UN ECLAC – Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
Washington, United States
Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located in ECLAC Office in Washington D.C. The Chief of the Office reports to the Executive Secretary. The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean is one of the five regional Commissions of the United Nations. It was founded in 1948 with the purpose of contributing to the region’s economic and social development. Its mission includes the design, monitoring and evaluation of public policies and the provision of advisory services, expertise and training to Governments, as well as support for regional and international cooperation and coordination activities.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Chief of Office will be responsible for the following:
Economic or sectoral analysis
Leads or participates in the formulation, organization and management of mandated programmes of economic analysis and the formulation of possible economic strategies, policies and actions for adoption by the international community.
Leads or participates in the identification of new or emerging development issues of potential concern to the international community, particularly those of a regional or global nature, and designs and develops programmes to address them.
Supervises a team of staff economists undertaking this work.
Commissions economic studies and analyses that cannot be undertaken internally.
Conceives, plans and manages expert group meetings, seminars and similar consultations that contribute to the finalization of the work unit’s outputs.
Finalizes reports on development for issuance by the United Nations.
Prepares speeches for senior staff and makes presentations on economic issues for specialist or non-specialist audiences.
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. Intergovernmental support
Provides direct substantive support on development issues to intergovernmental bodies (such as the General Assembly, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Economic and Social Council, the Trade and Development Board, the regional commissions and the subsidiary bodies of each) by offering strategic advice, giving technical guidance and assisting in developing a consensus.
Manages the work office’s contribution to the preparation and management of meetings of intergovernmental bodies.
Represents ECLAC at international, regional and national meetings on development issues.
Technical cooperation
Develops and maintains relations with senior officials of member governments and ensures a response to requests for advice and/or assistance on economic issues and policies.
Negotiates with donor and recipient governments on technical assistance programmes and projects.
Organizes and coordinates cooperation among Member States on economic programmes or issues.
Leads or participates in technical cooperation missions.
Programme support
Functions as the head of an organizational unit.
Oversees the formulation and implementation of the programme of work and the budget of the unit and participate in the formulation of the organization’s overall programme of work and other similar endeavours, by allocating and managing resources; establishing performance indicators; monitoring output delivery; ensuring coordination with ECLAC Headquarters; directly participating in substantive activities including research and reports on economic and social development issues; reviewing the research agenda with senior officials and defining the end results of such activities; providing advisory services; advising on the interpretation of established guidelines and policies on substantive issues
Supervises all administrative matters concerning the Office daily operations by ensuring that all UN rules and regulations are properly observed; participating in recruitment processes to ensure adequate staffing of the Office; supervising performance of staff. This requires strong communication (spoken, written, workshops and presentational) skills including the ability to defend and explain difficult issues and positions to staff in the office and to senior officials at ECLAC headquarters.
Maintains contacts and liaison with ECLAC Headquarters, other Offices Away from Headquarters, other UN agencies and international organizations, to organize ad-hoc meetings, collaborate in development projects and integration issues, collaborate in regional studies on economic and social development.
Performs other related duties as required.
Competencies
Professionalism: 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 develop economic policies and make recommendations on their implementation. The ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. 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.
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.
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
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 improvements; 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
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics, international business, public administration or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Job – Specific Qualification
Specialization studies in engineering are desirable
Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.
Work Experience
A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in economic research and analysis, policy formulation, application of economic principles in development programmes or related area is required.
Experience working in an intergovernmental organization is desirable.
Experience working with the Latin American and the Caribbean region is desirable.
Experience working in issues of economic integration is desirable.
Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat and Spanish is the working language of ECLAC. For this position, fluency in English and Spanish (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable.