Org. Setting and Reporting

The post is located at the United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD) in Nagoya, Japan, a Research and Training Centre of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) of the United Nations. UNCRD was established in 1971 based on the agreement between the UN and the Government of Japan dated 18 June 1971. The objectives of the UNCRD are: to serve as a training and research centre in regional development and planning and related fields for developing countries; to provide advisory services in regional development and planning and related fields at the request of developing countries; to assist developing countries in promoting the exchange of data on research, practical experience, teaching, and other relevant subjects in regional development and planning and related fields; and to assist and cooperate with other organizations, national or international, concerned with regional development and planning and related fields. The Head of Office (UNCRD) reports to the Chief of the National Strategies and Capacity Building Branch and under the overall guidance of the Director of the Division for Sustainable Development Goals (DSDG), DESA.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority and under the direct supervision of the Chief, National Strategies and Capacity Building Branch, the incumbent will assume the overall responsibility for the substantive direction and overall management of the Centre, ensuring the implementation of the Centre’s strategic vision and programme of work that is closely aligned with UN DESA’s mandate. More specifically, the incumbent will: • Formulate and implement the substantive work programme of the Centre. Oversee the management of activities undertaken by the Centre, with the objective of assisting developing countries to translate the outcomes of major international summits on sustainable development into national development plans, strategies and policies. Particular thematic focus of the activities of the Centre will be the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals at regional and national level. • Lead, supervise, and carry out the development and implementation of the work programme of the Centre, with an emphasis on implementing national and regional development programmes and conducting capacity-building activities to assist developing countries, set out the Centre’s overall vision that is aligned with UN DESA’s mandate. Ensures achievement of programmatic targets and timelines and adherence to budgetary provisions. • Coordinate the work carried out by different work units of the Centre and by other agencies and bodies of the United Nations system; provide programmatic/substantive reviews of the drafts prepared by others. • Ensure that capacity building programmes and advisory services are responsive to needs and requests from beneficiaries; training materials are of high quality and relevance; logistical and support arrangements are provided in line with UN standards; research reports and publications are objective, fact-based, and coherent; resource persons combine high technical expertise with excellent pedagogical skills, and communications are clear and timely. • Establish a strong communications profile, including through the Centre’s website, publications, annual reports and web-based and other training programmes; ensure on-going liaison with developing country partners, host country and donor representatives, partner organizations in the United Nations System, interregional bodies, and other policy-making organs, as appropriate • Oversee the development of fundraising proposals that will diversify the Centre’s funding base, with a particular emphasis on projects that relate to the follow-up on the outcomes of major summits on sustainable development and capacity-building requests received from Member States and UN Resident Coordinators Offices. • Assist in preparing the work programme of the Centre, determining priorities, and allocating resources for the completion of outputs and their timely delivery. • Undertakes or oversees the programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the Centre, including preparation of budgets, reporting on budget/programme performance, evaluation of staff performance (ePAS), interviews of candidates for job openings, evaluation of candidates and preparation of inputs for results-based budgeting, as well as liaising with donors and host country partners. • Recruit staff, taking due account of geographical balance. • Manage, guide, develop and train staff under his/her supervision. • Foster teamwork and communication among staff in the Centre and across organizational boundaries. • Lead and supervise the organization of meetings, seminars, etc. on substantive issues. Manages the substantive preparation and organization of such meetings or seminars. • Participate in international, regional or national meetings and provide programmatic/substantive expertise on an issue, or hold programmatic/substantive and organizational discussions with representatives of other institutions. • Represent the Division at international, regional or national meetings.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Knowledge of sustainable development issues and approaches and their implications for policy-making at global, regional and country levels. Knowledge of the UN sustainable development agenda, in particular the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and SDGs. Ability to deal with senior government officials on matter related to sustainable development and national development plans. Knowledge of analytical and capacity-building skills, including in relation to policies and planning, conducting policy research, training, capacity building, expert-group meetings and networking. Ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues and to review and edit the work of others. Ability to apply UN rules, regulations, policies and guidelines in work situations. 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. • 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 honours 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. Managerial Competencies • 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. • 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

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business or public administration, finance, accounting, law, social sciences, international relations, environmental policy and planning, or related area is required. A first-level university degree in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job – Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

At least 15 years of work experience in policy research for regional development, particularly in the context of sustainable development is required. Experience in programme formulation and implementation and resource mobilization is required. Experience in conducting research and training programmes on sustainable development, including the development of training manuals and publications, is required. Experience in establishing and mobilizing partnerships and networks, including with donors and local stakeholders, on sustainable development is required. Experience in leading and managing a diverse team on sustainable development programmes is required. Experience in facilitating training and conducting interactive sessions in international settings is desirable. Experience in working in government offices or international organizations at a senior level is desirable. Experience working in developing countries is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the two working languages of the United Nations. For this post, fluency in both English and Japanese is required. Knowledge of other UN official languages is an advantage.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

This is a project post. Appointment or assignment against this post is for an initial period of one year. The appointment or assignment and renewal are subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate. Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfil the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover letter. 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. Staff members appointed to the current position are required to submit a financial disclosure statement upon assignment or appointment and annually thereafter. 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.

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.