Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Programme Management Unit, Office of the Director, Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). The Senior Population Affairs Officer reports to the Director. More information is available at https://www.un.org/development/desa/pd/.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the duties of the Senior Population Affairs Officer encompass the following: – Has major responsibility for the formulation, organization and management of the Programme Management Unit; for monitoring the implementation of the Division’s substantive work programme; for reporting on such implementation both within the Secretariat and to intergovernmental bodies, such as the Commission on Population and Development, the Economic and Social Council, and the General Assembly; and for preparing the annual session of the Commission on Population and Development. – Leads, supervises and carries out the work required to prepare reports of the Secretary- General and other documents based on the official United Nations population estimates and projections and summarizing or analyzing technical studies on population levels and trends or population policies in relation to social and economic factors. Such studies can focus on specific population issues, such as fertility; family planning; internal or international migration; urbanization; mortality; population structure and composition; population ageing; population policies; population, environment and development, HIV/AIDS; and population trends and economic growth. These reports draw ondatabases on demographic indicators, population and development indicators, population policy information and indicators or information on other population-related issues. – Leads and carries out the administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the Office of the Director and the Division, including preparation of budgets, reporting on programme performance, evaluation of staff performance (PAS), interviews of candidates for job openings, evaluation of candidates and preparation of input for results-based budgeting. – Provides guidance and training for staff under his/her supervision. Fosters teamwork and communication among staff in the Office of the Director and the Division. Ensures that staff follow appropriate technical, substantive and editorial guidelines in the preparation of reports and other technical output. – Leads and supervises the organization of expert group meetings, seminars, etc. on population-related issues. Is responsible for the substantive preparation and organization of such meetings or seminars. – Participates in international, regional or national meetings to present the results of research; provides substantive expertise on an issue, or holds substantive and organizational discussions with representatives of other institutions. – Represents the Population Division at international, regional or national meetings. – Coordinates and provides support to technical cooperation projects in the area of population and development. – Prepares research proposals for external funding on population issues. – Prepares briefing notes on population and development issues for Branch Chief/Director andother senior staff in the United Nations. Prepares press releases and provides information to the press and media, as necessary. – 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.

Competencies

– Professionalism: Expert knowledge in the area of specialization of the post, in particular regarding programme management, support for intergovernmental processes, staff recruitment and preparation of United Nations documents. Knowledge of methods of demographic analysis and theories pertaining to demographic change and demographic trends. Ability to produce reports and technical papers on population issues, preferably including own-name publications in technical journals or other scientific publications. 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Able to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. – 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. – 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. – Building Trust: Provides an environment in which others can talk and act without fear of repercussion; manages in a deliberate and predictable way; operates with transparency; has no hidden agenda; places confidences in colleagues, staff members and clients; gives proper credit to theirs; follows through on agreed upon actions; treats sensitive or confidential information appropriately. – 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 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 demography or in sociology, statistics, economics or another related field with an emphasis on demography is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work 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 an advantage.

Job – Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in population analysis and research or related area is required. Experience in servicing intergovernmental bodies in the social or economic fields is desirable. Experience of project management is desirable. Experience in budget planning is desirable. Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For this post, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

• This position is temporarily available starting as soon as possible for three months, with a possibility of extension. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. • While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. • Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station. • This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15. • Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. • Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as “retirement.” Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

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.