Senior Economic Affairs Officer

United Nations
New York - United States
S: Competitive

Special Notice

This post is financed by General Temporary Assistance resources for a period of 12 months. Extension will be subject to availability of funds. If the selected candidate is an internal staff member of the UN Secretariat, the selection will be recorded as a temporary assignment.

Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfil the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover note.

Staff Members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by the Secretary-General. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), Division for Sustainable Development in New York. The Senior Economic Affairs Officer will work under the overall guidance of the Chief of Policy and Analysis Branch and report to the task team leader of the Global Sustainable Development Report.


Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Senior Economic Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

1. Finalizes reports on development for issuance by the United Nations, including leading the preparation of key chapters of the Global Sustainable Development Report and contributes thought leadership on intergenerational equity, governance and institutions.

2. Leads or participates in the identification of new or emerging development issues of potential concern to the international community, designs and develops programmes to address them, and communicates findings to government officials and decision-makers.

3. 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.

4. Commissions studies and analyses that cannot be undertaken internally.

5. Conceives, plans and manages expert group meetings, seminars, Web-based activities, and similar consultations that contribute to the finalization of the work unit's outputs.

6. Prepares speeches and talking points for senior staff and makes presentations on economic issues for specialist or non-specialist audiences.

7. Provides direct substantive support on development issues to intergovernmental bodies (e.g., the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, the Economic and Social Council, and the General Assembly) by preparing reports on trends and policy options, offering strategic advice, giving technical guidance and assisting in developing a consensus.

8. Supports junior staff and represents the organization at meetings.

9. Performs other related duties as required, including a variety of administrative tasks.

Competencies

Professionalism: Understanding of sustainable development, including issues of intergenerational equity, governance, institutions and sustainable development goals; Analytical and policy formulation skills, proven ability to analyze complex issues to produce high-quality reports drawing upon multiple disciplines and perspectives; Ability to think strategically, to identify and analyze emerging issues and their policy implications; Understanding of the various components of the economic and social affairs programme of the United Nations, the United Nations System at large, its programmes and intergovernmental processes; Understanding of Rio+20 follow-up processes, the UN sustainable development agenda, and the post-2015 development agenda; Familiarity with intergovernmental negotiations and/or the servicing of intergovernmental processes.

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.

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.

Judgement/Decision-making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, 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 the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

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.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in economics, science, engineering, policy analysis, law or other relevant fields. A background in policy-relevant analysis is required. A first level university degree in combination with additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in sustainable development, sustainability science, or a related field, including in policy analysis and/or policy formulation, at least 6 years of which should be at the international level. Experience in substantive servicing of intergovernmental bodies is desirable. Experience in coordinating teams and inter-agency work in the area of sustainable development is also 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 other official UN languages is an advantage.

Job summary