Director, United Nations System Staff College

Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC), with its Headquarters in Turin (Italy) and its second Campus in Bonn (Germany), is the learning institution of and for United Nations staff and partner organizations. UNSSC delivers learning programmes and provides a space for learning to United Nations staff at all levels, functions and locations. Governed by a Board chaired by the Chef de Cabinet of the Secretary-General, UNSSC is uniquely positioned above institutional silos and works in partnership with a wide array of United Nations entities, inter-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and civil society organizations. By fostering a common leadership and management culture, as well as a shared understanding of the policy and operational challenges facing the Organization, UNSSC helps the United Nations system drive sustainable change and results to ensure the organization has the capacities, expertise, and skills to offer solutions to current challenges confronting Member States and to be prepared for new and emerging challenges, taking into account the outcomes of the Summit of the Future and other related intergovernmental processes. With over 150 courses per year, and other learning opportunities such as conferences and workshops, UNSSC focuses on three main areas of the UN operation: peace and security, sustainable development, and the reform of the UN system. UNSSC operates on an annual budget of approximately $20 million per year, and its current personnel size stands at over 100. The organization is currently growing in its budget, personnel, and number of learning offerings, all on an upward trajectory mode. The mission of the Staff College is to: • Support continuous learning and staff development to ensure staff profiles and skill sets are fit to deliver the Organization’s strategic objectives in pursuance of the United Nations Charter, adapting to fast transformations posed by automation and the evolving global context and country needs; • Strengthen staff capabilities and skills for data, innovation, digital, strategic foresight, and behavioural science, which are vital for a modern, agile United Nations that offers system-wide solutions to challenges of the 21st century; and • Foster strategic leadership within the UN system and promote a cohesive management culture, agility, and integration across the UN system through the provision of leadership and management programmes; • Strengthen inter-agency collaboration within the UN system with regards to staff learning.

Responsibilities

Under the guidance of the UNSSC Board of Governors, chaired by the Chef de Cabinet of the United Nations Secretary-General, the Director will perform the following main functions: 1. General Management and guidance • Provides strategic direction and vision for the College and its staff; • Manages the staff of the Staff College in accordance with the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and the terms of the UNSSC statute; • Ensures operationalization of UNSSC strategic plan through development of business strategies and plans and seeks opportunities for expanding the UNSSC portfolio, in complementarity with UNITAR and training programmes of other UN agencies, funds and programmes; • Ensures that the organization has a constant and consistently improving capacity to manage for results and to monitor, analyse and report on the extent to which it is making progress; • Identifies capacity gaps and changes in strategy needed to achieve agreed goals; • Encourages and supports results-based management and reporting across the organization at all levels; • Oversees the execution of the work programme and budget of the Staff College and submits it to the Board of Governors for approval; • Submits to the Board and to other stakeholders annual and ad hoc reports on the activities of the Staff College and the execution of its work programme and growth and sustainability strategies and plans; • Coordinates the work of the Staff College with that of related organs of the United Nations system and of relevant institutions outside the system; • Negotiates such arrangements, including those with Governments, as may be appropriate with a view to offering and receiving services related to the activities of the Staff College; • Mobilises resources for the implementation of the work programme of the Staff College. 2. Representation and advocacy • Represents UNSSC in inter-agency and inter-governmental fora and other key meetings and events, as appropriate, to speak on training and staff development issues, discusses initiatives, presents papers/ideas to influence setting of agenda and/or advocate UNSSC competencies and mandate; • Protects and strengthens UNSSC brand through showcasing capabilities and enhancing the understanding of UNSSC value-add; • Maintains active relationship/partnership with the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, the Office of the Deputy Secretary-General and the Chief Executives Board to ensure understanding and alignment with organisational priorities, including the vision for a modern, agile, diverse, responsive and impactful United Nations, enhance collaboration, resource mobilization and share ideas in support of the UNSSC work; • Increases the number of partnerships and business opportunities with academia, in particular with South-based institutions; • Develops appropriate partnerships with UN system organizations to enhance understanding of staff learning and development needs; • Participates in inter-agency, regional, country and other critical meetings and events to assess the impact and efficacy of UNSSC programmes and to promote UN system training.

Competencies

Professionalism: Demonstrable track record in guiding a team of professionals in leading executive learning and training programmes in a comparable high-profile organization with clear evidence of delivering successful results. Solid understanding of the trends and best practices in workplace learning and training in order to deliver high quality learning programmes. Politically astute, result-oriented and highly experienced manager and leader with the authority and experience to forge partnerships, influence and negotiate at the highest levels in the UN system. Ability to conceptualize and convey strategic vision. Understanding of results-based management in the context of the UN System. Ability to lead change and to engage with representatives of Member States, governments, academia, the media and the wider stakeholder community. Shows pride in work and in achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter and related domains. 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 & Organising: 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 completion of tasks; foresees risks and plans for contingencies; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. 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 and geographic 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. Vision: Identifies strategic issues, opportunities and risks; clearly communicates links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals; generates and communicates broad and compelling organizational direction, inspiring others to pursue that same direction; conveys enthusiasm about future possibilities. 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.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business or public administration, social science, economics, international relations, political science, law or related area is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job – Specific Qualification

A Ph.D. or equivalent attainment is desirable.

Work Experience

Over 15 years of progressively responsible experience, at least part of which in an international environment, which includes senior management responsibilities and leading roles in managing academic and/or executive learning/training programmes and projects is required. Experience in marketing and resource mobilization is desirable. Experience in the UN system is desirable.

Languages

For the post advertised, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required; knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

The appointment against this position is limited to the United Nations System Staff College. The appointment or assignment and renewal thereof are subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate. UNSSC is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds. The United Nations is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. All staff at the D1 Level and above are required to submit a financial disclosure statement upon appointment and annually thereafter. 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.

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.