Sustainable Development Officer (Chief, UNSDG Mechanism)

In its Resolution A/RES/72/279, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed the transformation of the Development Operations Coordination Office (DCO) as a stand-alone coordination office within the United Nations Secretariat. DCO exercises managerial and oversight functions of the Resident Coordinator system (RCS) under the collective ownership of the members of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG). In 2026, DCO undertook a comprehensive organizational recalibration to ensure the RCS remains optimally configured to support the acceleration of the 2030 Agenda in its final years, and fully embodies the UN 2.0 shift—anchored in data, digital, innovation, behavioral science, strategic foresight, and a mission driven organizational culture. The position is located in the Office of the Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations Development Coordination Office (UNDCO) and reports to the Chief of Staff. The role is responsible for managing the UNSDG Secretariat.

Within delegated authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties: • Lead the effective functioning of the UN Sustainable Development Group and work planning, particularly the UNSDG Principals • Support to the UNSDG Chair and UNSDG Principals in the preparation of key meetings of the UNSDG, including organization of the meetings, preparation of relevant background materials, coordinating effectively with relevant offices of member entities in this process. • Provide direct line management BIG Secretariat, providing strategic direction, broad oversight and integration of these issues into servicing of the UNSDG. • Work closely with relevant teams in DCO, ensures monitoring and effective implementation of decisions of UNSDG Principals, including coordinating the timely delivery of guidance, tools and other products decided by the UNSDG and their effective utilization by UNSDG entities. • Provide substantive support to UNSDG-related interagency and intergovernmental processes, including overseeing DCO’s substantive engagement in the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review, and the Operational Activities Segment of the Economic and Social Council and other related intergovernmental and interagency discussions. • Supervise preparation of various written output such as speeches, briefing notes, analyses and other inputs for the UNSDG Chair, Vice-Chair and DCO senior management on matters pertaining to UNSDG strategic priorities. • Advise DCO Director and Senior Management on the positioning of UNSDG strategic priorities in interagency and intergovernmental bodies, including the Economic and Social Council, and the General Assembly. • Conduct regular outreach, information sharing, consultations, and coordination activities with UNSDG focal points in UN agencies, funds and programmes, and other relevant colleagues within UNSDG entities to improve understanding of, and alignment with, UNSDG priorities. • In coordination with relevant DCO units, ensure timely monitoring and follow-up of UNSDG entities' cost-sharing commitments for funding of the Resident Coordinator system. • Ensure effective utilization, supervision and development of staff; Guides, evaluates and mentors staff. • Keep abreast of latest emerging trends and innovative approaches related to the UNSDG. • Work as a member of the DCO Front Office team, monitoring and providing quality assurance of relevant inputs from across the Resident Coordinator system and UNSDG member entities, ensuring consistency of message, current topics and rapid response to stakeholder inquiries and information requests. • Lead team members' efforts to collect and analyze data and provides insight to identify trends or patterns for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. Ensure that everyone can discover, access, integrate and share the data they need. • Performs other related duties as required.

PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to apply sustainable development theories, concepts and approaches to the work of the UNSDG. Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to conduct data collection using various methods. Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic resources on the internet, intranet, and other databases. Ability to coordinate and convene complex processes with multiple stakeholders. 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. TEAMWORK: 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. PLANNING & 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. MANAGING PERFORMANCE: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly. 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. 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.

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. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Not available.

A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in project or programme management, policy-oriented work in interagency coordination, development system reforms or a related area is required. A minimum of five (5) years of experience in coordinating meetings and products related to system-wide application of development system reforms, impacting all UNSDG members, and the functioning of the Resident Coordinator system is required. Experience in UN and/or other inter-agency policy-making, programming and/or strategy development is required Experience in the design and/or roll-out of UN development system reform efforts is required. Broad understanding of the UN development system understanding of the efficiencies agenda including (BOS, CBO, CP) is desirable. Field experience in development cooperation is desirable. Experience working at the headquarters of a development cooperation entity is desirable. Experience in managing large multicultural teams at the country, regional or global levels is desirable.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult

https://languages.un.org

for details).

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Required Languages

Language

Reading

Writing

Listening

Speaking

English

UN Level III

UN Level III

UN Level II

UN Level II

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

Appointment against this post is open for an initial period of one year and may be subject to extension subject to legislative body funding availability. 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 in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Applicants who have reached the mandatory age of separation are not eligible to apply for job openings to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. Individual contractors and consultants (Non-Staff Personnel) who have worked within the UN Secretariat in the last six months, irrespective of the administering entity, are ineligible to apply for professional and higher temporary or fixed-term positions and their applications will not be considered. 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.

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.

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.