STAFF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

Org. Setting and ReportingThis position is located in the Language and Communications Training Unit (LCTU), Capacity Development and Operational Service (CDOTS), Office of Support Operations (OSO), Department of Operational Support (DOS). The Department of Operational Support was established to provide end-to-end operational support, advisory services, staff capacity development and other solutions to operational entities across the Secretariat, including departments, offices away from headquarters, field missions and regional commissions. The Capacity Development Operational Training Service (CDOTS) provides operational training and leads as the main facilitator of business process management activities in the UN Secretariat. The Language and Communications Training Unit is responsible for and delivers multilingualism projects, and language and communications training in all six official languages to staff of the UN Secretariat. The Staff Development Officer will act as Chief of the Language and Communications Training Unit, and will report to the Chief of the Capacity Development and Operational Service. ResponsibilitiesWithin limits of delegated authority, the Staff Development Officer will be responsible for the following duties: General • Develops and implements new human resources policies, practices and procedures to meet the evolving needs of the Organization, especially as related to language and communications teaching and learning. • Monitors and ensures the implementation of human resources policies, practices and procedures, especially those related to language and communications learning, within the overall objective of developing multilingualism. • Keeps abreast of developments in various areas of human resources and learning and development. • Prepares budget planning,and manages expenditure and programme reporting ensuring clear and objective data. • Participates in and/or leads special human resources multilingualism and learning and development projects. • Plans, organizes, manages and evaluates the work of the Unit. Recruitment and placement • Projects and monitors vacant posts of the Unit and ensures adherence to policies and procedures in filling these posts. • Recommends guidelines on promotion and placement of staff. • Oversees or prepares vacancy announcements, reviews applications and provides short-lists to substantive offices. • Arranges and conducts interviews for selection of candidates. • Reviews recommendation on the selection of candidates. • Prepares job offers for selected candidates. • Participates in task forces and working groups identifying issues/problems, formulating policies and guidelines, and establishing new procedures as related to multilingualism. • Represents the Unit with full delegation of authority in discussions with senior government officials on recruitment and other human resources matters. • Plans, organizes, develops, coordinates and administers the language examinations and other programmes and tests related to recruitment of professional, general service and other categories of staff. Staff development and career support • Oversees, identifies and analyzes staff development and career support needs and designs programmes to meet identified needs. Oversees and prepares monitoring reports on staff development and career support programmes. • Analyzes staff development and career support plans to ensure that they are consistent with the overall organization’s goals, policies on staff development and career support, and the respective mandates. • Evaluates effectiveness and impact of staff development and career support programmes and recommends ways to enhance effectiveness and impact. • Provides advice on mobility and career development to staff at all levels in all categories. • Provides performance management advice to staff and management. Assists supervisors and staff with understanding and using the performance appraisal system (PAS). • Assesses training needs, identifies, designs and delivers training programmes, particularly in multilingualism, language and communications to staff at all levels throughout the Organization. • Formulates examination policies and develops and prepares examination papers. Other duties • Manages the team responsible for the delivery of the mandate of the LCTU in the six official languages and resolutions on multilingualism. • Monitors staff work and identifies/proposes appropriate programmes and remedial action, particularly related to multilingualism, and language and communications skills. • Monitors, advises and acts on disciplinary matters in accordance with established policies and procedures. Mediates conflict, grievance and harassment cases within the Unit. • Supervises and monitors the work of the Unit staff in undertaking the full range of multilingualism and learning activities. • Represents the management in classification appeal cases. • Coordinates surveys related to capacity development and multilingualism, designing data collection tools, analysis of responses and preparation and implementation of recommendations. • Prepares classification analysis of jobs in Professional and General Service and related categories for the Unit. • Provides guidance to programme managers on the application of classification policies and procedures and by undertaking whole office review. • Conducts research in preparing policy papers, position papers and briefing notes on issues related to examinations and tests. CompetenciesPROFESSIONALISM: Ability to manage, implement and report on budgets within an international organization. Ability to work closely with Member State donors on project funding and delivery. Ability to develop, implement and manage adult learning or capacity development programmes with multilingual dimensions. 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. 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. 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 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. EducationAdvanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in human resources management, business or public administration, social sciences, education, linguistics or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two years’ qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Job - Specific QualificationNot available. Work ExperienceA minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in human resources management, programme management, learning and development, administration or related area is required. Experience in developing, implementing and managing adults learning or capacity development programmes with multilingual dimensions within an international organization or similar is required. Experience of managing teams in an international organization or similar is required. Experience in managing, implementing and reporting on budgets is desirable. Experience in administering functions in a Learning Management System or similar is desirable. Experience working closely with Member State donors on project funding and delivery is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required and fluency in French is desirable. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable. AssessmentEvaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise in addition to a competency-based interview. Special NoticeAppointment or assignment against this position is for an initial period of one year. This post is financed by Extra Budget. The appointment or assignment and renewal thereof are subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate. Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position. 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. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. At the 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 United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. 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.