Principal Coordination Officer ( Managing Coordinator)

This position is located in the Office of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The Principal Coordinator Officer/Managing Coordinator reports to the Deputy Secretary-General of UNCTAD.

The incumbent coordinates the implementation and management of UNCTAD’s projects under the Memorandum of Understanding between UNCTAD and the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China (MOFCOM). S/he supports the divisions and coordinates the related technical cooperation activities undertaken by substantive divisions and works closely with the Steering Committee to ensure that programmed activities are carried out in an effective and efficient manner. Within delegated authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:

• Leads, supervises and monitors the implementation of projects under his/her responsibility. Co-ordinates the relevant work product provided by different work units and by other agencies and bodies of the United Nations system; provides programmatic/substantive reviews of the drafts prepared by others.
• Ensures strategic alignment across divisions to enhance responsiveness to the needs of least developed (LDCs) and vulnerable countries.
• Ensures that the outputs produced by the Branch/Service/Division maintain high-quality standards; that reports are clear, objective and based on comprehensive data. Ensures that all outputs produced by the parties meet required standards before completion to ensure they comply with the relevant mandates.
• Assists the Deputy Secretary-General in the review and approval of the proposals, determining priorities, and allocating resources for the completion of outputs and their timely delivery.
• Undertakes or oversees the programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the Branch/Service/Division, including preparation of budgets, reporting on budget/programme performance, evaluation of staff performance (PAS), interviews of candidates for job openings, evaluation of candidates and preparation of inputs for results-based budgeting.
• Leads and supervises the organization of meetings, seminars, etc. on substantive issues. Manages the substantive preparation and organization of such meetings or seminars.
• Participates in international, regional or national meetings and provides programmatic/substantive expertise on an issue or holds programmatic/substantive and organizational discussions with representatives of other institutions.

Professionalism: Knowledge of the substantive field of work in general and of specific areas being supervised. Ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues and to review and edit the work of others. Ability to apply UN rules, regulations, policies and guidelines in work situations. Capacity to effectively communicate, address all internal and external partners both verbally and in writing. Ability to coordinate multiple stakeholders. 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.

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.

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 that 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 business or public administration, finance, accounting, law, social sciences or related area is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

A minimum of fifteen years of progressively responsible experience in program coordination and development focused initiatives, at the national and international level is required. Experience in intergovernmental fora dealing with trade and development or related issues is required. Experience in negotiations with both Member States and private sectors is desirable.

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

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