CHIEF OF STAFF

Org. Setting and ReportingThe United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. UN-Habitat is the focal point for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system. UN-Habitat works with partners to build inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and communities. UN-Habitat promotes urbanization as a positive transformative force for people and communities, reducing inequality, discrimination and poverty. Under the overall leadership of the Executive Director, the Chief of Staff will facilitate the translation of strategic direction into concrete results; provide strategic policy advice on emerging human settlements policy issues and programme-related matters; and serve as team leader and coordinator to various reform processes. The incumbent will work in close coordination and cooperation with senior managers in UNHABITAT and where required with other offices of the UN-Secretariat, Funds and Programmes and specialized agencies. The Chief of Staff is member of UN-Habitat's Senior Leadership team. The incumbent will be under the overall supervision of the Executive Director. Within delegated authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following: Responsibilities1. Assist the Executive Director in the overall direction and management of the Department, translating strategic intent and high-level organizational direction into viable tasks; work with Divisions and the Executive Office to support effective implementation and resourcing. 2. In collaboration with relevant offices, lead the identification of emerging human settlement policy issues. Undertake research and provide briefings to the Executive Director and the Leadership Team. 3. Assist the Executive Director and Leadership team with expert advice on the substance, design and implementation of forward-leaning strategies and approaches. 4. Offer strategic policy guidance and contribute to the development of coherent, impact-based programmes. Support the integration and emerging human settlements issues in UN-Habitat's programme of work and across substantive offices. 5. Draft, finalize and present policy briefs and papers on emerging human settlements issues for consideration by the Executive Director and the Leadership Team. 6. Prepare policy statements and speeches for the Executive Director in coordination with the relevant divisions and offices. 7. Ensure strategic alignment of the divisions and field programme of work with UN-Habitat vision and priorities. Coordinate and oversee results-oriented planning, ensuring that inputs and actions are aligned. 8. Lead and coordinate selected reform processes as directed by the Executive Director, particularly in the areas of programme coordination, results-based management, resource planning, and information and communication. Drive organizational change and identify associated risk mitigation strategies. 9. On behalf of the Executive Director, support the building of high-level alliances with key UN-Habitat partners (UN agencies, IGOs, Governments, municipalities, NGOs, Regional and National institutions academia and private sector) to enlist their support and engagement in development of human settlements policy system. 10. Provide support on behalf of the Executive Director to the Office of Resource Mobilization and Strategic Partnerships for UN-Habitat’s funding raising activities. 11.Coordinate UN-Habitat’s reports to intergovernmental bodies on budget and programme performance or on programmatic/ substantive issues, particularly those presented in biannual and/or annual reports. 12. Lead and coordinate the monitoring and evaluation functions to ensure compliance with UN policies and procedures; Oversee strategic and thematic evaluations, and promote knowledge management, including lessons learned and best practices in human settlements. 13. Oversee the legal function to ensure that outcomes support the Department’s objectives. 14. Formulate and implement the work programme of the Office of the Executive Director. Determine priorities, allocate resources for output completion, and ensure timely delivery. Assist the Executive Director in developing and implementing strategies and actions to enhance coordination and coherence across the Office of the Executive Director. 15. Ensure that the outputs produced by the Office of the Executive Director maintain high standards of quality, clarity, objectivity and are based on comprehensive data. Ensure that all outputs produced by the team meet the required mandates and standards. 16. Assist the Executive Director in developing and implementing their compact with the Secretary General. 17. Recruit staff, ensuring due consideration geographical representation and gender balance. 18. Manage, guide, develop and train staff under supervision. 19. Leads 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. Ensures that everyone can discover, access, integrate and share the data they need. CompetenciesProfessionalism: Knowledge of administrative support work in the UN system in general and of specific experience in either financial or human resources management. 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. Ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. 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. Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours 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. Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be \"clients\" and seeks to see things from clients' point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client. 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. 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. EducationAdvanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in business administration, public administration, Management, Urban Development, finance, economics, accounting, law, social sciences or related area is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable. Job - Specific QualificationNot available. Work ExperienceA minimum of fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible professional experience in complex development operations; five of which should be on leadership roles is required. Experience in urban development and human settlements, including management of programmes, at the international level is required. Experience managing complex reporting requirements, integrating information from various sources, and presenting to donors or high-level country representatives, combined with the ability to clearly articulate strategic direction, is required. Experience in an international organization or the UN system both at HQ or Regional and country levels is desirable. Experience in proven record in partnerships management and ideally substantial mobilization of resources is desirable. Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable. AssessmentEvaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview. Special Notice• This position is temporarily available for 364 days. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. • While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. • Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station. • This temporary job opening may be limited to \"internal candidates,\" who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15. • Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. • Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as \"retirement.\" Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service. United Nations ConsiderationsAccording 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. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date. No FeeTHE 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.