Deputy Executive Secretary (Chief Economist)

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UNESCWA - Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia

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Application deadline 3 years ago: Thursday 1 Oct 2020 at 23:59 UTC

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Contract

This is a D-2 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 16 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 198,606 USD and 239,371 USD.

Salary for a D-2 contract in Beirut

The international rate of 143,813 USD, with an additional 38.1% (post adjustment) at this the location, applies. Please note that depending on the location, a higher post adjustment might still result in a lower purchasing power.

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Org. Setting and Reporting The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) forms part of the United Nations Secretariat and, like the other regional commissions, operates under the supervision of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. ESCWA comprises 20 Arab countries in Western Asia and North Africa. ESCWA provides a framework for the formulation and harmonization of sectoral policies for member countries, a platform for congress and coordination, a home for expertise and knowledge, and an information observatory. ESCWA activities are coordinated with the divisions and main offices of the Headquarters of the United Nations, specialized agencies, and international and regional organizations, including the League of Arab States and its subsidiary bodies, and the Gulf Cooperation Council. This position is in the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES) of ESCWA. The Deputy Executive Secretary (Chief Economist) will assist the Executive Secretary and reports directly to the Executive Secretary.

Responsibilities Within delegated authority, the Deputy Executive Secretary (Chief Economist) will be responsible for the following:

1.Contributes to the formulation of the Commission's substantive strategies and policies by participating in various committees, preparing documents on policy issues, and acting as an advisor to the Executive Secretary.

2.Assists the Executive Secretary in formulating development policies and strategies for consideration by governmental, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations in Arab States.

3.Provides leadership to the development of innovative and/or change management programmes.

4.Advises the Executive Secretary on emerging and long-term economic trends affecting sustainable development, and their policy and programmatic implications.

5.Provides forward-looking analysis and identify economic and other related development trends to help ESCWA advance high-quality policy support on socio-economic concerns to ESCWA’s member states.

6.Strengthens ESCWA’s contribution to development policy debates of strategic relevance to the organization and thereby be part of shaping ESCWA’s positioning in key regional processes and conferences.

7.Leads the conduct of cutting-edge research in economics, ranging from theoretical methodological issues to applied economics; and provide forward looking economic policy advise for application at national and regional levels.

8.Supports the ES in the commission’s efforts to coordinate and harmonize ESCWA’s work in the field of economics to produce evidence-based coherent narratives on economic growth and development in the region with the aim of providing policy recommendations, tools, knowledge pieces, data and main messages to member states and other stakeholders in support of equitable and inclusive growth in line with the Agenda 2030.

9.Promotes robust economic analysis, including development of the statistical capacities and systems of ESCWA member states for the provision of timely and reliable data for policy dialogue and formulation.

10.Leads a number of public goods in the area of economic analysis and research that not only support member states policy makers but also helps communicate the voice of the region to global arenas within the UN and beyond.

11.Leads the consolidation and the enhancement of research methodology in the preparation of required studies in the areas of political economy, macro policies, trade and other economic issues important to Arab States as well as contribute to their policy and business implications.

12.Supports coherence of strategic development policy work across Clusters.

13.Significantly contributes to the identification of new directions and approaches to improve ESCWA’s capacity for supporting regional cooperation among member states.

14.Contributes substantially to new and innovative approaches to Agenda 2030 and sustainable development goals (SDGs) implementation.

15.Provides operational knowledge support through capacity building programs, knowledge services, and technical assistance in response to member states needs.

16.Assists Executive Secretary in enhancing the Commission's substantive relations with the League of Arab States, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and other regional organizations.

17.Ensures that the outputs produced by ESCWA maintain high-quality standards; and that reports are clear, policy driven, and that they comply with the relevant mandates.

18.Ensures the effective implementation of actions required by the Secretariat on the resolutions and decisions of the Commission, the UN Economic and Social Council and other intergovernmental organizations.

19.Co-ordinates and oversees the preparation of reports for presentation to intergovernmental bodies such as the Committee for Programme Coordination, Economic and Social Council, the General Assembly and other policy-making organs, as appropriate.

20.Assists the Executive Secretary in strengthening processes for the operation of the Commission and supports Cluster leaders in improving opportunities for capacity- building and technical assistance to member States.

21.Manages, guides, develops and trains staff under his/her supervision; fosters teamwork and communication among staff in the Clusters and across organizational boundaries.

22.Chairs meetings, seminars, etc., on substantive-related issues; represents the Organization at international, regional, inter-agency meetings, seminars and conference; provides programmatic/substantive expertise on an issue, or holds programmatic/substantive and organizational discussions with representatives of other institutions.

23.Collaborates, as appropriate with relevant UN system organizations, international financial institutions, the Arab States and other bilateral and multilateral organizations, academia and the private sector to advance the agenda of ESCWA.

24.Supports building a network of expertise in the region and abroad that would help maintain an excellent quality for all economic research and products; including partnerships with regional organizations, academic institutions, think tanks, specialized NGOs, other UN agencies and the network of economists in the Offices of Resident Coordinators of the Arab Region.

25.Acts as Officer-in-Charge of the Commission responsible for the overall functioning of the secretariat during the absence of the Executive Secretary as needed.

26.Oversees the management of research activities ensuring that programmed activities are carried out in a timely fashion and co-ordinates work in the different areas in ESCWA and with other organizations of the United Nations System, donors and agencies as appropriate.

27.Co-ordinates and oversees the preparation of reports for presentation to intergovernmental bodies such as the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budget Questions, Committee for Programme Coordination, Economic and Social Council, the General Assembly and other policy-making organs, as appropriate.

28.Oversees the recruitment of staff, taking due account geographical and gender balance and other institutional values.

29.Manages, guides, develops and trains staff under his/her supervision; foster teamwork and communication among staff in ESCWA and across organizational boundaries.

30.Performs other related duties as requested by the Executive Secretary.

Work implies frequent interaction, coordination and collaboration with the following: •Cluster leaders and staff within the Commission; •Senior staff within the UN Secretariat, Missions Heads and other UN offices, funds, programmes and specialized agencies. •Representatives of Governments and representatives of non-governmental organizations. Chairs and members of intergovernmental bodies.

Results expected: Effectively managed substantive results agreed upon annually with the ES; Coherent framework to guide clusters on economic research topics; Final services/products are integrated in the overall strategy of the commission; Development of innovative programs with significant impact on the overall effectiveness of ESCWA and the United Nations. Intellectual and professional leadership for overall strategy, quality, delivery and results.

Competencies Managerial Competencies:

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 improvement; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Ability to provide leadership and take responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives into substantive work; commitment to the goal of achieving gender balance in staffing and creating a gender sensitive working environment that pays attention to work/life issues.

Judgment/Decision-making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, 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 the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

Core Competencies:

Professionalism: Excellent knowledge of the diverse Arab economies their interlinkages and their institutional and cultural context. High level understanding of global and regional economic trends and the opportunities and challenges they present. Capable to guide the development of normative work within the broader framework of 2030 Agenda and SDGs, the provision of policy advisory support, and proven ability to produce policy reports and papers on socio - economic issues. Ability to review and edit the work of others, expertise in overseeing and ensuring quality assurance in ESCWA's work. Shows ability to apply UN rules, regulations, policies and guidelines in work situations.

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: Excellent drafting ability and communication skills, both oral and written; ability to defend and explain difficult issues with respect to key decisions and positions to staff, senior officials and members of intergovernmental bodies; proven ability to communicate complex concepts orally; exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed; ability to prepare written reports that are clear, concise and meaningful.

Education Advanced University degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Economics, Business or Public Administration, Finance, Accounting, Law, Social Sciences or in a related relevant field is required. Specialization, experience and advance training/certification in one or more of the following disciplines - political economy, development economy, macro-economy, development finance, and economic integration is desirable (Kindly elaborate in cover letter). A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. A PhD in Economics or a closely-related and relevant field is desirable.

Work Experience At least 15 years of progressively responsible experience in the analysis of socioeconomic development issues, and in the formulation, design and implementation of relevant interventions is required. Experience in managing development programmes at the national, regional and/or international level is required. Experience in facilitating and conducting intergovernmental negotiating processes as well as experience in handling a multidisciplinary portfolio of tasks and duties is desirable. Proven track record of excellent management and technical leadership skills is desirable. Experience in development work in the West Asia/Arab States region is desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. In addition, Arabic is a working language at ESCWA. For this position, fluency in English is required. Fluency in Arabic is desirable. Fluency in French is desirable. Knowledge of other official UN languages is an advantage.

Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas.

Assessment Evaluation of qualified applicants will include substantive assessment(s) and a competency-based interview.

Special Notice •At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

•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.

•The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

•For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 31 May 2020, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, China, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Suriname, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

•Staff members appointed to the current position are required to submit a financial disclosure statement upon assignment or appointment and annually thereafter.

United Nations Considerations 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. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

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.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The 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 according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. 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 reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee 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.

Added 3 years ago - Updated 3 years ago - Source: careers.un.org