Org. Setting and Reporting
Located in the Strategic Planning and Monitoring Unit of the Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG), this position forms part of the integrated UN80 Secretariat under the supervision of the Under-Secretary-General for Policy to support the Secretary-General’s UN80 Initiative. In this context, the incumbent supports, in particular, the implementation of General Assembly resolution 80/251. The incumbent reports to the Director of the Strategic Planning and Monitoring Unit who is also heading the UN80 Secretariat, with an additional reporting line to the Deputy.
The EOSG, under the guidance of the Secretary-General (SG), works as a team pursuing in a cohesive and coherent manner, the SG's vision, priorities and policies for his second mandate in office. It seeks alignment of the United Nations family with the SG's vision, priorities and policies. It is guided by the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity and of achieving gender and regional balance among staff.
The integrated UN80 Secretariat provides coordinated support to the Under-Secretary-General for Policy and other senior EOSG officials, as appropriate. All EOSG units will support the EOSG senior officials, as appropriate, depending on the tasks at hand, regardless of which senior official they formally report to, and will work together through a matrix team approach, as necessary, to ensure EOSG leads by example on integration and cross-pillar work.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Senior Programme Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
Leads and coordinates EOSG activities for the implementation of General Assembly resolution 80/251, by fulfilling the tasks requested of the Secretary-General.
Coordinates across Secretariat entities and the United Nations system work on deliverables under General Assembly resolution 80/251 requiring consultations.
Provides substantive support to the Ad Hoc Working Group on Mandate Implementation Review, including the preparation of briefing materials, road maps, analytical notes, options papers and follow-up to Member State requests.
Coordinates preparation of draft written outputs requested from the Secretary-General under resolution 80/251 for clearance, including, as applicable, inputs on the review of mandated reports, advice on reviews, and proposals related to system-wide coordination and coherence.
Provides advice and recommendations on General Assembly processes, intergovernmental working methods, mandate implementation review, programme planning and budgetary implications, and related United Nations reform processes.
Supports the further development of the mandate registry and related digital tools, portals, reference materials and guidance products, including by promoting common standards.
Coordinates efforts to enhance reporting on mandate implementation, including through more focused, timely and user-oriented reporting formats that make appropriate use of data while maintaining transparency and substantive coverage.
Supports the work of the integrated UN80 Secretariat in advancing the Secretary-General’s UN80 Initiative, including by contributing to coordination, planning, follow-up and delivery across assigned UN80 work packages and actions.
Provides senior-level substantive, analytical, drafting and programme management support to leadership on UN80-related issues, including preparation of briefing materials, decision notes, options papers, talking points, records of discussion and follow-up.
Maintains and updates an implementation plan for UN support to resolution 80/251, including deliverable trackers, timelines and risk logs.
Coordinates and prepares options for the assignment of implementation responsibilities among Secretariat entities and, as appropriate, across the United Nations system, based on comparative and collaborative advantage and consistent with the decisions of intergovernmental mandating organs.
Provides senior-level substantive and programme management support for work relating to mandate creation, implementation and review, including support for reports, implementation reviews, system-wide results management and coordination mechanisms.
Builds and maintains collaborative partnerships with Member State representatives, Secretariat counterparts, United Nations system entities and other stakeholders relevant to the UN80 reform initiative.
Leads and supports team efforts to collect, structure and analyse qualitative and quantitative information on mandates, resources, activities, results and coordination mechanisms in support of data-informed planning, decision-making and reporting.
Establishes collaborative partnerships with key officials at all levels inside and outside the Organization in relation to the UN80 reform initiative.
Supports cross-unit and cross-pillar coordination within EOSG and with relevant Secretariat entities and United Nations system partners to promote coherence, timely delivery and alignment of UN80-related deliverables.
Monitors progress, risks, interdependencies and emerging issues across assigned UN80 work packages; identifies matters requiring guidance or decision; and supports timely follow-up.
Provides supervision, guidance and mentoring to staff and consultants, as applicable, and ensures that work is organized in a manner that supports high performance, accountability, inclusion and respect for diversity.
Ensures that gender perspectives, multilingualism, accessibility and the full and equal participation of Member States are taken into account in the design and delivery of outputs.
Performs other duties as required.
Competencies
Professionalism: Demonstrated knowledge of intergovernmental processes, mandate implementation, programme planning, budgetary implications and United Nations reform issues. Ability to identify strategic issues, opportunities and risks and to provide authoritative advice to senior officials. Ability to generate and communicate broad and compelling organizational direction. Ability to communicate clearly 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 negotiate and apply good judgment 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.
Able to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. 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.
Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
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.
Managerial Competencies: 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.
Building Trust: Provides an environment in which others can talk and act without fear of repercussion; manages in a deliberate and predictable way; operates with transparency; has no hidden agenda; places confidences in colleagues, staff members and clients; gives proper credit to theirs; follows through on agreed upon actions; treats sensitive or confidential information appropriately.
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in public administration, public policy, international relations, political science, management, law, social sciences or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Additional studies, certification or professional training in project or programme management, change management, digital transformation, data analytics, business analytics, results-based management or a related area is an advantage.
Work Experience
A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in programme management, project management, administration, intergovernmental affairs, public policy, international relations or a related area is required. Experience providing substantive support to senior officials in a multilateral, intergovernmental or international organization setting is required. Experience providing substantive or procedural support to the General Assembly or another United Nations intergovernmental process is desirable.
Experience with mandate creation, mandate implementation, mandate review, UN reform, revitalization of intergovernmental work or related institutional change processes is desirable. Experience supporting Member State consultations, working groups, bureau, co-chairs or facilitators in a politically sensitive intergovernmental context is desirable. Experience with programme planning, budgetary implications, results-based management, mandate reporting or related Secretariat processes is desirable.
Experience in digital transformation, data stewardship, development or improvement of digital tools, or data-enabled reporting for public processes is desirable. Experience working in or with the United Nations Secretariat, United Nations system entities, or another comparable international organization is desirable. Experience supporting or coordinating the implementation, monitoring or review of mandates in operational field, country, or regional contexts is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).
Required Languages
Language | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking
English | UN Level II | UN Level II | UN Level II | UN Level II
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice
This position is temporarily available for three months with a possibility of extension, subject to the 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. 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.
The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs.
The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disability. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disability may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.
United Nations Considerations
According 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.
By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised.
This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile 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. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2
(a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2.
(c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.