General Assembly resolutions 66/288 and 67/290. For more information, please visit our website at https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/. The Senior Sustainable Development Officer reports to the Chief of the Policy and Analysis Branch .
Within delegated authority, the Senior Sustainable Development Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
•Leads the development, implementation and evaluation of assigned programmes/projects on sustainable development issues related to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals.
•Leads research and analysis on the identification of new and emerging issues and trends relevant to sustainable development and the 2030 Agenda, presenting results and policy recommendations with clarity and rigour.
•Strengthens the science-policy interface through integrated assessments of scientific analysis and evidence from various fields relevant to the SDGs, including the implications for policy at multiple levels and across diverse actors.
•Provides direct substantive support to consultative and intergovernmental meetings, in particular the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) and other events that may be organized from time to time.
•Manages outreach activities; designs and conducts training workshops, seminars, etc., gives lectures or presentations on assigned topics/activities on sustainable development issues.
•Oversees web contents and structure for the areas of his/her responsibilities.
•Leads field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties, including drafting mission summaries on sustainable development issues.
•Prepares speeches for senior staff and makes presentations on sustainable development issues at various forums of intergovernmental, governmental, inter-agency, expert or multi-stakeholder nature.
•Develops and maintains relations with senior officials of member governments and ensures a response to request for advice and/or capacity development on sustainable development issues and policies, including leading capacity development missions.
•Coordinates activities related to budget and funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and ensures preparation of related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.) for the Branch.
•Serves as an effective spokesperson and establishes collaboration and partnerships with key officials at all levels inside and outside the organization.
•Ensures effective utilization, supervision and development of staff; Guides, evaluates and mentors staff.
•Takes the lead in task forces, working groups, inter-agency groups, as needed on sustainable development issues.
•Represents the Branch/Division at international, regional or national meetings on sustainable development issues.
•Manages unit/section both substantively and administratively, as appropriate.
•Performs other related duties as required.
•Professionalism: Knowledge of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals. Knowledge of theories, concepts, measurements and policies relevant to sustainable development. Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities and risks for the Organization in areas related to activities of the work unit. Ability to identify and communicate clearly links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals. Ability to provide substantive leadership by performing and/or overseeing the planning, development, drafting and finalization of publications such as reports. Ability to negotiate and apply good judgment. Ability to analyze complex data and produce reports/other publications containing sound policy recommendations for achieving the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. Knowledge of the political environment and the programmes and activities of international bodies including the UN system as related to the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. Ability to think strategically, to identify key emerging sustainable development issues and related policy implications for a diverse range of stakeholders. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.
•Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
•Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
•Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.
•Judgment/Decision-making: Identifies key issues in complex situations, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in sustainable development, economics, public policy, public administration, natural resources management, engineering, law, natural/social sciences or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in policy development and formulation related to sustainable development issues is required, of which at least five years must be at the international level. Experience in policy-oriented research/programme management is required. Experience in policy advisory work is desirable.
English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required; knowledge of the other is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity, including but not limited to, respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to, whether they have committed or are alleged to have committed criminal offences or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the At-a-Glance on "The Application Process" and the Instructional Manual for the Applicants, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.
The screening and evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications, including but not limited to, their education, work experience, and language skills, according to the instructions provided on inspira. Applicants will be disqualified from consideration if they do not demonstrate in their application that they meet the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations. Applicants are solely responsible for providing complete and accurate information at the time of application: no amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to a reference-checking process to verify the information provided in the application.
Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at midnight (New York time) on the deadline date.
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.