Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Programme Management Unit (PMU) of the Programme Management and Support Services Division (PMSSD) in the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), based in Geneva, Switzerland. The incumbent is under the direct supervision of the D1, Principal Administrative Officer, PMSSD, and the general supervision of the Executive Secretary (USG) of UNECE. The incumbent provides advice to the Principal Administrative Officer and the Executive Secretary on all aspects of programme management and technical cooperation; ensures oversight, monitoring, evaluation, risk management, compliance, performance and coordination of ECE programme budget preparation and process. Manages and oversees implementation, piloting and adoption of Umoja programmatic budget modules and tools; ensures alignment of related workflows and operational modalities. Ensures coherence and compliance; promotes cooperation with other Regional Commissions, UN system, international and regional/sub-regional organizations. Manages the work of the Programme Management Unit (PMU); recruits, supervises and provides guidance, expertise and leadership to its staff.

Responsibilities

Under the general direction of the D1, Principal Administrative Officer: – Provides strategic and technical advice to the Principal Administrative Officer, the Executive Secretary, and Division Directors on all programmatic and technical cooperation matters. – Plans, manages, oversees and supervises the work programme of PMU. Provides programmatic and substantive reviews of drafts; ensures that substantive work programmes and programmed activities are timely carried out, that outputs maintain high-quality standards and that they comply with the relevant mandates. Carries out all tasks necessary for the functioning of the Unit, including evaluation of staff performance, interviews and evaluation of candidates. Recruits staff taking due account of geographical and gender balance and other institutional values; manages, guides, develops and trains staff under his/her supervision; fosters teamwork and communication among staff in the Unit and across organizational boundaries. – Provides oversight, guidance, support and overall coordination of the programmatic aspects of the budget, including preparation of strategic frameworks, programme narratives and other programmatic documents, monitoring delivery of ECE’s programme of work (PoW) and coordinating performance assessment. Manages and oversees presentation of the strategic framework, programme budget and evaluation results to member States for review and feedback through the ECE Executive Committee (EXCOM), Committee for Programme and Coordination and ACABQ; follows Sectoral Committee developments responding to Commission and EXCOM decisions that have a bearing on programmatic matters and mandates. Reviews and clears all programmatic documents for submission to UNHQ. – Provides guidance, advice, coordination and quality control for the planning, programming, governance, monitoring, evaluation and programme reporting of all XB activities with full responsibility for project assessment and clearance for submission to EXCOM (compliance with internal controls, standards and requirements, technical quality, and alignment with the PoW). Services EXCOM meetings for programme related issues, preparing inputs, documentation and other information. – Manages and oversees implementation, piloting and adoption of programme systems, tools and modules including Umoja modules and programmatic tools such as Strategic Monitoring Application (SMA) and Integrated Planning Monitoring and Reporting module; ensures alignment of related workflows and operational modalities. – Provides guidance and overall coordination on all aspects (planning, monitoring, reporting, evaluation) of the Regular Programme for Technical Cooperation (RPTC) including to Regional Advisers. Supports mobilization of XB resources for technical cooperation; acts as UN Development Account (UNDA) Focal Point; participates in the programme planning network of regional commissions (NCPP) and other coordinating activities among UN Departments. Chairs the Working Group on Technical Cooperation. Prepares the ECE annual report on technical cooperation, provides inputs to the SG’s reports to ECOSOC and GA. – Manages the Senior Manager’s Compact of the Executive Secretary, including its planning, monitoring, coordination, reporting and assessment. Ensures implementation of the ECE Accountability Framework. Manages and acts as Focal Point for Enterprise Risk Management; oversees the planning and conduct of the Evaluations Programme for ECE and ensures the implementation of policy frameworks and all related enterprise tools and systems. Acts as a Focal Point for audit and ensures follow-up and implementation of UN oversight bodies recommendations. – Represents ECE in the UN Development Group and the UNSDCF Peer Support Group. Coordinates ECE participation in UNSDCF and One UN with other UN entities. Supports the development and maintenance of relationships with UN Resident Coordinators (UN RCs) and UN Country Teams. Engages in briefing the newly appointed UN RCs on ECE country level operational work during induction. Manages the ECE Publications Programme and represents ECE in the UN Publications Board. Develops and maintains relations with permanent missions, UN system and international organizations, regional and sub-regional organizations and financial institutions, business community, academia, civil society and NGOs.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of the latest programme planning and management tools, practices, techniques and technology, in particular in an ERP and mixed regular budget and extra-budgetary funding environment. Ability to manage and negotiate sensitive matters with stakeholders across all levels including Member State representatives. Ability to manage and implement a wide variety of enterprise directives, tools and program parameters related to risk, programmes and performance across each element of internal business. 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. 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 at an organizational performance level. 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 the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. Planning and 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 confidence in colleagues, staff members and clients. Gives proper credit to others. 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 that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision. Makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s or Doctorate degree, or equivalent) in economics, social science, administration, international law or political science or related fields is required. A first-level or advanced degree (Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctorate degree, or equivalent) in any fields of studies with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree in the specified fields of studies.

Job – Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

At least ten (10) years of experience in broad-based programme planning including substantive experience in programme planning, monitoring, evaluation, risk management and relevant ERP and data management tools and technology is required. At least five years of relevant experience with an international organisation is required. Experience in leading a programme planning function and team is required. Experience in the implementation of risk management and project and programme planning applications, modules, processes and policies is desirable. Experience in high-level consultations and negotiations with Member State representatives is desirable. Experience managing a programme planning and risk management function that includes substantial extrabudgetary contributions is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat and Russian is a working language of ECE. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French or Russian is desirable.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 31 May 2024, are strongly encouraged to apply: Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Germany, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libya, Liechtenstein, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu. 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. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. 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 Candidate Profile (CP) and Motivation Statement.

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.