Director, Global Land Initiative G20 Office

Org. Setting and Reporting

Desertification, along with climate change and the loss of biodiversity were identified as the greatest challenges to sustainable development during the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. Established in 1994, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management. The Convention seeks to support countries to address Desertification, Land Degradation, and Drought (DLDD). (www. unccd.int) In 2020, Saudi Arabia held the rotating Presidency of the G20. The G20 Leaders’ Declaration, issued on Sunday, 22 November 2020, launched a "Global Initiative on Reducing Land Degradation and Enhancing Conservation of Terrestrial Habitats”. Building on existing initiatives and on a voluntary basis, the G20 countries share the ambition to achieve a 50 percent reduction in the amount of degraded land by 2040. The G20 Global Initiative on Reducing Land Degradation and Enhancing Conservation of Terrestrial Habitats aims, with oversight from UNCCD, to mobilize international cooperation, policy alignment, knowledge exchange, and investment to achieve the ambition of reducing degraded land by 50 percent by 2040. The Global Land Initiative will focus on capacity building, engaging the private sector and civil society and showcasing success. The Director of the G20 Global Initiative Coordination Office provides, under the oversight of the Executive Director of the UNCCD, manages the Coordination Office of the Global Land Initiative, and provides strategic leadership, political engagement, and programme oversight to advance the Initiative through multilateral cooperation, policy dialogue, partnerships, resource mobilization, and strategic advocacy across the UN system and global policy platforms.

Responsibilities

Under the guidance of the Executive Secretary the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties: 1. Manages the team and programme of work of the Global Land Initiative’s Coordination Office and ensure its coordination with UNCCD relevant Units 2. Coordinates and manages the Global Land Initiative’s substantive programme of work in order to ensure delivery in key thematic areas; provides leadership to the development of innovative and transformative programmes; advises on results-based management and on the coordination/supervision of the programme budget, staffing and resources. 3. Leads high‑level engagement with G20 member states, partner countries, and international organizations to advance the Initiative’s policy priorities and implementation objectives, in line with the COP defined program of work. 4. Under the general guidance of the Executive Secretary, facilitates and participates in relevant multilateral negotiations and intergovernmental processes related to sustainable land management, climate change, sustainable development, and environmental governance, in relation to the implementation and advancement of the G20 Global Land Initiative. 5. Identifies, develops and nurtures strategic partnerships with governments, multilateral development banks, climate/development related funds, philanthropic organizations, international financial institutions, regional organizations, civil society and the private sector. 6. Provides strategic policy advice to senior leadership on global environmental governance, sustainable development agendas, and geopolitical dynamics affecting land restoration and climate resilience. 7. Acts as the secretary to, the governance of the Global Land Initiative; ensures and coordinates the servicing of the Steering Committee; prepares reports on the implementation of the Global Initiative to the G20 as appropriate. 8. Assists in high level advocacy, represents and speaks on behalf of the Global Land Initiative at meetings of other international organizations, agencies and bodies and as required, the UNCCD. Coordinates and undertakes resource mobilization and fundraising for UNCCD’s supplementary funds and ensures follow up. 9. Mobilizes financial and technical resources to support implementation of the Initiative through engagement with donors, Climate/Development related funds, development banks, and philanthropic organizations. 10. Oversees preparation of analytical reports, policy briefs, strategic documents, and communications materials of the Initiative ensuring their alignment with global policy processes, chiefly the UNCCD. 11. Performs any other job-related activity required to achieve the goals and objectives of the Global Land Initiative as required by the Executive Secretary.

Competencies

Professionalism: Demonstrates in-depth knowledge of international cooperation and policies relating to, sustainable development and global environmental challenges and international cooperation, with practical decision-making experience at senior levels; Partnership Building – Strong experience in coalition building, diplomacy, and stakeholder engagement. Demonstrated ability to deal with complex issues with diplomacy and tact; ability to lead in a fast-changing environment and setting an example. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of the 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. Communication: Speaks 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; tailors' language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honors 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. 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. And ability to deliver results in politically sensitive contexts. 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 Doctorate) in sustainable development, international relations, diplomacy, economics, environmental studies, public policy, natural resources management, law, or related area is required. A relevant or related first-level university degree in the above areas in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible experience in sustainable development, multilateral diplomacy, international development economics, environment, or related field is required. Extensive experience at a senior managerial level with significant international experience in Multilateral negotiation and intergovernmental processes, international environmental governance with demonstrated expertise in engaging with UN bodies and international organizations is required. Demonstrated leadership experience with strategic vision and proven skills in managing complex organizations including engaging with high level government officials is required. An understanding of the United Nations system, including, of current environmental agenda challenges is desirable. Demonstrated experience in establishing and maintaining professional networks is desirable. Extensive experience in the diplomatic and public policy arena, including experience at the international level is desirable.

Languages

Assessment

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

Special Notice

This is fixed-term appointment with UNCCD. The appointment for this position is for an initial period of one year. Extension is subject of the fund's availability and satisfactory performance. The UNCCD is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. UNCCD recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. UNCCD 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 UNCCD in the last six months are ineligible to apply for professional and higher temporary or fixed-term positions and their applications will not be considered.

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. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. 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.