Org. Setting and Reporting

The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) forms part of the United Nations Secretariat and, like the other regional commissions, operates under the supervision of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. ESCWA comprises 21 Arab countries in Western Asia and North Africa. ESCWA provides a framework for the formulation and harmonisation of sectoral policies for member countries, a platform for congress and coordination, a home for expertise and knowledge, and an information observatory. ESCWA activities are coordinated with the divisions and main offices of the Headquarters of the United Nations, specialised agencies, and international and regional organizations, including the League of Arab States and its subsidiary bodies, and the Gulf Cooperation Council. This post is in the Facilities Management Services Section, Resource Management and Service Development Division (RMSDD) of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). The Change and Project Management Officer reports directly to the Director, RMSDD.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority in RMSDD, the Change and Project Management Officer is responsible for the following duties: (1) Coordinates all activities to align the operations with the changing multidisciplinary mandates by: (a) Designing the operational response in connection with major transformation projects. (b) Representing ESCWA in inter-agency meetings and initiatives related to operational support, business service and innovation, and change management. (c) Supporting effective project and service management by capturing and documenting the project scope and business requirements, specifying deliverables, estimating resources and timelines and monitoring progress against the project plan. (d) Supporting the leadership in all major activities on the basis of the main developments in work modalities, processes and techniques. (2) Coordinates ESCWA change management strategy by: (a) Monitoring new trends, keeping abreast of industry best practices and proactively identifying opportunities to innovate in operational support and business transformation. (b) Ensuring that ESCWA business model is aligned with evolving mandates and changing operational environments in the overall Secretariat. (c) Ensuring that transformation projects are designed, consulted, communicated and implemented in harmony with global Secretariat efforts and according to the best practices in change management. (d) Continually refining business operations strategy based on anticipated client needs. (e) Proposing and organizing project and change management training and guidance and supporting clusters and teams in structural or process changes arising from new mandates. (3) Leads the service development and delivery programme by: (a) Leading the Service Management Unit towards a common strategy and workplan and ensuring timely delivery of quality standards. (b) Managing the staff of the Unit, including work plans, coaching and supervision, and ensuring proper evaluation of staff performance (PAS) towards RMSDD goals. (c) Fostering teamwork and communication among staff in the section and across organizational boundaries. (d) Ensuring cross-functional integration of business areas in service delivery (HR, finance, budget, etc.) and engaging stakeholders by maintaining communications and seeking feedback, as required. (e) Carrying out basic research on selected aspects of programmes, operations and other activities, etc., collecting, analyzing and presenting statistical data and other information gathered from diverse sources. (f) Participating in survey initiatives; assisting with the design of data collection tools; issuing data collection tools, reviewing, analyzing and interpreting responses, identifying problems/issues and preparing preliminary conclusions. (g) Developing costing methodologies and formulating service costs encompassing direct and indirect costs, in alignment with corporate guidelines. (h) Establishing the necessary administrative workflows, processes and tools to ensure a steady flow of revenue through cost recovery for service delivery. (i) Undertaking outreach activities; participating in the development of training workshops, seminars, etc.; participating in and making presentations on assigned topics/activities. (i) Developing marketing strategies, based on market surveys with regard to supply and demand, and identify business expansion opportunities with focus on ESCWA’s niche and contributions to the effectiveness of the wider UN system in the region and beyond (ii) Developing marketing and outreach materials to contribute to the outreach efforts for business expansion (j) Performing other duties as required.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Develops recommendations to ensure ESCWA’s business model remains aligned with evolving mandates and dynamic operational environments, while refining the business strategy to anticipate and address emerging client needs. 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. • 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. • Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client. • Empowering Others: Delegates responsibility, clarifies expectations, and gives staff autonomy in important areas of their work; encourages others to set challenging goals; holds others accountable for achieving results related to their area of responsibility; genuinely values all staff members’ input and expertise; shows appreciation and rewards achievement and effort; involves others when making decisions that affect them.

Education

Advanced university degree in business administration or management and/or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Job – Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of nine years of progressively responsible professional experience in operational support, administration, project management, change management or a related area is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to seven for candidates who possess a Master’s degree or higher. Experience in costing and establishing rate cards and price catalogues is required. Experience with large scale implementation of organizational change initiatives or major business transformation projects is desirable. Experience in the UN system or comparable international organizations is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. In addition, Arabic is a working language at ESCWA. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Arabic is desirable. Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include assessment(s) which may be followed by a competency-based interview.

Special Notice

• This position is available for one year from the date of appointment/assignment. Extension of the appointment/assignment is subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval, extension of the mandate, continued need for services, and satisfactory performance. • 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 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. • 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. • Individual Contractors and Consultants who have worked within the UN Secretariat in the last six months, irrespective of the administering entity, are ineligible to apply for or be appointed to any professional and higher temporary or fixed-term positions, within six months of the end of their current or most recent service. For such positions, at least six months need to have elapsed between the end of a consultancy or individual contract and the time of application and consideration for an appointment as a staff member under the Staff Rules and Regulations of the United Nations. • Internal Applicants – when completing the PHP, ensure ALL fields, ALL professional experience and contact information are completed and up to date. This information is the basis for the hiring manager to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position and to contact you. • For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 30th November 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, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu.

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.