DIRECTOR, UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM STAFF COLLEGE

Org. Setting and ReportingThe United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC), with its Headquarters in Turin (Italy) and its second Campus in Bonn (Germany), is the learning institution of and for United Nations staff and partner organizations. UNSSC delivers learning programmes and provides a space for learning to United Nations staff at all levels, functions and locations. Governed by a Board chaired by the Chef de Cabinet of the Secretary-General, UNSSC is uniquely positioned above institutional silos and works in partnership with a wide array of United Nations entities, inter-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and civil society organizations. By fostering a common leadership and management culture, as well as a shared understanding of the policy and operational challenges facing the Organization, UNSSC helps the United Nations system drive sustainable change and results to ensure the organization has the capacities, expertise, and skills to offer solutions to current challenges confronting Member States and to be prepared for new and emerging challenges, taking into account the outcomes of the Summit of the Future and other related intergovernmental processes. With over 150 courses per year, and other learning opportunities such as conferences and workshops, UNSSC focuses on three main areas of the UN operation: peace and security, sustainable development, and the reform of the UN system. UNSSC operates on an annual budget of approximately $20 million per year, and its current personnel size stands at over 100. The Director works under the guidance of the UNSSC Board of Governors, chaired by the Chef de Cabinet of the Secretary-General. For more information on UNSSC, please visit https://www.unssc.org/ ResponsibilitiesUnder the guidance of the UNSSC Board of Governors, chaired by the Chef de Cabinet of the United Nations Secretary-General, the Director will perform the following main functions: Strategic Leadership - Provides strategic direction and vision for the College and its staff aligned with evolving UN priorities, emphasizing innovation, digital transformation and sustainability. Change Management & Organizational Development - Leads the design and implementation of a new UNSSC Model with a view to institutional modernization towards a best in class highly relevant organization, while ensuring agility, responsiveness, client engagement and satisfaction and continuous learning. Learning and Development Excellence - Oversees the design and delivery of impactful, innovative, and inclusive learning programmes tailored to the diverse needs of UN personnel and stakeholders, including women, youth, and persons with disabilities, fostering their professional growth and strengthening their capacities. - Develops UNSSC offerings that correspond to organization’s demands and be the “go to” for cross functional and inter agency initiatives. - Implements robust monitoring, evaluation, and continuous improvement frameworks to measure and enhance institutional impact and effectiveness alongside clear accountability for impact. Innovation and Digital Transformation - Leverages technology to develop highly innovative and dynamic learning offerings that are location independent, agile and cost effective. - Drives digitalization and innovation in learning methodologies, content delivery, and educational technology to maximize impact, efficiency and return on investment. Partnership Building - Increases the number of strategic collaborations with external partners, academia, and private sector innovators. - Develops and strengthens appropriate partnerships with UN system organizations. - Minimizes redundancies and duplication of other initiatives and programmes, and maximizes collaboration opportunities, including with UNITAR and UNU as well as other UN entities’ training and staff development departments. Resource Mobilization and Growth - Enhances financial sustainability through innovative funding strategies, donor relations, and partnerships. General Management - Manages the staff of the Staff College in accordance with the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and the terms of the UNSSC statute; - Submits the work programme and budget of the Staff College to the Board of Governors for approval and, upon approval, oversees their execution; - Submits to the Board and to other stakeholders annual and ad hoc reports on the activities of the Staff College and the execution of its work programme and growth and sustainability strategies and plans; - Coordinates the work of the Staff College with that of related organs of the United Nations system and of relevant institutions outside the system; - Negotiates such arrangements, including those with Governments, as may be appropriate with a view to offering and receiving services related to the activities of the Staff College; - Mobilises resources for the implementation of the work programme of the Staff College. Representation and advocacy - Represents UNSSC in inter-agency and inter-governmental fora and other key meetings and events, as appropriate. - Protects and strengthens UNSSC brand through showcasing capabilities and enhancing the understanding of UNSSC value-add. CompetenciesProfessionalism: Demonstrable track record in guiding a team of professionals in leading executive learning and training programmes in a comparable high-profile organization with clear evidence of delivering successful results. Solid understanding of the trends and best practices in workplace learning and training in order to deliver high quality learning programmes. Politically astute, result-oriented and highly experienced manager and leader with the authority and experience to forge partnerships, influence and negotiate at the highest levels in the UN system. Ability to conceptualize and convey strategic vision. Understanding of results-based management in the context of the UN System. Ability to lead change and to engage with representatives of Member States, governments, academia, private sector, the media and the wider stakeholder community. 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. Technological awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology. Understands applicability and limitations of technology to the work of the office. Actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks. Shows willingness to learn new technology. 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 improvement; 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. 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. Judgement/decision making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly. Gathers relevant information before making a decision. Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them. Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization. Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information. Checks assumptions against facts. Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision. Makes tough decisions when necessary. EducationAdvanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in business or public administration, science, social science, economics, international relations, political science, law or related area is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Job - Specific QualificationA Ph.D. or equivalent attainment is desirable. Work ExperienceOver 15 years of progressively responsible experience, of which at least five years are at the international level in education, leadership development, talent management, organizational development or capacity building initiatives is required. Experience in strategic planning, portfolio management, and service delivery in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment is required. Experience in building and maintaining effective partnerships across organizations is required. Experience in marketing and resource mobilization is required. At least three years of senior managerial experience leading and managing large teams in international or non-governmental organizations is desirable. Experience in design and implementation of forward-thinking and innovative business practices, organizational reform and change management is desirable. Demonstrated success in leading digital transformation initiative in learning environments and introducing innovative approaches to learning delivery is desirable. Experience in the UN system or comparable international organization is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. Either French or Arabic or Spanish or Chinese (Mandarin) or Russian is desirable. 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).