Executive Director, Global Compact Office, D2

Org. Setting and Reporting

The UN Global Compact is a strategic policy and advocacy initiative primarily targeted to businesses calling for the alignment of their operations and strategies with ten universal principles derived from UN instruments in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. The initiative advances a comprehensive and integrated concept of corporate sustainability that combines corporate responsibility with strong encouragement that businesses take appropriate action in support of UN goals and global issues. The initiative's overall mission is to mobilize a global movement of sustainable companies and stakeholders to create the world we want. It sees business, as a primary driver of globalization, as having an essential role to play in helping to ensure that markets, commerce, technology and finance advance in ways that benefit economies and societies everywhere. It aims to motivate companies to truly integrate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into their core operations and funding activities.

The Executive Director of the Global Compact Office reports to the Secretary-General through the Deputy Secretary-General but is also accountable to the Global Compact Government Group, the Global Compact Board, and, in relation to funds provided by the Foundation for the Global Compact, to that Foundation's Board. The initiative is entirely extra-budgetary, funded at no cost to the UN through the Global Compact Trust Fund and contributions from the Foundation to the Global Compact. This is despite the fact that the Global Compact provides substantial services to the UN System on UN-private sector engagement, especially partnerships. This includes capacity building, enhancing coherence, partnering tools, advice and guidance, and policy and communications support for the Secretary-General on UN-business collaboration

Responsibilities

The Executive Director provides overall leadership, strategic guidance and oversight of the Global Compact.

1. Oversees and has overall responsibility for the governance of the Global Compact, including regular updates to the Global Compact Board as one of its ex-officio members and oversight over implementation of the Board’s recommendations. Works with all the entities of the Global Compact’s governance framework (i.e. Global Compact Board, Global Compact Government Group, Local Network Advisory Board) and staff to define the UN Global Compact’s strategic vision and priorities, communicate them effectively internally and externally, and ensure that they serve continuously as an inspiration and guide. Ensures that these are incorporated into all aspects of the UN Global Compact programmes and operations;
2. Advocates for corporate sustainability as a key contribution of businesses to future development priorities that is essential to create an inclusive and sustainable global economy, and motivates businesses to integrate corporate sustainability and the SDGs into their core practices and strategies. Represents the UN Global Compact and its work in key international fora and serves as key spokesperson to international news media to catalyze business action in support of delivering on the SDGs;
3. Provides the vision and thought leadership on a range of key corporate sustainability and responsibility issues that the UN Global Compact is promoting; and contributes to the dialogue, vision and direction of global investors, management educators, and civil society leaders on responsible business practices as a leading expert and innovative visionary. Leads and oversees the development and maintenance of strategic alliances/partnerships with key organizations and stakeholders in the field with a view to enhancing the impact of corporate sustainability globally and locally;
4. Provides leadership to the overall management of the Global Compact Office, implementing a values-based management approach. This includes the development and implementation of the UN Global Compact strategy and providing intellectual leadership and strategic guidance to the office’s staff. Oversees the development of the activity plan, annual report and overall progress of the global initiative, setting specific objectives, performance measurements, standards and expected results. In collaboration with the Global Compact’s Executive Management team, assesses progress and performance to ensure delivery of results as planned. Maintains and promotes a culture of openness that promotes teamwork and empowerment of staff that is conducive to delivering results and performance according to organizational, personal and professional standards of efficiency, accountability and integrity;
5. Leads and oversees the overall fundraising efforts and management of relationships with Government Contributors and the Foundation for the Global Compact. Mobilizes all funding required for the Global Compact's operations from a combination of voluntary contributions from Member States and private sector contributions raised through the Foundation for the Global Compact. Ensures quarterly reports are shared with the Government Group, Global Compact Board, and the Foundation for the Global Compact’s Board on budget/programme performance, as appropriate;
6. Within the UN System, champions the universal principles of the Global Compact as the core part of a common UN system approach for engaging with business partners. As Chair of the UN System Private Sector Focal Points Network, supports capacity building efforts with a view to enhancing the capacity of the UN System to engage in more impactful relationships with businesses. Provides advice, guidance and other support to the Secretary-General on the UN-business agenda. Builds and maintains the support of Member States for the UN-business agenda, underpinned by the universal principles of the Global Compact, to secure the Global Compact’s mandate from the General Assembly, including for the objectives of the UN Global Compact, ensuring neutrality, impartiality and independence.

Competencies

• 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.
• 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; 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.
• Professionalism: Knowledge of concepts and approaches relevant to sustainable development, corporate citizenship, and entities such as the UN Global Compact. Professional competence and mastery of functions and trends of markets, finance, and businesses, including key market drivers of corporate sustainability, an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) framework and materiality notion. Knowledge of the role of civil society, trade unions, and higher educational institutions in advancing corporate sustainability and the Sustainable Development Goals. Ability to develop and implement a clear strategic vision and business plan for the direction of a unique public-private initiative. Is motivated by professional visions rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; 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 the audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• Creativity: Actively seeks to improve programmes or 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.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in economics, business or public administration, finance, law, social sciences or related area. A first-level university degree in combination with two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

Over 15 years of progressively responsible experience in business, project management, administration or related area is required; Experience in leading programmes with relevance to the UN Global Compact's programmes and mandates, including leading multi-stakeholder initiatives and multi-lateral processes, is required; Experience to lead and motivate diverse teams in an international environment is required; Experience in corporate citizenship, with at least 5 years of working at global corporations at the senior management/chief executive level or leading a global civil society organization or foundation, is required; Experience in managing critical and high-profile corporate affairs issues in advancing corporate sustainability and the Sustainable Development Goals through a stakeholder engagement process is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required; Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable.

Assessment

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

For more information visit:
https://careers.un.org/lbw/jobdetail.aspx?id=127210&Lang=en-US