CHIEF OF SERVICE, ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Sustainable Transport Unit of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), based in Geneva, Switzerland. Under the direct supervision of the Executive Secretary (Under-Secretary-General (USG) of the Commission, the incumbent is expected to: Formulate, plan, organise, and implement the ECE/Inland Transport Committee (ITC) work programme in the field of transport which involves: (i) further developing transport agreements norms and standards; (ii) supporting their implementation; (iii) preparing studies on trends, issues and policies related to pan-European transport and, on this basis, supporting the intergovernmental policy dialogue; (iv) guiding technical cooperation activities (seminars and other capacity-building activities); (v) resource mobilization in support of the programme of work; and (vi) integrating and supporting digitization and innovation across the subprogramme including through data science and emerging technologies. Promote and enhance cooperation and coordination of activities in the field of transport and related areas, notably between the Transport Division and the other relevant ECE Divisions – in particular the Economic Cooperation and Trade Division, Sustainable Energy and the Environment Division – and the other regional/global organisations dealing with transport issues, by exploring beneficial partnerships and creating synergies between regional, interregional and global activities in inland transport, incorporating emerging trends such as autonomous and electric vehicles, and strengthening strategic linkages between inland transport and the climate change adaptation and mitigation agendas, in support of ensuring the long-term relevance of ITC/UNECE work in these areas. Provide overall direction, management and supervision of the work and staff of the Transport Division.

Responsibilities

Within the delegated authority, the Chief of Service will be responsible for the following duties: 1. Formulates, plans, and implements the substantive work programme of the Transport Division. Oversees the strategic planning and communications of the Division. Manages operational activities in a timely fashion, with high quality standards, maintaining high policy relevance and visibility, and being cost-effective and demand driven. Oversees the management of data analytics and digitization of the Division. Leads team members efforts to collect and analyze data and provides insight to identify trends or patterns for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. Ensures that everyone can discover, access, integrate and share the data they need. Diagnoses barriers, identify enablers, and design and measure the impact of the ECE Transport policies and programmes on its member States, including through strategic foresight and other key UN 2.0 tools. 2. Directs and supervises the work of Division staff, performing all relevant administrative functions in compliance with applicable organizational frameworks, which includes preparation of budgets, financial management and reporting; implementation of all related oversight body recommendations; human resources management, including adherence to organizational key performance indicators, gender parity at all levels and greater geographical representation; full oversight and management of Divisional IT resources, including websites and apps in compliance with UN OICT policies. 3. Actively promotes, supervises, and contributes to studies and identification of best practices, concerning global and regional transport. Develops and monitors the implementation of ECE/ITC norms, conventions, standards and guidelines, and their impact on Member States. Formulates proposals for expanded coordination, cooperation, innovation, digitization and resource mobilization with all relevant stakeholders. 4. Plans, prepares, and services meetings of the Inland Transport Committee (ITC), its subsidiary bodies and other intergovernmental or expert bodies of ECE, making sure they respond to Member State requirements, while ensuring that Secretariat servicing of these bodies provides a high level of professional competence and governance. Ensures that these meetings are conducted in a cost-effective and coordinated manner, appropriately aligned with other organizations active in the same domain. 5. Manages, guides, develops and trains staff within the Division, fostering professionalism, integrity, teamwork and communication. Promotes, amplifies and reinforces efforts to foster a harmonious workplace ensuring the integrity and dignity of all staff. Commits to addressing potential and actual interpersonal conflicts and conflicts of interest at an early stage, taking proactive steps to support the highest ethical and behaviour standards, and engaging with informal first and other dispute resolution methodologies to diffuse conflicts. Supports mobility, dialogue and enrichment of skills within the Division. 6. Plans and manages technical cooperation projects in transport related policy areas in response to requests from programme countries and in cooperation with other relevant stakeholders, linking normative and operational activities to ensure the dissemination of lessons learned. 7. Any other duties as required.

Competencies

Professionalism: 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. 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. 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. 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. Vision: Identifies strategic issues, opportunities and risks. Clearly communicates links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals. Generates and communicates broad and compelling organizational direction, inspiring others to pursue that same direction. Conveys enthusiasm about future possibilities.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in economics, law, international relations, business or public administration, engineering, or related area is required. A first level university degree in the specified fields of study with an additional two years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job – Specific Qualification

Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.

Work Experience

At least 15 years relevant experience in economic affairs or legal affairs or a related area is required. Five years of relevant experience in dealing with transport or infrastructure policy matters is required. Experience in leadership and management in multicultural settings and coordination of interdisciplinary teams is required. Experience in high-level negotiations with senior government representatives, and heads of bilateral or multilateral institutions is desirable. Experience in data analytics or related areas 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 Russian or French is desirable.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 April 2024, are strongly encouraged to apply: Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Germany, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libya, Liechtenstein, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu. 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. Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfil the lateral or geographic move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral or geographic moves in their Candidate Profile and Motivation Statement. 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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile 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.