MECHANICAL ENGINEER

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the UNECE Sustainable Transport Division’s Vehicle Regulations, Road Traffic Safety and Transport Innovations Section (VRRTSTIS). The incumbent works under the direct supervision of the P-5 Chief of VRRTSTIS and is under the general supervision of the D-1 Director of Sustainable Transport Division.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following:

• Acts as secretary to the Working Party on Passive Safety (GRSP) and provides expert assistance to it in the development of vehicle regulations in the legal framework of the Agreements of 20 March 1958, 13 November 1997 and 25 June 1998. This involves: (a) Preparing and reviewing working documents (proposing harmonized technical requirements for the design and construction of motor vehicles, their parts and equipment), drafting agendas and reports of the sessions, servicing the meetings and undertaking follow-up actions. (b) Liaison with the representatives of the Contracting Parties to the Agreements and of governmental and non-governmental organizations participating at the meetings. (c) Providing technical and legal assistance to GRSP to clarify complex issues on passive safety requirements of vehicles to reconcile varying points of view and to find compromise solutions.
• Performs the technical, legal and administrative functions related to the Agreement of 25 June 1998, which is administered by the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) and which encompasses the Compendium of Candidates for global technical regulations and the Global Registry of global technical regulations. This includes: (a) Analyzing and evaluating national vehicle regulations, standards and recommendations proposed to be listed in the Compendium of Candidates, and preparation of the relevant documentation; (b) Maintaining and updating the Compendium of Candidates in accordance with the Agreement; be established in the Global Registry and preparation of the relevant documentation; (c) Analyzing and evaluating the Candidate global technical regulations and attached documentation to be established in the Global Registry in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement, including the preparation of the documentation related to the amendments of the global technical regulations established in the Global Registry; (d) Maintaining and updating the Global Registry in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement, including the preparation of the documentation related to the amendments of the global technical regulations established in the Global Registry; (e) Issuing Official Notifications to the Contracting Parties to the Agreement concerning every change in the Compendium of Candidates and in the global technical regulations established in the Global Registry, as well as in the process of adoption and application by Contracting Parties; (f) Ensuring that all documents related to the regulations listed in the Compendium of Candidates and the global technical regulations established in the Global Registry are made publicly available.
• Assists the Chief of the Vehicle Regulations and Transport Innovations Section in the preparation of the sessions of WP.29 and of the Administrative Committee (AC.3) of the 1998 Agreement. This involves: (a) Preparing WP.29 legal documents coming from GRSP. (b) Preparing the voting table and ensuring its completion with regard to new Contracting Parties to the 1998 Agreement, new global technical regulations and new amendments to the existing global technical regulations submitted to voting by all the Working Parties. (c) Assisting the Secretary of WP.29 during the WP.29 and AC.3 sessions. (d) Drafting the sections of the WP.29 reports, which are related to GRSP and AC.3
• Contributes to the analytical and capacity building activities related to passive safety to support transport policies development to reduce road casualties that includes: (a) Cooperation with UN Member States in the collection of transport data, as well as with the monitoring of vehicle safety and the evaluation of policies to improve it; (b) Cooperation with other UN Agencies and International Organizations on transport and vehicle passive safety relevant to the post.
• Assists the Chief of the Vehicle Regulations and Transport Innovations Section in the consolidation of the legal texts of the Regulations under the responsibilities of GRSP.
• Acts as a focal point of pillar three (safer vehicles) of the decade of action for road safety and its follow up.
• Contributes to multi-disciplinary activities relevant to vehicle passive safety. Represents the secretariat at conferences, workshops, and meetings of other international organizations in the field of vehicle safety to transmit or receive information relevant to the World Forum and its subsidiary Working Parties.
• Performs any other related duties as required.

Competencies

Professionalism: Demonstrates knowledge in the areas of safe vehicles and protection of vulnerable road users, as well as of legal and administrative provisions of regulations. Possesses ability to produce reports and papers on these issues. Shows pride in work and achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. Is responsive to professional rather than personal concerns. Shows discretion 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.

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. Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary. Uses time efficiently.

Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. Leads through influence and integrity, includes collecting input from others. Is willing to learn from others. Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect her own position. Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Education

Advanced university degree in engineering, human factors, or related area is required. A first-level university degree in these or related specialized fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

At least 5 years of professional experience in transport, mechanical or electrical, automotive sector or related area is required. Out of these 5 years, at least 2 years of experience in active or passive vehicle safety is desirable. Experience in policy formulation, preferably in a governmental or international organization, is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. Either French or Arabic or Spanish or Russian or Chinese (Mandarin) is desirable. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

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, 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. The 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.

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 ancillary. For this position, applicants from the following Member States are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Grenada, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Monaco, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea for the United States, United States of America, Vanuatu.

United Nations Considerations

According 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 offense, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these actions. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for the tools 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 advances of a sexual nature when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of 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. By accepting of 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.

No Fee

THE 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.