SENIOR EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Org. Setting and ReportingThis position is based in the Executive Office of the Madam Secretary General (EOMSG) of the International Seabed Authority in Kingston, Jamaica. The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is an international organization established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 1994 Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The ISA is the organization through which States Parties to UNCLOS shall, in accordance with the regime for the seabed and ocean floor and subsoil thereof beyond the limits of national jurisdiction (The Area) established in Part XI and the 1994 Agreement, organize and control activities in The Area, particularly with a view to administering the resources of The Area. ResponsibilitiesUnder the overall guidance and the direct supervision of Madam Secretary General and within delegated authority, the Senior Executive Officer will be responsible for the following duties: 1. Strategic Coordination of the Executive Office: • Provide strategic coordination of the Executive Office through substantive support and advice to the Madam Secretary General (M-SG). • Direct and overseeing the formulation and implementation of the work programme of the Office. • Manage the Executive Office teams of Special Assistants. • Support the Senior Management Group (SMG) and serving as an Ex-Officio member of the SMG. • In collaboration with the Communication Office, ensure effective and streamlined internal and external engagements and communication. 2. Policy and Planning: • Assist M-SG and the SMG in developing and implementing strategic frameworks related to administrative, programmatic, and thematic related aspects of ISA. • Provide advice on general administration and management issues. • Support senior management in technical cooperation activities and administrative policy reviews. • Represent the Executive Office on task forces addressing human resources and administrative matters. 3. Provision of Strategic Advisory Support: • Provide strategic advice and recommendations to assist the M-SG in achieving political and managerial objectives, in coordination with the Chef de Cabinet and SMG. • Provide strategic advice in planning, implementing and reviewing the Authority’s strategic plan. • Advise on and support restructuring processes of the Authority. • In collaboration with the Director of OAS, ensuring an integrated approach to the results-based budget process, including alignment with strategic and operational plans and adequate provisions to meet resource requirements. Working in close collaboration on audit, legal cases and evaluations, bringing to the attention of the M-SG matters needing attention. 4. Workforce Development, Organizational Culture and Change Initiatives: • Support the identification and coordination of staff capacity building and development. • Promote a positive and inclusive workplace culture through employee engagement initiatives and establishing feedback mechanisms to enhance and safeguard staff well- being and sense of belonging. • Lead on the continuous planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation of change programmes, right-fitting plans to achieve success where risks or issues are identified • Address and advise on potential management reviews of high sensitivity and complexity. 5. Collaboration on Data-Driven Decision Making: • Collaborate with team members’ efforts to collect and analyse management data and provide insight to identify trends or patterns for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting within the Authority. 6. Representational Role: • In the absence of the M-SG and Chef de Cabinet, receiving visitors, performing representational functions and attending meetings on their behalf. 7. Key Security Related Responsibilities: • Represent the M-SG on the Security Management Team. 8. Perform other relevant duties, as required. Competencies• PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to provide specialized advice in a broad range of human resources management, financial, administrative areas to the Head of Department/Office and managers. Ability to apply UN rules, regulations, policies and guidelines in work situations and prepare reports or rational with respect to key administrative decisions. 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. 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 audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. • PLANNING AND 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. • 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. • 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. EducationAn advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business, public administration, management, finance, accounting, law or related area. 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. Job - Specific Qualification• Professional certification as a Change Practitioner is required. Work Experience• A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible professional experience in organizational development, administration, management, human resources management or related fields is required. • A minimum of ten (10) years of experience as a senior leader, and/or in supporting senior leaders in executing strategic initiatives is required. • Experience with large-scale implementation of organizational change initiatives or major business transformation projects is required. • A minimum of five (5) years of experience in change management, project management or a related area is required. • Experience in executive coaching of senior leaders is required. • Experience in preparing written outputs including background papers, analytical notes, reports etc. is required. • At least five (5) years of experience at the international level is desirable. • Experience in providing strategic policy advice to senior level officials is desirable. • Leadership experience and management in multicultural settings is desirable. • Experience working within the UN System is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the International Seabed Authority Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official language of the United Nations 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 International Seabed Authority/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 International Seabed Authority/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. • At the International Seabed Authority/United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. • All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The International Seabed Authority/United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. • The International Seabed Authority/United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. • 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. • The International Seabed Authority/United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. • Only candidates from ISA Member States are eligible for consideration. 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.