Posting Title: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT EXPERT, P3 (Temporary Job Opening)

Job Code Title: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

Department/Office: Department of Economic and Social Affairs

Duty Station: INCHEON CITY

Posting Period: 28 August 2023 – 10 September 2023

Job Opening Number: 23-Sustainable Development-DESA-217162-J-Incheon City (E)

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Organisational Setting and ReportingThis temporary position is located in the United Nations Project Office on Governance (UNPOG), Division for Public Institutions and Digital Governance (DPIDG), Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). The position is based in Incheon, Republic of Korea. The Office’s mandate is to assist countries in strengthening their public administration capacities to translate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other internationally agreed goals into institutional arrangements, strategies and programmes at the country level. Its projects aim to fulfill the objectives by implementing activities under three components: i) Research and Policy Analysis; ii) Capacity Development and iii) Networking and Outreach. The incumbent is under the overall guidance of the Director of the Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government (DPIDG) and under the direct supervision of the Head of UNPOG.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority and under the supervisor of the Head of Office, the Sustainable Development Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

•  Participate in the development, implementation and evaluation of assigned programmes/projects of the Office on institutions, public administration and sustainable development issues; monitors and analyzes programme/project development and implementation; prepares relevant documents and reports; identifies problems and issues to be addressed and initiates corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; ensures follow-up actions.
•  Develops sustainable development databases and qualitative information required for recurrent or ad-hoc assignments.
•  Drafts inputs for technical papers and analytical studies on sustainable development issues.
•  Formulates, identifies and analyses project proposals on sustainable development issues.
•  Attends international, regional, and national meetings for consultations with colleagues in other institutions dealing with sustainable development, public administration, and governance issues.
•  Assists in the planning, organization, facilitating, and servicing of expert group meetings, seminars, workshops, etc. on sustainable development issues.
•  Plans, researches/analyses, and prepares publications, policy briefings, speeches and other inputs for the Office and/or presentations by senior staff on sustainable development, public administration, and governance issues.
•  Participates in missions on sustainable development issues, usually as a member of a team.
•  Organizes training seminars/ workshops for national experts addressing sustainable development issues.
•  Monitors, backstops and assesses the implementation of capacity building projects in sustainable development.
•  Performs other duties as required, including administrative tasks.
•  Undertakes on-the-job and other training activities both internally and externally.

Competencies

•  Professionalism: Ability to apply sustainable development, public administration, and governance theories, concepts and approaches. Ability to conduct independent research and analysis on sustainable development topics, and determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data and information provided by different sources. Shows skill in developing sources for data collection and in drafting various related documents. 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
•  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.

EducationAdvanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in sustainable development, economics, public policy, public administration, governance, finance, business administration, natural resources management, engineering, law, social sciences 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.

Work ExperienceA minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in project or programme management, policy-oriented work in a broad range of sustainable development, public administration, and governance issues is required. Experience in the organization and substantive servicing of capacity-building workshops, expert group meetings, seminars, webinars etc. on sustainable development, public administration, and governance issues is required. Experience in contributing to research, inputs for reports to intergovernmental bodies, inter-agency or expert groups and evaluation of assigned programmes/projects related to sustainable development, public administration, and governance issues is required. A minimum of three (3) years of experience working in international organizations, such as the United Nations, is required. A minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in delivering online capacity-building activities is desirable. Experience in preparing training courses and other capacity development tools is desirable.

LanguagesEnglish 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 United Nations language is an advantage.

AssessmentEvaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

•  This is a project-funded temporary position. This position is temporarily available starting as soon as possible until 31 December 2023 with a possibility of extension subject to the extension of mandate and availability of funds. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.
•  Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position.
•  While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post.
•  Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.
•  This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15.
•  Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.
•  Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as “retirement.” Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

United Nations ConsiderationsAccording to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General. Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.