Deputy Executive Director, ITC

The work of the International Trade Centre (ITC) is focused on "Transforming trade. Changing lives." ITC assists developing and transition countries to take advantage of expanding trade and investment opportunities.

The Deputy Executive Director will be responsible for the following: Directs and manages the operationalization of ITC’s programmes, and ensures that ITC’s human and financial resources are aligned to deliver practical solutions to the countries and beneficiaries ITC seeks to serve. Contributes to the formulation of ITC’s overall strategies and policies and acting, as required, in an advisory capacity to the Executive Director; contributes to the overall management of the ITC’s activities and operations. Provides leadership to all Division Directors, and oversees the work of the administrative and technical divisions with a view to optimizing synergies and leveraging on efficiencies; oversees development of trade support services taking into account global trends of MSMEs. Oversees the management of activities undertaken by external audit, fosters relationships across ITC, with partner bodies and partners in the international environment. Co-ordinates and oversees the preparation of reports for presentation to intergovernmental bodies such as the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budget Questions, Committee for Programme Coordination, the General Assembly and other policy-making organs, as appropriate. Reports to intergovernmental bodies on budget/programme performance or on programmatic/substantive issues, as appropriate, particularly those presented in biannual and/or annual reports. Oversees the recruitment of staff for the Office of the Executive Director taking due account geographical and gender balance and other institutional values. Manages, guides, and develops staff under their supervision; fosters teamwork and communication among staff in the Office of the Executive Director and across organizational boundaries. Chairs meetings on substantive-related issues; represents ITC at international, regional, inter-agency meetings, seminars and conference; provides programmatic/substantive expertise on an issue, or holds programmatic/substantive and organizational discussions with representatives of other institutions. Perform other related duties as requested by the Executive Director of ITC.

Professionalism: Knowledge of development economics and international trading system. Expert knowledge about recent global trends in trade development and contribution of trade to poverty reduction and development objectives such as the SDGs. Sound knowledge and thorough understanding of results-based management principles and practices and MSMEs. Thorough knowledge of project management. Ability to apply UN regulations, rules, policies and guidelines in work situations. Shows ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues and to review and edit the work of others. Shows ability to apply UN rules, regulations, policies and guidelines in work situations. 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. 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. 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. Building Trust: Provides an environment in which others can talk and act without fear of repercussion; manages in a deliberate and predictable way; operates with transparency; has no hidden agenda; places confidences in colleagues, staff members and clients; gives proper credit to theirs; follows through on agreed upon actions; treats sensitive or confidential information appropriately. 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.

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics, business administration, international relations, law, or related area. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

A minimum of fifteen years (seventeen years with a first level degree) of experience in trade development in developing and/or transition countries is required. Extensive experience in leading multi-country/complex aid for trade programmes (such as global supply chains, market expansion, improving enterprise competitiveness, access to finance, enhancing export capacity and market access) is required. Experience in working with MSMEs is required. Experience of leading diverse, multidisciplinary teams and driving organizational change is required. Experience in high-level representation including interacting and influencing high-level stakeholders and SME competitiveness ecosystems is required. Experience in advocacy, fund raising and establishing public and private sector partnerships is required.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. Either Arabic or Chinese (Mandarin) or French or Russian or Spanish is desirable.

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