Senior Governance and Public Administration Officer

Org. Setting and ReportingThe position is located in the Public Service Innovation Branch (PSIB) of the Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government (DPIDG) of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). The incumbent will report to the Chief of PSIB. DPIDG focuses on supporting countries in improving effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels for internationally agreed development goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals. More information on DPIDG is available at https://publicadministration.desa.un.org ResponsibilitiesThe incumbent will be responsible for the following duties. Governance and Public Administration Analysis • Leads or provides major inputs in the formulation, organization and management of mandated programmes of governance, public administration and development management and in the formulation of possible public administration and development management strategies, policies and actions in support of the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals. • Leads or participates extensively in the identification of new or emerging governance, public administration and development management issues of potential concern to Member States and/or the international community, particularly those of a regional or global nature and designs the development of programmes to address them. • Plans, designs, supervises and undertakes substantive research, studies, and prepares or reviews reports and publications included in DPIDG’s regular budget programme. • Writes, supervises and finalizes reports on public administration and development management for issuance by the Division, the Department or the United Nations. • Prepares briefing notes and speeches for the Director of the Division and the Department and makes presentations on public administration and development management related issues for specialist or non-specialist audiences. • Leads the development of a research agenda, oversees the development of key trends and specific topics to continuously enrich the substantive work of the Division. Intergovernmental Support • Provides direct substantive support on governance, public administration and development management to intergovernmental bodies such as the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council, and the UN Committee of Experts on Public Administration by offering strategic advice, giving technical guidance and assisting in developing consensus. • Services meetings of intergovernmental bodies. • Represents the Branch, Division and the Department as well as the Organization at international, regional and national meetings on governance, public administration and development management. Technical Cooperation • Develops and maintains relations with senior officials of Member Governments and responds to requests for advice and/or assistance on governance, public administration and development management issues and policies. • Negotiates with donor and recipient governments on technical assistance programmes and projects. • Organizes and coordinates cooperation among Member States on public administration and development management programmes or issues. • Finalizes substantive and financial reports on programmes financed by voluntary funds. • Leads and/or participates in technical cooperation missions. • Plans and oversees implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of projects in governance and public administration. • Supervises the administration of technical support to seminars and workshops organized by the Branch and the Division’s institutional partners. Programme Support • Actively participates and provides inputs to the Chief of Branch in the formulation of the strategic network, the programme of work of the Division and participates in the formulation of the organization’s overall programme of work and other similar endeavors. • Attends to various administrative matters concerning the Branch. • Maintains records and data related to programmes within his/her responsibility and enter data, information and documentation in the UNPAN. • Researches, compiles and summarizes basic information and data on projects including those related to technical cooperation and the United Nations Public Service Awards Programme. • Performs other related duties as required. Competencies• Professionalism: Knowledge and understanding of governance, public administration and development theories, principles and applications. Ability to produce quality reports and publications in selected areas of governance, public administration and development 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Able to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. • Planning & 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. • 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. • 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. • 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 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 degree) in public administration, governance, political science, social science, development administration, law, public finance or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Job - Specific QualificationNot available. Work ExperienceA minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in governance, public administration, development management, or related area is required. Experience in research and policy analysis in the relevant field of work is required. Experience in writing and/or publishing in areas of public administration, public service and development management is required. Experience in government or international organizations in the area of policy making is desirable. Experience in supervisory and management is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage. AssessmentEvaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview. Special NoticeThe 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. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfil the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover letter. For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 Nov 2023, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu. 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.