Org. Setting and Reporting

These positions are located in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the regional commissions and, occasionally, other Departments in the Secretariat. Each position is usually focused on a sub-specialty such as macroeconomics, development economics, international economics (trade, finance and investment), public economics, environmental economics, gender economics or a specific economic sector or sectors. The Senior Economics Affairs Officer usually reports to a Director or a Chief of a center or branch.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the duties of a Senior Economic Affairs Officer are likely to fall mainly into one of the first three functional areas identified below but all are also likely to embrace a number of programme support responsibilities. Economic or sectoral analysis • 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. • Leads or participates in the identification of new or emerging development issues of potential concern to the international community, particularly those of a regional or global nature, and designs and develops programmes to address them. • Supervises a team of staff economists undertaking this work. • Commissions economic studies and analyses that cannot be undertaken internally. • Conceives, plans and manages expert group meetings, seminars and similar consultations that contribute to the finalization of the work unit’s outputs. • Finalizes reports on development for issuance by the United Nations. • Prepares speeches for senior staff and makes presentations on economic issues for specialist or non-specialist audiences. • Leads 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. Ensures that everyone can discover, access, integrate and share the data they need. Intergovernmental support • Provides direct substantive support on development issues to intergovernmental bodies (such as the General Assembly, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Economic and Social Council, the Trade and Development Board, the regional commissions and the subsidiary bodies of each) by offering strategic advice, giving technical guidance and assisting in developing a consensus. • Manages the work unit’s contribution to the preparation and management of meetings of intergovernmental bodies. • Represents the organizational unit at international, regional and national meetings on development issues. Technical cooperation • Develops and maintains relations with senior officials of member governments and ensures a response to requests for advice and/or assistance on economic issues and policies. • Negotiates with donor and recipient governments on technical assistance programmes and projects. • Organizes and coordinates cooperation among Member States on economic programmes or issues. • Leads or participates in technical cooperation missions. Programme support • Functions as the head of an organizational unit. • Contributes to the formulation of the medium-term plan, the programme of work and the budget of the unit and participate in the formulation of the organization's overall programme of work and other similar endeavours. • Attends to various administrative matters concerning the larger organizational unit (Section or Division). • Performs other related duties as required. • Leads 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. Ensures that everyone can discover, access, integrate and share the data they need. • Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Ability to apply economic theories and concepts in different sectors of economic and sustainable development. Ability to conduct independent research on economic topics, determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources. Ability to develop economic policies and make recommendations on their implementation. Ability to synthesize economic research and reports into digestible form. Ability to engage with primary line researchers to discuss research ideas and outputs. 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, leads 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. Ensures that everyone can discover, access, integrate and share the data they need. • 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. • Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honors commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable. • 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. • Managing Performance: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with additional two years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Successful completion of a degree and/or non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs.

Job - Specific Qualification
Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in economic research and analysis, policy formulation, application of economic principles in development programmes or related area is required. Experience collecting and analyzing data to identify economic trends and insights is required.

Languages

English and French are the working language of the UN Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English or French is required. Note: To be considered fluent in a language, the proficiency level in all four specified areas (i.e. reading, speaking, understanding and writing) must be Fluent."

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by structured interviews, including but not limited to the competency-based interviewing approach.

Special Notice

The United Nations Secretariat maintains rosters of qualified and available candidates to fill anticipated job openings in the United Nations Secretariat. The purpose of this job opening is to generate a list of qualified candidates for inclusion in the Sr. Economic Affairs Officer, P5 roster. The entire assessment process takes an average of four months; all applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application (whether successful or unsuccessful) within 14 days of the conclusion of the process. Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently will be able to apply for United Nations Secretariat vacancies including those open only to roster members. Roster membership does not guarantee selection. 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 roster. For this roster exercise, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 31 July 2025, are strongly encouraged to apply: Andorra, Angola, Belize, Brunei, China, Cuba, Darussalam, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Germany, Guinea-Bissau, Grenada, Kiribati, Indonesia, Israel, Japan Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Liechtenstein, Libya, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Oman, Panama, Paraguay, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Sao Tome and Principe, Slovenia, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Turkmenistan, United States of America Pursuant to section 6.9 of ST/AI/2010/3 Rev. 3, Interns, consultants, individual contractors and gratis personnel may not apply for or be appointed to any vacancy in the Professional or higher categories and for vacancies at the FS-6 and FS-7 levels in the Field Service category within six months of the end of their current or most recent service. This restriction does not apply to Junior Professional Officers appointed under the Staff Rules. 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 background, 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. Pursuant to section 6.4 ST/AI/2010/3/Rev. 3, please ensure that you have met the eligibility requirements as shown below: 6.4 (a) Staff members who entered on duty before the effective date of the present administrative instruction shall have at least one geographical move, as defined in section 1 (h) above, before being eligible to be considered for jobs at the P-5 level and above. The following transitional measures will apply: (i) Staff members who entered on duty before the effective date of the present administrative instruction (other than staff members serving in language jobs, see section 6.4 (a) (ii) below) can be considered for higher-level jobs on the basis of having satisfied the lateral move requirements as set out in section 6.4 of ST/AI/2010/3/Rev.2 or on the basis of having satisfied the geographical move requirement under the present administrative instruction, whichever basis best facilitates the staff member's eligibility, up to and including the last day of the fifth year following the effective date of the present administrative instruction. 6.4 (b) Staff members (including staff serving in language jobs) who enter on duty on or after the effective date of the present administrative instruction will be required to have the following number of geographical moves before being eligible to be considered for jobs at the P-5 level and above: (i) Staff members who enter on duty at the P-4 or lower level shall have at least one geographical move, as defined in section 1 (h) above, before being eligible to be considered for jobs at the P-5 level and at least two geographical moves before being eligible to be considered for jobs at the D-1 level and above. (ii) Staff members who enter on duty at the P5 level shall have at least one geographical move, as defined in section 1 (h) above, before being eligible to be considered for jobs at the D-1 level and above. 6.4 (c) There is no requirement for geographical moves for consideration for jobs at the same level.