Sustainable Development Officer (Chief, UNSDG Mechanism)

The Sustainable Development Officer (Chief, UNSDG Mechanism) leads the effective functioning of the UN Sustainable Development Group and manages the UNSDG Secretariat. The role supports the UNSDG Chair and Principals, coordinates interagency processes, supervises staff, and ensures alignment with UNSDG strategic priorities to accelerate the 2030 Agenda.

Responsibilities

• Lead the effective functioning of the UN Sustainable Development Group and work planning, particularly the UNSDG Principals.
• Support to the UNSDG Chair and UNSDG Principals in the preparation of key meetings of the UNSDG, including organization of the meetings, preparation of relevant background materials, coordinating effectively with relevant offices of member entities in this process.
• Provide direct line management to the UNSDG Secretariat, providing strategic direction, broad oversight and integration of these issues into servicing of the UNSDG.
• Work closely with relevant teams in DCO, ensures monitoring and effective implementation of decisions of UNSDG Principals, including coordinating the timely delivery of guidance, tools and other products decided by the UNSDG and their effective utilization by UNSDG entities.
• Provide substantive support to UNSDG-related interagency and intergovernmental processes, including overseeing DCO’s substantive engagement in the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review, and the Operational Activities Segment of the Economic and Social Council and other related intergovernmental and interagency discussions.
• Supervise preparation of various written output such as speeches, briefing notes, analyses and other inputs for the UNSDG Chair, Vice-Chair and DCO senior management on matters pertaining to UNSDG strategic priorities.
• Advise DCO Director and Senior Management on the positioning of UNSDG strategic priorities in interagency and intergovernmental bodies, including the Economic and Social Council, and the General Assembly.
• Conduct regular outreach, information sharing, consultations, and coordination activities with UNSDG focal points in UN agencies, funds and programmes, and other relevant colleagues within UNSDG entities to improve understanding of, and alignment with, UNSDG priorities.
• In coordination with relevant DCO units, ensure timely monitoring and follow-up of UNSDG entities' cost-sharing commitments for funding of the Resident Coordinator system.
• Ensure effective utilization, supervision and development of staff; Guides, evaluates and mentors staff.
• Keep abreast of latest emerging trends and innovative approaches related to the UNSDG.
• Work as a member of the DCO Front Office team, monitoring and providing quality assurance of relevant inputs from across the Resident Coordinator system and UNSDG member entities, ensuring consistency of message, current topics and rapid response to stakeholder inquiries and information requests.
• Lead 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. Ensure that everyone can discover, access, integrate and share the data they need.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Requirements

• 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. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in project or programme management, policy-oriented work in interagency coordination, development system reforms or a related area is required.
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience in coordinating meetings and products related to system-wide application of development system reforms, impacting all UNSDG members, and the functioning of the Resident Coordinator system is required.
• Experience in UN and/or other inter-agency policy-making, programming and/or strategy development is required.
• Experience in the design and/or roll-out of UN development system reform efforts is required.
• Broad understanding of the UN development system understanding of the efficiencies agenda including (BOS, CBO, CP) is desirable.
• Field experience in development cooperation is desirable.
• Experience working at the headquarters of a development cooperation entity is desirable.
• Experience in managing large multicultural teams at the country, regional or global levels is desirable.
• English language proficiency at UN Level III reading and writing, and UN Level II listening and speaking.

Skills

• Project Management
• Programme Management
• Policy Development
• Inter-agency Coordination
• Development System Reforms
• UN Development System Experience
• Strategy Development
• UNSDG Mechanism Management
• Meeting Coordination
• Multicultural Team Leadership
• Development Cooperation
• Public Policy
• Public Administration
• Sustainable Development
• Economic Analysis
• Natural Resource Management
• Law
• Social Sciences
• UN Development System Reforms

Languages

English