Job Opening ID: 252664
Job Network: Economic, Social and Development
Job Family: Sustainable Development
Category and Level: Professional and Higher Categories, P-5
Duty Station: NEW YORK
Department/Office: Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Date Posted: Feb 27, 2025
Deadline: Mar 12, 2025
Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located in the Division for Sustainable Development Goals (DSDG) of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), in the Programme Management Unit. The Division provides leadership in promoting and coordinating implementation of the sustainable development agenda of the United Nations and serves as the global secretariat for the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and provides substantive inputs to the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. For more information, please visit our website at http://sdgs.un.org. The Senior Sustainable Development Officer reports to the Director of the Division for Sustainable Development Goals and will support the work of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Water and Sanitation (the ‘UN Water Envoy’).
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Senior Sustainable Development Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
- Leads the development, implementation and evaluation of assigned programmes/projects on sustainable development issues, in particular on water and sanitation and its linkages with other development goals, including the follow-up to major intergovernmental meetings such as the United Nations Water Conference; directs subordinates in programme/project development, implementation, monitoring and assessment.
- Leads the drafting of reports of the Secretary-General as mandated by the General Assembly on Water and Sanitation; reviews 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.
- Leads research on the identification of new and emerging sustainable development issues in the area of water and sanitation and its interlinkages with the sustainable development goals as reflected in the 2030 Agenda and presents analysis of information gathered and reviewed from diverse sources with plausible recommendations for the UN Water Envoy.
- Coordinates policy development; reviews the assessments of sustainable development issues and trends, and preparation of evaluations or research activities and studies.
- Undertakes survey initiatives; guides design of data collection instruments; reviews, analyzes and interprets responses, identifies problems/issues and prepares conclusions.
- Supervises preparation of various written outputs, including background papers, analysis, substantial sections of reports and studies, and inputs to publications on sustainable development issues for the UN Water Envoy.
- Provides direct substantive support to consultative and intergovernmental meetings, including conferences, by offering strategic advice, giving technical guidance and assisting in developing a consensus, including proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations on sustainable development issues.
- Prepares speeches for senior staff, in particular for the UN Water Envoy, and makes presentations on sustainable development issues at various forums of intergovernmental, governmental, inter-agency, expert or multi-stakeholder nature, including on water and sanitation and its interlinkages with the sustainable development goals as reflected in the 2030 Agenda.
- Manages outreach activities of the UN Water Envoy; designs and conducts training workshops, seminars, etc., gives lectures or presentations on assigned topics/activities on sustainable development issues.
- Oversees web contents and structure for the areas of his/her responsibilities.
- Leads field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties, including drafting mission summaries on sustainable development issues.
- Develops and maintains relations with senior officials of member governments and ensures a response to request for advice and/or capacity development on sustainable development issues and policies, including leading capacity development missions.
- Coordinates activities related to budget and funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and ensures preparation of related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.) on sustainable development issues.
- Serves as an effective spokesperson for the UN Water Envoy and establishes collaboration and partnerships with key officials at all levels inside and outside the organization, including with the UN Water community.
- Ensures effective utilization, supervision and development of staff; guides, evaluates and mentors staff.
- Takes the lead in task forces, working groups, inter-agency groups, as needed, on sustainable development issues.
- Ensures gender mainstreaming, including in legislation, policies or programmes.
- Represents the the UN Water Envoy at international, regional or national meetings on sustainable development issues, in particular on water and sanitation, oceans, biodiversity, climate change and disaster risk reduction.
- Performs other related duties as required.
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in sustainable development, economics, public policy, public administration, finance, natural resources management, engineering, law, social sciences or related field 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.
Work Experience
- A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in project or programme management, policy-oriented work in a broad range of sustainable development issues, preferably in the area of water and sanitation, is required.
- Experience drafting reports for intergovernmental bodies is desirable.
- Experience with servicing and providing substantive support to intergovernmental deliberations is desirable.
- Experience with United Nations system institutions and bodies working in the area of sustainable development is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable.
Please see vacancy website for information on Competencies, Assessment, Special Notice and United Nations Considerations.
