Position Overview
The UN Foundation employs a small team of high caliber policy professionals who work with the UN and key partners around the SDGs and other critical global issues on the UN’s agenda. This new role will function as a policy entrepreneur to lead UNF’s day-to-day engagement with the UN and its partners on issues related to the future of multilateralism to tackle key collective challenges, including the SDGs. This role will be directly responsible for UNF’s engagement around work related to Our Common Agenda, working with other policy leads, advisers, and leaders across the organization to design, develop, and help implement major streams of work in this area. This role will also lead a policy collaborative with other NY-based policy staff, shape NY-facing communications, and lead policy planning across the Foundation on pan-Foundation issues, relationships, and opportunities. This role is part of the Executive Office, reporting to the President & CEO with a dotted line to the Senior Vice President and head of Office in New York.
This position is based in New York, NY (Hybrid schedule).
Essential Functions
Lead UNF's UN-facing strategy and approach to the future of multilateralism and generate ideas for policy, advocacy, coalitions, and other initiatives to shape UNF's contribution to key multilateral milestones, including the 2024 Summit of the Future, and related opportunities to support UN leadership and strengthen the UN for the futreHelp build, strengthen, and diversify UNF engagement with key partners active on multilateral innovation in governments, academia, civil society, philanthropy, and the private sector, including leading philanthropic partners, the Southern Voice think tank network, NY-based think tanks, Strategy Sharers, and others; and shape and oversee production of regular updates for partners about latest developments at the UNContribute to UNF’s strategy and thinking on the SDGs and their future, working with the Sustainable Development Initiatives team and experts within and outside the Foundation, including to shape UNF’s contribution to the SDG Summit; generate ideas for policy, advocacy, and other initiatives to accelerate progress in SDG implementation, including the intersection of SDGs and climateConvene NY-based and other policy staff regularly to share insights and opportunities and strengthen connections and coherence in UNF’s policy posture at the UNLead policy planning across UNF on emerging and cross-cutting issues, including development of key proposals to address the future of multilateralism across collective challenges, including the SDGs, climate crisis, humanitarian response, and peace and security, drawing on policy and related experts across the FoundationDevelop organizational thought leadership on these issues across UNF, including with UNF leadership, senior fellows, and policy and advocacy leads across the FoundationWork with UNF’s communications and policy staff to shape strategy and execution of future of multilateralism and SDG-related communications products, including related blogs, op-eds or articlesRepresent UNF in key moments related to the future of multilateralism and SDGsServe as a source of internal expertise and guidance to UNF and maintain a strong link with UNF teams that intersect with the agenda on the future of multilateralism and SDGs, including relevant multi-stakeholder alliances housed at UNFBuild and oversee small team of professionals based in NY and elsewhere who conduct policy, research, and tracking around UN and other leading SDG efforts in New York, capitals, and other major for a (e.g., G20, G7)Oversee select major convenings related to the future of multilateralism and SDGsCultivate strong donor relationships and lead fundraising for the future of multilateralism and SDG-related workMaintain line-of-sight on all future of multilateralism and SDG-related partnerships and external relationshipsOversee future of multilateralism and SDG-related budget, financial tracking, and grants.Other duties as assignedSelection Criteria
Graduate degree, in the fields of international relations, diplomacy, economics, law, or a related field and or equivalent experienceMinimum 15 years of progressively senior experience in international policy, multilateral relations, or UN affairs, with prior experience in a diplomatic or UN setting strongly preferredHigh degree of intellectual and policy versatility across top issues on the global agenda, with in-depth practical expertise in at least on key area such as climate change, international finance and economics, sustainable development, digital cooperation, or peace and securityIn-depth and expert understanding of the SDGs as well as global political dynamics, the United Nations and international cooperationExceptional analytical skills, ability to synthesize complex ideas at a strategic level, and track record of thought leadership on a variety of policy and development issues at a high levelReputation for exceptional representational skills with external audiences and proven ability to cultivate and maintain relationships with a variety of partners, including diplomats, government officials, and civil societyExceptional oral and written communications skillsStrong leadership and management skills, including ability to mentor staff and motivate diverse teams, ability to drive projects from inception to implementation with attention to detail, and proven ability to work across teams and with partners to accomplish missionSelf-starter, flexibility, and a team playerAbility to develop, maintain, and enjoy effective working relationships with people from a wide variety of geographies, organizations, and functional expertiseStress to thrive under pressure and manage competing demands with resilienceCommitment to continuous learning, openness to critical debate, and ability to synthesize diverse perspectives and viewsMulti-sector experience and ability to thrive in a multi-cultural environment.Benefits & Compensation
For full-time, benefit eligible employees, UNF offers an excellent range of benefits, including:
a choice between two health plans through UnitedHealthcare (PPO or HDHP with HSA)dental insurancevision insuranceflexible spending accounts403b retirement savings plan with a generous matching contributiongroup term and supplemental life insuranceshort-term disabilitylong-term disabilityhealth club discountscommuter subsidyback-up careemployee assistance programAdditionally, all benefit eligible employees have 12 paid holidays, 20 vacation days, 10 sick days, 3 personal days, and 8 weeks of family leave care.
The United Nations Foundation is proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative-action employer. The United Nations Foundation provides equal employment opportunity to all employees and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.