Senior Programme Management Officer

Position description

This position is located in the Office of the Under-Secretary-General (OUSG) of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA). The Office of the Under-Secretary-General supports the senior leadership of the Department in the overall coordination and management of its programmes and resources, as well as the implementation of Department-wide initiatives. The incumbent reports to the Principal Programme Management Officer/Chief of Office, OUSG, UN DESA. Further information on DESA is available on the following website: https://www.un.org/en/desa.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Senior Programme Management Officer will be responsible for the following duties: • Provides substantive, advisory and technical support in the Office of the Under-Secretary-General (OUSG); provides insights to identify trends or patterns for effective work-planning and decision-making. • Takes the lead to develop, implement and evaluate programmatic and administrative tasks directs teams in programme/project development, implementation, monitoring and assessment; directs review of relevant documents and reports; identifies priorities, problems and issues to be addressed and proposes corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; identifies and initiates follow-up actions. • Coordinates and/or advises on strategic issues, including policy development, inter-divisional cooperation, management matters; reviews assessments of issues and trends; assists the Principal Programme Management Officer/Chief of Office in ensuring that strategic decision-making and advice by the Under-Secretary-General and Assistant Secretaries-General is coherently integrated into the work of the department. • Manages preparation of various written outputs, e.g., background papers, analysis, substantial sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc. • Directs substantive support to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc. • Manages preparation of diverse materials to support the external and internal engagements of the Under-Secretary-General and Assistant Secretaries-General, including development, review and/or editing of briefing notes, speeches, talking points, questions and answers, remarks and statements, press releases, etc., on issues that cover the full spectrum of UN DESA. • Supports senior leadership to lead field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties, and drafting mission summaries, etc. • Serves as an effective spokesperson and establishes collaboration and partnerships with key officials at all levels inside and outside the organization; develops and maintains relationships with a wide range of external and internal stakeholders; conducts sensitive liaison work on behalf of the Principal Programme Management Officer/Chief of Office. • Ensures effective utilization, supervision and development of staff; guides, evaluates and mentors staff. • May perform other duties as required.

Qualifications

Competencies

• Professionalism: Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities and risks. Ability to generate and communicate broad and compelling organizational direction. Ability to communicate clearly links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals. Demonstrated ability to provide innovative technical leadership by performing and/or overseeing the planning, development, and management of operation. Demonstrated ability to negotiate and apply good judgment. 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. • Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibit interest in having two-way communication; tailors language. • 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 • 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. • 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.

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in business administration, management, economics, international relations, public administration, sustainable development or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with additional two years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in project or programme management, administration, international relations, public administration or related area is required. Experience with knowledge management in an intergovernmental organization is required. Experience in writing for an intergovernmental audience on social, economic or sustainable development issues is required. Experience with sustainable development in an intergovernmental organization is required. Experience supporting senior officials in an intergovernmental or diplomatic setting is desirable. Experience supervising and/or coordinating a multi-cultural team is desirable.

Application instructions

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