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CHIEF OF SECTION, EMPLOYMENT & SKILLS FOR BALANCED DEVELOPMENT

Rabat

  • Organization: UNECA - United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
  • Location: Rabat
  • Grade: Senior level - P-5, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Labour Market Policy
    • Managerial positions
    • Economic, Social and Development, Economic Affairs (and Sustainable Development)
  • Closing Date: Closed

Org. Setting and Reporting

Established by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations (UN) in 1958 as one of the UN's five regional commissions, the Economic Commission for Africa's (ECA) mandate is to promote the economic and social development of its Member States, foster intra-regional integration, and promote international cooperation for Africa's development. Made up of 54 Member States, and playing a dual role as a regional arm of the UN and as a key component of the African institutional landscape, ECA is well positioned to make unique contributions to address the Continent’s development challenges. The strategic objective of ECA is framed around delivering ideas and actions for an empowered, inclusive and transformed Africa in the framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063 of the African Union through its three core functions, namely, its function as a think tank, its convening function and its operational function.

The mandate of the Sub-Regional Office (SRO) is to strengthen the capacity of Member States to formulate evidence-based plans and policies in support of economic and social transformation in North Africa. To implement its mandate, SRO-NA contributes to ECA's policy-oriented research, promotes its results and facilitates linkages and information exchange between development actors in the region. Particular emphasis is placed on the analysis of economic and social development, with a focus on employment issues particularly on gender and youth; macro-economic policies and governance, regional integration dynamics; sustainable development and sustainable management of natural resources; food security; and innovation, data collection and knowledge management.

The Sub-Regional Office for North Africa serves the following countries: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Sudan and Tunisia.

This post is located in the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Sub-Regional Office for North Africa (SRO-NA) in Rabat, Morocco. The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Director, Sub-Regional Office (D1), and overall guidance of the Deputy Executive Secretary (Programme).

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Chief of Employment & Skills for Balanced Development Section will be responsible for the following duties:

•Provides guidance on conceptual strategy development and management of overall programme related to “employment, skills and balanced development” section.
•Plans and oversees the management of activities undertaken by the Section; ensures that substantive work programmes and programmed activities are carried out in a timely fashion, coordinating diverse projects in the Section, and, in liaison with UNECA substantive division and other organizations of the United Nations System, donors and agencies as appropriate.
•Manages, supervises and coordinates the work programme of the Section under his/her responsibility.; provides programmatic and substantive reviews of reports prepared by others on the issues of employment, skills, and balanced development.
•Ensures that the outputs produced by the Section “employment, skills and balanced development” maintain high-quality standards; that reports are clear, objective and based on comprehensive data. Ensures that all outputs produced meet required standards and comply with the relevant mandates.
•Provides substantive input in the preparation of publications, position papers and reports for presentation to Expert Group Meetings, intergovernmental bodies such as the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (ICE) and the Conference of Ministers (COM) and other policy-making organs, as appropriate.
•Contributes to the reporting to intergovernmental bodies on budget/programme performance or on programmatic/ substantive issues, as appropriate, particularly those presented in biannual and/or annual reports.
•Prepares inputs for the work programme of the Sub-Regional Office North Africa in relation to “employment, skills and balanced development”, determining priorities, and allocating resources for the completion of outputs and their timely delivery, contributes to resources mobilization.
•Carries out programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the Section, including preparation of budgets, assigning and monitoring of performance parameters and critical indicators, reporting on budget/programme performance, preparation of inputs for results-based budgeting, evaluation of staff performance (ePAS).
•Recruits staff for the Section taking into account geographical and gender balance and other institutional values.
•Manages, guides, develops and trains staff under his/her supervision.
•Fosters teamwork and communication among staff in the Section and across organizational boundaries.
•Represents the Organization at inter-agency meetings, seminars, etc. on “employment, skills, and balanced development” related issues.
•Participates in international, regional or national meetings and provides programmatic/substantive expertise on ‘employment, skills, and balanced development” issues, or hold programmatic/substantive and organizational discussions with representatives of other institutions.

Work implies frequent interaction with the following:

•Senior managers and staff within SRO-NA, UNECA divisions, UNCT and UN entities.
•Staff within the UN Secretariat, Missions Heads and other UN offices, funds, programmes and specialized agencies.
•Representatives of Governments and representatives of non-governmental organizations. Chairs and members of intergovernmental bodies.

Results expected:

Produces high-quality outputs on key issues related to Employment, skills and balanced development. Effectively assists, guides and supports programme managers in meeting their objectives and outputs. Provides substantive support in the servicing of various committees and intergovernmental bodies. Effectively develops staff under his/her supervision, including their on-going learning and development.

Competencies

•Professionalism:
Knowledge of the substantive field of work in general and of specific areas being supervised. Ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues and to review and edit the work of others. Ability to apply UN rules, regulations, policies and guidelines in work situations. 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 & 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.

•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 improvement; does not accept the status quo. Shows the courage to take unpopular stands.

•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.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s or Doctorate) in economics, business or public administration or related field is required. A first level university degree in combination with additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in academia or economic/public policy related to jobs, economic research and analysis, policy formulation, application of economic principles in development programmes or related area is required. Experience in social and economic structural transformation in the context of Africa is desirable. Knowledge of employment and skills development in emerging countries is desirable. Qualifying years of experience are calculated following the receipt of the first-level university degree recognized by the United Nations.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. Fluency in one of the working languages of the UN Secretariat, English or French, (both oral and written) is required; knowledge of the other is desirable. Knowledge of Arabic is an advantage.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

The initial appointment to this position is for one year. Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and/ or availability of funds.

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.

For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 September 2018, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belarus, Belize, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Central African Republic, China, Comoros, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

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.

Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfill the lateral move(s) requirements, or geographical to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral or geographical move(s) in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover note.

An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential.

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 or sexual abuse, or crimes other than minor traffic offences, 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.

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.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side 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.

This vacancy is now closed.
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