Job: Senior Advisor on Sustainable Development

Location: New York 
Deadline: Wednesday, 11 September 2013 

Description

UNOPS mission is to expand the capacity of the UN system and its partners to implement peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations that matter for people in need. Working in some of the world's most challenging environments, our vision is to always satisfy partners with management services that meet world-class standards of quality, speed and cost effectiveness.

UNOPS provides services in sustainable infrastructure, sustainable procurement and sustainable project management, with projects ranging from building schools, roads, bridges and hospitals to procuring goods and services and training local personnel.

By assisting UN organizations, international financial institutions, governments and other development partners, UNOPS makes significant, tangible contributions to results on the ground.

We employ more than 6,000 personnel annually and on behalf of our partners create thousands more work opportunities in local communities. Through our headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark and a network of regional and country offices, we oversee activities in more than 80 countries.

UNOPS is committed to achieving a truly diverse workforce.

Background Information - Development Group Cluster

Development Group Cluster

The UNOPS Development Group Cluster is based in the North America Office and supports a diverse and complex portfolio including partners such as the United Nations Development Programme (the Bureau for Development Policy, the Human Development Report Office, and the Special Unit for South-South Cooperation), the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Capital Development Fund, the United Nations Secretariat and a broadening community of primarily New York-based UN partners in the delivery of project management, implementation and administration services.

Background Information - Job-specificThe United Nations General Assembly (UNGA/GA) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation. Its powers are to oversee the budget of the United Nations, receive reports from other parts of the United Nations and make recommendations in the form of General Assembly Resolutions. It has also established a wide number of subsidiary organs. The General Assembly meets under its president in regular yearly sessions which typically take place from September to December and resume in January until all issues are addressed. It can also reconvene for special and emergency special sessions. Its composition, functions, powers, voting, and procedures are set out in Chapter IV of the United Nations Charter. President of the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has stated he intends to display important leadership on issues relating to sustainable development and follow-up on Rio+20 processes which will be addressed by the General Assembly under his presidency. Candidates will be assessed based on the quality of their technical proposals. See 'Additional Consideraions' for instructions.

Functional ResponsibilitiesUnder the direct supervision of the Chef de Cabinet, Office of the President of the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the incumbent will:

• Monitor the work of Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are intended to build upon the Millennium Development Goals and converge with the post 2015 development agenda;
• Track the work of the Expert Committee on a Sustainable Development Financing Strategy that has been established by the General Assembly to prepare and submit a report to it in 2014, on options on an effective sustainable development financing strategy to facilitate the mobilization of resources and their effective use in achieving sustainable development objectives;
• Monitor the implementation of the recent General Assembly action - or any subsequent follow-up to it during the 68th session – on the Rio+20 agreement on strengthening of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP);
• Follow-up on the outcomes of the first session of the High-level Political Forum for Sustainable Development, to be held in September 2013, when heads of State and Government are expected to, among other things, provide political leadership, guidance and recommendations for sustainable development;
• Contribute to the ongoing efforts of the OPGA to assess the implementation of General Assembly-mandated call for improved cooperation and coordination within the United Nations system on sustainable development programmes and policies, including those pertaining to South-South cooperation;
• Liaise with major groups and other relevant stakeholders on ways to enhance their consultative role and participation in implementing the outcomes of the Rio+20 conference, in order to better make use of their expertise, while respecting the intergovernmental nature of discussions.

CompetenciesPlanning and Organization Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required. Uses own initiative; Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work. Strong organizational skills; Close attention to detail; Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning. Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary. Uses time efficiently; Works well under pressure; Able to meet tight deadlines and to manage a heavy workload; Persistence and willingness to follow through; Communications 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. Communication and advocacy skills; Respect for Diversity Curiosity and desire to work in a complex, international environment. Proven ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity, including gender and geographical balance. Sensitivity to cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age differences; Respect for, and understanding of, international political processes; Ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and discretion. Integrity Commitment to United Nation's mission, vision and values; Ethics and Values: Promotes Ethics and Integrity and creates positive precedents; Demonstrates the values of the United Nations in daily activities and behaviours. Acts without consideration of personal gain. Resists undue political pressure in decision-making. Does not abuse power or authority. Stands by decisions that are in the Organization's interest, even if they are unpopular. Takes prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour. Teamwork Able to function in a team environment; Strong interpersonal skills and flexibility; Self-management and Emotional Intelligence: Creates an emotionally intelligent organization; Team player with the ability to maintain good work relations with individuals of different backgrounds, and to work under pressure; Holds a friendly, approachable and confident manner; Able to take instructions and to learn on the job; Able to cope with criticism; Conflict Management: leverages conflict in the interest of OPGA and sets standards; Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. Solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others. Places team agenda before personal agenda. Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position. Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. Creativity Actively seeks to improve programmes and services. Offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs. Promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas. Takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks 'outside the box'. Takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things. Is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches. Technological Awareness An excellent working knowledge of IT and all applications relating to communications; Keeps abreast of available technology. Understands applicability and limitations of technology. Actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks. Shows willingness to learn new technology. Negotiation and Partnership Building Strong negotiation skills and ability to build partnerships and mobilize support; Strong initiative and is comfortable to pro-actively reach out to new and existing external partners; Strong skills for reputational risk management; Education/Experience/Language requirementsEDUCATION Advanced university degree in Environmental Studies, International Relations, Environmental Law or equivalent; EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of 7 years work experience dedicated to sustainable development issues, in particular international negotiations relating to policies and commitments;
• In-depth knowledge of the Rio+20 process and its outcomes, as well as current regional and international negotiations on sustainable development;
• Extensive knowledge and clear understanding of international negotiations on sustainable development;
• Experience negotiating and brokering agreement on sustainable development commitments at multilateral forum;
• Ability to provide strategic high-level advice on sustainable development issues, positions and advancements for the agenda;
• Experience on sustainable development programme and project planning, development and evaluation.
• Ability to interface with diplomats and high-level officials, to persuade and to broker agreement.

LANGUAGE Fluency in written and spoken English is required; Proficiency in additional UN languages is desirable.

Contract type, level and durationContract type: International ICA Contract level: IICA-SP 3 Contract duration: 7 Months For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link: http://www.unops.org/ENGLISH/WHOWENEED/CONTRACT-TYPES/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements-ICAs.aspx Additional Considerations

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time (CET)
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• For staff positions UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks. Candidates will be assessed for the shortlist based on the quality of their technical proposals. Interested candidates must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications: Technical Proposal:

• Submission of UNDP Personal History Form (P11)

• Submission of motivation letter explaining why s/he is the most suitable candidate, highlighting the relevance of his/her past experience.
• Sample of written publications and/or other written work to evaluate the quality of your experience writing for high-quality publications

(P.11 Form can be downloaded from here: http://sas.undp.org/documents/P11_Personal_history_form.doc). PLEASE NOTE THAT INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS AND APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. ONLY SELECTED CANDIDATES WILL BE NOTIFIED. UNOSSC is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

More Info and Application