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. UN-Habitat’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific manages the UN-Habitat’s project portfolio in the Asia and Pacific region. It ensures that country priorities are in alignment with the UN-Habitat’s organisational policies and strategic objectives and through its Regional Representative brings opportunities and challenges in the region to the attention of the Executive Management Committee (EMC), allowing for timely feedback and responses to urgent demands and requests from the Member States. The UN-Habitat China project office oversees various technical cooperation initiatives in China, such as the People Oriented Urban Public Space Programme, the Sustainable Urban Planning Programme for China, the UN-Habitat China Future Cities Council Programme, and the Waste-Wise Cities Programme. It also engages in themes such as rural revitalization, green growth, child-friendly cities, and south-south collaboration. The Habitat Programme Manager (HPM) for China manages the UN-Habitat China project office in Beijing under the supervision of UN-Habitat’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. The Ministry of Housing and Urban & Rural Development (MoHURD) is the focal point of UN-Habitat in China. UN-Habitat also collaborates with the Ministry of National Resources and the National Development and Reform Commission. UN-Habitat also programmatically engages with several municipal governments, including Wuhan City, Xuzhou City, Chengdu City, Shanghai City and Shenzhen City. UN-Habitat also reaches out to research and academic institutions in China, as well as to the Chinese private sector. The focus of the position is on representation, programme development, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of UN-Habitat’s project activities in China. The position is located within UN-Habitat’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific under the Regional Programme Division and is based in Beijing, China. Under the direct supervision of the Human Settlements Officer, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:

Responsibilities

• Represents UN-Habitat programmes in China in the UN Country Team under the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) programming; liaise with government agencies and with development partners; implement duty of care policies; support timely staff evaluations in line with requirements. • Coordinates UN-Habitat programmes with development partners and the inter-agency mechanisms. • Leads the formulation, development, implementation, and evaluation of assigned programmes/projects; monitoring and analysing programme/project development and implementation; review of relevant documents and reports; identify problems and issues to be addressed and propose corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; identify and track follow-up actions. • Nurtures a wide network of sponsors and donors with the capacity to support and fund programmatic collaborations led by the UN-Habitat China office. • Provides advisory services on policy development, including the review and analysis of issues and trends, and preparation of evaluations or other research activities and studies. • Researches, analyses, and presents information gathered from diverse sources, undertake survey initiatives; design data collection tools reviews, analyse and interpret responses, identify problems/issues and prepare conclusions, prepare various written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications. • Provides substantive support to consultative and other meetings, conferences; including proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations. • Undertakes outreach activities; conduct training workshops, seminars, etc.; give presentations on assigned topics/activities. • Participates in and/or lead field missions, including guiding external consultants, government officials and other parties. • Supports activities related to resource mobilisation, budget and funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements) and prepare related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget). • Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. • Ensures that requirements, background information used for data analysis are documented. • Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge in leading a project or programme delivery, with a focus on advisory services and policy advice for subnational, national and international clients and partners. Ability to identify issues, analyse, and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to conduct data collection using various methods. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. Ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Shows pride in work and achievements; demonstrate 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. CLIENT ORIENTATION: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client. 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.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in fields of social, environmental, or urban development and urban economy or their related fields 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. 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 five (5) years of progressively responsible experience leading project or programme delivery in China, with a focus on advisory services and policy advice for subnational, national and international clients and partners is required. A minimum of three (3) years of responsible experience within a country programme of an international organization, as a team leader or deputy team leader, or in another significant role, preferably in China is desirable. Experience delivering advisory services and policy advice in relation to urban planning and design, urban regeneration, smart city development and other relevant urban sectors in China is desirable. Experience in developing or producing high-quality publications and reports in English and Chinese is desirable. Experience in resource mobilisation and forging funded collaborations with a variety of Chinese and other institutions is desirable. Two (2) years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English and Chinese is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable. NOTE: “fluency equals a rating of “fluent” in all four areas (read, write, speak, understand), and ” Knowledge of” equals a rating of ” confident” in two of the four areas.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

This post is for an initial period of one year and may be subject to extension. Extension of appointment is subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funds. THIS POSITION IS OPEN TO NATIONALS OF CHINA ONLY. National Professional Officer category shall be of the nationality of the country where this position is located and will be recruited in the country or within commuting distance of the office. If no suitable local candidate is identified, Chinese nationals residing elsewhere may be considered, in which case the candidate would be responsible for any costs related to traveling and relocating to China in the event of an employment offer. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Applicants: When completing the form, ensure ALL fields, ALL professional experience and contact information are completed and up to date. This information is the basis for the hiring manager to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position and to contact you. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. Individual Contractors and Consultants who have worked within the UN Secretariat in the last six months, are ineligible to apply for or be appointed to any professional and higher temporary or fixed-term positions, within six months of the end of their current or most recent service. For such positions, at least six months need to have elapsed between the end of a consultancy or individual contract and the time of application and consideration for an appointment as a staff member under the Staff Rules and Regulations of the United Nations. 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. On-line applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira “Contact Us” link.

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. 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.