Position description
Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located in the Division for Sustainable Development Goals (DSDG) of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), in the Natural Resources and Interlinkages Branch. The Division provides leadership in promoting and coordinating implementation of the sustainable development agenda of the United Nations and serves as the global secretariat for the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and provides substantive inputs to the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. The Senior Sustainable Development Officer reports to the Chief of the Natural Resources and Interlinkages Branch.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Senior Sustainable Development Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
- Leads the development, implementation and evaluation of assigned programmes/projects on sustainable development issues, in particular on water and sanitation, oceans, biodiversity and climate change, including the follow-up to major intergovernmental meetings such as the Water Conference and the Ocean Conferences; directs subordinates in programme/project development, implementation, monitoring and assessment;
- Leads the drafting of reports of the Secretary-General as mandated by the General Assembly (including Agenda 21 and Harmony with Nature); reviews 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 in the area of natural resources (water, oceans, biodiversity climate change), their interlinkages with the sustainable development goals as reflected in the 2030 Agenda and presents analysis of information gathered and reviewed from diverse sources with plausible recommendations;
- Coordinates policy development; reviews the assessments of sustainable development 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, including background papers, analysis, substantial sections of reports and studies, and inputs to publications on sustainable development issues;
- Provides direct substantive support to consultative and intergovernmental meetings, including conferences, by offering strategic advice, giving technical guidance and assisting in developing a consensus, including proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations on sustainable development issues;
- Prepares speeches for senior staff and makes presentations on sustainable development issues at various forums of intergovernmental, governmental, inter-agency, expert or multi- stakeholder nature, including on water, sanitation, oceans, biodiversity, climate change and disaster risk reduction, and their interlinkages with the sustainable development goals as reflected in the 2030 Agenda;
- 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;
- Develops and maintains relations with senior officials of member governments and ensures a response to request for advice and/or capacity development on sustainable development issues and policies, including leading capacity development missions;
- 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.) on sustainable development issues;
- Serves as an effective spokesperson and establishes collaboration and partnerships with key officials at all levels inside and outside the organization;
- Ensures effective utilization, supervision and development of staff; Guides, evaluates and mentors staff;
- Takes the lead in task forces, working groups, inter-agency groups, as needed, on sustainable development issues;
- Ensures gender mainstreaming, including in legislation, policies or programmes;
- Represents the Branch/Division at international, regional or national meetings on sustainable development issues, in particular on water and sanitation, oceans, biodiversity, climate change and disaster risk reduction;
- 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 clearly communicate 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 support formal and informal intergovernmental processes 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 sustainable development agenda, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; 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;
- 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;
- 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;
- 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, economics, public policy, public administration, finance, natural resources management, engineering, law, social sciences or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
- A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in project or programme management, policy-oriented work in a broad range of sustainable development issues is required. Experience with drafting reports for intergovernmental bodies is desirable. Experience with servicing and providing substantive support to intergovernmental deliberations is desirable. Experience with United Nations system institutions and bodies working in the area of sustainable development 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 official UN language is desirable.
Application instructions
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