ECONOMIC AFFAIRS OFFICER

Contract

This is a P-4 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 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 168,113 USD and 216,746 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

Org. Setting and Reporting This position is located in the Sustainable Energy Section within the Sustainable Energy Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) based in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Division works to promote a sustainable energy development strategy for the UNECE region, with the following objectives: - sustained access to high quality energy services for all individuals in the UNECE region; - facilitate a transition to a more sustainable energy future and introduce renewable energy sources to reduce health and environmental impacts resulting from the production, transport and use of energy; - sustained improvements in energy efficiency, in production and use, particularly in countries with economies in transition; - well-balanced energy networks tailored to optimise operating efficiencies and overall regional cooperation; - security of energy supply; and - integration of energy restructuring, legal, regulatory and energy pricing reforms, as well as of the social dimension into energy policy making.

Under the direct supervision of the P5, Chief of Section, and the general supervision of the D1, Chief of Service, the incumbent is responsible for supporting the implementation of the programme of work of the Committee on Sustainable Energy and its subsidiary bodies (Groups of Experts), in particular, the Group of Experts on Cleaner Electricity Systems. The Groups of Experts focus on: (a) regulatory and policy dialogue; (b) developing and sharing best practices and standards; and (c) development, assessment and dissemination of policies in support of sustainable energy. The incumbent is expected to carry out concrete, results-oriented activities that are to be developed and implemented with the active participation of UNECE member States, representatives from the energy, business, and financial sectors, civil society, international organizations, independent experts and academia.

This position is temporarily available from 1 February 2023 to 31 July 2023, with possibility of extension. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.

Responsibilities Within delegated authority, the incumbent will carry out the following duties:

- Supports the work of the Committee on Sustainable Energy and its subsidiary bodies

Economic or sector analysis: - Monitors economic developments that will help countries in the UNECE region and beyond to attain the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement, including to build resilient energy systems and accelerate the energy transition towards attaining carbon neutrality. - Designs and conducts studies of selected issues in economic development and draft resulting reports. - Interprets and applies results of econometric modelling to analysis of economic prospects and policies. - Develops draft policy recommendations pertaining to energy resilience with a focus on security, affordability, and environmental sustainability. - Formulates proposals for development strategies, policies and measures related to sustainable energy for presentation to intergovernmental bodies and others. - Attends international, regional, and national meetings to hold discussions with representatives of other institutions. - Organizes expert group meetings, workshops and seminars, etc. on topics related to sustainable energy, carbon neutrality, low-carbon technologies and market design. - Prepares speeches and other inputs for presentations by senior staff.

Intergovernmental support: - Provides substantive support on sustainable energy, electricity markets and low-carbon technologies to the Committee on Sustainable Energy and its subsidiary bodies, and to other intergovernmental and subsidiary bodies of UNECE. - Represents the Sustainable Energy Division at international, regional and national meetings.

Technical cooperation: - Designs and monitors technical cooperation projects related to energy for sustainable development and the work plans of the Committee on Sustainable and its Groups of Experts. - Undertakes missions to Member States, either alone or as a participant in a diverse team, as part of the UNECE’s technical cooperation activities. - Prepares global, regional, national or sector analyses that provide a basis for advising national governments on sustainable energy issues. - Conducts training seminars and workshops for government officials and others.

General: - Supports junior staff, reviewing their work and providing feedback. - Participates in intra- and inter-Departmental undertakings of broader concern to represent the views or interests of the Sustainable Energy Division. - Performs other related duties as required, including a variety of administrative tasks necessary for the final delivery of the programme of work of the sustainable energy subprogramme. - Undertakes on-the-job and other training activities, both internally and externally.

Competencies - PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of sustainable energy issues, electricity markets and low-carbon technologies, including those that significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel-fired electricity generation. Ability to apply economic theories and concepts in different sectors of economic and sustainable development. Ability to conduct independent research on economic topics, determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources. Ability to identify and develop sources for data collection. 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

• 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.

• PLANNING & 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.

• CLIENT ORIENTATION: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

  Education An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in economics, engineering, environmental sciences or related fields is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

  Work Experience A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in economic research and analysis, policy formulation, application of economic principles in development programmes or related area is required.

  A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in economic research and analysis, policy formulation, application of economic principles in the area of energy or clean electricity technologies or a related area is desirable.

  Experience working with electricity markets and networks, including market design, is desirable.

  A minimum of three years of experience in project management is desirable.

  A minimum of three years of experience servicing committees for governmental or non-governmental organizations, academia or the private sector or similar experience is desirable.

  Experience with economies in transition (e.g. in Eastern Europe, Western Balkan, Caucasus or Central Asia) is desirable.

  Experience working for an international organization or working internationally is desirable.

  Experience writing publications is desirable.

  Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Russian is a working language of ECE. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Russian is desirable.

  Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which will be followed by 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.

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.

• This position is temporarily available from 1 February 2023 to 31 July 2023, with possibility of extension. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.

• While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post.

• Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.

• Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 31 July 2022, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, China, Comoros, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Malta, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu.

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.