Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the United Nations Office for Sustainable Development (UNOSD),
in the city of Incheon, Republic of Korea. UNOSD is a project office of the Division for Sustainable Development Goals (DSDG), in the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA). DSDG acts as the Secretariat for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), providing substantive support and capacity-building for the goals and their related thematic issues, including water, energy, climate, oceans, urbanization, transport, science and technology, the Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR), partnerships and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). DSDG plays a key role in the evaluation of UN systemwide implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and on advocacy and outreach activities relating to the SDGs. For more information, please visit DSDG website at https://sdgs.un.org/about. You may also wish to visit the website of the UNOSD at https://unosd.un.org/. The Senior Development Management Expert reports directly to the UNOSD Head of Office.

Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Head of Office and within delegated authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the management and substantive aspects of the work of the Office. In particular, the incumbent will carry out the following duties:
•Leads the development, implementation and evaluation of assigned programmes/projects on sustainable development issues with a focus on environmental protection; directs subordinates in programme/project development, implementation, monitoring and assessment; Leads review of relevant documents and reports; identifies priorities, problems and issues to be addressed and proposes corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; identifies and initiates follow-up actions.
•Leads research on the identification of new and emerging sustainable development issues and presents analysis of information gathered and reviewed from diverse sources with plausible recommendations.
•Designs and implements substantive policy advisory services at the country level integrating the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement, Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the Sendai Framework into national plans, policies and strategies.
•Supervises preparation of various written outputs, including background papers, analysis, substantial sections of reports and studies, and inputs to publications on sustainable development issues.
•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.
•Together with the UN development system entities, engages, convenes and forges strategic partnerships at the international, regional, and national levels with diverse entities including with civil society, networks of young people, the private sector, parliamentarians, academia, media and think tanks, and the broader development community, around UN’s collective support to the 2030 Agenda;
•Advances, with Government, Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams and relevant regional entities, regional knowledge-sharing and collaboration, south-south, north-south and triangular exchanges, multi-country and transboundary initiatives in pursuit of greater system-wide results and impact on the implementation of Agenda 2030 in country;
•Ensures gender mainstreaming, including in legislation, policies or programmes.
•Represents the Office at international, regional or national meetings on sustainable development issues.
•Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies

•Professionalism: Proven knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to sustainable development. 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. Proven ability to analyze complex data and produce reports leading to sound policy recommendations for achieving sustainable development; Solid understanding of the political environment and the programmes and activities of the UN system in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement, Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the Sendai Framework ; Ability to think strategically, to identify key emerging sustainable development issues and related policy implications. 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.
•Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
•Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Managerial Competencies
•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.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in sustainable development, development economics, public policy, public administration, , natural resources management, social sciences or 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 development management, analysis, policy formulation and application in the area of sustainable development is required.
At least three years of experience advising or working for governments on any three of the following areas: implementing the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs synergies, environmental protection, climate change, natural resources, green economy, energy, urbanization or circular economy is required.
Experience in national policy design, implementation and capacity building in these areas is desirable.
International experience with respect to the challenges of sustainable development in developing countries and countries with economies in transition is desirable.
Experience in the management of programmes is desirable.
Experience in working with intergovernmental processes is desirable.

Languages

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 another UN official language or of Korean is desirable.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

This Job Opening refers to a capacity development project position. The initial appointment is for one year and it is subject to availability of funds. Annual renewal of the appointment is subject to continuation of the project’s mandate, priorities, and availability of funds.

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.