Org. Setting and Reporting

The position is located in the Office of the Director-General of the United Nations Office in Geneva in the SDG Lab.

The Chief of Section, Political Affairs is responsible for defining and implementing the substantive work programme of the SDG Lab. The incumbent oversees the management of activities undertaken by the SDG Lab and ensures that programmed activities are carried out in a timely and cost-effective fashion. The Chief of Section, Political Affairs is responsible for leading and managing the SDG Lab team and for the reporting of results, including to financial donors and project partners. The incumbent reports to the Director-General, UN Geneva.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Chief of Section, Political Affairs will be responsible for the following duties:

Leadership and programme governance:
– Leads the strategic orientations of the SDG Lab and ensure that the SDG Lab adapts to a rapidly and constantly evolving global context when relevant to its core work.
– Manages the daily programme and operations of the SDG Lab; leads and manages the SDG Lab team and its work.
– Promotes teamwork, collaboration, and diversity, by providing timely guidance and supervision to the team, to enable them to perform their duties responsibly, effectively and efficiently.
– Plans, recruits, manages and develops a flexible and diverse workforce, with the skills and competencies needed to ensure optimum performance.
– Catalyzes interest and galvanizes momentum around the commitments of the 2030 Agenda, its principles and the universal and indivisible nature of the goals.
– Develops and maintains a multi-faceted network with SDG relevant stakeholders to strengthen the SDG community to foster collaboration and partnerships to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
– Oversees the management of financial resources of the SDG Lab and ensures operations are undertaken in an efficient and cost-effective way.

Monitoring and implementation:
– Ensures the sound monitoring of the results of the SDG Lab, through quality reporting and the use of appropriate M&E instruments; ensures internal performance and quality management, including tracking, monitoring and reporting on project delivery and financials.
– Oversees communications and ensure stakeholders are aware of project activities and progress. Advises on relations with the media, as they relate to the work of the SDG Lab, as well as the communication and social media strategy, tools and activities of the SDG Lab.
– Represents the SDG Lab at international, regional and national meetings on the SDGs and at other public and UN meetings.
– Pro-actively engages in resource mobilization efforts for the SDG Lab.

Competencies

Professionalism: Excellent knowledge of the SDG ecosystem in Geneva, including the full range of development and humanitarian actors and institutions operating in or/from International Geneva is highly desirable. Demonstrated diplomatic, cultural sensitivity and negotiating skills. 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.

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 the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

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.

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 improvement; 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.

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 that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision. Makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in international relations, public administration, law, political or social sciences or related area 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.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in international relations, sustainable development, development cooperation, public policy or related fields is required.

Experience in project management and team leadership is required.

A minimum of five years of experience working in multi-stakeholder contexts for example in the sustainable development and/or humanitarian sector is required.

Experience in the UN Common System is desirable.

Experience in donor relations and fundraising is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English and French is required. Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

The appointment against this position is limited to service in the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG).

Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds.

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 disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities 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.

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 Fee

THE 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.