Senior Programme Officer, Human Settlements

Senior Programme & Policy

Overview

Manage the Local2030 Coalition secretariat activities and strategic direction.

You have:

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in international development, governance, public administration, urban and regional planning, economics, law, management or a related field.
• A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in governance, public administration, development management, urban development or related area is required.
• Fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language (Spanish) is an advantage.
• Experience with the UN system is desirable.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain partnerships with diverse stakeholders.

Contract

This is a P-5 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 10 years of experience, depending on education. More about P-5 contracts and their salaries.

Org. Setting and Reporting The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is the agency for human settlements. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. The position is located in the Local2030 Coalition Secretariat in Bilbao, overseen by the Chief of the Urban Practices Branch (UPB) within the Global Solutions Division.

The Global Solutions Division (GSD) is responsible for providing programmatic direction for UN-Habitat and is responsible and accountable for the programmatic delivery of the Strategic Plan. The Division leads the tools and methodology production and the integration of the various substantive competencies towards effective delivery of the Strategic Plan and the mandate of UN-Habitat. It provides substantive training and supports capacity development of Member States and partners.

The Urban Practices Branch (UPB) is the tools and methodology production and skills centre of the UN-Habitat, that develops normative guidance and cutting-edge tools through its five sections and Agency-wide communities of urban practice. It provides technical and policy advice approaches and methodologies to MCOs/CO, government and partners and mainstreams them throughout the programme portfolio. It also ensures that the cross-cutting area of safety and the social inclusion issues including human rights; gender; children, youth and older persons; and disability, are developed and mainstreamed across the Agency.

The Local2030 Coalition is the UN system-wide mechanism to advance the crucial engagement of local stakeholders in a systematic way - a common space to mobilise, engage and empower every local actor, everywhere – towards the achievement of the SDGs. The Coalition is underpinned by the recognition that strategic and committed partnerships are key to ensure coherence and effectiveness. Inside the UN system, the Local2030 Coalition aims to strengthen coordination between the UN agencies efforts and expand and deepen their partnerships with local actors to advance the SDGs.

The Coalition is co-chaired by UN-Habitat (as the permanent co-Chair) and one other UN entity which rotates every two years (currently UNDP). UN-Habitat also serves as the Secretariat of the Local2030 Coalition. The Coalition is governed by a Steering Committee, and supported by a UN Directors’ Group which includes senior representatives from various UN Agencies, Offices, Funds and Programmes. The Executive Office of the secretary-General (EOSG) closely accompanies and supports the work of the Local2030 Coalition.

The focus of this position is on managing the Local2030 Coalition secretariat and its activities under the overall supervision of the UN-Habitat senior focal point on SDG localization and local government relations in UN-Habitat, and with the guidance of the Local2030 Coalition Co-Chairs and Steering Committee.

The Senior Programme Officer (SPO)/Head of Secretariat (HoS) will implement the strategic direction of Local2030 Coalition and the formulation and implementation of the secretariat work programme to increase the effectiveness of local actions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The SPO/HoS will manage the Local2030 Coalition secretariat office and supervise the staff; lead financial resource mobilization efforts and liaise with donors; and work closely with the Steering Committee, UN Directors Group, Local2030 Hubs, Local2030 partners and other organizations to build and maintain political and financial support to Coalition. The SPO/HoS will, as required, also represent UN-Habitat and Local2030 at international, regional and national meetings and conferences and other fora.

Responsibilities •Takes the lead in developing and implementing the vision for strategic direction of Local2030; leading the development of the Local2030 Coalition Secretariat work programme and budget with active participation of the Secretariat staff members, Coalition co-Chairs, the UN Directors’ Group and partners; ensuring the alignment of the Secretariat work programme with UN-Habitat’s strategic plan and work programme and organizational priorities; leading the Secretariat efforts in operational support to SDG localization as requested by the UN resident Coordinator Offices and Country Teams; leading the implementation of advocacy, action, and monitoring activities of GWOPA Secretariat; and ensuring that the quality of all the Secretariat products and activities is up to the UN-Habitat standards. •Ensures implementation of gender mainstreaming guidelines by assessing the implications for men and women of any planned action, including legislation, policies or programmes, in all areas and at all levels. •Directs research and programme evaluation and presents information gathered from diverse sources. •Coordinates policy development; reviews the assessments of issues and trends, preparation of evaluations or research activities and studies, •Undertakes survey initiatives; guides design of data collection instruments; reviews, analyzes and interprets responses, identifies problems/issues and prepares conclusions. •Supervises preparation of various written outputs, e.g. background papers, analysis, substantial sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc. •Directs substantive support to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc. •Manages outreach activities; designs and conducts training workshops, seminars, etc., makes presentations on assigned topics/activities. •Leads efforts, as required, to keep strong presence of Local2030 in key high level international and regional fora, and coordinating the preparation of Local2030 Secretariat events, and actively participating, in such fora •Leads field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting mission summaries, etc. •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.). •Serves as an effective spokesperson and establishes collaboration and partnerships with key officials at all levels inside and outside the organization. •Works closely with the host country institutions to ensure smooth operations of the Local2030 Coalition Secretariat. •Leads and implements, in line with UN Habitat policies and processes, all necessary financial resource mobilization activities and advocating and, supports UN Habitat in liaising, with donor agencies and regional development banks to maintain and enhance financial support to Local2030 Coalition Secretariat; establishing and maintaining professional relationships with substantive partners of Local2030; support UN-Habitat in maintaining strong relationships with governmental agencies and development partners to ensure political support to Local2030 and SDG Localization; •Managing the Local2030 Secretariat Office and running its day-to-day operations by recruiting the needed personnel; managing and supervising the Secretariat staff members in the implementation of the developed Secretariat work programme; managing staff performance, and overseeing staff training and development. •May perform other duties as required.

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; 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. 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. Professionalism: Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities and risks. Ability to generate and communicate broad and compelling organizational direction. Ability to communicate clearly links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals. Demonstrated ability to provide innovative technical leadership by performing and/or overseeing the planning, development, and management of operation. Demonstrated ability to negotiate and apply good judgment; 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. 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. •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. •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 Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in international development, governance, public administration, urban and regional planning, economics, law, management or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in governance, public administration, development management, urban development or related area is required.

Experience with the UN system is desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language (Spanish) is an advantage.

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

Special Notice - This position is temporarily available for 364 days. 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.

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.

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Added 3 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: careers.un.org