Principal Economic Affairs Officer

Contract

This is a D-1 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 15 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 242,484 USD and 305,990 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 Office of the Under-Secretary-General (OUSG), Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). The incumbent supports the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs in promoting strategic integration and policy coherence, including collaborative work with other Secretariat entities. In particular, the incumbent is responsible for: (a) defining DESA's strategic priorities; (b) enhancing interdivisional cooperation and facilitating departmental strategic reviews and actions on new and emerging challenges, especially cross-cutting issues; and (c) engaging stakeholders, including Member States and keys strategic partners in the Secretariat and the United Nations system.

The main duties of the post include planning, organizing and supervising all activities of the Unit, managing its human and financial resources, and supporting the Under-Secretary-General in coordinating and delivering shared goals for the Department and providing support to the Assistant Secretaries-General in operationalizing these visions.

Responsibilities The incumbent is responsible for the following duties:

(a) Leads the work of the Strategic Planning and Communications Service, including the formulation of policies and strategies in the areas of knowledge management, website communications, publishing and electronic administration as well as representation of the Department in relevant Secretariat policy and normative bodies, including the Information and Communications Management Committee, the Working Group on Electronic Publications and the Task Force on Knowledge Management; (b)Strengthens the collaboration of DESA Divisions to more effectively address new and emerging challenges, especially cross-cutting; (c)Promotes strategic integration and policy coherence, including collaborative work with other Secretariat entities in the economic and social field, to better meet intergovernmental mandates and emerging challenges; (d)Serves as a locus of interaction between the Department and its strategic partners in the Secretariat and in strengthening the links between the different pillars of the United Nations; (e)Strengthens collaboration with knowledge and advocacy networks on strategic priorities; (f)Serves as the focal point for the work of the Department related to the EOSG, the Policy Committee, the Executive Committee on Economic and Social Affairs, the Executive Committee on Peace and Security and the Executive Committee on Humanitarian Affairs; (g)Supports DESA senior management in its engagement with Member States on shared priorities and engages and assists Member States on specific issues and initiatives, fostering discussion, generating ideas and action; (h)Ensures that the outputs produced by the Service maintain high-quality standards and that the documents produced are clear, objective and based on comprehensive data; (i)Undertakes or oversees the programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the Service, including preparation of budgets, reporting on budget/programme performance, evaluation of staff performance, interviews of candidates for job openings and evaluation of candidates; (j)Manages the Service's human and financial resources, including providing guidance and support to staff and identifies the need for consultants and other non-staff resources; (k)Leads and supervises the organization of meetings and conferences on economic and social issues. Manages the substantive preparation and organization of such meetings and conferences; (l)Represents the Service in internal and external meetings and conference relating to the work of the Service and, as required, on other matters.

Competencies Professionalism: - Knowledge of major social and economic issues as they relate to the Department's programme of work - Knowledge of dealing with management of programmes and resources within the context - 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 the 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

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; 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

Judgement/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 that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision -Makes tough decisions when necessary

Education Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in Social or Economic Sciences or related area 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.

Work Experience A minimum of fifteen years of progressively responsible experience in economic and policy analysis in an international environment managing intergovernmental processes, supporting policy and programme development is required.

Experience in the areas of knowledge management, communications and publishing is desirable

Experience as a manager and team leader is desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.

Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice - Subject to post availability, this position is temporarily available for six months 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.

• Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.

• This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15.

• 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.

  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.

Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.

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.