Sustainable Development Officer

Org. Setting and ReportingThis position is located in the Integrated Policy Analysis Branch of the Division for Sustainable Development Goals (DSDG) in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). The Sustainable Development Officer will report to the Chief of Policy and Analysis Branch. The Division for Sustainable Development Goals acts as the Secretariat for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within UN-DESA, focusing on providing substantive support and capacity building to the 17 SDGs and their related thematic issues, including water, energy, climate, ocean, urbanization, transport, integration across the goals and with other global/regional frameworks, science and technology, the Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR), partnerships and Small Islands Developing States (SIDS). The Division contributes to the intergovernmental processes on the 2030 Agenda, including those under the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the High-level Political Forum, with its substantive analytical work on thematic issues of the Sustainable Development Goals. It coordinates substantive inputs for the deliberations on the review and implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The sub-programme serves as the departmental anchor on the 2030 Agenda. It organizes focal teams on the Sustainable Development Goals and their interactions, including UN-Energy, UN-Ocean and UN-Water. It also plays a key role on the evaluation of systemwide implementation of the 2030 Agenda and on advocacy and outreach activities relating to Sustainable Development Goals. ResponsibilitiesUnder the overall supervision of the Chief of the Integrated Policy Analysis Branch, and guided on a day-to-day basis by the sustainable energy and development expert, the incumbent, in close collaboration with other staff, will support the work of the Branch on sustainable energy and the broader sustainable development agenda. Within delegated authority, the Sustainable Development Officer will be responsible for the following duties: • Supports the work of the UN-Energy Secretariat through policy analysis, coordination, and the organization and preparation of meetings and other events. • Develops sustainable development databases and qualitative information on energy and its synergies and interlinkages with climate action and other SDGs required for recurrent or ad-hoc assignments. • Drafts inputs for technical papers and analytical studies on SDG7 (Energy) and its synergies and interlinkages with climate action and other sustainable development issues. • Formulates, identifies and analyses project proposals on energy and other sustainable development issues. • Attends international, regional, and national meetings for consultations with colleagues in other institutions dealing with SDG7 and other sustainable development issues. • Assists in the organization and servicing of expert group meetings, seminars, etc. on SDG7 and other sustainable development issues. • Prepares speeches and other inputs for presentations by senior staff on energy and other sustainable development issues. • Prepares inputs for reports to High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and other intergovernmental bodies, inter-agency or expert groups on issues relating to SDG7. • Follows intergovernmental meetings, prepares summary reports and provides substantive support, as needed. • Participates in missions on sustainable development issues, usually as a member of a team. • Organizes training seminars/workshops for national experts addressing sustainable development issues. • Monitors, backstops and assesses the implementation of capacity building projects in sustainable development. • Performs other duties as required, including administrative tasks. • Undertakes on-the-job and other training activities both internally and externally. • Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. Competencies• Professionalism: Ability to apply sustainable development theories, concepts and approaches. Ability to conduct independent research and analysis on sustainable development topics, determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources. Knowledge of energy’s interlinkages with other issues such as ocean action, disabilities and development, climate action and the sustainable development of vulnerable countries such as SIDS. Shows skill in developing sources for data collection. 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 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. • 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. EducationAdvanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in sustainable development, environmental sciences, economics, public policy, public administration, finance, natural resources management, engineering, law, social sciences or 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. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is an advantage. Job - Specific QualificationNot available. Work ExperienceA minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in intergovernmental support in sustainable development, project or programme management, and policy-oriented work in a broad range of sustainable development issues is required. Experience in intergovernmental support, especially related to sustainable development is required. Experience with energy issues in the context of global sustainable development and climate change frameworks, including in the context of vulnerable countries, is required. Experience in designing and delivering multi-stakeholder partnerships, capacity-building projects and analytical work on energy and its synergies with other SDGs is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.