Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. UN-Habitat is the focal point for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system. UN-Habitat works with partners to build inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and communities. UN-Habitat promotes urbanization as a positive transformative force for people and communities, reducing inequality, discrimination and poverty. This position is located in the United Nations Human Settlement Programme Liaison Office in New York. The incumbent will be under the overall supervision of the Executive Director, and in close coordination with the Deputy Executive Director and Chief of Staff. The incumbent will be responsible for directing and enhancing the capacity of UN-Habitat New York Liaison Office in providing substantive support to ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council), the General Assembly, relevant General Assembly main committees and other intergovernmental bodies. The incumbent will also be responsible for planning and organizing UN-Habitat’s involvement in inter-agency activities and advise on UN Reform and UN 2.0; and undertake the programmatic and administrative tasks of the New York Liaison Office. Within the delegated authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties.

Responsibilities

1. In line with UN-Habitat’s mandate, the 2030 Agenda, the New Urban Agenda, current UN-Habitat Strategic Plan and its policy and operational priorities, coordinate and facilitate the Executive Director’s, Deputy Executive Director’s and other senior managers’ participation in and contributions to key UN policy bodies and platforms, including the Chief Executives Board for Coordination, Executive/Deputies Committee, Senior Management Group and other meetings on the principals, deputies or senior officials level and the appropriate translation of those bodies’ decisions and conclusions into the work and practices of UN-Habitat for ensuring greater impact of UN-Habitat’s work within the UN system and beyond. 2. Advise the Executive Director and the Deputy Executive Director in ensuring a systematic follow-up to and monitoring of ECOSOC, General Assembly, relevant General Assembly main committees and other bodies’ resolutions, decisions and conclusions including through the harmonization of their work programmes and agendas and in promoting UN-Habitat position and the added value that it is providing. 3. Oversee the planning, implementation and evaluation of programmes and initiatives and present UN-Habitat’s views, policies, strategies, and priorities as appropriate in the intergovernmental bodies and inter-agency processes. Contribute to drafting strategic planning and policy , including memoranda and other correspondence for the Secretary-General, the Deputy Secretary-General and other senior officials. 4. Directing coordinated approaches to assist the intergovernmental bodies in promoting integrated follow-up to the outcomes of major UN conferences, focusing primarily on UN-Habitat’s mandate, the New Urban Agenda and relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), working closely with the substantive offices of the Secretariat and the UN-Habitat Headquarters and to promote complementarity, coherence and synergy. 5. Promoting the system-wide implementation of intergovernmental policies on operational activities for development through greater interaction between the United Nations Human Settlements Programme and the rest of the UN system. Work towards enhancing existing and building new UN-Habitat’s strategic partnerships with the Member States and Observers, other UN entities and other key stakeholders, including local and regional governments, professional organizations, research and academia, civil society, private sector, among others. 6. Continuously maintain active interactions and dialogue with Member States and Observers, especially those which are accredited to UN-Habitat from New York, through organizing briefings and other events and showcasing UN-Habitat’s tangible contributions to achieving the overall objectives and priorities of the United Nations. In line with UN-Habitat’s mandate provide full secretariat support to the relevant coordination mechanisms of Member States and Observers, such as regional groups, groups of friends and core groups. 7. Co-ordinate and oversee the preparation of reports for presentation to intergovernmental bodies such as the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budget Questions, Committee for Programme Coordination, Economic and Social Council, the General Assembly and other policy-making organs, as appropriate. 8. Report to intergovernmental bodies on budget/programme performance or on programmatic/substantive issues, as appropriate, particularly those presented in biannual and/or annual reports. 9. Coordinates and oversees UN-Habitat’s normative and operational work and related offices in North America (Canada and USA), as well as partnerships with North America-based institutions and relations with Canada and the USA. 10. Contribute to the formulation of the overall strategies, policies and operations of UN-Habitat and formulating recommendations on possible follow-up to policy issues and reporting to relevant counterparts at the UN-Habitat Headquarters, as appropriate, including their potential impact on UN-Habitat normative and operational activities. 11. With highest dedication, focus and professionalism represent UN-Habitat at high-level meetings, conferences, events and internal UN coordination meetings advocate for sustainable urban development and a better urban future for all. 12. Directing the work of the office by providing intellectual, strategic, and operational leadership in planning and implementing the office’s activities. 13. Identification of issues and events of relevance to UN-Habitat and through interaction with concerned divisions and branches at the UN-Habitat Headquarters, ensure their proper coverage. 14. Undertake the programmatic and administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the New York Liaison Office, manage and guide the staff. 15. Lead team members’ efforts to collect and analyze data and provide insights 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.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge and understanding of UN intergovernmental processes. Ability to negotiate with high-level Government, multi and bilateral technical and funding agency officials. Proven capacity to motivate and manage a multi-national team of staff. Ability to present and debate in public fora and events the main policy and substantive messages related to the development issues identified with the Programme's work. Familiarity with UN policies, procedures and practices, including those relevant to technical cooperation projects. Ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. 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 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 LEADERSHIP: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow; anticipates and resolves conflict by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participations of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrated 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; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organizations; determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Economics, Business Administration, Political Science, Urban and Regional Development, Social Sciences, International Relations, or related areas is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A PhD is desirable. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.

Job - Specific Qualification
Not available.

Work Experience
A minimum of fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible work experience in policy and operational work on development issues is required. Experience working on governance, planning, human security or policy related issues in the area of human settlements is required. Experience with international or intergovernmental organizations at senior level is required. Experience with the intergovernmental machinery of the UN, in particular with the General Assembly, its main committees and subsidiary organs or in similar international organizations is desirable. Experience in preparing programmatic reports for the review of intergovernmental or expert bodies is desirable. Experience in liaising with United Nations Member States or other intergovernmental bodies is desirable. Experience in data analytics or related area 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