Director, UN Ocean Decade Coordination

OVERVIEW

Post Number : IOC 002

Grade : D-1

Parent Sector : Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC)

Duty Station: Paris

Job Family: Programme Coordination

Type of contract : Fixed Term

Duration of contract : 2 years, renewable

Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 31-OCT-2024

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Under the direct supervision of the Executive Secretary IOC (Assistant Director-General of UNESCO – ADG/IOC), the incumbent is responsible for the direct supervision of the Decade Coordination Unit (DCU), providing strategic and operational leadership to the implementation of the Ocean Decade. He/she will guide the implementation of regional programmes implemented through IOC Sub-Commissions, in collaboration with IOC Sections, to strengthen synergies and improve the efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of the overall IOC programme and budget. This includes leading and overseeing the implementation of activities and projects; assessing performance and guiding horizontal workflows; developing coordinated and cross-cutting strategies in response to the evolving ocean policy landscape, approaches and frameworks; implementing and managing change; directing the mobilization of extra-budgetary resources and establishing key partnerships including with the private sector, civil society and other UN agencies. The incumbent will foster intersectoral cooperation within UNESCO and promote delivery of intersectoral initiatives related to the ocean as it follows:

Decade coordination

Acting as Director of the UN Decade Coordination Unit, overseeing the development and implementation of the Ocean Decade, goals and objectives, including a result-based approach, in translating the vision of the Ocean Decade into an ecosystem of Decade actions and coordination structures that are delivering effectively by:

• Advising and engaging Member States in the implementation of the Decade, including through the provision of intergovernmental and strategic oversight, the establishment of national coordination mechanisms, and participation in Decade Programmes, and regular review of the Decade strategic ambitions as defined through the Vision 2030 process.
• Guiding the tracking of progress of the Decade through effective monitoring and evaluation mechanism and facilitate reporting to IOC and UNESCO Governing Bodies, as well as to other relevant UN entities (eg UN General Assembly).
• Elevating the IOC Decade coordination function and steer authoritatively the implementation of the Decade in collaboration with relevant UN entities through mechanisms such as UN-Oceans.
• Enhancing cooperation, and communication between stakeholders, including the private sector, as well as the development of partnerships aimed at fast-tracking the generation of ocean knowledge and update at policy/society level, ensuring wherever relevant optimal contributions of IOC programmes.

Regions and programmatic design

• Coordinate the involvement of regions in the overall IOC programmatic design (IOC Medium Term Strategy and Programme and Budget) and delivery in synergy with global programmes, ensuring programmatic coherence while also addressing local priorities and thus ensuring ownership of all Member States and stakeholders.
• Monitor the implementation of regional programmes, and coordinate reporting from IOC Sub-commissions to IOC governing bodies; and promote the participation of IOC Sub-commissions’ Secretariats in the development and implementation of extra-budgetary projects.
• Steer the collaboration of the IOC Sub-Commissions towards enhanced science/policy relevance and delivery towards relevant regional ocean policy/management frameworks.

Policy development and Strategic issues

• Provide strategic input regarding ocean policy development and coordinate the contribution of IOC to relevant UN inter-agency processes such as UN-Oceans, the World Ocean Assessment, the SG report on Ocean, UN-ICP and generally ensure higher level of visibility of IOC‘s work at the UN;
• Identify focus areas for collaborative work between Member States aligned with the overall IOC Medium Term Strategy and its contribution to the global ocean agenda (Agenda 2030 /UNOC, Sendai Framework, UNFCCC, CBD Global Biodiversity Framework and UNCLOS/BBNJ) and in support of science-based approaches to the sustainable ocean economy.
• Recommend programme and project approaches, plans, expansions, and changes; and develop and propose policy-relevant activities, to be approved by IOC governing bodies. Coordinate the development of IOC Policy Briefs as part of the overall IOC Communication strategy.
• Remain aware of technical advancements in ocean management and science-based applications, track marine policy requirements, particularly those emerging from UN frameworks. Establish, maintain, strengthen and expand research and policy partnerships with a high-level network of partners, including with academia, intergovernmental organizations, government bodies, the private sector, media leaders, civil society organizations, academia, UNESCO Chairs, Category 2 Centres, Decade Collaborative Centres and other relevant bodies.
• Guide the development of the work of IOC related to Sustainable Ocean Planning (SOP), guiding the implementation of the Decade SOP programme, facilitating the establishment of institutional partnerships and ensuring strong member states buy-in the design and delivery of SOP resources at national level.
• Act as focal point within IOC for the development of UNESCO inter-sectoral activities on ocean, promote collaboration with other sectors and lead reporting to UNESCO Governing Bodies.

Resource mobilisation 

• Develop a resource mobilization framework and identify and create opportunities, for resource mobilization, and actively raise voluntary contributions from multilateral and bilateral donors.
• Guide and propose partnerships with Member States, the private sector and civil society organizations, amongst others, and build alliances to enhance and support IOC and the Decade work and activities to achieve results and impact, giving guidance to staff members, encouraging and advising Member States on taking specific actions to support IOC activities.

Assume other duties as requested such as:

• Representing UNESCO in high level internal and external meetings and conferences.
• Participating in senior management mechanisms established within IOC and other structures of UNESCO.
• Leading the efforts to engage in interdisciplinary work within IOC and with other UNESCO sectors.

For further information on the specific above-mentioned programmes, candidates may consult UNESCO’s website: ‎https://www.unesco.org/en, and/or the following documents: 41 C/4 (UNESCO’s Medium-Term Strategy, 2022–2029) and 41 C/5 ‎‎(UNESCO’s Programme and Budget for 2022–2025).‎
 

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in the field of Ocean Sciences, Marine Sciences or other related fields. 

Work Experience

• A minimum of 15 years of progressive relevant professional experience, with a focus on Marine Sciences or related fields, including at least five years at the international level. 
• Strong experience of trends, demands and challenges in ocean sciences and management, including in developing countries. 
• A proven track record of successfully establishing and maintaining partnerships at a global, local and community level.
• A proven capacity to connect with leading intuitions related to Marine Sciences, and a strong knowledge of state-of-the-art research in the field of Ocean strategies.
• Demonstrated experience in advocacy and resource mobilization.
• A strong and proven record of innovative applied research.

Skills and Competencies

• Commitment to the Organization’s mandate, vision, strategic direction, and priorities
• Capacity for institutional leadership, a high sense of objectivity and professional integrity, diplomacy, tact and political astuteness
• Capacity to provide intellectual leadership to guide staff, and an ability to build trust, manage, lead and motivate a large and diverse body of staff in a multicultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity, and to oversee ongoing training and staff development
• Ability to identify key strategic issues and opportunities, and associated risks.
• Demonstrated strategic planning and excellent management abilities, including a capacity to administer multiple programmes and projects, financial and human resources, while exercising appropriate supervision and controls
• Excellent organizational skills, including the capacity to establish plan and priorities, and to implement them effectively
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to manage relationships at all levels
• Excellent communication skills, both orally and in writing; and demonstrated ability to interact with a wide range of high-level partners.

Languages

• Excellent knowledge of English or French and good knowledge of the other language.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Work Experience

• Professional experience in the United Nations System and/or in the field of international multilateral setting organisations.

Languages

• Knowledge of another official language of UNESCO (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish).

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BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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